• Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Sweden - About 1988 and older

  • Hi everyone,

    As you all know, Coffee (Dean) passed away a couple of years ago. I am Dean's ex-wife's husband and happen to have spent my career in tech. Over the years, I occasionally helped Dean with various tech issues.

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Engine fit?

H

Husky390

Husqvarna
AA Class
Hi all.
I currently road race in Historics division a 78 390 WR in a road bike frame. I am thinking a spare engine built up ready to swap over would be a good idea as I have to travel a long way to races and if even a minor problem shows up it would be sad to miss out on a race weekend.
Can anyone tell me what will fit in the same engine mounts as the 390?
I imagine the 250 will go in ok and I think it even uses the same pipe.
Does a 430 fit?
From time to time I see engines come up in breakers adds which need a rebuild so a little knowledge on what goes in what would be great.
Thanks
Russ
 

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Russ,the 430 uses the swingarm pivot bolt with steel bushings in the cases as the rear mount,unlike the 1981-down 250 and all 390's use a carrier-type mount with side plates,which you might already have,so the 430 you would have to make your own side plates to adapt the 390 mount,or use the swingarm pivot if it lines up with the 430's cases,it might sit further back in the frame,compared to the 390, if it does.In some of the old Huskyclub newsletters,there were articles about a Richard Digby in the UK{if I remember correctly} that had a 430 roadracer,very successful. Good looking bike!Any more photos? How does the 390 perform in roadrace trim? David
 
2I would think it depends on the frame/swingarm set up in your road race bike. I have successfully gone the other way changing out a frame that origionally had a 420 auto, has also had an 83 or so 430, currently has an 83 or so 500 in it which has had a 360 76 or so I think with the swingarm pivot not through the case. You would have to treat the mounting plates front and back (or front only) with the engines. The older engines have a bigger footprint, at least the way I mixed and matched. You will still have to make the exhaust pipe fit, Pull the wires from the ignition and I believe at some point the coils change but look real similar. Or don't look similar depending on what you use. I am pretty sure at some point the air cooled 250 got the reed cage of the 500 and water cooled bikes which possibly would be the hot set up depending on what rules your racing ruling body uses. Of course there is often a yearly rule change proposal and voting process.

Depending on how much work you have in the frame I would suggest thinking about starting with say a 1982 frame with the taper roller bearing steering neck, larger diameter swing arm which will accomidate the engines you mention.
 
I currently have in another thread a 1984 250WR engine in a 1978 390 AMX frame. It bolted right in at the swingarm pivot and only need to make a custom front motor mount set. h I have mapped out the hole locations so I have designed a set that will adapt any 81+ aircooled to the 78 frame. Including the 430! The distance between the frame plates at the swingarm pivot are identical between the AMX frame and 2 other 78 WR frames I have

http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/82-and-up-engines-in-1978-ml-frame-questions.27766/
 
Thanks for the helpful replies everyone.
I see now that the engines after 81 won't work for me and I will have to find pre 81 engines as mine has 2 mounting holes at the rear rather than the more modern swing arm pivot single mount hole.
I did another club race day but didn't get close to a win. The club ran all "historics pre 82 " in together so a bit tough against Suzuki 1100's and Ducati 900's etc but although they blasted past on the straights I was able to catch them in the corners largely due to the light weight and late braking. I have been running tyres which are too narrow and the next job is to lace in some wider rims. Otherwise it is run to ride and both me and the bike are evolving. She weighs 95kg uses an MZ 250 ETZ frame. MZ put 08 Brembo calipers on that model so it pulls up well with racing pads. The big challenges were engine mounts and alignment and exhaust system. I am also about to make a new exhaust.
Thanks again
Russ
 
Here you go 390 Dave.
It is going really well. Mark 2 expansion chamber design under way. Re-laced wider rims and new rear shocks it is constant evolution. Wish I could find a spare motor.
Scan.jpg
 
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