Triumphrat

Dickie2679 · 02-11-2006

I've just ordered a new black bonneville, & collect it 2nd March, I don't want the front pipes to 'blue' so I'm going to remove to air injection, what tools am I going to need? do I need a deep socket of some sort?

Thanks

ohiorider · 02-11-2006

Open this link. It's the instructions from Jenks Bolts that describes exactly how to remove the AI system and install the kit.

Bob

http://triumph-bonneville.com/images/AI.pdf

PAAS · 02-12-2006

If you want to avoid blueing of the pipes then get your dealer to fit the kit before they ever run the engine. I've seen brand new bikes in showrooms with discoloured pipes. Even if you do this you may still get a bit of discolouration, but not as much as if you leave the AI in place.

Welcome to the brotherhood - you'll get a lot of fun out of your Bonnie. As you live in the UK and may have salted roads to contend with, take a look at some older Bonnies and make a note of which bits corrode so you can keep an eye on them. The chromed oil tube at the front of the engine, the bolted on plate between the front frame downtubes and the lower front mudguard stay on the brake caliper side are examples.

Paul.

Dickie2679 · 02-12-2006

Thanks, my dealer wants £60.00 to fit the kit, but I can do this for £20.00.
I think the socket used to remove the air injection tubes is the tool I may not have.
But I still have to get the bike home from the dealers (10 miles)
without the pipes going blue, does it happen that fast?

rodburner · 02-12-2006

Yes.You will get a little color in 10 miles. As far as getting rid of it,If you plan on Never re-installing it,just snip the chrome tube off close to the fitting [by the spark plug] and remove it with a 13mm socket or wrench.Easy.Then remove the gas tank,remove the pump and hoses,plug up the airbox [silicone the plug in],cap the carb fitting,re-install the tank,done.

Dickie2679 · 02-12-2006

Thanks, now I just have to wait until 2nd March to collect the bike - seems a long time, to wait

PAAS · 02-12-2006

Quote:

On 2006-02-12 08:00, Dickie2679 wrote:
Thanks, my dealer wants £60.00 to fit the kit, but I can do this for £20.00.
I think the socket used to remove the air injection tubes is the tool I may not have.
But I still have to get the bike home from the dealers (10 miles)
without the pipes going blue, does it happen that fast?

Yes, the pipes do discolour that fast. Obviously the colour develops from a light straw on to the blue as you put more miles on. It also starts near the exhaust port and gradually goes further down towards the balance pipe. I doubt if your pipes will have gone blue in 10 miles, but they won't be pristine either.

If you fit the kit straight away when you get home then you may be able to polish off any colour that has developed but be careful as the chrome isn't that thick. I have read of people that have removed the AI before the engine has been run for the first time and they have still had some discolouration. These bikes run pretty lean from the factory and apparently the header pipes are not very thick either.

I think what you need to remove the tubes is a box spanner as you may struggle to find a socket deep enough. It would also need to be thin walled as there isn't a lot of clearance in there. I've got a kit for my bike but haven't got round to fitting it yet. You can get at the hex on the tube with an open ended spanner but I doubt if you'll be able to shift it with one. You might be able to use a ring spanner once you've detached the hose from the tube.

£60 to fit the kit is a bit steep if you are buying a new bike from them. I would haggle. The dealer I got my last two bikes from routinely gives 20% off list on any accesories I buy with the bike and fits them for free.

To be quite honest I don't mind the blueing, it adds to the authenticity of the bike. I'm going to take the AI off my bike primarily to get rid of a piece of junk I don't need (that's going rusty) and to ease access to the spark plugs.

Paul.

keef · 02-12-2006

Don't bother with the AI removal kit. You can achieve exactly the same by using two sump bolts from a SV650 (plus washers) and a rubber bung for the hole in the top left side of the airbox. That really is all you need and it shouldn't cost you more than a couple of quid. I kid you not!

padwah · 02-12-2006

dickie, all i used was a ring spanner, no probs straight on and straight off, easy, no need for deep sockets

keef · 02-12-2006

Quote:

On 2006-02-12 11:51 padwah wrote:
dickie, all i used was a ring spanner, no probs straight on and straight off, easy, no need for deep sockets

Yep, a 13mm ring spanner will indeed do it.
Incidentally, the SV650 sump bolts are 14mm (9/16")