Glayne

Off the top of my head I believe I have read that it is there to separate any air and the hydraulic fluid from absorbing moisture from the air. Fluid in first, seal in last. Feel free to correct me if i'm wrong...

Ha! Funny, I bought mine in Kamloops, lol sold it to a guy named Jeremy in ?West Kelowna if I remember correctly? I did have the exhaust and silencer painted black, the rest looks *really* familiar!

... Don't remember... Names...Hmmmm... I'll have to look a ways back. I sold it in May of 2020

Holy smokes that looks familiar, I was going to ask if that was my old bike but I think I had the pipe and silencer ceramic coated. I thought mine was a one off with the green rad guards, guess it was stock? Mine was an TXT 02Edition 250. My rear fender and air box cover even mis matched a bit like that one seems to, I wonder if that is stock as well? Are you in Canada? is that my old bike? looks like a washer welded to the kickstand like mine had as well? That 02 was really good to me, I thought I had downgraded when I first got my 2012, I'm used to it now.

I would be interested in whether you find it much easier to start with a lower compression head or insert. Mine was a pain in the ass to start (280) until I learned the sharp fast kick required.

I'm located in British Columbia Canada. Ethanol just became mandatory here over the last year? I have been using marked fuel for years, it used to be non ethanol and also labeled marine fuel because of the lack of ethanol and road tax. (short version) I wonder if there is something in the marked fuel now to keep the ethanol okay for marine that is messing with my stuff.

I had never had a fuel petcock issue, up to this year had never even removed one from a fuel tank. This year I have had a leak on the petcock of a 2001 KX65, a petcock leak on a 2004 WR450, a petcock leak on a 2005 DRZ125 a petcock leak on a 1996 Big Bear 350, and the float bowl is now leaking overflow on the Big Bear as well, something to do with the float seat, will see this weekend. I use marked fuel so it is easy to see where the fuel is leaking from. Something is going on with the fuel around here. I am no chemist but I suspect something is eating the rubber and if it is not the ethanol it must be some additive that goes along with it. And yes I am considering changing to a much less convenient and more expensive fuel.

Ethanol, or something in the fuel is f****ing with my older petcocks and other carb parts. Really is causing a bit of grief, old small fuel systems that never caused problems are ganging up on me. I can only suspect it is the ethanol, hard to stay on top of, I must have 20 small engines around the house.

I agree with Tr1AL, seal kits can be a gamble. I had an 02 TXT Edition and tried a seal kit that came with the bike from previous owner for the rear brake master, it was a fail. Cross referenced the number on the master on the interwebs and found a match with a new master for a Ducati on Ebay for a real decent price, perfect fit. On my 02 TXT I recall having a very similar VIN to yours, I still guess the VIN is from an 2002.

VIN is an 02, motor is a Pro and is the first year of the Pro if it is the original motor. The first years of the Pro had more problems but they must be sorted by now. Looks to be in good condition!

I would put a bunch of hours on it before thinking of changing sprockets. 1st is already very low, as is 2nd and 3rd, I would not want the spread between 1st and 4th any tighter. If you need to go slower than 1st, slip the clutch, that is what it is designed for.

mercy...

I don't think playing with the throttle will help. Mine starts cold with choke, no throttle. What is missing is the *sharp fast kick* Yes I understand opening the throttle opens the slide and allows more air past the piston helping clear the mixture of fuel that is not within ignition parameters. If the kick is not *sharp and fast* enough the venturi is likely to also bring in more fuel, in my opinion. Yes the rolling back in gear trick works good, but no better than neutral once you have the kick figured. After a crash or a stall I may use the roll back if there is no hurry and terrain allows. When I shut off my bike I find neutral and when I want to re-start it I use a *sharp fast kick* Gas Gas would have never sold as many bikes as they have if it was designed to roll back/clutch/kick/release clutch/roll back/clutch/kick... In my opinion. They can be goofy bikes, not that goofy. I had the starting woes as well and wanted my 02 TXT Edition back when I upgraded. Certainly not now although I had great times with the TXT. Butch, is there a trials club anywhere nearby you? Someone there would certainly have the knack, or as I call it the *sharp fast kick*

I do know the wide open throttle trick to clear a flooded engine, I would not suggest it in this case, possibly only after a good tip or flip over on these Gassers. Choke on, no throttle for cold start.

I had a hard time with mine when I first got it (2012), wanted to trade back to my old bike, also considered a low comp head and going to a Dellorto carb from the Keihin since I had good luck with the Dellorto carb on a previous (non pro engine) gasser. I did go up 1 size pilot jet, can't recall what size that was. I don't use any fancy fuel, 90ish octane in Canada, non ethanol if I can, 70ish-1. (Europe/Spanish/Gas Gas calculates octane different than North America) Choke for cold start like any other 2T, engage kick lever so there is resistance then *FAST SHARP KICK* (engaging kicker prevents damage)(Leaning on something will help) Gasser starts first or second kick, cold or warm. Very happy with the Gasser and glad I didn't mess with the head or replace carb. Had a chainsaw I could not start on Sunday after I ran out of gas and re fueled, must have flooded (climbing arborist saw PITA to pull the spark plug). First pull Monday it started, so there can be those circumstances after trying too hard as well.