Triumphrat

urbandruid · 10-27-2009, 04:33 AM

I don't want to go over old ground, but I have a potential problem.
The Haynes manual tells me I should look for my VIN on the right side of the headstock, on the crankcase above the clutch cover, or under the seat.

The frame number on the headstock is only a small number made up of dotted digits, the plate under the seat has long gone, and I can't for the life of me find the number on the crank case. The picture shows a small raised section of metal with the number stamped into it. I don't have that small raised section on mine, and there's no evidence of there ever having been one.

The VIN on the log book doesn't work on those VIN check sites out there, it's SMTTC338DDNxxxxx.

I have no reason to doubt the history of the bike, but I'd really like some help finding my engine VIN, or verifying that everything's okay with the VIN I have on the log book please.

Many thanks in advance,

Steve

urbandruid · 10-27-2009, 05:03 AM

Sorry for the fuss, I've managed to decode it!

SMT = Triumph
TC33 = Trident 900
D = Motor number D (3x76/65)
D = Final drive ratio D (17/46)
N = 1992
xxxxxx = chassis number

I feel better now, but I still wonder where the engine VIN is.

Steve

KitNYC · 10-27-2009, 12:13 PM

I don't know if it holds true everywhere, but in the US the motors have a number unrelated to the VIN. It is on the crank case above the clutch cover, and it is quite prone to obliteration by corrosion. Last I saw my '96 Trident, I couldn't make out the engine number.

Cheers,
-Kit

bradtx · 10-27-2009, 12:22 PM

urbandruid, There's another VIN thread around here, but essentially home market Triumphs don't conform to the international format.

The engine number won't match the VIN. In the best of conditions it's hard to read.

Brad

PS Where did you find the UK VIN format?

Scarletfever · 10-27-2009, 03:18 PM

The engine number on my 750 Trident is on a small cast section on the front of the crankcase, right hand side. Its a right pain in the a**e to read, as the number is made up of a series of dots on a casting that has the appearance of tree bark!

to be fair to Mr Haynes, its the only thing the manual has got wrong on my bike!

urbandruid · 10-28-2009, 07:45 AM

Brad, I got the info from here.

Scarletfever - thanks, I've seen the almost completely illegible stamp on the front of the casing and was hoping it wasn't it. Never mind!

Not to worry, I have a VIN that I'm happy with now, thanks.

Steve

bradtx · 10-28-2009, 11:22 AM

urbandruid, thanks!

Brad

KitNYC · 10-28-2009, 03:30 PM

Ugh, more pieces of the VIN puzzle that don't fit what we already have.

FYI, the TriumphNet VIN stuff above absolutely does not work with my US VINs.

It seems to be the first decoding info that does work with the VINs ffry63 and Tona94 have.

Sure would be nice if the VINs were ISO-compliant, but good to know we can decode the home(ish) market ones now.

Cheers,
-Kit