andysv1k

i guess the consideration is whatever you flush them with has to be able to be fully removed, ie if water it can be dried or left to evaporate. How about flushing with the actual new fork oil, you need 600cc to fill them so use the spare 300cc to clean them out? only a suggestion, never tried it as to be honest it was easy to strip the internals out so flushed mine with water, forced a rag down the fork leg too to completely wipe it clean. Andy.

cant really help much on the tyre pressures, but how did the trial go? did you do much practice riding before entering one? also how easy did you find it? Andy.

Resurecting this thread as im about to change my rear wheel bearings. Ive done the fronts and although there was some swearing, it all went ok (the main swearing was done after i had refitted the front wheel cleaned everything off then walked in the house to see the spacer sat on the floor in front of me. so had to strip it again! Doh!) now ive got the rear off and the bearings are in a right mess, obviously havnt been changed in a long long time. There is a spacer on the outside of each bearing, this will not seem to budge at all. tried heat, tried leverage but they wont move. I also cant see how i can hit the bearings out from the other side as there is no surface to hit, its just a straight through tube. its an 03 txt by the way. I had to use a blow torch to do the fronts as they had obviously been in a long time too. Would appreciate and advice or magic 'make it easy' hints! Andy.

i know next to nothing, but if fluid was passing the seals in the slave, wouldnt that be just leaking into the clutch housing and therefore the fluid level would be dropping. Andy.

Is the valve in the right way round? Andy.

I can see it now, having to explain to the other half why the kitchen window is smashed "er.... it was my brakes....sorry " i had a go at it last night and it wasnt too bad. my little tip for removing caliper pistons... use a pair of long nose pliers and cover them in something rubber, i used self amalgamating tape as its soft and rubbery, you might get away with wrapping an elastic band around it. put the pliers inside the dish of the piston and apply a strong outward force (opening the pliers) then just gently pull away from the caliper. do it slowly otherwise you will be fighting the air rushing into the caliper that displaces the piston. hey presto out they pop. Andy.

Just been out and got a repair kit for the master cylinder and a seal kit for the caliper. hopefully after that the brake will be like new again! Now before my next question, an apology to the forum! my input to the forum has been pretty much take take take and will be for some time, the thing is, i know nothing about trials and very little about trials bike engines. As i learn i hope to be able to give back with help. so with that in mind.... Anyone got any tricks for getting the caliper pistons out? havnt tried yet so they may just pop out easily, but if the bike has any continuity they will be a right pig! bearing in mind that the master cylinder wont push them out (i guess i could sort that end first but i was hoping to strip the lot and clear out all the old fluid then rebuild as clean and fill it) Andy.

Thanks for the reply Chris, very helpful. I'll go have a search on youtube. I had all the front brake off yesterday, stripped the caliper and cleaned it all as it was a bit mucky! I have a feeling i need a new master cylinder as when i put it all back together, reverse bled it and there is still almost no movement of the caliper pistons. There is a little o-ring in the caliper that im going to change too as it didnt look in great condition, i dont think it was leaking, but while its in bits im gonna find a new one for it. What are peoples thoughts on third party master cylinders? Is it worth looking around, or just get an oem one? Im guessing when sorted i should be able to stand the bike on its end with one finger on the front brake? where as at the moment with four fingers pulling the lever right back to the bar the braking force is probably the same as shutting the throttle! Andy.

Came home today with a 2003 TXT 250 in the back of the van. Its my first venture into trials. ridden road bikes for years but only ridden off road a few times and never ridden a trials bike at all. Cant wait to get the bike sorted, find a place and start having a play on it. The bike has a couple of issues that i know of. May find more though as i go through it. Firstly the front brake is slightly less than useless. i suspected it just needed bleeding, but now im not so sure. gave it a quick go and couldnt seem to get any air out of it. will have to get myself sorted with a syringe so i can reverse bleed it i think. May also want a new master cylinder as it looks like its had a bodge repair. The forks need re-sealing, no idea whats involved in this or even if i can do it myself as ive never stripped a pair of forks before. Is it worth re-springing at the same time? Lastly the clutch seems to drag a little, although to be fair i havnt ridden it long enough to warm up properly yet so that may prove to be no problem at all. Well any advice people can offer, im all ears, had a look through this section of the site and lots of useful info already gained. Andy.

would 75ml be good for all years? Also, any reccomnedations for oil brand and type. Andy.

Sorry to hear your having probs Keta, it looked a good bike, just bad luck i guess (or dodgy seller ) as for the stuck bolt, try heat and shocking it too. maybe even easing oil. I hate it when you end up spending hours on a bolt or nut thats stuck when it should be a 1 min job! Andy.

That looks a really clean bike for the age. nice buy Keta. Andy.

ok, some say 4 stroke some say 2 stroke... either i buy a 4 stroke and take some bits out then, or find someone who makes a 3 stroke! Has anyone owned both and can tell me the practical differences between them while riding? Andy.

Im starting to look around at used bikes, just really taking in all the prices, watching them come and go on ebay etc so that when i choose to buy i will have a better idea on value. one question i have though is, as a complete novice to trials, but not to bikes, whats people's views on 2 stroke or 4 stroke as a first bike. I guess one of the biggest issues is maintenance as a 2 stroke will be far simpler to maintain. but what about actual riding? pros and cons to either? Thanks for any help and advice you can offer. Andy.

Hi all, another newbie here, Hi Keta, will be interested to hear how you get on as im just starting to look round to see whats out there as a potential first bike. I also have around the same budget in mind as you. Im older than you by a few years too! Never ridden a trials bike, but ive had road bikes for years. currently have a 2008 hayabusa so im very familiar with that rip your arms off feeling. Andy.