2018 HUSQVARNA FX450: FULL TEST | Clutch Master Cylinder

Everybody screws up at some point, no matter how careful or skilled they are. Do I know how to brake at the limit of adhesion? Decades of riding motorcycles have served me well in that regard. Do I have absolute confidence that I will do so perfectly every time and under all possible circumstances? No.

Drachten, Netherlands-based WhisperPower specialises in the development and production of smart energy systems incorporating compact and silent variable-speed generators, energy storage, high-quality power electronics and a range of system components.

FiTech offered to perform the swap at their shop in Riverside, California. This also required an aftermarket fuel tank to accommodate the necessary in-tank fuel pump assembly. This almost required as much effort as the intake manifold swap since this IRS-equipped Tri-Five was anything but stock out back, but the conversion went smoothly and very soon the ’56 hit the streets for some simple tuning. That’s when disaster struck. For reasons still not entirely clear, the 502 suffered a rod bearing failure that required a complete rebuild. Chevy 502s come with aluminum production rod and main bearings that sometimes are a bit unforgiving. If the crank hits a main bearing for whatever reason, the debris peeled from the mains usually end up in the rod bearings that then quickly fail. The project was delayed for several months while the engine went through a complete rebuild. Once the crank was massaged and the engine builder reassembled the 502 with most of its original parts, the swap could continue. The engine was initially run on a test stand with a single four-barrel carburetor to check for leaks and proper behavior before the 2×4 FiTech system was again installed.

This problem has been identified with the Chevrolet Silverado, as it is prone to a rusted out brake line that would cost buyers several hundreds of dollars a pop. The truck comes with some engine issues and mysterious clunking noises that comes from the powertrain.

“The QSK60, with its proven track record in the marine market, now has cleaner emissions, extended warranty coverage and the same world class service and support.” Schacht continued, “The QSK60 is the first Cummins engine platform to receive the IMO 3 certification but other engines will follow in the near future using similar SCR configurations.”

While the machine’s we saw were still in the prototype phase, Deutz plans to start manufacturing modular hybrid drives in 2019 and selling hybrids and all-electric products by 2020, says Dr. Frank Hiller, Deutz’s CEO. By 2022-2023 Hiller says the company anticipates hybrids and electric drive units will account for 5-to 10-percent of the company’s revenue. Since the company projects sales above 200,000 engines by 2022, that could mean anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 electrified machines in the market running on E-Deutz systems in the next few years.

While all of this is cool to speculate on, it’s good to remember that just because GM has applied for a patent, it doesn’t mean that anything will come of it.

It helps a lot when the application of new tech is done well, because with new tech that sometimes isn’t the case.

Trucks often need to do more than drive around so there are two different trailering camera packages available on the Silverado. One gives you a guide-lined backup view for approaching the trailer, plus a look down at the hitch for final positioning. The more advanced trailering package builds on those functions with side views that look down the length of the truck and trailer, and a forward view that gives you a look at what’s next to the truck’s front tires, which is also handy for four-wheel drive adventures. Finally, you can get an auxiliary camera that mounts on the back of your trailer. It’s hard-wired through the truck’s rear bumper and allows you to see what’s behind the trailer.

Here are some key facts: 1) The major causes of vehicular collisions are: distracted driving, impaired driving, excess speed, disregarding road rules/signs/lights. All driver error. So therefore blameworthy and not an ‘accident’. 2) Despite an increase in collisions, death rates have decreased. The reason being government mandated ‘passive’ safety devices such as crumple zones, 3 point seatbelts, etc. Proof that government mandating improves safety. 3) It is accepted that the best way to survive a collision is to avoid it. And ‘active’ safety devices such as stability control have proven to reduce these collisions by allowing drivers to take more extreme action without rolling over. ABS has also proven effective by allowing less ‘practiced’ drivers to engage in emergency braking and still steer or stop faster than applying the ‘binders’. So again proven effective. 4) So if all of the above government mandated safety initiatives have proven themselves statistically reduce accidents, and save lives, then why are you arguing against them??????????

For 2019, Yamaha finally fixed its front-end wiggle. If you think Yamaha designed a new frame, you are wrong. In fact, there are no changes to 99.9 percent of the 2019 Yamaha YZ450F. The 0.1 percent change is to the wheel collars and the front axle lugs. Yamaha fixed the wag, wiggle and wander by stiffening the connection to the front wheel. Nothing more! Always stable at high speed, the bike can now turn in. 

The most highly publicised standards are those introduced by the European Union (EU). Manufacturers regard the NOx and particulate levels required in the most recent set of rules, Stage V, as being close to zero, as the maximum allowable volumes have fallen by 96% and 97% respectively since Stage I came into force in 1999.