Yes, someone did fit needle bearings, but unless it has zerks for greasing every ride or figure out a good seal setup- that doesn't seem to do much good.
Everything is pretty tight for clearance, so getting a permanent mount zerk could be a challenge.
Where I ride water and mud will get in there no matter what.
I've serviced them loads of times- every time they are full of gunk.
(Just did it again today)
I've had to replace pin and parts due to wear, the bushings a bunch of times. (I bought a box of them).
I'm sure fine for trials- but it is very common for my typical ride to be many, many hours- and quite often. I don't really want or pull it apart every ride or two.
It is also pretty rare to not get Into loads of mud.
I pulled the engine, replaced the pump (will setup the original with new pump and filter for next time)
Bought a tool for the connectors at NAPA - just a slight mod to work.
I pulled the head, since I'm almost 300 hours I figured it may be good to see what it looks like.
The cylinder looks like it has 10 hours on it- all cross-hatching still visible, no scoring, piston looks like new (from the port)
I decided to leave the cylinder on this time- it just looks too good!
No carbon buildup in the exhaust, very minimal buildup on the piston and head.
I'm pretty I pressed. My KTM 300 certainly didn't look this good after much less hours. And most of the time I didn't run it any harder- maybe less. (Those have loads of power, too much for the types of trails I like the most, which looks like an intermediate trials section).
I wish it had zerk fitting for the suspension bushings - but certainly a really well out together machine.
Hope they come back.
Oh yeah, I weighed the engine, about 34 lbs (15.5 kilos)
Yeah, love those cables. I've never had a cable break out in the woods someplace... Lots better than these dumb reliable hydraulics.
I have a 2014 OSSA Explorer and a 1974 OSSA explorer.
The old bike handles great, suspension even works darn well (modern shocks). Brakes? (I think it has some). Clutch- wow is it stiff (better ton slip it too much or you will be replacing it). Engine? Very, very nice, but those old air cooled bikes are certainly noisy!
Every ride I start out with a coupe, of things to warm up.
Ride to a stop- squat to compress forks, let out clutch and apply just a bit of throttle, wheelie and try to place the front tyre exactly where I want.
Pretty easy, and if you proactive on flat ground you will pick it right up.
Brake Pedal Install
in OSSA
Posted
It is a bolt on, no need to bleed.
I had to make a special wrench to take the bolt off- or pull the swingarm and service all the bushings, change the brake pedal at the same time.
I just took and old socket and welded a rod in the appropriate place for a tool.