madmike

Hello there. I believe it's to stop the chain getting between the rear sproket and the swingarm & jamming the rear wheel if it comes off. A nice detail? Not worth removing!

Hello Gbmoto, On all Cotas that use a chain tensioner and the chain tubes, the bottom tube has to be shortened at the front; just enough to stop the chain rubbing against the frame (if slack) but enough to let the tensioner act against the chain. In the old days you could buy a replacement 'bottom' tube which was actually shorter for the 349s, nowadays I think you can only get the standard tube.

Hello There, Sounds like you've got much too much oil in the forks if you haven't got the travel. The Paoli adjustable forks used on the SY125/175F were the same as those used on the SY250s. I have always used the published oil capacities for that bike which are different in the left leg than the right. I'll find the correct quantities when back home and publish them. Regarding the question regarding the clutch in another post: I've been using the standard plates for over 5 years. My 2005 SY125F had the standard hydraulic setup, but although beautifully soft, action was very on/off (it was impossible to slip the clutch in tight turns at low RPM). I bought a lengthened clutch arm (which was then offered by the Scorpa in a special parts catalogue), which improved matters enormously. The arm is only about 5mm longer than the original, it required cutting the old arm off the shaft and grinding/ maching the the shaft to accept the new clutch arm. Great & reliable bike.Shame nobody built a similar 250 cc air-cooled version !

I believe MERLIN was set up by members of the Bulto Family (Bultaco) after it closed and first models ie DG350 were very similar to Sherpas except that they had CAGIVA sourced engines. There are excellent pictures & details in MANOLO CASADO'S web of his trials bike collection (which must be the largest in the world). NOTE: this is possibly one of the best sites for getting details of any Spanish, Italian and French bikes of the 70's & 80's. see: www.trialmc.com Unfortunately the site is only in Spanish so get the dictionaries out.