Triumphrat

eatsleepfish30

I just hooked up a new battery to my first 68 T100R and poof! White smoke fills the garage. I knew something was strange when the terminal was kicking sparks. I must have an open wire somewhere. Now, one of the red wires comming off the rectifier is melted. This is my first brit bike and I'm frustrated, lost and feeling like a novice.

The Haynes that I ordered was lackluster at best in advising where and how to add oil to the chaincase and gears etc. The guy I bought the bike from said that the oil was drained before the 2 years of storage, he recieved the bike in a will and didn't ride.

Where and how do I oil this bike up and ensure all the levels are correct?

I guess that I'm in no big hurry to oil it up, being as a new wiring harness will be my first purchase.

Plewsy

Hi eatsleepfish30 welcome to TR,
Smoking electrics is bad news,
I hope you did not continue to connect the terminal that was busy sparking.
You say one of the Two red wires to rectifier, from this I surmise the wiring has been had at.
If so, try to imagine the harness as three systems
1- charging
2- ignition
3- lights and stuff.
I'm afraid if you have connected that terminal enough to melt a wire,
you may have caused a fair whack of damage! "don't worry fixable."
These vids of mine will give you some idea of the Triumph twin oil change though mine is a later 650.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybTa6sp1bCc
........pointing out plugs


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5C8nIg67jk ...........changing oil
I am sure the other guys on here can give the correct amounts and point out other discrepancies between the 500&650
I hope this helps you, the more info you give us the better we can help

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jimmy bush

Did you by any chance hook the battery up reversed. These old Triumphs were positive (+) ground. That would cause a smoke storm.

henryanthony

You can use this link to find a proper repair manual. It includes an electrical schematic.

I suggest you read it cover to cover. Spend some time searching and reading the posts on this forum. There is a wealth of knowledge to be found.

eatsleepfish30

Wow! You all sure know how to make a guy feel better. I went on this intra nets thingy and found the shop manual, that should help considerably. The youtube posts were great too. I was aware of the positive gound senario, the old battery was hook up and I mirrored the connections to the new battery. I think that was the issue. The single wire to the rectifier went to the - terminal and the wire with the fuse (which is still good) and another with two wires went to the +. I think I fumbled.

eatsleepfish30

[QUOTE=Plewsy;1497447]Hi eatsleepfish30 welcome to TR,
Smoking electrics is bad news,

This is perfect. Thanks for taking the time to help out a future life long Triumph owner. I had a beer and a nap and I'm feeling much better.

GrandPaulZ

You may not have totally destroyed the wiring harness, but you do need to check it carefully for melted insulation and exposed wires all along the path of the red wires.

2 Red wires on the rectifier go to the wiring harness and to the battery (also in series to the base of the Zener Diode).

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GABMA

Once you let the magic Lucas smoke out, it's really hard to get it back in.

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shrugger

Not entirely useful. But soo so true.

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