enrico

Thanks for the idea, any way of testing them? Update from tonights attempt - have removed and cleaned the reed valve - and the carb again. Reassembled without air filter or exhaust. After a few kicks it fired and then ran (noisily without the exhaust) and as I had disconnected the run/start/stop switch I turned off the petrol and ran it until it ran out. Feeling very smug with myself, I put the exhaust and electrics back on, but having done that it then wouldn't fire or start - grrrrr. So, I removed them again and now it still wont even fire? Could it be due to a weak spark that will give enough to run once started but not to start (easily)?? There appears a strongish spark at the ht lead, but not so strong once the plug and cap are fitted (both new). Anyone have any idea on how I can test the coils/electrics - presumably there should be a resistance figure that I could check for on the coils and the other electrical bits before I throw the damn thing across the workshop!

Hi all, I realise that this is not strictly trials related, but if I get it resolved then we may have another member of the trials riding fraternity!! I have acquired a PW50 which is old but essentially in pretty good nick. It was left standing for some time and no longer runs. I have flushed the tank, cleaned out the carb - which had filled with 'varnish' like old petrol deposits. Jets were partially obscured but have cleaned and blown through and all appear ok now. Electrics - there appears to be a spark but not a big fat one. Does anyone have any info on testing the electrics / coils on these things? Having 'googled' the issue I have tried disconecting the handlebar switch - but to be honest the spark is still pretty much the same. Have fitted a new plug. The bike still wont start - doesn't even fire - but strangely the plug doesn't appear to be getting wet. Do these bikes (late 80's vintage? Red and white) have reed valves? If so presumably they are in the carb manifold where it abuts the cylinder - which looks to be a pig to get at/out? Any ideas or help gratefully received as I have a little person busting my a**e as to when their bike will be running, and I'm too old to keep pushing it (and them) around the garden making motorbike noises as I push them!! Thanks!

I find it incredible that people/promoters/organisations will go to such a large amount of trouble and expense to put on an event of this stature and then miss out on a huge amount of post-event publicity for the sake of a press release - or event write-up? This website has a global audience - not just National - and for a team looking at running and (presumably) publicising next years World round this was a golden opportunity to 'sing the praises' of the event/location/team etc. We run much smaller club/centre level events, and I am well aware that it is the same few people who do the organising, laying out, taking down and doing the results etc, but in reality it takes very little time to do a short write up and include a set of results - and this event is the British Experts after all - not just some club trial. Maybe the results will be in this weeks T&MX - and thus in next weeks cat litter tray - but if they had been on here they would have been read by a global audience and received the opportunity for comment and feedback? Missed opportunity I feel.....

Cobblers! Seriously, there must be one near you and probably the best bet for any sort of permanent repair.

With reluctance the decision has been taken to postpone tonights evening trial due to the severe weather forecast. This posibility was discussed earlier in the week and the decision at that time was to continue as we are aware that many members have to make special arrangements to get to the evening trials. Since then we have been contacted by a significant number of riders who advised us they would not be attending due to the forecast. For those who still wished to attend, my apologies. The evening trial is very much a social occassion and it was clear that this event was to be poorly attended and that the cost of food and land would mean a financial loss to the club. It is intended to hold the event on the 16th July and this will be confirmed in a further circulation. Further updates will be available on the Club website www.rrnd.co.uk

I fancy the new Beta Rev4 but in the deep South East (UK) they are as rare as hens teeth. A local dealer does have one in stock (and it has been in stock for some time - so thats a bit worrying?) but it is only available to try 'around the car park'? The point of this post is to ask if anyone in the South (East) has a Rev4, where do they ride and what do they think of it? I would dearly love to try one at an event, but never see them around here. Riding in a car park is nothing like the slippery climbs and tree roots that are our normal fare so where do I have to go to try one for real? I would seriously consider buying one, if there were one around to try. However, as no-one appears to have one there are none around to try, thus I won't buy one, so no-one else can try it and they wont buy one either ???? Perhaps John Lampkin can provide me with one to ride in South Eastern events, for a while, to promote the bike and offer test rides to all and sundry..... Obviously, I would be prepared to forego wages and win bonus' if such an offer were forthcoming....

