Triumphrat

pochie · 05-10-2008

I purchased a '68 Bonnie in "MINT CONDITON"....what a joke..as I am finding out. The motor was supposed to have been built top-to-bottom and it only has 50 miles on the rebuild. I started it and pulled the right plug off and had the left cylinder running smoothly re 1000-1100 rpm idle. When I pull the plug off the left side to work on the right cylinder....it stops running. There seems to be quite a bit more compression on the left cylinder, judging by the exhaust pressure and sound than the right one. When both plugs are on and it is running it sure sounds like both sets of valves are making noise. Help!
Pochie

abmar · 05-10-2008

Does it seem to have good performance otherwise? Does it idle properly? Does it hesitate on acceleration? Does it run on both cylinders? Are the spark plugs clean?

Why not just ride it for awhile before getting too bent out of shape. It may just require breaking in. After all they weren't designed to run on only one cylinder.

Bruce Martin

pochie · 05-10-2008

Weather permitting, I'll take it for a ride tomorrow. I was tuning the carbs as the Triumph dealer suggested. I'll keep you posted. Thanks, Pochie

pochie · 05-12-2008

I broke one of the spark wires off. I tried to rig another up with my car wires....8mm...instead of 7mm but it wouldn't start at all. I guess it is time to take a trip to my Triumph dealer. I did take the air cleaners off and the slides are both lifting together at the same time. I tried the air screw from 1 turn with increments of 1/2 turn out to 3, but no luck. The right coil...with the plug wire I broke, was hot compared to the left one. I give up!

666Bonneville · 05-12-2008

in my experience, a good running bike will run/idle/start on one cylinder. you should check the pressure on each cylinder. maybe some crap got stuck in a valve on the weak cylinder. either way. check the valves. whoever rebuilt the bike could have screwed up in that department.

pochie · 05-26-2008

I got my bike back from the Triumph shop and it was a bad coil. I had them put new plugs and points in and it started on the first kick and idled well. I didn't have the knowledge to test the coil...although the bad one got very hot when I was fooling with it before and I guess that's what was somehow creating a spark under the tank? Anyway, it is now good to go! Have a nice Memorial Day! (USA)Pochie