Thanks to Panu for taking these pictures: Aizpute images
We did some laps at Lavanko, Vantaa, yesterday evening. Riding went very well and we tested again a different main jet in the carburetor. The track was good but it was also very, very dusty, we created a blanket of dust behind us ;-).
The air filter was after 2 sets completely covered with dust and without a fresh filter we loaded the hack in the van. I think some other people were happy with that. The strange thing was that at the morning it had rained a little but the track was dry like a desert.
Next weekend Põlva, South Estonia. Already 18 teams on the list.
Regards, Stephan
EML - HUSABERG - AYR
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Monday, 25 April 2011
Aizpute, Latvia April 24
Hi all,
Saturday April 24 we took the 10:30 ferry to Tallinn. After a long ride, 470 km, we arrived at our hotel in Saldus, about 50 km to the East of Aizpute. The next morning left us only a short trip to the track located on a hill just outside of Aizpute.
The track was made from hard reddish clay laid out against the hill and down in the valley, for the riders and spectators very nice! The track Included interesting points from a steep drop off to slippery off camber corners.
We used practice to learn the track and didn't press to hard because of the soft fork springs. After a short stop in the paddock we wanted to do a fast lap but there wasn't time left any more. With 15 side cars there's always a front row place and we still made the 10th time.
We replaced the front fork springs with a new stiffer set we had brought with us and prepared for the first heat. The engine was okay and the problems with the cylinder head gasket were solved with additional washers under the cylinder head bolts.
Thus ready for racing and we were in a good mood but not for long as it showed later when it was our turn for the first heat. During the exploration lap the saddle dropped! We had installed the new blue saddle and probably during first riding the saddle had sunk deeper in the frame and thereby the bolt had loosened. When the other teams lined up behind the gate for us there was nothing else than back to the paddock. End of heat 1 even before the gate dropped.
Heat 2 had to be our revenge. We had a place at the left side of the gate with at the end of the uphill start a 180 degree corner to the right. We didn't had the power to gain something during the uphill race and had no other choice than ending up in the back pack in the first corner.
Nothing else left than to push and and try to overtake as many as possible. After 2 laps we passed Ivanov/Jalas but they took this place back on a technical part of the track. Worse, the engine stalled and we did lose a lot of time.
We managed to pass again a team and the others were in view but then I started suffering arm pump and we had to slow down. This arm pump is a result of too little practice time with the bike.
First points but not as we would have liked it. Next Wednesday we will train at the Vantaa track to get as many time on the bike as possible. Aronen/Mantila had a good season opener with their two second places after the Latvian brothers Silis.
We arrived after 520 km at three o'clock am in Tallinn and took the morning ferry at eleven o'clock back to Helsinki. Next race Põlva, South Estonia.
Regards, Stephan
trip Tallinn-Aizpute
http://www.mylaps.com/results
Saturday April 24 we took the 10:30 ferry to Tallinn. After a long ride, 470 km, we arrived at our hotel in Saldus, about 50 km to the East of Aizpute. The next morning left us only a short trip to the track located on a hill just outside of Aizpute.
The track was made from hard reddish clay laid out against the hill and down in the valley, for the riders and spectators very nice! The track Included interesting points from a steep drop off to slippery off camber corners.
We used practice to learn the track and didn't press to hard because of the soft fork springs. After a short stop in the paddock we wanted to do a fast lap but there wasn't time left any more. With 15 side cars there's always a front row place and we still made the 10th time.
We replaced the front fork springs with a new stiffer set we had brought with us and prepared for the first heat. The engine was okay and the problems with the cylinder head gasket were solved with additional washers under the cylinder head bolts.
Thus ready for racing and we were in a good mood but not for long as it showed later when it was our turn for the first heat. During the exploration lap the saddle dropped! We had installed the new blue saddle and probably during first riding the saddle had sunk deeper in the frame and thereby the bolt had loosened. When the other teams lined up behind the gate for us there was nothing else than back to the paddock. End of heat 1 even before the gate dropped.
Heat 2 had to be our revenge. We had a place at the left side of the gate with at the end of the uphill start a 180 degree corner to the right. We didn't had the power to gain something during the uphill race and had no other choice than ending up in the back pack in the first corner.
Nothing else left than to push and and try to overtake as many as possible. After 2 laps we passed Ivanov/Jalas but they took this place back on a technical part of the track. Worse, the engine stalled and we did lose a lot of time.
We managed to pass again a team and the others were in view but then I started suffering arm pump and we had to slow down. This arm pump is a result of too little practice time with the bike.
First points but not as we would have liked it. Next Wednesday we will train at the Vantaa track to get as many time on the bike as possible. Aronen/Mantila had a good season opener with their two second places after the Latvian brothers Silis.
We arrived after 520 km at three o'clock am in Tallinn and took the morning ferry at eleven o'clock back to Helsinki. Next race Põlva, South Estonia.
Regards, Stephan
trip Tallinn-Aizpute
http://www.mylaps.com/results
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Training weekend 16-17 April
Hello again,
Saturday we continued our training at the Lavanko, Vantaa, track. Still we did have the problem with pressure building up in the cooling system. The engine wasn't loosing any fluid but pressure was more than normal. Also we noticed that the front fork springs had gone too soft (not us ;-)).
Altogether we had some good sessions and there's progression in our driving.
