jon v8

Once again Woody has hit it right on the head - excellent post. The only thing I would add is that in most cases I have seen is that converted mono's are ridden by people who could win on a Puch Maxi,any standard twinshock would do them well enough to win.As a rider of less than good ability I dont care,I'm not a really competative person by nature although it was nice to see my name in TMX for the first time this week since riding the "hard route".Point is seeing the top riders winning on the cheat bikes must jar off lots of riders who are aiming for the top. As normal I'm heading the other way,I'm going to build a rigid Ajay/Matchbox to ride the easy route on,the last couple of years it seems there are less and less big bangers being used,so if anyone has any bits lying around - I'm in the market.

Been thinking about this one,how hard would it be to have a separate bit of the forum for club officials to organise dates on to avoid clashes ? It would also help if ALL the clubs were a bit more web friendly and used this forums calender.As for keeping a trial to rigid pre65 only,well thats fine but how long will it last ? The twin routes of the clubs that I ride,(Bath,Somerton,Golden Valley and SWCTA.) seem to manage to cater for everything from girder/rigid to over 50's on A/C mono's. We all share a common interest and ride at different levels,so as long as the sections are sensibly marked out I cant see how it can be any better.I currently ride twinshock,but in the next couple of years I have every intention of building a rigid pre65 to ride on some of the easier trials.Having a trial to ride is better than no trial at all,and if there are bikes of different types even better - half the enjoyment for me is looking at other riders bikes,their individual mods and often the very high standard of workmanship.

I have recently had exactly the same problem with a Miller tank,blocking the carb and causing wierd running issues.I took the tank off,flushed it then dried it thoroughly.Back together with a new filter and its fine.Thing is the tank has done at least 3 years work so I reckon its taken all that time of washing to loosen off the little bits of flashing on the inner seams.

There is some progress after almost 2 solid days of fiddling.(Not that it looks much.)Got my camera back and sort of sussed out how to post piccys direct.

Your comment about the PRO-X piston being the quietest is interesting,never heard of them.The only downside of the rebuild I did on one of my TY250 twinshocks about 3 yrs ago is the amount of top end noise - very disappointing after such a careful build.The only piston I could get at the time was an unbranded aftermarket one.It did not inspire confidence on close inspection - but it was all I could get.It runs beautifully and pulls well,but the top end rattle is not good.Its bad enough that if I went to look at it with a view to buy,I would use the noise as a lever to drop the price.So where can I get a PRO-X piston kit ?

All the Yam bits can be got from JK Hirsts in Yorkshire,or John Cane at Trail and Trials.As for the Whitehawk specific bits E-Bay or whatever you can find on the net.I'm sure someone will have better ideas but the 2 I suggested are a good start.As for what its worth,I guess alot depends on its condition and how much someone wants it.Its very easy to spend more on a bike than its worth,I paid

Either blocked jets in the carb or the engine is pulling in air from the main bearing seals,inlet rubber,base gasket etc.

Ta for that,it doesnt really matter what year they are,but people come into my workshop and see all the bikes and ask how old they are - seems a bit odd that I dont know.Mr Canes site has sorted that out.Think I'll get going making my own cables too,as I'll need some for the TY/XT225 project that I really need to get on with.

Hi Bo,it was a Bath classic trial,lovely day for it.Made me think that if it was as annoying on a day like yesterday - how poor it would feel on a rainy day in January ? Maybe we ought to ask riders to observe one trial in ten or something similar - to make them realise whats involved,esp when riders pile into a section without even looking.I know getting enough observers has always been a problem,but with the often 70-100 entries there are for pre65 and twinshock events there must be a way round it. Tell you what tho,its a good way of seeing all the bikes and different abilities - different ways of attacking a section etc.

I ended up observing this afternoon after riding one lap of a trial,my 10 yr old son was observing for the first time - he got very fed up with it,desparate to get it right for everyone.Reason for it - riders entering the section without being asked.They didnt even look at him,as there was no queue they just piled in.Not very good really as they couldnt see the whole of the section from the start,and the start of the next section was right next to it.The next section was taking heavy scores and a queue built up back into his section to the extent you couldnt get out through the ends cards. All I'm saying is - its not that easy so a bit of thought would go a long way.Esp as the trial couldnt start with out enough observers,there wasnt exactly loads of people wanting to do it.

Retarding the ignition will calm it down,but if its jerky I'd be looking at the carb too - a lean mixture will make the motor play around,esp on a hot day.Any air leaks,perished inlet rubbers or failing main bearing seals will make the carb untuneable.(As will a worn carb.)

