SERIOUS BUMMER! My 99 fe400 stopped running (again), and wouldnt restart (again). I checked the valve lash, and the intakes have about 12mm of lash!!! Yeah, something must be broken (again). Anybody ever see this before? The intakes do not open when the motor is spun over, but the exhuasts do. I have been religious about maintainance, ESPECIALLY valve lash adjustments. I think the rocker arm is broken, but I dont know for sure. I need a recommendation for a good dealer repair facility in the SoCal area.
half-an-inch of valve lash...
- Thread starter nevada_dirtbiker
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- halfaninch lash valve
Joined Oct 2005
201 Posts | 0+
Kansas City, Missouri
Ksounds like you may have bent the valve. It may be that instead you've lost all the needle bearings out of the rocker. Definetly time to pull the rocker cover and look at everything. Hope it's just the rocker! 8O
Pull the rocker cover off immediately. Do not continue to turn the engine over and risk scattering loose bearings throughout the engine.
First of all, thank you for your interest and concern for my tech problem. This is an OUTSTANDING forum, and I have never seen another thats anywhere near as good. You are a great bunch of guys, and I love the passion that is always readily apparent here. as for my bikes lil problem, well...turns out the bearing is what was toast, it took out the tappets, which took out the valves... I had 11 hrs of ride time on a new set of valves, valve seats and piston. I am so disgusted with this bike its not even funny. seems lots a steel bits have made thir way through the motor as well. What really gets me is I have been positively anal about maintainance on this thing. Air filters, oil, oil filter, and most of all valve clearance. I wash I had known the bearing was on its way out. I dent like buying used bikes for this very reason, you never know what you have. I bought a used berg coz I figured Id learn if I wanted a new one or not. For a while, I did. That lil berg was the most exciting dirt bike I have ever owned, and I have owned a LOT of dirt bikes. I know you guys are so passionate about these bikes, and I do understand why. But I am done with husabergs. Too much heartbreak owning the damn thing. I have never loved a bike as much, nor have I ever hated a bike as much. I am going back to two strokes. Ill be buying a Service Honda cr500afx. When I told the berg dealer I would be buying a Service honda he said "thats a 10,000 dollar dirt bike! " I simply replied "so is my broken husaberg".
Joined Oct 2005
201 Posts | 0+
Kansas City, Missouri
I'll throw this out to Dale, et al. I know all you guys like to check your valve adjustments a lot, and I was wondering; how many times can you cycle the adjusting nut before the threads are weakened and require replacement? There has to be a figure, and quite possibly that figure is being exceeded by some on here because I've never heard of so many rocker arm -related failures. I check mine occasionally and adjust if they're way off, but I don't sweat it if it's a few hairs off. Mine is not a pure race bike where cam timing is critical, but I think these things are being serviced improperly in some way...... 8O
Joined Dec 2005
172 Posts | 0+
Montrose, CO
Nevada Dirtbiker, really sorry for your bum luck. I would like to relate to you two things. First, these Bergs are really easy to work on, parts are available, even on eBay. Fixing your 400 would be the best thing to do, whether you keep it or sell it. To be honest, I have had a KTM that your story reminds me of. I often had to let it sit until I got over the anger, then I could fix it. Second, the new Husabergs are vastly better than the pre 2003 ones. Quality is on par with anything out there, and you get a 1 year warranty. The earlier Bergs really made me think of the worlds most expensive kit bike, needing a lot of finishing. My 2000 501 came to the dealer with two beer bottles in the crate with it (empty,darn!). My 2006 is so fine, I can't begin to tell you the differences. Best of luck, hate to see you give up.
Joined Jul 2001
3K Posts | 1+
El Sobrante, Ca. 94803
doctorcorey said:
Hi Doc,
FYI:
Various times during the mid to late nineties Husaberg received improperly tempered valve-train components including tappet screws, rocker-arms and valves. As a result every so often a string of failures would occur.
Regarding a properly tempered tappet that has never been "over torqued":
I would venture to say a near infinite lifespan should be expected. Unfortunately the ugly truth is over tightening the tappet adjustment is very common and does indeed lead to failure.
Sincerely,
Dale
I hear what you guys are sayin, and I have been a little too mad about my berg to make a good decision. I am not quite as peeved as I had been, so I'll listen to reason and at least consider a new berg. By the way, I know this guy who is parting out a 99 fe400 
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