Triumphrat

Woody1911a1 · 07-26-2008

Long day and it's late but thought i'd officially start my restoration thread .

hey guys , might as well start the log officially and with pics .

Re-cap for those that haven't followed . 1972 , i was 16 , bought my second bike a '67 Triumph

T100c 500cc former west coast flat-tracker returned to street semi-legal. rode it for several

years . commuted into school in Boston , razed hell locally . then cars , girls , a wife a

daughter and life .

this bike's been in my heated garage for 34 years . 20 odd years ago I built a bench over it .

a few months ago ...

this past year , even before i dug it out , I started gathering information and parts.

running the original ET lectrics with Yammaha coils , totally rewired , it sparked to life .

More gathering and replenishing the credit cards .

Tires came this week ,Avon Roadriders , so on to the next phase .

started at bout noon and was just going to install the tires . the spokes looked aweful , black, and figured they'd have to be replaced in the future.

then i started cleaning . long story short , wound up de-tensioning the wheel and one by one cleaning and polishing the spokes , the rim and a few beers .

offset measured

spokes de-tensioned (yes i know how to lace and true a wheel , bicycle wheels ) .

7 hours later

love the way it looks . the emamel on the hub , the chrome on the rim , the spokes that i hand polished one by one . the new avon tire .....

i'll add and edit as it goes .

Cheers , Woody

aceaceca · 07-27-2008

I'd say you have not lost your touch after 20 plus years. I cannot do a tire by myself any more. Need one pal to help. And I have done
5.50 by 16 wire wheels and Dunlop tires on my AC with just three spoons and a hammer. What a great idea to save the bike and just put it out of sight and mind. I had to re buy mine after 30 years.

OzBloke · 07-27-2008

Woody,
You're very talented, and also have an appreciation for the artform of restoration. Well done. This is going to be a pleasure to follow (vicariously).

GrandPaulZ · 07-27-2008

As stated on bb.com, I like the way you think, and your approach to refurbish rather than restore when you've got it in you to do so.

Mango · 07-30-2008

Hey Everybody, Woody I am watching your restoration story with interest , I have a '66 and a '67 same model . I'm starting on the '66 ( different machine in many aspects) and the '67 is waiting while I collect info. I can't find the frame number, I think you wrote me about that. Well I still can't find it even after a good session with the wire wheel. Anyway I'm not doing this to make money, so frame number or not I'm going to do the best I can to bring her back. I stripped the wheels back to the rims today after looking at your pictures, they started to clean up pretty well on the outside but I was concerned about the amount of rust on the inside around the tire seat, tough call for me I will buy new rims if necessary, but not if I don't have to! I can imagine I would be able to re-lace the rims from instructions but Balance? I don't know. Anyway, Keep posting your story If you would I will be an avid reader, Cheers, Steve Fort Lauderdale

GrandPaulZ · 07-31-2008

Mango, you out to start a new thread of your own, with pix.

If the rust on your rims is flaking into the base metal, more than surface rust, they will not be roadworthy. otherwise, scrape 'em clean and coat with cold galvanizing spray.

retrobiker · 07-31-2008

Quite a transformation,Woody.Great job!Eager to watch the 'refurbish',step by step.

McQueen · 07-31-2008

Go Woody!

I love this thread.

Woody1911a1 · 07-31-2008

Thanx Guys !

i was going to wait until i had everything mechanically correct then tear the whole thing down for refurbish where possible and restoration where necessary , but once i started on that wheel and before i mounted the new tire , i just went for it and am quite pleased with the results .

the patina of the old original enamel on the hub , the original spokes and rim is something that can not be improved upon by powder coating , stainless or other modern methods or new materials .

tank for now , i'm going to caswell . glass from the past is making the same one in modern resin and i'll probably order one in the near future . however i've yet to find a seat that suits so i've been teaching myself fiberglass layup and when i get back from vacation week after next that's what i need to get on because it will determine the final configuration of the rear frame .

Glad you guys are enjoying ,

Woody

pogue54 · 07-31-2008

Seeing your posts is doing me good. Minimal experience and less money, but it will be a real gift to follow your thread and try fixing up my '70 T100R. My daughter got my measly birthday gift, and said "thanks, Dad, but the bike would have been way cooler." Maybe there's hope for the future after all...
thanks a bunch
Tony