Biggus

iTrader: (1)

Looking for some chemist input.

I've got a chance to buy a brand new, in the crate 1987 Husqvarna 430 dirt bike.(last year of the real, Swedish Husky's) My concerns are the engine cases are magnesium and the bikes were crated with antfreeze in the coolant systems. I'm aware that USED antifreeze eats magnesium, will new, unused antifreeze get acidic over time and also ruin the magnesium cases over time? Just want to avoid buying this bike only to find the cases are eaten away.

Thanks,

Kurt

mcollinstn

Dude, no way to know until you pop off the water pump cover. If they used distilled water, and it has sat static (crated) then you may luck out.
If you DO find corrosion, it should still be isolated to the mag pieces since the motor has not been running. And if the corrosion is not bad, you can chip and sandblast it out, plug any pinholes with JB Weld, and then use a good paint (Glyptol with a brush) to coat the inside of the water passages.

Toyota Long Life coolant (red, concentrated - NOT Pink or prediluted) is good stuff to run.

We had a Montesa trials bike in here with a rotten water pump. We fixed as above and ran Toyota red with Potassium Fluoride added to it. It comes in powder form, and is about $60 to make up a couple of gallons worth. Ebay has it, chemical stores have it - this is the best place I've bought it from:

http://www.drillspot.com/products/16...FUNp7AodSWsACg

35-40 grams per gallon.

50/50 mix of Toyota LL red and distilled water, with 40g of KF added.
I prefer to add KF to the exact amount of fluid that's going in the bike.

Use disposable gloves. Do not let it touch skin. When draining, make sure nobody gets it on them.
Won't make you explode, but is definitely not something you want to eat.

MC

mosport1

iTrader: (1)

No chemist here, but... At one time I owned 2 Cannondale Supermotos and an Enduro. Except for the earliest run of engines that had an aluminum cam cover, they had a magnesium cam cover bolted to an aluminum cylinder head, and an aluminum water pump cover bolted over both head and cam cover. The mag cam covers would dissolve like an Alka Seltzer. To keep the cam cover intact I used Evans NPG+ waterless coolant. If I remember correctly, it was recommended to run low system pressure with the Evans Coolant, so I shortened the coil of the radiator cap spring to blow off at about 5 lbs. Never any problems with corrosion or overheating.

Also, my wife has a Ducati Diavel. Shortly after purchase, I learn that Ducati has a coolant replacement recall on certain 848,1098,1198 powered bikes. The next time we go for a ride, a steel freeze plug on the vertical cylinder head decides to develop a pin hole leak and shoot hot coolant all over her right leg. To solve the issue, my dealership owner friend sends me an envelope full of new freeze plugs and tells me to go buy a gallon VW part number G0112A8G1G. It is a bit thicker and redder than Dexcool. Mixed 50/50 with distilled water, the Diavel hasn't melted and leaked in the following couple of years. Might be a similar product to the Toyota stuff suggested by Mike.

I'd try the Evans first if it were me...

Biggus

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the replies. I hope to get the bike next weekend. Should be fun assembling a 28 yr old Husky! Hopefully the anitfreeze is not an issue.

BLUEMAGIC

Biggus, a little off subject but i have recently viewed previous posts from you were yo have chromed you keikaffer throttles and shifters. iam interested in doing the same to mine this winter. are there any tricks or surprises when taking the cables off? also does the base plate seperate from the entire assembly? i would like to get that chromed as well. i plan on reconnecting the neutral saftey switch wires after i cut them. any input would be appreciated. thank you.