In 1984 Husqvarna shocked the dirt bike world by introducing a four-stroke design that was both simple, and reliable. Husky at that time was a leading manufacturer of two stroke motocross and enduro machinery, and the introduction of the four stroke TX/TE 510 Husky was unexpected, if anything.

Husqvarna designed the new 510cc four-stroke motor to be simple and light, with an ingenious oiling system that used vacuum produced in the crankcase to lubricate major engine components. Two reed valves in the cam case, that held a pint of motor oil, lubricated the entire motor.

Here’s how it worked: When the piston went up, vacuum was created in the crankcase, and a reed valve at the bottom of the cam case would open, and allow oil to be introduced into the needle roller bearing crankshaft and cylinder assembly.

When the piston came down, the resulting pressure would force the oil out of the crankcase, back into the cam case via a directional reed valve at the top of the cam case. The oil in the cam case also traveled up the cam chain, and lubricated the needle-bearing camshaft and related valve assembly. The air-cooled four stroke top end rested on a 400 Husky 2 stroke lower end, modified to accept this “unique” top-end and oiling system.

The design worked like a charm, and with the exception of running a little on the hot side, the bikes had anvil-like reliability. For some reason Husqvarna dropped this design after a couple years of production, and went the water-cooled route with standard oiling on their next big four-stroke, the 610.

By 1984 the Swedish built Husky was on its way out, soon to be purchased by Italian manufacturer Cagiva in 1987.

The design of the 510 was just a side note in the long illustrious history of Husqvarna design and innovation. Let’s hope under the hand of their new owners, Husky can recover some of that lost magic.

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