Triumphrat

Distracto · 09-07-2007, 07:05 PM

Hello, I just purchased my first Triumph, and am very excited to learn about, and fix her up.

It is a 1964 T120 frame with a 1969 T120V engine, that has been chopped into a hard tail bobber.
The engine starts right up and runs great. The frame was cracked, so I took everything off and found 2 other breaks and am currently having that worked on.

My questions are:

While I have the engine off I plan on replacing all the cables and hoses. But I would like to do as much as possibly while its off to clean/fix it up... is there anything you would suggest doing?

What is the best oil (and gear oil) to use when I change that? Synthetic?

Would it be okay to put degreaser on the engine and pressure wash her?

Anything you would recommend is very appreciated, I am eager to make this a great bike.

Thanks

GrandPaulZ · 09-07-2007, 09:53 PM

Welcome to the forum!

Don't pressure wash. Spray liberally with engine degreaser, then use a stiff bristle brush and scrub it down good. Rinse and repeat as necessary.

If it's running good, why mess with it?

I use decomposed dinosaur juice, others like synthetic chemical concoctions. If you watch this thread for a week, you'll get about 50/50 on that score. Castrol GTX 4-stroke motorcycle oil 10-40.

If you don't have the big vent tube behind the clutch cover, when the engine oil is all drained out, tip it over and fit a 3' length of 3/8" oil resistant hose and clamp it carefully to the breather tube WAY UP UNDER the engine, next to the sprocket. That bugger is HARD to get to after the fact.

Distracto · 09-08-2007, 01:59 AM

I don't really understand that last paragraph. What does that do?

Distracto · 09-08-2007, 03:33 PM

So the engine is actually an April 1972 T120V.

GrandPaulZ · 09-09-2007, 05:17 PM

If the engine is a '72, the last paragraph of my reply is not applicable.

GulfCoastDave · 09-09-2007, 05:26 PM

I've had the transmissions apart of both my T140s (78 & 79) and both have brass thrust washers at each end of the layshaft.
Best Regards,
Dave

Mecchanica · 09-09-2007, 06:15 PM

They are a hard phosphor or nickel bronze, depending on whether they are stock or aftermarket. Brass is way too soft. There is also a bush in another gear in there. Mainshaft third, I think.