strugglinon

I've got a full gasket set to go on so I'll try it with a light smear of grease. Thanks for the advice.

Thanks Goudrons, I was going to use a non hardening Loctite gasket sealant, but will grease do the job? If so, then happy days.

So my saga continues, After an engine failure at Browriggs a few weeks back, I finally had time to strip the old bugger down. Prior to me getting the bike, it had had new main bearings and seals. Happy days. It's never ran right though. Had a lot of good advice from you cracking folk on the forum, lots of things to look at. People kept saying "crankcase oil seals? Water in the oil? Leaky gasket? I said, well there all new, I can't be that, but bloody hell, it was! Split the cases tonight and there's milky goo in the crankcase. Gasket was brand new but had failed. Water pump seals had gone too along with kickstart shaft seal. I've never been this far into an engine before, but the workshop manual is brilliant. At least I know what's going on now. Good job I enjoy being in the shed. Any hints or tips on the rebuild would be very gratefully appreciated. Graeme

Hey Tony27, Yeah, the pump shaft is worn too so it's back onto Splat shop again. The head is off and they look like original O rings with a bit of dirt around them. Looks like a full strip and start again.

Ok, so at the Brownrigg trial on Sunday, everything was going well. 3rd lap in the bike began to run badly. On a steady throttle between sections it kept losing power then cutting out. After a long uphill drag to section 3 it died at the end of the climb then a huge cloud of white smoke from the exhaust. It started after 8-9 minutes, limped back to the car. Got it home, half of the coolant has gone, stripped it tonight and there's milky residue around the kickstart shaft seal. Lots of muck around the water pump seals. Lots of black slimy carbon on the piston crown. I'll replace the gaskets and seals. What else should I be looking for? Thanks for any advice. Graeme.

Hi UKsg85, I'd say don't be to fussed about what bike you buy. I bought an 02 Sherco 290. Engine had been rebuilt but the running gear was a bit tatty, it's taken me a while to tidy it up, tyres, seals, plastics etc. Cheap isn't always best, buy on condition, not looks. We've a trial on on Sunday near Plumpton. Come along and say hello. Graeme.

Hi Scott, I'm not that far ahead of you in the trials game, started in January. I'm up near Caldbeck and know of a couple of places to practice, and by God do you need to practice!! The last trial at Aughertree was my first one and after initially feeling a bit lost, I got cracking to a few lads and lasses and it was much better. The weather was bloody awful though! The next trial is next weekend then again on 3rd April near Plumpton. If you need a riding buddy with similar experience give me a shout, I'll show you what I know. Cheers Graeme

So it turns out that the carb doesn't have a link pipe. It's been removed. The filter was a bit dirty and a little crap in the bowl. Air box was drenched, cleaned dried and filter oiled. Refitted and sealed up the gap between airbox and the fender bracket. Also it had the wrong plug in. Started after a while and ran noticeably crisper. Need to do a long run on it to be sure, but it seems to be a lot better.......

Hi, yeah I went to it. Was a bit lost to be honest to begin with, but after I'd got a few sections under my belt it was good. Got to figure out the whole flag thing, made a mess of some of the sections just by getting lost! I'll be at the next one though!

Thanks for the advice lads, looks like I've a bit of fettling to do. I'll try out the mods then report back. Thanks again

First trial under my belt today, but my bike keeps cutting out as if it's being starved of fuel. A really helpful rider on the same bike said that it's because the tap is below the carb and had rerouted his fuel line to stop it doing this. Anyone else had the same problem?, if so, how do I go about it? Cheers Graeme

It'll be my first trial, looking forward to it. Any other members going?

Cheers, will do. Had a day off today so I went along the old coach road to Saint John's in the Vale. Asked at a couple of farms for perission to ride in the quarry. No one knew who to ask but said just go ride anyway, so I did. Had a good play, but very aware of being alone if it all went south. Is there anyone out there who wants to show a noob the ropes in the north lakes?

Er, yeah. It'll be right though. I'll be amazed if I can clean any sections never mind go the right way too!

So what's the crack with the flags? Is it one colour on the left and one on the right? Or is it not that easy?

Thanks everyone, yeah, the whole flag thing looks confusing to a newbie. Experience on bikes? On a trials bike? About 2 hours! Road bikes..... 10 years, mountain bikes... 22 years. It seems to feel very similar to my downhill bike, only a lot heavier, and my feet don't go round in circles. So I'm straight into the fire really, Looking forward to meeting a new group of people and hopefully driving home with no broken bits....me or the bike! I'll be on an old Sherco 290 with an orange jacket, wobbling around and asking loads of stupid questions. Graeme.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'd not considered using super unleaded petrol. Do most riders use it? I'm on an '02 Sherco 290 if it makes any difference. The slightly loose lever clamp is a good shout, I do that on my mountain bikes too, saved more than a few levers in the past.

Well, I've got a bike, a lid, boots and transport. My first ever trial is 3 weeks away close to home at Aughertree (Uldale). Apart from not forgetting the above items and fuel, are there any essentials/ tips that the good people of trials central can offer/ take the p*** as appropriate?

Well, got me a bike, got me some gear, got me a club membership and a licence. All I need now is to get out and ride. Anyone near Carlisle know where I can wobble around?

Thanks for the info. Yeah, should have a bike by then. Looking forward to it.

Hi Glynn, I almost got there, then got called out to work (Electricity North West). Managed to get back just as everyone was packing up. Had a look around though, met an old school mate. Paul Richardson from Hesket. Then nearly bought a bike off a friend of a friend. When's the next trial? Graeme

Great stuff, thanks b40rt

Can any of you kind folks tell me what time to be at Nord Vue on New Years Day? Believe it's near High Hesket? Cheers Graeme

Cool, will do. Thanks for the help and heads up.

Thanks for all the advice folks. I'll have a look at the goings on at Armathwaite next week. Sort myself out with a bike and wobble about for the crack. Must be a two wheeled thing, people are so helpful. Cheers Graeme