Triumphrat

Shark · 04-24-2006

I live in Tacom Wa. and am looking for some one or a shop to finish my bobber. It's a 69 Bonnrville with a bolt on hard tail. I had the engine rebuilt but it still doesn't run right. (I won't go back to that shop) I went to a guy here local and he won't touch it cause it isn't stock, and unless I want it restored he doesn't want the work. Does any one out there know where to point me in the right direction? Thanks

GrandPaulZ · 04-24-2006

1. If you don't have a shop manual and parts book, go to amazon.com and order them right away.

2. Reply at your convenience with a much more detailed description of why "it still doesn't run right", including any and all details and symptoms.

3. Also detail exactly what work was done to it by the previous shop to the best of your recollection and/or including anything descriptive on your shop invoice.

We might be able to set you straight post-haste, right here.

Shark · 04-24-2006

When I bought the bike it started first kick and ran just fine. I rode it only a few miles cause it needs brakes. I took it for a spin around the block, and the crank broke. The shop replaced the crank, and converted it from 650 to a 750. So it got new barrels, pistons connecting rods etc. I had new pipes installed as well, they are without mufflers. It has two Mikuni carbs. I told the shop they need to be looked at while it was in there, I figured they would need to be re-jetted anyway as the enginge CC had been changed. When I got the bike I took it for a test spin around the parking lot and the chain broke! The shop had already angered me over some other stuff (wrong pipes, one dented, didn't do all the work for quoted price) soi just took it home to replace the chain myself. Now I can almost never start it, and if it does the RPMs wont go over say 1200, (it has no tach) before teh engine starts cutting out, almost like it is starving for fuel or air or both. It won't even idle most of the time.

the other stuff it needs is kinda random. The whole front end is off of some jap bike. So it has dual disk brakes. Looks cool but they don't work. I cleaned the calipers out and put in new seals, the pads were new looking. I figured out the master cylinder isn't teh correctone for the callipers. I have no idea what to get cause I don't know what the front end is. The wheels are ugly as sin all rusty and stuff so I would like to get new ones. I wouldn't mind changing bothe the front and rear to Harley stuff so I ould get parts easy, but I haveno idea what will fit on either end.

My old man was a mechanic ( I got almost no skills enherited) and we were going to put her on the road together, but he passsed away. I don't want to give up but I know enough to know I'm a "parts changer" not a mechanic. I don't mind paying a good job, I just don't know any body.

Thanks for any advice you can give me on my quest.

rodburner · 04-24-2006

Did any of this stuff happen at Gonzales Motors? :???:

Shark · 04-24-2006

No. I was living Portland Oregon at the time. It was a shop in Hilsboro.

GrandPaulZ · 04-25-2006

Quote:

I took it for a spin around the block, and the crank broke.

Sounds like a VERY serious problem. I've never seen an old Bonnie with a broken crank; I've seen broken rods and burst crankcases, but never a broken crank. Something had to be quite wrong with this bike before it blew, suprising that it was starting and running right...

Quote:

When I got the bike I took it for a test spin around the parking lot and the chain broke!

I'm going to say that from the description of the rest of the bike, this may not have been the shop's fault, but rather that the chain may not have been a proper one and/or may not have been properly aligned.

Quote:

Now I can almost never start it, and if it does the RPMs wont go over say 1200, (it has no tach) before the engine starts cutting out, almost like it is starving for fuel or air or both. It won't even idle most of the time.

Start at the beginning and look for simple problems. Air, fuel and spark. You'll need a shop manual.

Air filters clean? Valve tappets adjusted properly to allow air and fuel in? Does it have good compression?

Carb jets clean? Did they put the slides in the carbs wrong way around? (Not easy to do but you never know). If it has clear fuel filters, can you see gas going through when you open the taps?

IS THE BATTERY FULLY CHARGED? Symptoms sound typical of low battery. Has the timing been properly set? Check per the book.

Install fresh spark plugs just in case. Install Champion N3C plugs, then IMMEDIATELY do a proper plug check and see if you are too rich or too lean. Put a spark plug wrench in your back pocket and run the bike up to about 3,000 RPM (or as fast as you can get it to go) up through 1st & 2nd gear, then (at the same time) let off the gas and pull in the clutch, and as quick as you can, turn off the key or hit the kill switch. Pull out the spark plugs and read them for running condition RICH (Black) or LEAN (White)

Adjust your carb needles to get a better burn, no parts required, just move the little clip on top of the needles UP if the plugs come out Black, or DOWN if the plugs burn real White.

If you do all of the above and it still doesn't run right, it is POSSIBLE that they could have mis-timed the camshafts. Fixing this is a bit harder than all of the above. Pull off the RIGHT side engine cover (triangle shaped one), and the spark plugs. Kick the engine over slowly 'till you get the little pin-punch and "tick" marks on the gears to line up according to the book; you may need to kick it through many times to get near the alignment. Biggest offender is usually the LEFT (intake) can which can be aligned with the wrong "tick" mark.

Once you get as close as possible WITH THE CRANK SPROCKET MARK AT THE TOP OF IT'S POSITION, remove the center gear till it clears the others, then move the offending gear the slight amount required to align properly. DO NOT TURN THE CAMS MORE THAN ONE OR TWO TEETH IN EITHER DIRECTION. If you can't get them to line up according to the above instructions, you need the help of someone who has done the job before because the fix involves removing the rockerboxes or you can ruin valves.

Quote:

The whole front end is off of some jap bike. So it has dual disk brakes. Looks cool but they don't work. I cleaned the calipers out and put in new seals, the pads were new looking. I figured out the master cylinder isn't the correct one for the calipers. I have no idea what to get cause I don't know what the front end is.

If you have a picture of the bike that you can post a link to, one of us can I.D. it for you. At any rate, just drive by a Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha or Suzuki shop and ask if they have parts for it. If they don't they can PROBABLY tell you who does.

Quote:

The wheels are ugly as sin all rusty and stuff so I would like to get new ones

You may be limited to replacing them with identical or very similar wheels unless you are prepared to have some modification work done including custom spacers, etc.

I hope you get sorted out soon, the weather is getting nice for riding!

[ This message was edited by: GrandPaulZ on 2006-04-25 03:25 ]

rodburner · 04-26-2006

Shark,glad it wasn`t Gonzales. Cisco doesn`t do the new Triumph,only the old stuff.His place is on Puyallup Av [24 St E],west of Portland Av,behind the Pegasus eatery.The store ain`t much to look at,but the 200 old Brit bikes and 50 years worth of OEM parts and stuff will make your hair stand on end. :-D

Shark · 04-27-2006

That sounds perfect! Thank you for the info. I will check it out this week.

Shark · 05-01-2006

Here are some pics of the beauty!

GrandPaulZ · 05-01-2006

Shark, a few observations -

1. You are obsessed with the Right side of the bike, WE WANT TO SEE THE LEFT SIDE, TOO!

2. That is a really nice looking chopper, not over-done.

3. I REALLY like the pipes, I'll bet they are LOUD!

4. Those front brakes are 10 times what you need, but also nice and clean on the bike.

5. I'd go for some chrome air cleaners, the green foam looks out of place.

6. Who did your paint? Good job.