98 replies to this topic

[coffee Get Help Now]

Post up what you think are the 'must do' modifications to a Husqvarna 4 stroke dirt bikes and what 'must have' parts should be purchased.  It will be assumed that things like jetting do not apply to the EFI bikes, and EFI modifications do not apply to the Keihin bikes.

I'll start.  Some of these are going to sound trivial but think they are important.

Summary - Rejet, do the oil changes, and hang on

In order of importance to me.

• Check your air pressure in the tires.  
  
• Oil filters & oil - be warned the first couple of oil changes will have orange flakes & other stuff come out of the engine - that is normal and is why the oil should get changed frequently when the bike is new.
  
• Read or at least glance at this thread: Important Information
  
  
• .
  
• Buy an after market fuel screw
  
• Buy the JD kit - or if you know how to re-jet a Keihin get those parts.
  
  
• "Let the stuff fall off the TEs that the TCs don't have", plug the port on the side of the cylinder that a vent hose was attached to, and route vent hoses like any other dirt bike - 2 hoses up under the gas tank, then let 2 hoses dangle along with the spill over hose at the very bottom of the carb.
  
• Watch these videos if you don't know how -
  Remove the throttle stop & enable the AP video and How to re-jet and install fuel screw video
  
  
• How to adjust your fuel screw - read this
  
• .
  
• At some point early in the bikes life the valves should be checked - note the feeler gauge should go between the lift arm and top of valve, and NOT the cam shaft/lift arm like the video shows - video
  
• Consider changing the crossover tube between the radiators that goes over the frame - it may be un-reinforced similar to fuel line.  Take it down to the auto parts store to get the correct size radiator hose or some like other types of hoses.
  
• Consider re-greasing the swing arm & stem bearings just like any other dirt bike.
  
• .
  Popular optional items
  
• .
  
• Some people buy an extra air filter - I'm lazy and don't like to clean air filters.
  
• Some people find bark busters like the Cycra Probends to be a good thing - some don't.
  
• Some people put on carb vent filters which keeps dust out of the carb - a good thing.
  
• Some people like armor, etc - after market skid plates, radiator guards, pipe heat shields some don't think it is necessary.  The bike certainly works well enough without those things until you hit something or burn your pants.
  
• Some people like larger tanks - but other don't.
  
• Some people  put an after market axle nut on the front axle - again the bike works fine without that but it is a handy thing to have.
  
• Some people install a "Y" fitting where there is a "T" fitting where the larger radiator hoses come together.
  
• ...
  WARNING - letting these bikes idle in neutral unattended while on the kick stand COULD EASILY result in bike falling down unless auto retract feature is disabled.
  
• Some people dislike the auto retract kickstand - here is one way to disable it:
  

That list may be updated in the future.

.

Edited by Matt Tiede, 05 May 2011 - 03:43 PM.

[Michael Lueders TT Addict]

Once again..great job Coffee!

That's a New owner check list if I ever did see one and best off..mostly just wrench time:thumbsup:

[coffee Get Help Now]

Thanks and that is most appreciated - but lets keep this thread extremely focused and on topic.  I put a link in the sticky.

[crazyhouse_5 TT Member]

I like the steering damper I just put on my TC (motosportz)

[NiceUserName TT Addict]

That's perfect coffee - wish it had been up a month ago!

Edit:  What about the kickstand?  That was the very first thing we fixed!

[justplayin TT Bronze Member]

coffee said:

[*]Consider changing the crossover tube between the radiators that goes over the frame - it may be un-reinforced similar to fuel line.  Take it down to the auto parts store to get the correct size radiator hose or some like other types of hoses.
.

Coffee, first off I would like to thank you for an awesome job you have been doing here.   

Not to be a stickler, but I would replace the word "consider" with "definately".
I don't think anyone's bike came with a good cross over hose from factory and in some posts that hose blowing out on the trail was not fun for them.

Also...the "Y" thingy, and make sure you have a little antifreeze in your overflow jug "in case" of a steam over.

Did I ever tell you guy's that Husky's.....Rip:thumbsup:

[rlw TT Bronze Member]

must set the rear shock sag, and at least verify rebound/compression dampening is to factory recommendations.....then adjust to suit rider/conditions.

I've had new bikes way off, left/right forks set totally different

....another first thing I always do is adjust handlebar/levers to my preferred position

....maybe not a "must" do, but Uptite "Y" pipe?

[FOXedupONE TT Member]

My bike suffered all the weak point failures that others also seem to commonly suffer. Two are not on your list,the crossover tube is.

X ring from Uptite to replace prone to failure stock O ring , for clutch slave master. This fixes a problem where within the course of 10 minutes you will no longer have a functioning clutch.

Aluminum coolant router Y again from Uptite. This fixes a problem where the stock plastic T melts,coolant leaks out, and again you are not very pleased at the side of the trail wondering how that part ever made it on the bike. The T also apparently favors one radiator over the other,so the Y provides more efficient cooling.

Lastly some non essential mods that are my preference whether for percieved performance gain,looks or convinience are:

CV4 radiator hoses and clamps. Plus some temp stickers.

6403 clutch case covers w/ oil sight window so you can easily fill proper amount of oil and keep an eye on level.

G2 throttle tube with changeable cams,so you can change the throttle response to your liking or conditions.

Seal savers to cover your fork tubes with a protective neoprene sleave so gunk does not prematurely mess with the fork seals.