Looked at the flywheel ring I took off this morning,its 27mm wide and the engine is the later type with parallel fins and no oil feed boss at the base of the barrel.All 4 of the engines I have are 493 prefix - is there a way to date them more accurately ? Is it me or are Venhill clutch cables not very good ? I wonder if the genuine Yam ones are still available.....

I took the ring off the 250 that I use probably a year ago,cant remember how wide it was,but i'm prepping the bike for a trial in the morning so I'll measure the width of the ring - you are welcome to it if its what you are after.I've got used to it without the ring,its easier to stop it with less flywheel effort - and I have yet to stall it.

Far too slowly for my liking ! Going to OZ on holiday has totally stuffed progress,plus work,(Tho I shouldnt complain - lucky to have any.) has been so busy, the couple of days off I planned to get on with it keep being put back.Cant wait to see if its any good - and possibly show up those Honda's ! To save starting another thread has anyone any ideas who sells those nice diamond sort of shape rear boxes that people use on Cider Tubs and Ceefer's etc.Someone had a load of them for sale at the last Bath Classic scramble on a stall,should have bought one.I reckon it would do the trick on my Serow,and save most of a day's work in making one.

The Fantic fair enough,but the Honda TLR,besides looking the dogs is hopeless - esp as standard,with its snatchy clutch and spit and stop engine.They were very sharp - too sharp if they did decide to go.Nice front forks though.Out of the crate a Fantic 200/240/300 or a 250Yam were a much better bet,the Yam I ride now is much better at following a line than the TLR ever was and you dont need to even think about the engine,its just soft suet pudding thats almost impossible to stall. Yet to try a Bultaco in a trial,looked hard for a good one before the current Yam,but seeing far too many Monts jump out of gear put me off even trying one back in the 80's.

Yep,its bugged me since I first started it up.I have built loads of engines over the years and take great care and pride over them.I know people expect aircooled two strokes to rattle,(most of the engines I build now are Rover V8's or 4,5 or 6 cyl diesels ) but I am disappointed,the only consolation is that it goes very well and is reliable - how a Yam should be.

There was a Velo at yesterdays Golden valley trial,think the motor was an MAC,and it was rigid.Sorry,no idea who the rider was,the only GV rider I know,(For my sins ! ) is that 'Erbert Steve Allen - He's rubbish !!

Am I right in thinking you are from Trail and Trials,did I buy some grey mudguards off you at Telford ? If thats so then do you have any genuine 250 twinshock piston/ring kits,as I searched for them when I did mine a couple of years back - to no avail.Ended up with a pattern one from Hirsts,(Excellent company/service) but never been too happy with the piston.Considering how much trouble I went to in building the motor up with a neat job of port chamfering and attention to bore size etc - it has always rattled.If if could get a Yam piston I'd have one in there,then it might sound as good as my sons TY80.(All genuine bits.)

Main bearing seals ?

I'd rebuild it,a rod kit is easy to get and fit,pretty much everything is available still from Yamaha.Once its done it will take another 30 yrs of abuse ! I bought one for my son a while back and did a complete job on the engine,it now runs a treat. The new bikes may be better in some respects,but at the childs age that a ty80 fits,there is still a very strong case for them.

I had one of these a few years ago and stupidly sold it...... I advertised it in TMX and instantly the phone went into meltdown ! A chap from Devon,(Newton Abbot I think.) arrived and took it and a very tired TL125 for asking price.He knew exactly what it was and was going to restore it.The only printed picture I know of is on P67 of Four Stroke Finale,the story of Honda Trials.Mine looked exactly the same and also had a 305 top end. I only rode it once as the motor was very rough,but wish I'd kept it if only as an ornament.(Or as one of the exhibits in my planned trials museum.)I'd love to see it or photo's of it if the present owner is on here.

I'll go

Be worth even less if you convert it.There are lots of air cooled mono classes now,they are worth a reasonable sum if not "farmered". Plus its seen as cheating by people who ride proper twinshocks.

I got a Lumix TZ5 for Christmas,its excellent and you can get around the shutter speed by taking video.I was going to get a Nikon SLR,but last summer on long hikes in the mountains in France I couldnt be ar-ed to carry my Nikon 35mm as it was big and clumsy - missed some lovely shots.That convinced me that a decent compact was more likely to get taken and used,the picture quality may not be quite so good but nor is my eyesight for seeing the images. My learned photograhpy friends pointed me to the Lumix,and I've taken loads of pics with it,most of them spend so much time faffing around setting up that they never actually do much with their posh SLR's.

Hardly a new guy,been riding trials bikes for 25 odd years,just never bought anything off SM before - have noticed that people seem very willing to have a go at him,cant be a***d with petty rubbish,if there's a problem fair enough.