I've just renewed my trials registration for 2024 and the ACU have come back asking for a medical (because I'm over 70) and an eye test (because I am over 55, though never needed one before). They have to be filled out by a doctor and optician, which is obviously going to be an expensive business. Is this for real? Or another quirky mistake from the Sport 80 system? If it is real I think I will stick to AMCA in future as the cost and hassle won't be worth it for just a couple of trials a year.
I've been using tescos finest e10, 50:1 with octane booster in an 1985 rotax with no issues. It does have a modern ignition and newish carb, and runs very well. What problems are you having with modern petrol ?
Problems:
1. Dissolves tank liners, including Kreem and Flowliner.
The link you provided answers your own question, pump gas is ‘government mandated’ to contain ethanol, your only options are race fuel or fuel intended for aircraft because you can’t use ethanol in an airplane.
This is what the information says - "Although our pumps have E5 labels on them, our Synergy Supreme+99 is actually ethanol free (except, due to technical supply reasons, in Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, North England and Scotland). Legislation requires us to place these E5 labels on pumps that dispense unleaded petrol with ‘up to 5% ethanol’, including those that contain no ethanol, which is why we display them on our Synergy Supreme+99 pumps."
However, I believe this information may be out of date?
I put an S3 low compression head and a flywheel weight on a 2017 Sherco 250. It didn't really make much difference! I also fitted a smaller engine sprocket. That slowed it down a bit, although I later went back to the stock size.
On reflection it was probably just getting used to riding that particular bike that made the biggest difference, rather than the modifications.
It's not to hard to dumb down a 250 gasgas. A mate of mine had the same predicament and basically tamed his gasgas by gearing it down, flywheel weight, low compression head, slow throttle and eventually a thicker base gasket. The bike is so easy to ride and still has enough power to ride decent sections. It's also very easy to start and obviously still has great brakes and suspension and is 30kgs lighter than a twinshock. The other late model bike that is easier to ride is the Yamaha engined Scorpa. They are a great bike with a very easy motor to live with. Twinshocks require a decent level of mechanical ability to get them to perform, generally speaking the brakes are average as is the clutch and suspension and you can spend a lot of money on them if you are not careful.
Yamaha engined Scorpa/Sherco = Sherco/Scorpa TY 125F.
You take the plug out and kick the engine over. There is a spark.
You replace the plug and kick it over repeatedly, but it won't run:
Look at the green ignition wire very carefully. It connects to a small bolt on the points via a small brass fork terminal. If that fork terminal is not fitted squarely onto the points connector, then it may/will arc across to the ignition carry plate, or even to the points cover when the spark plug is under compression, in the engine.
If the fork terminal is placed on the outside, under the bolt's head, then it WILL arc across to the points cover, when under compression.
Put the bike in a dark place - shed or garage. Turn the lights off. Take the ignition cover off. Get someone to kick the engine over while you look closely at the points. The point's contacts may/may not/sometimes spark. Disregard that. See if you can spot a spark elsewhere. That will be your problem.
Forget the price. A 300cc trials bike is much more difficult to control than a smaller bike. 250cc is more than enough for a novice. 200 even better. 125 would also be fine to learn basic trials riding skills. The last thing you need as a novice is too much power.
Here in the South West of England, we don't ride Christmas Day or Remembrance Sunday. Other than these two "sacred" days, there will be multiple trials meetings held on any weekend, or Bank Holiday, usually within a 50 mile radius of my home There are even a few trials meetings held mid-week in the summer months! We are blessed!
Tank sealers: I've used Kreem. Rubbish - failed within weeks. Flowliner. Failed after 2 years. This was despite draining the fuel tank after every trial.
personally, i would put a fresh plug in (i've been advised to run an iridium plug in my 280) , put fresh fuel in and give it go. i think the recommended mix ratio is way too rich, i was getting loads of oily goop out of the exhaust and difficult starting on the recommended ratio.
with 100:1 ( 50ml per 5L ) mine starts fairly easy and runs good.
they say there is a knack to the gas gas stating, personally i just ease the kick start over until its engaged at the top of the stroke, then give it a solid quick full stomp .
just did a 6 hr long lap trial on the weekend , and it started first kick most of the time. my only issue is trying to get used to the sharp power delivery in the slop we ride here in Wales.
good luck, i hear the '23 models are lovely to ride.
"Did not respond to lanyard". Do you mean that you have a magnetic lanyard cut-out/kill switch, but when you pulled it off the engine kept running? Or, do you mean that it did not respond to the throttle? Important to be clear, because they would have two completely different causes and therefore solutions.
I suspect you meant throttle, in which case my best guess is that the throttle cable was not seated correctly into the top of the carburettor, or that the cable was not seated correctly into the throttle. A third guess is that the throttle cable was not seated correctly into the carburettor slide.
Engines have been known to race at full throttle even when the kill switch has been off, but this will have completely different causes and solutions.
Boots for big calves
in Trials Gear
Posted
Boots for big calves? Something like this perhaps?