Triumphrat

Niallmac

Hi

I'm in the process of doing a top end rebuild on my T140.

I noticed in a post from GrandPaulZ that Bonnies should have a full engine rebuild over a certain mileage and wonder if I should just go the whole hog now while the engine is out?

What are people's thoughts?

Cheers

Webby

Hi Niallmac, welcome to the forum
Probably not a bad idea as most of the work is getting the head and barrels off. It depends how long you're owned the bike and how much of the history you know. If the bike is new to you, I personally would strip it down and have a good look at everything just for peace of mind if nothing else.

Webby

BTB

I agree with Webby. I rebuild British motorcycles for a living, and can't begin to tell you all of the strange things I have found found inside allegedly good condition engine. Unless you have a paper trail documenting the bikes history, you should expect the worse inside the cases. Most sludge traps never get cleaned during many amateur rebuilds. Check you big-end shell bearings for scoring and all of the crank journals. If any of the main bearings are slightly suspicious, now is the time to replace those as well. A little extra work and cost up front could save you a bundle down the road. Good luck
TBM

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Niallmac

Thanks Guys

Thanks guys. Looks like I'll be going the whole hog

GrandPaulZ

It's still too cold to ride in most parts of the country, you've already got the top end off, why NOT split the cases?

Go for it! ...and take plenty of pix, post a new thread and go back to where you started and fill in all the details.

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Niallmac

Good point GPZ - will do

GABMA

Nial Guy -
I would not do an engine job until the engine tells you to. These engines look simple, but are actually very complex and require a LOT of special tools to do the job correctly... and without destroying many expensive parts.

As an example, most of these engines are constructed with Whitworth/ British Standard (not metric; not SAE) sized fasteners. Do you presently own a full set of BS sockets? If not, how will you torque the nuts on the way back together? The way I see it, if you can't even toque the crankshaft and camshaft nuts correctly, then what are you going to do when you want something special done like the sludge tube plug removed???? Isn't correct fastener torque rather basic to an engine rebuild??? If you can't even do the "basics", then.... well, I think you see.

The engine will give you plenty of warning when it needs it. Until then, if your REALLY want to do something worthwhile... then add an external oil filter!

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DAVE M

i don't understand your point?

He's asking whether to consider a rebuild or not? I'd assume that the first thing anybody would do would be to ensure that they have the correct tools. A set of sockets is what? About £30 here for a reasonable set.

Everybody has to stary somewhere. Saying not to strip because you don't havean Imperial spanner is a bit negative

There are a few special triumph tools needed for a strip but you can get stuff mail order quickly (at least in the UK) so buy them as you proceed with the strip

Webby

I'm with Dave on this one,
You will save a forture doing it yourself in comparison to getting a profesional rebuild even with having to buy a few specialist tools.
If however, you are not mechanicly inclined, that's another matter, but then I would guess that most people out there that buy old bikes like maintaining and fixing them.

Webby

henryanthony

I'm also with Dave on this. I've been researching the Triumph 650 twin for about a year now and have come to the conclusion that these engines are not so complicated. I'll happily buy all the tools I need and do the work myself. And, yes, I will be adding an oil filter soon.