hoggyf

Thought I'd let you guys know that i took the plunge and bought a Citroen Dispatch 2005 ex waterboard van 2.0HDI only got it last night so a bit soon to say what its really like but it definately pulls well, sat at 90 on the motorway no bother, just crusing along really so pretty pleased at the mo. I'll post up a bit more of a report in a couple of weeks if anyones interested. Ta for all of the opinions etc.

Nice to hear the other side of the argument, as i posted earlier, my next door neighbour had a Vivaro for about 4 yrs and loved it - then bought a transport (go figure that one then!) said he didn't have any problems but knowing my luck if I buy one it'll be a bag of sh*t. Hopefully going to look at a couple of Expert/Dispatch's this weekend, just think the better fuel economy and cheaper price/more for your money side of it will be better with these. Don't think i need anything bigger really but do need 3 seats.

So not a vivaro then. Pity, had a found a good looking one Ex British Gas low miles etc.

As per what you said baldilocks, see a lot of them cheap (is there a good reason for that??) Still like the lookk of the Vivaro and hear different things about the gearboxes, some say the go at 70k others say its only the early 6 speed, bloke next door had one and loved it, good on fuel, comfy, fast and had no bother. Any one any info?

Yeh the Hiace is good but theres so few about its bloody hard to buy one - saw one in Preston the other week looked good etc, when i rang up to go and look at it, it was already sold. Still thinking the Expert is gonna be the one in allround value for money.

So it seems like the Expert etc is the one to go for as long as its an HDI, but has anyone tried to get a sportsbike in one? or can you give me the internal dimensions of the load bay and I'll see if the VFR would fit, not a major problem if it doesn't as I've got a bke trailer as well but its handy to know. Pancho247 - I'm in the same boat over in Cumbria, very little in the way of dealers, to be honest I've just been trawling ebay and Autotrader website, not sure nowadays why anyone buys autotrader as I assume all of the ads are online as well as in the mag (or am I wrong?) My brother keeps trying to get me an LDV and a trader I spoke to (who had an expert to sell) couldn't speak highly enough of them, but the firm I used to work for had some of them and the lads that drove them thought they were crap to drive - anyone any feedback, very cheap!

Yeh, everyone says they're really good but it goes against the grain to pay 5k for something thats 8 yrs old with 140k on it, if I could guarantee I could get a good-un I would but knowing my luck it would be nowt but bother.

I had already decided if its the Peugeot/citroen its deffo the HDI, Vivaro etc sounds bad, Master/Movano had sort of come into my thinking but not many of them about in deepest Cumbria.

All the points above are valid and justified and now being self em,ployed can understand the more able guys in my position (not that I am very able at all mind!) may want to keep to the easy course to prevent injury, however I do feel on some trials that the easy course is still bloody hard for newbies. Sometimes theres not that much choice, if you don't want to travel miles, to do the genuine newbies trials. Perhaps if the easy course was kept "easy" then the more able may decide on their own to step up?? just a thought.

Hi guys Sorry but its another what van question - budget is 2 - 4.5k, thoughts are: Transit - loads about, relatively cheap but boggo 85hp is slowwwww and they do tend to rot somewhat and aren't to hot on fuel use. 56 reg ish with 50 - 70k Hiace - not many about considering nobody ever says anything bad about them. again 56 reg ish 50 - 70 k Vivaro - don't them gear boxes go at 70k? I've heard that either the 5 or 6 speed doesn't have this problem but don't know which! Bit newer with similar milage Vito - Do they come form the factory with those orange splodges ont he white paintwork? Hideously expensive when they go wrong. bit older with lots of miles VW - lot older with lots more miles but they are nice. And finally Peugeot Expert/Citroen Dispatch (not hte new version)- 2.0HDi so should be quick enough, allegedly 40mpg, big enough to get my work stuff in, 3 seats and most importantly will fit my trials bike in (will they get a sports bike in?? ayone know?)don't seem to rust, Peugeo diesels go for ever. 55/56 reg 50 - 90k. But......... its a Peugeot/Citreon. So whats the advice out there? Don't need anything bigger than a SWB low roof type.

