Triumphrat

longlimb

Just got this bad boy in my garage yesterday. It's my father-in-law's but he has agreed to let me work on it and get it up and running again. Been sitting for almost 20 years now. But about 3 years ago he had someone work on the carb and actually had the engine running. But then it sat again.

I have some mechanical experience. Key word is some. I fixed up my '79 Jeep CJ7 from a rolling rust bucket to a pretty nice ride now. Tub swap, new fuel lines, brake lines, etc. etc.

This is my first experience with a motorcycle though. Very green to them.

As you can see from the pics, lots of rust. I've ready on this forum a number of tricks to try. Naval jelly, aluminum foil and coke, polish and polishing wheel (no dremels!).

I'm worried the rust is too severe to polish out, but we'll see.

Brake and clutch cables are frozen. as you can see from one of the pics the reservoir is completely dry and rusty. Yay.

But bike will turn over, so not frozen huh. Actual yay.

So, besides the obvious oil, fluid drains and refills, new tires, new cables, new battery, whatcha think? I've also read a lot on here as to the usual things to do after a bike sits for many years. But any other words of advise or things they see worth tackling first? Do I need to open her up and check all the engine components since it's been sitting this long? Or since it only has about 9800 actual miles, it should be ok? (Besides the pull the plugs and shoot some lubricant in there trick)

Would love to get 'er running and ridable and then work on the "restore" aspect of this deal slowly. It will be a slow process for me, 2 kids and a wife on my ass!

Thanks and will be hitting up the forum often I'm sure.

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DAVE M

Blimey!

Was he a lighthouse keeper? It's got more than a bit of surface rust.

You'll probably need to take the primary covers off and get the clutch freed up. I doubt if just kicking it with the clutch held in will free them.

your stanchions are knackered and will mess up the seals if they aren't toast yet.

But it's all there and a bit of elbow grease goes a long way. Don't worry too much about the shiney stuff as yet

Buy a parts book and a manual, (a Triumph one ) and read it.
you can get stuff on the web but I like paper ones.
go to classicbike.biz for them

Look up Lunmad's videos on Youtube. He's Plewsy on here and his videos are brilliant.
His bike is earlier than yours but they're all the same. he works on his mate's T140Eas well.

longlimb

Haha, yeah you would think he lives right on the coast huh! But no, just has left it outside for too many years. Used to be in his garage but then he moved and it ended up on a carport for the last 5-6 years.

Yeah I was worried about the front forks. They are severely rusted. Wondering if they are even salvageable?

Got a Haynes manual on the way. Had to order one online, no luck locally. And I have the original owner handbook with is pretty cool.

Will check out the vids on YouTube, thanks for the heads up on those Dave!

DAVE M

the haynes manual is ok but you'll need a lot more help than it can give. It's really for the earlier bikes.

Use your engine number to date the bike and get a proper Triumph workshop manual
http://www.triumph-spares.co.uk/cat_...kshop%20manual
a parts book will give all the correct numbers and save a load of time

you can find an online parts book at Big D cycles site
http://www.bigdcycle.com/books.html

I have the original in my house, a copy in the garage and another at work so I can order stuff and get it quickly

The forks will be fine but a new pair of stanchions (good ones) cost me £90 with at a guess £20 -30 for the odds and sods like fluid, seals and washers (I'm guessing.)

The alloy sliders will clean up but probably take ages.

Just concentrate on getting it going

You may find that a larger order for parts is cheaper on shipping in the States?

I'm quite lucky in that there's a shop 20 miles from me that has everything and people like LP Williams pretty much post stuff when they put the phone down. So it arrives in 48 hours.

I have a 79E and apart from a bit of a problem at the moment it's great

longlimb

Thanks for the advise about the workshop book Dave. Will grab one.

I have a shop pretty close to me that sells Triumph's. Not sure if they can get older model parts though. Still need to check in there and see what they say.

I have a must have list started already. I'll add the parts you mentioned.

Thanks!

Chuck95642

Love these restore threads!! Looking forward to every new update as you move along on the restoration.

394c

Try some fine wire wool and WD40 on the rusted chrome. Won't be perfect but may be useable. I have also resorted to Rub'n buff silver leaf wax on more unsightly areas.

shrugger

New Triumph isn't old Triumph. The Mechanic's aren't likely to have any tools for your Bike
let alone sell parts for it. You'll need to order from one of the reputable suppliers.
Of which there are several.

__________________
"Thanks to denial, I'm immortal" -Phillip J. Fry

1911 Clone

For sure, new Triumphs are not old Triumphs. Took my 70 Tiger out for a ride one Saturday. Stopped by the local New Triumph dealers.

Funny seeing the whole sales crew standing around my bike when I came back out. It was like they had never seen one before.

Chuck95642

Ya but the feeling of knowing you own a "head turner" just has to be outstanding.