Valve train reliability issues with 520?
- Thread starter cujet
- Start date
SFO
LIFETIME SPONSOR
- Feb 16, 2001
- 2,001
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Most of the major valve train issues I have been seeing revolve around the SX series of RFS bikes.
The inverted flank cam which was adopted from Husaberg is equally destructive in that engine too, due to its ramp speeds.
The ex-c/mx-c motors get a kinder gentler cam.
The inverted flank cam which was adopted from Husaberg is equally destructive in that engine too, due to its ramp speeds.
The ex-c/mx-c motors get a kinder gentler cam.
- May 14, 2000
- 1,082
- 6
Cujet, I know this is a sure way to start a debate, and one that has run its course through these pages many times before, but let me just say that what you hear on the internet is basically the worst of the worst.
Between myself and my riding buds, we have, or have had, no less than eight RFS's ranging from the original 00' 520's to the 03's in various SX, EXC, MXC models. We have experienced ZERO valve train malfuntions, or for that matter, any reliability issues among these bikes.
Now,....here is where all the people with issues will key in, and tell you all the problems they had with their RFS, but how many of them are/were related to maintaince neglect...(ie; valve adjustments, break-in procedures, maintaince intervals, ect.)
And I am sure there are people who properly maintained their RFS, and still experienced problems, but I feel this remaining ratio of incendents are about as common as any other internal combustion engine.
Take a look through some of the YZF and CRF forums..., no shortage of reliabilty issues there.
Between myself and my riding buds, we have, or have had, no less than eight RFS's ranging from the original 00' 520's to the 03's in various SX, EXC, MXC models. We have experienced ZERO valve train malfuntions, or for that matter, any reliability issues among these bikes.
Now,....here is where all the people with issues will key in, and tell you all the problems they had with their RFS, but how many of them are/were related to maintaince neglect...(ie; valve adjustments, break-in procedures, maintaince intervals, ect.)
And I am sure there are people who properly maintained their RFS, and still experienced problems, but I feel this remaining ratio of incendents are about as common as any other internal combustion engine.
Take a look through some of the YZF and CRF forums..., no shortage of reliabilty issues there.
Trigger1911
~SPONSOR~
- Jul 4, 2001
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Hey Shaw, Dont forget that your bike survived Paragon several times! That says it all.
knobbiethrower
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- Apr 21, 2000
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I've got to chime in too. Been riding the RFS since 2000 and I haven't had ANY issues with them.
- Jun 11, 2002
- 160
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Many beatings and tanks of gas has gone thru mine and she still rips a nut.
- Thread starter
- #11
Right, well,
I will be probably be purchasing a friends 2001 520EXC. I know the bike well enough as I probably have as much time on it as the owner. It has never failed me on those long days either.
If there is a weak spot, I would like to correct it. I generally ride by myself and often times hundreds of miles from home in the middle of the Ocala National Forest. I really do not like pushing a dirt bike in the sand:)
Thanks for all the responses!
Chris
I will be probably be purchasing a friends 2001 520EXC. I know the bike well enough as I probably have as much time on it as the owner. It has never failed me on those long days either.
If there is a weak spot, I would like to correct it. I generally ride by myself and often times hundreds of miles from home in the middle of the Ocala National Forest. I really do not like pushing a dirt bike in the sand:)
Thanks for all the responses!
Chris
- Jun 11, 2002
- 160
- 0
:) I expect one soon, we thought long to come up with a name and came up with 450sx.. :yeehaw:
cujet, if you have any questions DRN will provide answers.
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I would agree, I had the nut come off the bolt and the cam lobe drive it through the buttom of the reservoir and into the coolant system. It was about a $120 weld job, yet much more for the labor and some other things I had done.
My bike was purchases used in Nov of 01', the previous owner was a bike shop who had raced it. All in all still no regrets :thumb:
Zoomer
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- Nov 17, 2000
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I really do not like pushing a dirt bike in the sand
Cujet,
The best thing I ever did was put the button on mine!
Its as much fun "pushing the button" as riding the bike :yeehaw: My old yzf never gave me any problems starting hot or cold. But I've seen to many KTM riders kicking there buts off after killing the engine usually in the wrong place.(hill side kickstarter up hill) Ive tried all sorts of ways of killing the engine, (letting it sit on its side) etc, starts in a couple seconds everytime! GREAT BIKE
Cujet,
The best thing I ever did was put the button on mine!
Its as much fun "pushing the button" as riding the bike :yeehaw: My old yzf never gave me any problems starting hot or cold. But I've seen to many KTM riders kicking there buts off after killing the engine usually in the wrong place.(hill side kickstarter up hill) Ive tried all sorts of ways of killing the engine, (letting it sit on its side) etc, starts in a couple seconds everytime! GREAT BIKE
