New member needs help Id-ing engine!

Hi there, I've been checking out the forum for a few years now excellent site by the way!! A number of times I almost bought an FE 650 but I was a bit wary of buying a Husaberg due to working as a M/C mechanic and knowing I really couldn't be bothered with all the maintenance after spending all day working on bikes! So I Kept my CR500. However recently I've had a bit of a craving for a four stroke single, I previously had a Suzuki Sp 400, then a heavy DR 650 which broke my foot! And more recently a KTM SXC 625 which remains my favourite motorcycle that I've owned (I only sold it buy a Superduke to commute). So I found an 03 Fs 650 going cheap on Ebay and took the plunge thinking I'd get some KTM enduro wheels later. This Saturday I picked up the bike armed with my list of engine number details from the excellent owners Doc. First problem there are no engine numbers where the manual says they should be (left hand crank case- cylinder height- behind the exhaust headers)! Absolutely no signs of being ground off either. The rough finish casting marks are uniform so I'm pretty sure there were never any there! So as the owner assured me that it was definitely a 650 engine from later than 2003 as the previous engine broke the mains. I bought it anyway. Well as the head doesn't have the coolant bleed bolt it's obviously pre 2003. Also it only has one bolt through each rocker shaft and I read here somewhere that those heads are pre 2001. Is there an easy way to identify if it really is the 650 and what year it is? It wheelies great without trying so I'm happy with it, just want to make sure I buy the correct parts and do the necessary upgrades in time!

3 posts in 2.6 years.. we'll have to get that up! anyway, glad you took the plunge!

the last of your style engine was 2003 so a later engine would have the engine numbers on the left as you describe but also the ignition wouldn't have been compatable so just as well it isn't a 'later' engine!

i think someone must have bought a set of unmarked cases from the factory. quite possible as the occasional rod would go through the cases if the oil got low and the throttle was kept open.

regards

Taffy

if your middle pic was a hair higher i could tell if its a 650. the case above the word H-berg on a 501 is 30mm high, a 650 is about 50mm.
also, if you grab a hand full of throttle and all it does is spin the rear tire, its a 650.
the year is either an '01 or '02 (or possibly aussie'03) based on the single oil drain.

Yeah Taffy maybe I could post a bit more, don't want to be accused of just trying to get my post count up though!

Just measured the cylinder and it's 50 odd mm above 'Husaberg' so 650 it is then.
I only tried it for a few km with low tyre pressure and there was no wheel spin just every time I gassed it (what I call moderately) the front end came up!

Only thing I have to do now is learn the technique to start it, since I got it home I've not been able to but the previous owner started it first or second kick! I had the same with the CR500 at first but now It's first kick most times.

Thank you both for the info, I'll let you know if I finally get it going.....