...and what fun they were! 6 riders in a section at once, mayhem for the poor observers but a couple of hours of flat out riding. I seem to recall that Milton Buzzards ran one once at Bleak Hall, Leavesden used to run one (remember them...) but I think that the Brill mudfest was always the best - followed by the pub afterwards. Shame they don't get run anymore - so maybe they might catch on again? In the past it was just the one course with all riders doing the same sections - is that the plan for this type of event? I can't see the MX bikes bringing anything other than additional entries and a lot of noise! Still, a few tough sections and they would at least provide some grip ;-)

Gavit, RRND are going to hold a series of beginner 'training' trials over the coming months, usually being run on a Saturday. These are really aimed at beginners and will comprise a few simple sections with 'observers' to offer assistance and guidance if required. Details are on the RRND website (www.rrnd.co.uk) and the first one is being held at South Godstone,which is just south of Junction 6 on the M25, on Saturday 1st March.

Whilst I am also in favour of 'TSR 22B - No Stop' I think that Telecat sums up the problem in that a large part of the Trials community will still want to ride whatever is chosen for the top levels of the sport. This decision may be age related or ability related, although I fall into the wrong category on both counts, but until the FIM decree no stop for the top levels then I cannot see us getting agreement at National/Centre/Club level. John - I must say that it is refreshing and helpful to read your points and comments and it gives one the feeling that at least there is a path of communication into the hallowed halls of the ACU for the average clubman.

Check the hose where it comes out of the water pump housing very carefully. Pull it and stretch it to make sure that there are no tiny pinprick type holes in it. Even a tiny hole will lead to loss of pressure and overheating. I had exactly this problem in France this year. I had caught the hose on a rock and whilst I initially thought that I had just scraped it closer inspection revealed that it was leaking slightly. This leak was not enough for steam or water to pour out, and would only seep out when the hose was stretched at the point of failure. This resulted in overheating and poor running as you would expect.

Perce, thats not very PC but probably the funniest thing I have read for a while I have just choked on my coffee and sprayed it over the keyboard. Trouble is that everyone here at work now knows that I am not 'working'!!

Riding this trial for the first time this year, and I too was hoping for dry dusty days/sections rather than the rain fest that we have been having recently! Looks like I will need the waterproof after all. Munch, I assume that the Dabster is not competing this year?

Thanks guys. Now I've just got to decide if its worth going for the 10Mp 'X' version, or using the difference to buy another lens instead. Think I've answered my own question...

Hi Copemech, So which camera did you eventually go for? Thats a great photo - taken with which camera? I am in a similar predicament to you, but I already have a Canon SLR (non-digital) and was tending towards sticking with Canon so that I could make use of my current lenses. However, I read about underexposure issues with the 400D model on several forums ahd that has put me off the Canon? The D80 is great but seems a bit heavy - especially for the wife, so I'm still dithering! The D40 is nice and small, but wondering whether to go for the older model D50..... Cheers.

It does sound luck muck, or water, in the carb - which wouldn't be surprising after the rain that fell on Sunday! Anyway, you need to get it fixed before this weekend as there is an old boy on a Scorpa who will be looking to kick your butt otherwise..

I've got to agree with Kinell on this one, that this has been the most interesting topic I have read for a while. Billy, you're posts are interesting and also well written which is a refreshing change, please keep it up! I'm sure that this is an area of great interest to a lot of people, no matter which stage of their riding career they may be at, nor at what level they ride. I realise that this subject is a career for Billy, and thus advice should be paid for - but a few pointers for us trials buddies would be great. Also, the more people who read Billy's posts then become aware of him and his (professional) area of expertise, so its a form of advertising anyway? I am also particularly interested in the hair colour / density recovery. The three hairs that I have left on my head have now gone grey - "do you think it is too late Doc?" Just how much water will I have to drink to get my flowing locks back....?