The next Sunday we went to the Hyvinkää track, a very soft sand track. It was very busy at the track with many, many solo bikes. Two accidents happened that day and both times the red flag was showed and the ambulance had to pick up the fallen riders. Because of these long pauses and the too soft front springs, this was even a worse problem at this soft track, we didn't do as well as the day before.
We called it quit after three o'clock, PM, and went back to the workshop to clean the sidecar. After a coffee break we removed the engine again for inspection. Monday evening I took the engine apart but didn't find a clear reason for the high pressure in the cooling system. I'm a little suspecting the cylinder head itself now, a very small crack near an exhaust valve or something like that. Very difficult to find.
Next weekend the first event, Aizpute in Latvia. Let's hope we get everything sorted out this week. I'm trying to update this blog by my mobile but MMS messages seem to disappear in space.
Regards, Stephan
Saturday we continued our training at the Lavanko, Vantaa, track. Still we did have the problem with pressure building up in the cooling system. The engine wasn't loosing any fluid but pressure was more than normal. Also we noticed that the front fork springs had gone too soft (not us ;-)).
Altogether we had some good sessions and there's progression in our driving.
The next Sunday we went to the Hyvinkää track, a very soft sand track. It was very busy at the track with many, many solo bikes. Two accidents happened that day and both times the red flag was showed and the ambulance had to pick up the fallen riders. Because of these long pauses and the too soft front springs, this was even a worse problem at this soft track, we didn't do as well as the day before.
We called it quit after three o'clock, PM, and went back to the workshop to clean the sidecar. After a coffee break we removed the engine again for inspection. Monday evening I took the engine apart but didn't find a clear reason for the high pressure in the cooling system. I'm a little suspecting the cylinder head itself now, a very small crack near an exhaust valve or something like that. Very difficult to find.
Next weekend the first event, Aizpute in Latvia. Let's hope we get everything sorted out this week. I'm trying to update this blog by my mobile but MMS messages seem to disappear in space.
Regards, Stephan
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Calendar 2011
24.04 Aizpute, Latvia, Championship
01.05 Põlva, Estonia, Cup
08.05 Kose, Estonia, Championship
14.05 Ape, Latvia, Championship
28.05 Iisalmi, Finland, Championship
04.06 Karksi Nuia, Estonia, Cup
05.06 Stelpe, Latvia, Championship
12.06 Vaabina, Estonia, Cup
18.06 Heinola, Finland, Championship
19.06 Salo, Finland, Championship
26.06 Aravete, Estonia, Cup
03.07 Türi, Estonia, Championship
10.07 Mezvidi, Latvia, Championship
23.07 Heinola, Finland, Championship
24.07 Jõgeva, Estonia, Championship
31.07 Toila, Estonia, Cup
31.07 Toila, Estonia, Cup
06/07.08 Kegums, Latvia, GP
13/14.08 Kiviöli, Estonia, GP
21.08 Stelpe, Latvia, Championship
28.08 Tihemetsa, Estonia, Championship
04.09 Gulbene, Latvia, Championship
10.09 Orimattila, Finland, Championship
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
First training session 2011
Okay, we didn't made it to the track at Saturday, the last "little" things to fix kept us the whole day in the workshop. We had to load the van and check what parts and pieces we will need on the road.
At the end of the afternoon we started the engine for the first time. As normal with this Husaberg it took some sweat before it came alive. When used regularly starting isn't a problem but this dreaded first time...
Sunday we arrived at Lavanko, Vantaa for our first rounds. The track's upper layer was very soft and we took it easy. Everything felt fine and because the bike is technically the same as last year there wasn't much to get used to.
Of course we did run in problems, pressure in the cooling system build up and the cylinder head gasket was leaking. All together we did 4 sets of 3 laps each and called it quit after that. Back to the workshop to clean the bike and take the engine out.
Monday evening I took off the cylinder head and after a little while it became very clear what was wrong, the gasket was for the 102mm piston and this engine has the stock 100mm diameter. I put everything back together with a new gasket and installed the next evening the engine in the chassis.
Ready for racing again. Next weekend the same track, let's see if we can make some speed.
Regards,
Stephan
At the end of the afternoon we started the engine for the first time. As normal with this Husaberg it took some sweat before it came alive. When used regularly starting isn't a problem but this dreaded first time...
Sunday we arrived at Lavanko, Vantaa for our first rounds. The track's upper layer was very soft and we took it easy. Everything felt fine and because the bike is technically the same as last year there wasn't much to get used to.
Of course we did run in problems, pressure in the cooling system build up and the cylinder head gasket was leaking. All together we did 4 sets of 3 laps each and called it quit after that. Back to the workshop to clean the bike and take the engine out.
Monday evening I took off the cylinder head and after a little while it became very clear what was wrong, the gasket was for the 102mm piston and this engine has the stock 100mm diameter. I put everything back together with a new gasket and installed the next evening the engine in the chassis.
Ready for racing again. Next weekend the same track, let's see if we can make some speed.
Regards,
Stephan
Friday, 8 April 2011
Rebuild is still going on
The schedule didn't hold this year either, every time the last bits and pieces don't want to come together it looks like.
Friday afternoon Protoshop did quickly modifications at the cam shafts for us and still the engine is on the work bench. This evening it will be late again if we are going to finish the hack for tomorrow's first ride.
Cheers!
Stephan
Friday afternoon Protoshop did quickly modifications at the cam shafts for us and still the engine is on the work bench. This evening it will be late again if we are going to finish the hack for tomorrow's first ride.
Cheers!
Stephan
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