trickymicky

The rules on eligibility in the Sammy Miller series were going to be strictly enforced at the Greensmith , last week we were told. I didnt go but have been assured no checking of bikes took place. So the threat of checking them seems to be worse than saying nothing. Those that have spent money getting their bikes may as well have not bothered. And, it could now be interpreted by some when they see questionable bikes in the results of this series that the ACU have actually checked them (as they said they would) and passed them for their respective classes. Did the ACU send anyone to that event? - and if so, what was his/her input on the day?

That's the same bike I saw in Beaulieu years ago visting the UK and was equally confused as I thought I had just looked at GOV 132 the previous day in Sammy's museum beside a trophy case! See Bob John's HT5 site. http://bobjohns.coastinternet.ca/ariel/ That's when I started suspecting there were a few replicas around....confirmed when just a few days later I was offered a ride on another replica at the Ariel Rally trials in Norwich, and was suitably impressed. It felt as light as my 250 Honda and didn't have to compete against SWM's in the twin shock class! Had to build one! Regards, Doug The caption on Bob Johns site is incorrect- the Ariel pictured in Sam's museum with alloy mudguards is a replica HT5 which Sam has ridden until recently. The Ariel you viewed at Beaulieu that day will have been GOV.

For anyone still following this thread about Mick Andrews XT500 project, i was with him today and he confirmed that as we know, the project was scrapped. Interestingly though, it would not have needed a fuel tank in the usual positon- the intention was to fit a fuel tank much lower on the bike to keep the centre of gravity low and use a pump to get it to the carb....

Dead right, i never use synthetic until they are fully run in. And that can take quite a while on a trials bike unless its used on the road. Some new cars and light commercials use synthetic right from new but they use different tachnology to us!

Some synthetic oils use friction modifiers ( its a cheap way for the manufacturer to make the oil reach its specification ). Generally these are not suitable for the clutch- even on modern engines as they will cause slip. I use TQF- automatic transmission fluid in the clutch.

LOOKS LIKE A TY 250 D, 1976

The proper one used to be at Beaulieu. The one at Sams is the one he rides in trials, also showing the gov reg.. Is that van behaving itself Dabster?- i wish mine was....

Colin used to own it , not now. Someone ask Sammy- he's going to watch the Scott tomorrow, and post his response here for Charlie- hope he's not sold it!

There was talk at the time that Mick was developing a bike with an engine based on the XT 500! Hard to believe, i know. Dont think it was ever completed. I will ask him if there was any truth in the rumour of the time...

When i've been to Keighley, i'm sure i've passed a place right at the side of the road where people just turn up, looked ok but dont know what its called!

AUTO CYCLE UNION?- Try a name change for a start,something the younger (or even older ) generation can relate to . And if you can manage that we might start to believe that some of the ancient old duffers trying to give speeches at the annual dinner are actually doing something worthwhile and not just hangers on...

I run a B4HS with no probs at all. Sounds like yours is a resistor type with that R in the no. Not sure they are ideally suited if you run a PVL .

I had a 250 Beamish from new and it was a disappointment. It had too much flywheel, and if i remember correctly couldn't be started in gear wheras the earlier silver engined ones could. The first of the Whitlock framed (red/black tank) ones were really interesting- they had a faulty gear selector drum, and the gear sequence went 1 2 3 5 4 ! As Robin said, the 250 was a sleeved down 325 (done in the uk) Easiest way to tell is if the '325' cast in at the barrel base has been ground off, if so its likely a 250.

A letter has been sent out with regulations for the next events in the above series. Its from the ACU Trials and Enduro Commitee. Basically it says a protest has been received regarding eligibility of certain bikes which have been competing in the series. It goes on to say that at future events there will be strict machine examination for compliance with the regulations especially in regard to class eligibility. Sounds like a good idea, although a shame if things have been allowed to get out of hand in the first place. Maybe it will encourage more to have a ride in this excellent series.

For anyone who didn't already know, if you go on the manx radio website and click on Webcams, there are a few around the island including one on the mountain where the course for the two day and the Classic two day crosses the railway lines on the way down towards Laxey- next best thing to being there if you didnt get to go!

Thanks, last one this year.Its the only 'holiday ' the missus has, and its wearing a bit thin after 28 years.

For once, everything organised for the Manx Classic- ferry booked months ago. Had a letter this morning- Steam Packet Co has 'revised' our sailng times due to 'ongoing technical problems with the vessel'(really inspires confidence about even going!) Now we arrive just in time for signing on - providing the boat's not delayed/breaks down, effectively losing nearly a day. If thats not bad enough, try contacting them, you just sit in a queue for hours, on a national rate call, adding to their profits. E mails ignored of course. Has anyone got any sense out of these cowboys?

Sounds like it may be too far gone, at least to be worth what its cost when finished. I'd Check availability and cost of gearbox and ignition parts first, that may decide for you whether to go ahead. Iv'e picked up two of these in the past (for the forks etc) and both had 'died' due to ignition failure.

Try shortening the springs a little- between 1 and 2 inches, and making up that amount with a spacer. If you shorten a spring it becomes stronger, strange, but true. Sammy Miller does springs for your purpose, allegedly Bultaco Pursang items, but i've found them no stronger than the ones i've removed.

Iv'e never had any luck getting one to stop on, and if it comes off at a trial theres no chance of getting it back on without a compressor. For what its worth, dont use neat fairy liquid to lubricate the bead either. These products use salt as a thickening agent and it helps to rot the rim from the inside.A wm3 rim is only just over 1/4 inch wider than a wm2 so i dont think you could tell any difference.

I didn't either. I wasn't aware either until recently that the float level influences the mixture thoroughout the range. After years of problems with the Ariel spitting at the worst possible time, i raised the float level and it cured it.

Its all good stuff. All that about clearing the pilot bush seems a bit over the top though- simply drill out the pilot bush and fit a removeable pilot jet in the threaded hole where they used to be on early concentrics.

No, they arn't up on Midland Classic's site yet either- you have usually forgotten about it before they go on. As for tmx news, forget it, save your money, out of about about 30 trials i did last year, only 5 ever made it to the paper, so i gave up with it.Got sick of reading about the usual handful of names as well, such as 'Birks' and their pathetic tests of new bikes , where its obvious they darn't say anything bad, or they wont get another one to try next year.

I went- was my shortest trial ever, got a puncture after 3 sections, didn't try too hard to mend it either, it was a little warm.... reckon someones having you on about those brakes- if not, find out whose doing them, i'm interested!

Upgrading riders to the main route would be fine if the riders are young and/or improving.However, i suspect riders refered to are approaching 70 years old, and no matter how good they have been, its perhaps understandable that they want a less challenging ride. It does surprise me though that riders who only feel at ease with the easier sections during the year go on to ride premier events such as the pre 65 Scottish, surely more challenging than any of the pre club trial main routes?..