ritcrider

Sounds like a 96??? I think they had a black tank with yellow trim.

Sounds like piston slap to me........ie, too much piston skirt to cylinder wall clearance. My 02 280 pro got very noisy.......still ran fine but you could run the risk of the skirt breaking off and grenading the engine. Then again, I've seen people get away with it for years as stated above. I replaced the cylinder and piston in mine and it is now very quiet at idle. I think if you want absolute certainty, replacing the piston and cylinder as a matched set is the way to go. My brother owns the exact same bike as you do and his is also very quiet at idle........I'd personally find another bike that's tighter unless you don't mind repairs or the money associated with them.......... Just my $.02

My 02 clunks a bit from 4 to 5.......... not really loud but you can feel the shift. I think it's because theres such a big difference in ratios between 4 and 5th gear. Mine is quite and smooth other than that........

Thanks guys!

Is it necessary to use resistor type spark plugs in a 02 Pro? I ran across 2 brand new NGK BP5ES' in my toolbox that I bought from RYP over a year ago....(That's all he was selling at the time) I never used them as the Bosch that's in the bike has been fine so far. I know NGK list the BPR5ES for the TXT pro. I believe the only difference is the resistor that suppresses electrical noise/EMF. (Usually more important in modern cars that have computers controlling everything.)

Since I didn't get a manual with my son's 97 Easy, I'm wondering what type of transmission oil fluid is recommended? I use ATF in my GG 280 pro. Someone told me the Easy used 10W30 motor oil....Any info would be appreciated.

Sorry, let me clarify I bought it used from Ohio (USA) and it has always run on the rich side. Not to the point where it runs bad or anything but the plug has always been a little black and sooty and exhaust smokes a little. I just rebuilt the top end, new barrel, piston and rings and it runs and starts easier than it ever did since I got it. Runs nice and quite also (Bad rattle before due to excessive piston cylinder clearance) It is showing a still rich condition on plug reading. Air cleaner is new, clean and freshly oiled son intake is not a problem. I'd just like to get the plug running nice and tan. Throttle responce isn't to bad...maybe slightly bluberry off idle.

Thanks for the info I'm assuming you mean to make sure the packing/muffler isn't clogged?

The spark plug in my 02 Pro is black and sooty....not a nice tan color and I'm getting smoke and splooge out the exhaust. Apparently she's running a little rich so my question is should I change the main, pilot or drop the needle a notch (I'm assuming it's adjustable like most?) I'm at sea level so any jetting info would be helpful. Just rebuilt the top end so the engines nice and crisp....air filter is clean and oiled. I'd like to get the throttle reponse cleaner as it is a tad bit blubbery off idle. Many thanks

Neil I also have an 02 pro.....I wanted to change the fluid so I placed a plastic hose on the bleeder nipple (Servo end on clutch cover) and ran it into an old plastic soda bottle which had some brake fluid in th bottom. The fluid serve to prevent air from backing up into the system. Make sure the hose is submerged into the fluid in soda bottle. I remove reservoir cover from clutch master at handle and proceded to pump it few times then hold the lever to the bars.....crack the bleeder quickly and this will let out some fluid and hopfully air. Repeat this process filling the master as necessary. Keep this up until you see clean fluid comming out of the plastic tube and into the bottle. Alternately, you could pressure fill bleed from the servo end if you want to purchase a big syringe. I did mine as described and didn't have any problems.

I got a 97 for my son also. It's a great bike..........good and sturdy for beginners if not a little overerly peppy with the Rotax engine.

I think changing the cover as you stated was/is the ultimate cure for what ails the 02's. I've talked to a few dealers and most stated the ideal situation is the later model clutch cover which has a smaller slave and better seals. I was told using that in conjunction with a bigger (Magura) master yields exceptional clutch control. I guess I've been lucky and once bled properly, haven't had an more problems.

Thanks guys....Lewisportsusa had just what I was looking for :-)

I don't think it's the clutch plates. It sounds more like your getting air in the system after it sits....Are your Banjo fittings tight on master and slave ends? I suppose the seals on your master end could need replacing. I had a similar problem on my 02 but it turned out I had not bled all the air out of it. I'd try bleeding again and see if your clutch comes back....if so than after sitting it goes away, Air may be getting back in. I kept bleeding mine until all the fluid was replaced and it hasn't given me any more problems. Just my 2 cents....

I'm in USA (Rhode Island)........do you ship to US?

Does anyone know where I can buy the full length fork protectors for a GG 280 pro. I was working the RI event on Sunday and noticed a number of bikes had plastic protectors theat ran the full span including iiner fork tubes. Looked like they were held on with zip ties.

I'm in the US so I just swapped out my cylinder with a replated one. GG USA has them in stock fitted with the proper size piston. Seemed like the easiest route and it worked out well.

Hi guys The top end is done and it runs and sounds like new again! Thanks for all your input....and the grease on the o-rings was invaluable advice. One thing I did run into, I had to run a tap in the head bolt holes. There was so much plating build-up in the threads that I couldn't get the bolts in. So for anyone else using a replated barrel, get yourself a 6mmx1 tap and chase the threads. Cheers Cris

Thanks R2W I'll keep a close eye on it.

Thanks Sean!

Well guys Took it apart and the barrel and piston where *****. It looked like it had siezed at one point (I'm the second owner) the piston was severly scored, blow by everywhere below the piston rings. The bore coating burned through and piston cylinder wall clearance way to much......Sent the barrel off for trade on recoated one with fitted piston. Hope to have it back together within a week or so. Does anyone know how much anti-freeze it takes when refilling radiator? Thanks again for all you input.

I'll give it a try and see if it indeed is the clutch. It doesn't sound like it is coming from there though.........thanks for the input!

It's not the clutch.......I'm quite familiar with piston slap noise........also, moto cross bikes with power valves make a similar rattle at idle and goes away with throttle..........returns as engine rev's back down toward idle.

Hi all I've got a 02 280 pro that I purchased used a year ago. Since I've had it, it seems to have a fair amount of top end noise at idle (Piston slap) The bike runs great and has good compression. I'm not sure if its something I should worry about....I don't have another to compare it too but my sons Scorpa doesn't have the rattle at idle. There isn't a dealer in my area that could listen to it. I did talk to a dealer in another state and he stated he hasn't had to replace a piston or cyclinder on any of his pro 280's. Just rings. On motorcross bikes I've owned in the past, the solution has most often been piston replacement or rebore and piston replacement. I know the GG's have matched piston and cylinders in a-d flavors. A very expensive affair (Almost $500.00 to replace the matched set with old cyclinder trade in. Has anyone had to do this to their bikes? Appreciate any info you all could give me.