tony283

Just has to be Dave with that old beret! Tony

Alan, The bigger flywheels are much better for those of us that never use the clutch, allowing the motor to rumble on at idle without stalling. Re the gears and sprockets check to see what chain you are running. Normal set up was 13T and 53T with the 428 but is better with a 12T front. 11T is just too low. If you have the 520 chain then 12T and 42T seems about perfect. Tony

Yes stick with 53T on the rear. Tony

The Forks on the 74 A model have the drain plugs on the outside of the leg and when you drain them the oil will shoot out at 90 degrees to the wheel missing the drain pan by about 2-3 feet. The later models other than the A have the drain plug at the rear of the leg and when you drain the oil by compressing the leg the oil should shoot out all over your shoe or trouser leg! I still use 150cc per leg on both sets. Tony

Personally I use 150cc of a 10 grade oil in each leg and this works well for me at 200lbs. Tony

The standard for this model would be 13T front and 53T rear. For modern trials and the tighter turns followed by bigger steps I would use a 12T front sprocket. The 11T can be used but it is just a little too low geared in first. If you are changing sprockets, unless they are in very good condition change them ALL and fit a new chain and tensioner block. Tony

OTF, it just might be your lucky day! PM me to discuss. Tony

May sound daft but have you flattened the KEY TAB on the sprocket? Screwdriver and light hammering to flatten the tab then undo conventionally. Not usually too tight as it has the tab. Tony

As David says its First oversize. Removal of the nut can be difficult but do make sure you have all the crud off the head. Sometimes the combo socket will work on rounded nuts or in the past I have used an open ended spannner between the fins to gain access (level with the top of the reed ass) but this can be a knuckle buster! Look on ebay for the replacement bolts. Tony

The joys of a Cub. In years gone by many riders would use the "WFO" position as an AUX Kill switch, and this it does very well using the Amal. If your club doesn't let you use the Del Orto then use a slow action Throttle with the idle set up a bit. I changed to a Serco pre jetted Delorto and there are absolutely NO excuses now as power is instant off idle with no chance of stalling. A great shame you can't use them in some Pre 65 events. Tony

Full report and pictures of Ahrma Trials 2009 Round 2 on my "blog". Results on www.ahrma.org Tony

The TY250A, which from those numbers is what you have, is a very simple machine to get running VERY smoothly. First thing are you running on posilube or on pre mix? Second despite having acquired a used carb, what were the jettings? If you are running on premix, was there, or is there any of the old fuel in the tank? What spark plug are you using? Should be B7ES. Points and condenser? Points should be cleaned and set to 15 thou, plug to 22 thou. You can get to the points through the flywheel holes. The timing is a Fixed stator, no adjustment. If you are on premix is the oil hole into the cyclinder sealed off? Finally the wiring from the coil to the top coil .... is it hard and brittle, very common problem? Having checked all that lot, it might be the ignition side oilseal or poor inlet air from the filter. If it starts well I would suggest it is unlikely to be the oil seal as you need crankcase compression, usually 3 kicks. Most TY250A engines run forever but being old the rings could be stuck in their grooves. You might also check the reed petals and see if they open and close. Good luck! Tony

Full report and pictures of Day 1 of the AHRMA Trials at Buckeye AZ are now up on my blog. Full results are available on www.ahrma.org in the Trials Section........ yes, more "old men in a parade!" Tony

The essence of the SSDT is to finish at all costs. The event is one of endurance both personal and bike. Your aim is to be prepared on both counts but Scotland has it's own Gods who favour some and put the fickle finger of fate on others. My first attempt in 1970 had a "double" on day 1 with the chain jamming everything on Pipeline and then later the left side swinging arm bolt falling out on the 247 Montesa on Blackwater. Used a screwdriver as a footrest in the hole and brought her home on day 1 and went on to win both the R.A. Castle and John Bull Trophies..... never give in ! 71-74 no issues until 75 when Ossa mounted I shortened the wheelbase by 3" in an unwise attempt to clear the "Ravine" on Rannoch. That was Monday and as Team Captain I was feeling somewhat foolish but I limped it round to the finish. Scotland forever.... don't cheat it's hard enough as it is, whether that be 1970 or 2009! Tony

If you look at my "blog" you will see "ripling" forearm muscles created through years of riding. It may win, and has done, prizes with the ladies and you can ask yourself how was this achieved by an old **** of 62? Years and years of pre trial training of 1/2 pint/section the night before. It worked for 8 SSDT's and if you wish to arm wrestle me, be my guest. Tony

Ho, ho! .....as I said in an earlier comment Spain's revenge for sinking an Armada. Snap-On make a 1/4 drive 7mm long shank allen which fits perfectly down the barrel holes and because it fits it won't slip out or bend. A long handled socket drive usually gets them free. Oh yes, when rebuilding make absolutely sure there is none of the lower gasket left as the smallest microbe will be enough to cause an airleak and squealing noise. Strange as the top end without a gasket doesn't leak at all. Tony

IRC make both tubed and tubeless tyres. I inadvertently fitted a tubeless on a Yam (with a tube of course) and have had zero problems. Tony