IT now appears to work - 2 man job, one of whom was an enduro and former trials rider (ta very much for the help), what we did was disconnect the supply pipe from the bottom of the reservoir and connect the syringe to that, pressurise the system, then while holding the pedal down, crack the rear banjo, after a couple of goes pedal was firm, disconnect syringe, reconnect reservoir and top up. Was a bit of a mare as the sysringe wasn't an ideal fit but witha couple of cable ties and holding it in place we got it done, couldn't have done it as a one man job though. Easy when you know how

This has got to be worse than chinese water torture - arghhhhhhhhhh I can get a bit of a pedal by syringe back bleeding so you think to yourself I'll give it a couple of pumps on the pedal and build a bit of pressure then bleed of the last of the air - no air comes out and you lose the pedal, it is so frustrating. Gonna remove the master cylinder tomorrow and try to invert it without losing the fluid from the master cylinder. Then again a box of matches might be easier and it'll free up some space in the garage.

Still struggling, been at it most of the day off and on, couldn't get the pushing method to work at all but it keeps pulling bubbles out by pulling on the syringe then opening the nipple, I get loads of bubbles but can't get any pedal. I did get the brake to work once but when i test rode it the brake wouldn't lock up even at walking pace, given up for today before the big hammer comes out. never had this trouble on other bikes or cars, left it all connected up overnight and will give it another try tomorrow.

back, replaced the amster cylinder but it just won't bleed up so thought i would try a syringe (as has been mentioned on other topics) but when i press the syring it just ends up blowing off the bleed nipple (yes the nipple is open before anybody dives in!!!)

Struggling to bleed my brakes at the mo so tried using a syring but i can't get it to work no matter what I try - any advice??

Doh! there is a spring, just hidden right in the bottom, no service kit available for this according to GasGas Uk managed to free the piston off and get it moving but it sticks deep on the bore despite much skidin it in and out (oo-err missus!) so think it will have to be a new one.

cheers guys I thought there should be a spring soI'll have another look tomorrow night, am I right in thinking the master cylinder off the TXT is the same?

my back brake was seazing on so stripped it out, freed the pistons and found the piston in the master cylinder stuck, I freed it off but i noticed there was no spring behind the piston in the master cylinder and corrspndingly it doesnt return when you press the brake, is this correct? bikes a JTX250 97

No suggestions ??? must've been a silly question afterall then, never mind! LOL

This is probably a very stupid question but............. Why is my 97 JTX so much noisier than my mates 2005 250 and 280 pro? I thought that the silencer probably wanted re-packing so striped it out and found it pretty well packed allready (no surprise really - guy who had it before looked after it) but i repacked it anyway and it made no difference at all. Its really "pops" on the overrun and especially when te choles out for starting, would prefer it quieter so i can practise on my drive without driving the neighbours mad.

Valid points by all guys and as I said originally, i was not trying to upset anyone, perhaps I also should have said I wasn't criticising anyone either, I was just curious as to why they weren't trying the harder course, I hadn't thought about the various and very valid reasons given. To be honest I'm not bothered about the marks as I'm enjoying challenging myself and the terrain and can honestly say that so far, I couldn't hope to meet a nicer bunch of guys. Hope to see you all out there some time.

Must admit I'm not sure but i assume its part of a championship, but take your point, i'm only doing it for fun so whats the difference!!

Hope this doesn't upset anybody and being new to trialing I don't want to upset the apple cart but at the last trial i did (only my second) I finished and didn't come last, got a couple of cleans but my points total was 93 on the easy course, well chuffed with that. However, in joint first place on the easy course were 2 guys who only dropped 1 mark, my thoughts are that should they not be doing the harder course, shurely there not exactly taxing themselves if after 40 sections they've only "dabbed" once? The mate I go with who's infinately better than i am does the hard course and came 3rd from last (had a bad day) but say's he won't do the easy as it is just that - easy. What does anyone else think? Should they be put into the hard course automatically? If i ever get ot the stage of dropping less than say 20 marks I think i'd be looking to step up.

I've only done 2 trials so far and the 1st was hard work, really muddy and I was wearing too many clothes coz i thought i'd be cold, BIG mistake, bike trousers, T shirt and a waterproof are enough especially when you are puling yer bike out of holes all day. Didn't finish the 1st trial coz i was so knackered and began not to enjoy it, but i had been told just to do as much as i wanted. 2nd trial was much much better, really enjoyed it, got a few cleans and didn't come last, take any advice given, nobody seems to care what bike or gear you've got and lets you go at your own pace. Absolutely bitten now!! can't wait for the next one - ps I've only ever ridden my bike twice - 1st time 1st trial, 2nd time 2nd trial. Enjoy it!

Anyone know where I can get a manual for my 97 JTX250?? I'm new to trials so could do with some help keeping it sweet. Thanks