tonybroad

as soon as you remove the flywheel you'll see if the woodruff key has sheared - there's a slot in the flywheel and a half moon shaped slot in the crank , if it's sheared the remains of the key will still be in there but in two pieces my flywheel nut was not very tight which i think was the problem with mine have you checked the obvious with yours like air filter, HT leads/connections, is fuel getting through, try the tap in the reserve position, make sure you have full choke (lever all the way up) when starting if it is the key you can get new ones on ebay or from a company called ondrives.com they are cheap enough good luck with it let me know how you get on Tony

it all turns out to be the woodruff key, (phew) plus the flywheel nut wasn't very tight - but i'm not surprised, what a tiny woodruff key for such a heavy flywheel thanks for everyones advice tony

bike is a 2002 290 - there's a flywheel puller on it's way so i'll find out soon enough - having been a mechanical engineer for over 20 years i have realised what i knew all along - i hate electricity - me and electricity have an understanding..... if i don't touch it.. it won't touch me thanks for everyones help and advice Tony

thanks guys, i'm leaning towards the key although the flywheel isn't loose and is still turning when i kick it over it may just be held on the taper, i get a strong spark every rev with the lightest of kicks so stator and coil etc are less suspect i just think it's sparking at the wrong time for some reason i'll let you know Tony

my trusty sherco 290 engine died today - had been running fine, no hint of anything wrong, getting spark, getting fuel, filter clean - it just died going up a hill - any attempt to start it just gives a single backfire 'pop' every so often and it's a backfire through the exhaust not the carb, fitted a new plug and it was the same can the timing 'slip'? i'd have thought with CDi that would be difficult - my only thought is whatever is used to pickup the spark is at fauly any ideas, has this happened to anyone else

i always wear a full face helmet, and can handle the jibes and comments from other riders and do OK with it - a friend of mine had his front teeth smashed out headbutting his handlebars (with padding) and still bears the scars where his teeth came through his lips, not a pretty sight, not worth it, i wear downhill bike body armour too just my penny worth Tony (Sherco 290 & Beamish Suzuki 250 twinshock)

the gear lever bolt has been left loose - is this a sign of the quality we can expect, no good being a good design if the quality isn't right must admit it's pretty cool though, i remember the old ossa's tony

Audi avant estate ? quick answer yes - i've got one i put protection on the bumper and leave the rear wheel hanging out then strap the boot lid to the front wheel - the tie down hoops in the boot hold it in place bit of a bind htough i'd fork out and get a towbar and rack tony

hi - i've just bought a 290 and i love it, my previous bike was an old 70's twinshock suzuki so a big leap in response and weight - just treat it with respect, it's as meek and mild as you like at slow speed then there when you need it, just don't let it bully you tony

i'm getting back into trials after a long absence i've got a 2002 Sherco 290 and noticed the radiator fan is on all the time, is this normal ? or has someone bypassed something somewhere

does anyone know of a suitable replacement gear lever for a silver engined mk2 beamish suzuki RL250 thanks in advance tony