I only ask as I am on my third Sherpa,a 1977 190 and it has a great spark with the standard points set up.I had a 92 and a 198b and once the low tension coil was re-wound on the 198 I never had any more trouble with it.The timing is easy enough to set up with the points,a bit of thin paper,a TDC gauge with a dial gauge attached.
I'm not knocking the electronic systems,fit and forget,great.I suppose I like the satisfaction of setting an engine up myself and riding in a trial with no problems.
I had a main bearing collapse on my 198 a few years ago.The bike was still running,sounded like a bag of spanners mind.Changed them myself,pretty easy to do.
Don't be afraid to try,the gearbox all sits together in one crankcase half while you offer the other half to it when putting them back together.
I had a go on a mate of mine's 250 Beamish a few years ago.I like it,nice power,good suspension and well finished.The only negative I thought was the rake is very shallow,bit of a barge to get it to turn tight.Great over rocks in a straight line though.I don't know what the spares situation is like?
I don't think you can tell just by looking at it.Only way is to try a new one,I think.There is some resistance tests you can do,look on Bradford Ignition services website for details here http://www.uk-motoplat.com/home.html I'm not sure how reliable the tests are.My friend has a Bultaco Pursang classic scrambler which had no spark,I done the tests with my basic multimeter and it tested ok but a replacement stator fixed the bike.
Try taking the nut off the flywheel and tap it a few times on the outside,it may not be too tight on the taper and will come off.Mine came off easily.
I would also advise anyone to always have a kill switch wired up to their bikes.I have seen people fall off in mud or on a hill and the throttle jams wide open.With no kill switch how do you stop it? By the time you turn the petrol off and the carb emptys it will have done some major damage.Just my opinion mind.I race twinshock scrambles and am not allowed to ride without a kill switch.
I've never owned or ridden a Cota 315 so cannot really comment,I have heard they are a bit fiery top end.Others will know better.The Honda engine is bulletproof I think.
The only thing about the one on the bay is the 'never used in competition' line,I have experience of buying field/play bikes and they are usually abused.Tyres,chains and sprockets are usually shagged,oils are rarely changed,any old cheap lawnmower 2-stroke is used etc. You get the idea.My advice,leave alone and buy a bike that has been trialled and looked after properly by a rider who knows what he is doing.They are competition bikes after all they are made to compete.
On the bike to buy in your price range? Find the best Beta Rev 3 200 you can find.Dont think a 200 will be underpowered,they have plenty of go,lovely and soft at the bottom as well.You will find grip where other more powerful bikes will spin up.
Thanks for the advice Dave,I plan to ride at my own pace and try not to fall off.Looking forward to it though.
What bike did you ride? Pursang?
My friend Graham is also debuting tomorrow on a Mk 7 250 Pursang,I have been preping it for him and had a run out on it last weekend.It has a lot more torque than my 1983 Husky though the Husky has a better top end rush.The Pursang suspension is not so good either.
The owner seems very sure the timing side crank seal is the cause of the erratic running.It is a pretty easy job,why not spend the hour changing it,get the bike running properly and get full price for it.Is it just me but alarm bells would be ringing.I had 2 Bult's and re-built both of them but I could not tell you a crank seal was the cause of erratic running unless I changed it and it ran ok.The engine is very clean looking,surely it was rebuilt with new seals? It has hardly been used so cannot be leaking already surely.
Only 2 days to go until I make my scrambles debut on my twinshock Husky.I am riding the twinshock support class at the SCRMC scramble at Forfar on sunday.I have never ridden a scramble before in my life!
In general people favour the Yamaha and Honda twinshock bikes, as they have bulletproof reliability, ride very well, and have good parts availability. I contrast the Spanish bikes are not as reliable, and some parts for marques other than Bultaco can be difficult/impossible as there is not enough interest in these bikes for anyone in the UK to specialise in them, and provide the excellent spares service available to owners of the Japanese bikes.
I haven't much experience of other Spanish bikes but I would say that most Bults,if they are put together properly,are as reliable as anything from the land of the rising sun.
My first trials bike was a 247 Mont in a box of bits but after building it I could not get it to run properly,gave up and bought a 198b.
My boss at the garage I work says,he was an apprentice many moons ago working for his father in law.He was replacing a head gasket on a tractor engine and asked his father in law what torque setting for the head bolts.The reply was 'tighten then 'til they are just about to break'.
I assist in setting out trials for the Scottish classic club and it is very difficult to please everyone.I look at certain sections and think they will be too hard but am amazed at the ability of some of the younger and A route riders who find it no problem.It is also very hard to judge conditions as a hillclimb can look easy on the first lap but come second or third it is a muddy mess and almost impossible for everyone.I suppose we are as guilty as anyone of using the same sections at the same ground year on year as we know they work.At least these riders were willing to give up their time to lay out a trial,so it turned out a bit too difficult,a lesson will be learned and do better next time.There is far too few people willing to assist.
My Techno was running fine at the last trial,washed it,cleaned and serviced it and put it in the shed for 2 weeks.Went to start it on a friday night to check everything was ok for a trial on the sunday and it refused to start.Had a spark but it was very weak.New stator and it started 2nd kick.
I doubt if the guy you bought it from had any idea,they just go I believe,mine did.
A stator from a 1999 Techno would fit,I imagine the CDI would as well,earlier Techno's were different.
If in any doubt phone Lampkin's they are very helpful,especially at emptying your wallet!
Bultaco Sherpa 350t
in Bultaco
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