To those planning on riding the Crawley clubs South Coast Group Trial this Sunday, the venue had to be been changed due to a waterlogged car park at the original (Birchanger) venue. The new venue is Faygate Tip at Colgate, which has a hard standing car park area. Any further questions please contact Bob Collins.

Ok guys, just to add my two-penn'orth...and risk global abuse. Over the years (I am an 'older' rider who still rides the Expert route - albeit badly!) I have had all the major brands - and as stated here every bike around today has far more capability than we do. (Apologies to some members here - Scottie/JRSunt/Grimbo (- if he ever visits) etc who I know can ride a bit!) The main thing is to get out there and try one. I did, and I loved it - hence I now ride a Scorpa. The build and quality of the components is great, the Yam engine is bulletproof, it pulls and grips like sh*t to a blanket and yet will rev to high heaven. I fell that it has improved my riding by some 10%. In other words I am now getting better results on the Scorpa, and enjoying the ride - which is surely what it is all about? (At my level anyway.) There are some downers - it can be a pain to work on. The carb is cleverly hidden somewhere in the middle of the bike, requiring the removal of various bits to get at it - OK so some claim you can get the carb out without any problem - but I can't... The stickers are blown on, and they blow away just as easily and for me it was a bit of a culture shock not having a pretty alloy frame after two Monts and a Beta. However, when you are actually riding the thing - these things do not matter - and the riding has improved my confidence and hence results. Hope this helps = probably not! Some people call the Scorpa an 'old mans bike' but I feel that it gives you a bit more time, and a bit more control between the throttle and the back tyre on the mud/rock/tree root. Maybe the longer stroke engine helps, it certainly helps me. Go on - try one and see.

I got mine - thanks Dave...but then I was in the first five on the list - were you Dabster???

thanks for the replies Guys. Dabster, back off - or I'll tell everyone about the time we slept in the back of your Ford Escort van - and you made me sleep the side with the petrol filler. I didn't realise why until in the middle of the night all I could smell were petrol fumes. The b****dy tank/filler leaked and you knew it

At last Sundays trial I managed to lose the small bolt which stops/adjusts the return of the front brake lever. This is the bolt in the front which (if I remember correctly - as once it goes missing you soon forget the detail..) doubles as the brake light switch. This didn't appear to be much of a problem as everything worked fine, just the lever blade moved further away from the handlebar than normal. However, luckily for me, just after riding the last section the little widget which actuates the master cylinder piston fell out as well, and thus no front brake. Obviously, trying to find said widget in the mud was a fruitless task! The reason for posting is that I am told you can only buy the 'widget' as part of a seal replacement kit - at

Luke, Great bike, lovely engine, bullet proof, soft power with a powerful top-end. Very pleased with mine and enjoy riding it. I rode Mont and then Beta and found the change from an alloy frame a bit of a culture shock - but only when looking at the bike in the workshop - splatter on welds on the Scorpa frame was something I had forgotten about. However, quality of components is just as good (actually a lot of them are the same anyway) as all the other bikes and I have had no problems with mine. I like the power delivery of the Yam engine, grips well in our muddy conditions down here, but flies when you get beyond half throttle. Working on the bike is a tad awkward as space around the engine is somewhat limited. According to Billy T you can get the carb out without taking the airbox off, but its still a tank off job (albeit only two screws). As always, ride someone elses bike, it matters far more how you 'feel' on the bike, and if it suits you, rather than if bike x is better than bike y. Hope this helps....

Please Sir, me Sir, It is after 8 o'clock - my Mum is calling me......I can't stay up any later...

Marky,

Marky Boy, Tell him to make sure it protects the water pump, if possible, and he will sell loads. I'll take one anyway!