steve shakeshaft

With all the fuss recently about trail bike riding and legislation, I'm curious to know, if you have a patch of woodland or farmland, what rules and regulations pertain to inviting a club to hold a trial there? Or, what rules pertain to inviting folks to practice (and say, charge a small fee or even hire out a couple of bikes on a daily basis)? Thanks.

Rarer than a filling in a hens tooth I'd say. But I can't see much use for it myself.

Depending where you are perhaps, visiting the Macclesfield Club website maybe worth a look. I got my really good condition Beamish 250 off there. HTH. Macc Club Website.

When cold, pistons measure less across the gudgeon pins than they do front/back. I.E. they aren't round. But it should be round when hot. That's how they are designed.

Please enlighten- Who is Roy Bacon ?

My '78 Beamish had the tank filled and repainted before I bought it. Top job too. Regarding the fuel tap collar, I think I'd find a mate with a lathe and have him make one for me. HTH.

Why do you think that might be then? I can't think of a single sound engineering explanation why that might be.

When half wit footballers earn a hundred grand a week I think it is good luck to Mick A.

Lovely pic. Excuse my ignorance, what bike is that please?

LOL ! No, I'm not brave, I just know that if it gives the correct API spec on the bottle then it's fine. Don't forget the Beamish is 27 years old now! And oil technologies have move on a LOT in that time. The 20/50 in the clutch/gearbox is 1.99 a litre.

Ahh, yes I see. Excellent approach.

Balanced "within a gram" of what exactly?

All you can acheive with a single is changing the % balance factor from stock. If the factory got it right, there's no reason to change it. Using a significantly lighter or heavier piston may justify rebalancing but that's about it. HTH.

Don't bother. You cannot balance a single cylinder engine.

And that's what it was built for!

Thanks. Use Silkolene oil or any other modern, quality two stroke oil with complete confidence. You never know where the last batch of your favourite was bottled nor do you know where the next batch will be bottled. Silkolene always comes from the Fuchs plant in stoke though. Oil's a commodity and brands will shop around for the cheapest commodity. Just like us buying tins of beans I guess. Actually, the stuff I'm running cost me 99p for 500ml in Morrisons last week.

A little off topic, but for my take on Silkolene lube oils please see the "Mechanical" section.

As a recent 250 buyer, I am amazed at the amount of stuff on EBay. A full frame sold last week for (I think)

Looks yummy though!

This is off the original topic, I know. But for six and a half years I ran a website very similar to this for owners of Buell road bikes (it still runs very successfully). We went through all the options to fund the site, donations, advertising, sponsors etc... The most successful of them all in terms of satisfaction amongst members and for fund raising was an auction held at a christmas meeting. We have an annual meal at a hotel where most folks stay over the night and get pretty well plastered. But after the meal we hold an auction where lots of people have donated bike related stuff they no longer need. All the members who want anything bid and the money raised funds the group. It works very well and we get donations from traders too. In terms of resources to run a site like this, the biggest is not money it is time. And after six and a half years of running a site I was tired out!

I've read the website and from what I can see he's building the engine from a modified Suzuki Thailand 150cc Scooter engine? I gather the builder is Italian. But I'm not sure he is building these to sell or as a hobby. I like it. Would they sell?

Delicious!

Personally, I would never dream of opening up an engine without replacing all bearinmgs and seals. Your attitude may change depending on whether the bike is a keeper or not. I would definately not overhaul a crankshaft on a 2 stroke to change a big end without mains an crankshaft oil seals.

Thanks!