Husaberg running problems

Hey all,

I recently move from Florida to Massachusetts. I took out the Husaberg for the first time in a few months. I have ridden it around my yard a few times over the past month. This was the first long ride. This thing runs so horribly and I cannot determine why. I have made several posts in the tech forum. Now, I am not sure which way to go. I am not sure if it is ignition related or carb. I have not attempted to check the timing on the bike. I had messed around with the carb since I bought the bike. The carb adjustments made a world of difference. But, I think the carb itself is worn out. The body of the carb is worn where the slide is, maybe making adjustments intermittant at best? What is the general opinion on changing from the Dellorto to a Mikuni? I am thinking I need a new carb.
Also, I was reading on ThumperTalk about a guy that had magnet problems in his fly wheel. His description of symptoms exhibited sounded very similar to the symptoms of my bike. Havs this problem ever been associated with Husabergs? About the stators, can they exhibit intermittant problems? Or is it either "works or it doesn't?" My symptom is hard starting sometimes, backfiring while starting---bad---BANG!. Running rough. A lot of backfiring on decel---lots of flames out the exhaust. It is a Big-Gun exhaust, I think I would rather have stock. Also, if I twist the throttle any faster than s-l-o-w, it will die out. If I relase fast it will continue to idle. Once I build up some rpm's I can blip the throttle faster. But even through the midrange, it still runs rough, somtimes missing and back firing. Top End just lags. The bike came with 192 jet, I put in 205, it was much better, but no where near how I hear all others explain the performance of Husabergs. The only thing I have to compare it to is my old 91 Husqvarna-Cagiva 125 WMX. Which would kill this Husaberg in everything except making noise.
So far, I am disappointed in the performance of this Husaberg and 4 strokes in general. Granted, I have not done a whole lot as far as making changes to improve, other than sealing up all the exhaust leaks, richening up the carb, air filters, adjusting valves. I cannot afford a new bike. But would love to find what actually is not up to par, make a change and have it run the way it should. Now I live in an area that has hills and I found out today, it really sucks stalling out going up a hill. I wasn't even going that steep. I just don't have that confidence in this bike to attempt anything that is going to require twisting the throttle, or putting myself in a position that would cause me to fall from a high place with the bike coming down on top of me around all these rocks.
More about the problem, the hotter the bike is, the worse it runs.

Hey Bill,

Thanks for the reply. All that was done at the same time. With little improvment at the time. Yes, it is worse now, which over time something could very well have made it's way into the carb. I have been reading a lot of posts all over this forum for about the past 3 hours and read a few things about the stators and electrical I wasn't aware of before. Even though I read it, I would still like some more personal reinforcement of potential fixes to my problems. I guess it is also time to buy a fly-wheel removal tool. I would really like this bike to perform the way it should. Then funny thing is, when I bought the bike, the seller lived 3 hours from me. He had met me half way, kinda out in the middle of no-where. After the bike was unloaded from the truck, he disappeared in a hurry---I think I know why now. The past is the past, but I just had to get that out of my system.
Now that I live in an area with winter, I may be stuck inside looking for something to do. What better way to pass time than to tweek a Husaberg?
Yes, I would probably say that the tune-up needs to be done again.

a 98 FE501e.

I did have these problems before moving. The bike was really bad when I first got it. There was nothing but popping above 1/2 throttle. If there was a load on the engine, like riding in 5th or 6th gear down a long straight-away, I couldn't get the thing to do more than maybe 45-50 mph. I had jetted it up from 192 to 205 in a few stages, running better on top end every time---probably reaching 75mph. But, never completely the way it should be. Still had pops and bogs. The only way to ride was to feather the throttle. When it stalled, it sounded like a shooting range trying to get it started---worse when hot. Now, in this last ride, it is bad. I would have to keep it at about 1/4 throttle or more to keep it running. Sounded lean, I could hear the higher dynamic compression tone of the exhaust yet with just a light crackle of combustion---tons of flaming backfires. Glad it was all downhill to my house.
I think the engine has wear. I think the carb may have gotten some crap in it. I think the ignition may be weak. All in all, time for a rebuild. Not really what I wanted to do, but I think I must face-up to it. I am not sure if that is what I want to do...yet.
The bike has a Big-Gun exhaust on it, I absolutely hate it. I think it reduces low-end torque---which is the range I am mostly in. It is so freakin loud---unacceptably loud. How much quieter is a stock FE exhaust? Would the stock exhaust give a noticable retoration to low-end torque?

Well, I had just revised my profile and now included my bike in my signiture. So, your question about which bike I have was completely viable.

I would like to find some other Husaberg people to go riding with. I would really like to try another 501---to see how it should really be.

Anyone around Western Mass, Southern Vermont, east of Albany, NY?

I am in North Adams, Massachusetts.

Considering I have th Big-Gun exhaust. How much of a change would one normally expect to make in retuning the carb when switching from the stock exhaust to the Big-Gun?

Well,

I brought the berg in the basement, not sure how I will get it back up the stairs. Anyway, I took the carb off. There was a few droplets of water in the bowl. and some grit too. I will definitely run a fuel filter unless someone can tell me a fantastic reason why not to. So, I looked at the jets. Compared them to the service manual. The main jet I had in there was a 200--stock is 195. The needle is stock, the starting jet is stock the needle jet is the DR272--stock. What about the Pilot? The book says it should have a 45 pilot and what was in there was a 32. Thirty-two! THIRTY-FREAKIN-TWO! Could this cause that much of a problem? Hopefully, the two carbs I got coming from E-bay will have the correct size pilot. Is another size pilot recommended beyond the stock 45?Another thing I found, which may have helped cause the backfiring was oil loaded up in the mouth of the carb and a puddle in the boot. I did lay the bike down a couple times that ride.

thanks ,