Ah yes, the Montesa 348 and 349 ! This was Spain's revenge for us sinking their Armada. Certain parts of the machine will test the patience of a Saint ! The original engine sprocket being one of them being on a keyed shaft. This normally has to be removed using a grinder over the key. Strangely the replacement Talon sprocket is just a press fit with no keyway. Also down there the sprocket guard has an interesting and quite worthless bolt that goes all the way through the engine and you will need to remove the clutch cover to get at the other end of it. The airbox as you have already noted was prone to cracking and I've used a podded filter to do away with the entire fitting. They do tend to be plug and condenser critical so keep some spares handy. The engine has its own quirks with NO head or exhaust gaskets, and removing the front pipe is a bit like an Arabic puzzle ring! Spend 20 mins wrestling with it without any result..... walk away and it falls on the floor! If you need to remove the barrel you will need a narrow deep well 7mm allen socket, which of course we all have and while you are sourcing that one might as well get a 4.5mm one as well. Finally the intake rubber boot can often develop hairline cracks so check it and replace. Great bike, have fun. Tony

My Full SM Cub has the same tensioner which works well but the SM footrests are TOO High and TOO far forward. You may want to check this once they are fitted. The height was 14" and only 75.5" from center of rest to front wheel spindle. It seems the ideal is 12" and 77-78" or you will end up with too much weight on the front end and have some interesting rides in the classic "round the tree and down the hill" sections! Having been over the front 4 times before discovering this it has been corrected and is now in the No excuses class with near perfect handling. If you lower the pegs you will also need to manufacture a rear brake stop as the SM pedal uses the engine case and is too high up for a normal foot. See my "blog" for the modifications. Tony

Alan, Usually trouble free, couple of "gottchas" remember to put the inner clutch push rod in before jointing up on assembly and also the kickstart spring. Tony

Alan, Both systems work well providing everyone is suitably briefed. I can go either way, buddy checking, in small groups can be very sociable and great fun especially if checkers are in short supply, however some riders prefer to circulate at their own pace rather than wait or be called to ride when they personally want to spend longer viewing and walking a section. Tony

Weather perfect, 24 sections layed out with a LOT of variety, TWO, yes, 2 graded climbs so a different one each day. We are ready.... just waiting for YOU! Tony

I have sat and read this thread several times, and for the first few said "let it go" don't get involved, but now for the good of the sport and the SSDT feel compelled to comment. For those that have never ridden the event then perhaps their understanding of the magnitude of this blatant cheating can not be understood, for the rest then lets dissect it for what its worth and how it sours the cream for everybody else. Cheating, or an element of "gamesmanship" or whatever we want to call it has always been present in all major long distance prestigious motorcycle events. I can think back to my 8 rides and finishes in this magnificent event and how minor mishaps could be "handled". On my first ever SSDT I was briefed to somehow get some of that "paint" at the weigh in.......... duly done, the support crew went through ever tin of Humbrol enamel to get a close colour match lest we needed it for a "gamesmanship" marked part change. Of course if this was needed then it had to be suitably disguised in good bog mud and filth before being fitted and would stay in place until the original, suitably rectified, could be swopped back. On a personal side what I damaged in Scotland was NOT rectifiable, a 6" flat in the front wheel and a much shortened frame on the OSSA in 75 when I had the only Ossa with a 49 inch wheelbase, and that was done on Rannoch on the Monday...... but I dragged that thing round to the finish for the Team. You can imagine my dissapointment when my good friend, now deceased, Ted Thompson MBE, crashed on Mamore road on Friday afternoon and broke his left forearm. Yes, we could have put a substitute rider on his machine and let the "unknown" ride back to Edinburgh..... but WE DIDN'T! By all means try and finish the event by whatever means you choose, if YOU get caught, as in this case, then accept it, or if you are a complete DUMB A*** and change to a dissimilar machine then you deserve all the punishment and loathing you deserve. A "Sporting Holiday in the Highlands" is meant to be ridden by "Sportsmen", and clearly this individual, no matter how good his riding talents maybe does not fall into "that" category. I.M.H.O. this individual should be banned from the event for LIFE, and also the Pre 65. Maybe we will soon be seeing other testing for performance enhancing drugs and the cheating involved there? Thank God we didn't have alcohol testing back in the 70's or my Sponsors , Glenfarclas and McEwans Heavy/Export/Special would have been out of business! Tony

The Ty250A came fitted with a TK carb, which was good for its time and if you can find a good second hand one will work well enough if you want to use the original posilube system. If you no longer have the oil system fitted remember to blank off the inlet at the base of the cyclinder. I would use a new Mikuni VM26 with 150 main and 35 Pilot, and maybe change, or clean the old reeds. There will be a TK for sale on e-bay soon! The TK was only fitted to the TY250A and was replaced in all subsequent years by a Mikuni and now with our latter day knowledge the VM 26 is the best and most reliable carb for this mark of machine. Go NEW and use 40:1 premix and for the 50 quid the money will be well spent and the performance spot on! I've rebuild about 30 TY250A's and never had a single problem with these carbs in reliability or woof! Mick Andrews enjoyed riding one of mine, and even signed the bike after winning with it. Tony

Here we are in Az, weather perfect for Trials, though personally not enough mud, about 10 of the 24 layed out already. Last year's Graded Hill was lost to MX but I'll find a NEW one and we do have some new rocks/concrete/busted blacktop for those that don't like sand. I'm thinking we could get a 50+ entry so come on down and join the fun. For those riding MX on Sunday we will extend the time limit for the Trial. Please bring some checkers/observers. Tony