For TE bikes Halogen 40/45watt bulb with a BDO2 or whatever base for slightly better night vision than stock bulb 35 watt non halogen bulb.

R&D float bowl replacement w/adjustable leak down jet.

YZ80 bend Renthal bars for tight woods riding.

That's all I can think of for now that would be helpful to a new Husky owner looking to sort out his/her stock bike.

BTW the engine spits out "Orange flakes" because it eats KTM's for breakfast.

[coffee Get Help Now]

FOXedupONE said:

BTW the engine spits out "Orange flakes" because it eats KTM's for breakfast.

I am updating what I think are MUST do mods in the first post as suggestions are made.

I ran the stock crossover hose for a long long time and it worked well for me, obviously setting the sag & clickers is a good thing and will add that....added the kickstand bolt issue... and until recently the stock headlight was used for a couple of years.... all of that is in the Important information sticky.

Feel free to post up your own thoughts what you think are must do mods, but a lot of what people do to these bikes really is optional or done for a reason e.g. larger tank.

This thread is not only for the people buying the bikes but also for those casually looking to buy a Husqvarna - really don't want someone unfamiliar with the brand to be scared off.  The KTM must do mod list is so long.... and I know a bunch of those things are not needed for some riders.

EDIT - anyone have a link to simple setting the sag instructions?  Prefer a TT link.
.

[ss440gp TT Bronze Member]

How about cleaning the magnet dust from inside the stator cover every 1,000 miles or so? This dust can short out the stator.    Steve

[twoburgers TT Bronze Member]

when you break off the stock turn signals, replace with the flexible euro blinkers - a tad smaller and not DOT, but it will never get caught...

not required, but it's going to happen soon enough...

[Dale Wickline TT Bronze Member]

Dremel out the restrictive diffuser in the stock exhaust (TE-250). Still very quiel & noticable improvement to the bottom end.

Fork bleeders. The Marz forks build alot of pressure quickly.

Vented gas cap breather so you don't wash the grease out of the lower bearing when you fall over. BTW I found a black plastic plug for furniture use that fit into the steering stem opening perfectly. Sano and keeps dirt & water out.

Balance those tires....right Coffee?

[justplayin TT Bronze Member]

Dale Wickline said:

Vented gas cap breather so you don't wash the grease out of the lower bearing when you fall over. BTW I found a black plastic plug for furniture use that fit into the steering stem opening perfectly. Sano and keeps dirt & water out.

I just pull the vent hose out of the steering stem and place it in/under the bracket welded to the right side of the steering head on the frame that holds the throttle cables. No more washed out bearings.....

[shoeman1952 TT Member]

after checking the wire size/fusing for the headlight circuit, i installed a 100w h4 headlight bulb.  zero problems, huge improvement, $15.75.  it's my understanding that later bikes do not have the adequate wire size for this mod.  have upgraded the headlight bulbs on all my "new-to-me" bikes after a moron turned left in front of me in 1980 or so, and it hasn't happened since.  knock wood!
bobp

[FOXedupONE TT Member]

We should do a seperate master list for must do maintenence items. and keep this one as a mods list.

[coffee Get Help Now]

FOXedupONE said:

We should do a seperate master list for must do maintenence items. and keep this one as a mods list.

"Must do" modifications only - for people just buying the bikes or scanning this section that may be thinking about buying a Husqvarna.

[tekknikkx TT Silver Member]

justplayin said:

I just pull the vent hose out of the steering stem and place it in/under the bracket welded to the right side of the steering head on the frame that holds the throttle cables. No more washed out bearings.....

was this an oversight from husky?

[mike_dean TT Platinum Member]

How does the vent hose wash out the strg head brgs? Mike

[Dale Wickline TT Bronze Member]

mike_dean said:

How does the vent hose wash out the strg head brgs? Mike

If you lay your bike over gas comes up through the vent hose which is sticking down your steering stem and when you stand your bike up the gas exits the hose and can reach the lower bearings. I believe this is especially true on the TE's due to the steering lock slot in the stem.

[tennessee thumper TT Member]

I'm curious about re routing the pink hoses and engine breather hose...the smog stuff was already removed when I got my 06 TE 450, but a pic of the hose re routing would be helpful. I assume they are moved to prevent water being introduced when crossing a creek?

I've seen a post about rerouting the breather hose running from the air box to the cylinder head to keep it from melting...mine already has some heat damage. So curious as to how this has been handled.

As far as the modifications go and money not being an issue, I would upgrade to a...

-bigger tank
-comfy seat
--set of case guards all around
-steering stabilizer
-set of air bleeders for the shocks

All told, that's close to $1000, so one thing at a time

What works for me:

I've found the stock jetting is fine for me in Memphis, TN and have just changed to the Slavens fuel screw to make adjustments easier to eliminate backfire from the factory set up.

I've been riding vintage BMW's for almost 20 years so this is a whole new game to me. Adjusting the shocks, frequent oil changes and chain adjusments etc...are taking some time getting used to, but it's part of the bike. I purchased mine after reading posts and reviews on this forum and so far am VERY pleased with the bike.

It's a real head turner in Arkansas, as most Husky's there are cutting down trees, not trails....

one other thing...I had to remove about 20 additional stickers the previous owner had on the bike. There were at least 10 additional stickers identifying the bike as a Husqvarna. The few the factory provides on the tank shroud and fenders get the message across...there were another 10 for things/products of which I had no idea what they were... One thing I have never understood is the need to add stickers