Hello, I have a 74 Trident. This was my father in laws bike. It has been in his garage in the California desert since 1985. When Ernie passed i was susposed to get the 68 Harley, well that is not what happened thanks to the X mother in law she traded it for a set of kitchen cabinets that never got completed. History on the bike. Bought new by Ernie, over the years he changed the bars, oil tank, seat and side cover then removed the battery and installed capacitors. The frame has not been cut or modified. The bike was parked when he moved to Californa due to developing vertigo and he then started driving a 68 Harley police trike, around 6 years ago he decided to get the bike running and sent the carbs to be rebuilt when his health took a turn for the worst and that is as far as he got. The carbs came with the bike and look to be in great shape, the tank has rust but is solid, 14000 original miles. I do have a set of Lester or Morris mags for a Trimuph but I'll need to dig them out I also have some disc brake parts and maybe a rotor or two but again I will need to dig them out. Before I decided to do something with this bike I would like to hear it run. Ernie had told me the bike ran when he parked it but who knows. I cleaned the dust off and checked for spark, I guess the capacitors are discharged (I have never had a bike with this setup) so google should help, next I did a compressions check 90 on the left and middle, 30 on the right put some oil in and no change, this was with spark plugs out and carbs off. I have around 15-1600 manuals and I know there are a bunch of brit bikes there, so once again I'll dig them out. I am not familiar with Brit bikes at all so I'm not going to just pull the head. I'm sure after sitting for thirty years the rings need to reseat but 30 lbs worries me. Any suggestions? My bore scope has a bulb out and granger no longer carries them. I'm hoping for a stuck valve. There are no strange sound when I kick it over. If I cannot get compression I'm going to send it down the road. It would be nice to build a bike that one of my kids would get that belonged to their grandfather. I was so disappointed with the compression check I put the bike on Craigslist but pulled it until I find out about the motor. So I guess my big question is do I need to pull the head? Or don't waist my time. Sorry if that was long winded
Jruff5585
The shop manual routine maintenance section is where you want to start.
It is laid out in a particular order, because each step depends on the step(s) before it.
The usual, everything mechanically adjusted (valves, static timing, carbs, clutch, throttle)
Flush gas & oil tanks, all fresh fluids (drain the engine via drain & sump plugs)
Clean air filter(s), fresh battery & spark plugs, good plug leads & wiring connections all clean & snug.
Odd compression readings could be as simple as valve adjustment. Look REAL CLOSELY at those rocker adjuster tips, I forget which models have the little "floating" pads (my 74 Trident has them) that need to be rotated to the proper orientation to sit flat on top of the valves. If they've been messed with, that could be the problem.
It is laid out in a particular order, because each step depends on the step(s) before it.
The usual, everything mechanically adjusted (valves, static timing, carbs, clutch, throttle)
Flush gas & oil tanks, all fresh fluids (drain the engine via drain & sump plugs)
Clean air filter(s), fresh battery & spark plugs, good plug leads & wiring connections all clean & snug.
Odd compression readings could be as simple as valve adjustment. Look REAL CLOSELY at those rocker adjuster tips, I forget which models have the little "floating" pads (my 74 Trident has them) that need to be rotated to the proper orientation to sit flat on top of the valves. If they've been messed with, that could be the problem.
Hi,
Firstly, welcome to the Forum.
hotos
Only people I know who say they like a capacitor on a triple are those who fitted 'em. Anyone else - including people who bought triples with capacitors fitted by p.o. - hate 'em. A '74 T150 had an 8Ah or 9Ah battery originally although, without an electric-start, it can be pretty-much any size. Today, even 8/9Ah batteries are tiny, and sealed are common so no worries about acid spilling if the bike falls over. Tbh, starting a triple that's stood for over thirty years is going to give you enough headaches without wondering about the quality of the spark.
Hth.
Regards,
Firstly, welcome to the Forum.
Dodged a bullet there ...
hotosBefore you try to run it, in addition to Paul's advice about going through the workshop manual routine maintenance section, read and follow the advice in Waking The Sleeping Beast - written by a long-time triple owner, racer, builder, sponsor and dealer.
Capacitors don't hold a charge for any significant length of time. I'd be surprised if there's more than one on the bike, that'd be very weird. If it's working, turning the engine over turns the alternator which should charge it; if it isn't taking a charge, likely it's died.
Only people I know who say they like a capacitor on a triple are those who fitted 'em. Anyone else - including people who bought triples with capacitors fitted by p.o. - hate 'em. A '74 T150 had an 8Ah or 9Ah battery originally although, without an electric-start, it can be pretty-much any size. Today, even 8/9Ah batteries are tiny, and sealed are common so no worries about acid spilling if the bike falls over. Tbh, starting a triple that's stood for over thirty years is going to give you enough headaches without wondering about the quality of the spark.
Originally only fitted to twins. Front's a bolt-in to disc forks, rear hub's narrower than a triple's, needs spacing; disc brake only?
Hth.
Regards,
I wouldn't worry about compression, my worry with the triple is always an oil pressure.
Lack of compression is a stuck valve after 35 years of standing in one place or stuck piston rings - nothing serious.
But you need good oil pressure to keep this engine going and this could be problematic with dried up seals and gaskets.
Another problem could be electrical loom which in stock form is quite complicated.
This bike is not going to be a quick fix ( like a twin could be ) after all this years, in reality it needs complete crank up rebuild to work properly.
I wouldn't even bother with trying to start it up in this shape, it could caused more bad than good in this situation.
Its engine / gearbox / clutch combo is complicated and quite fragile, it is not a Suzuki GS which I wouldn't hesitate to start after 30 years of sleep in some shed.
Lack of compression is a stuck valve after 35 years of standing in one place or stuck piston rings - nothing serious.
But you need good oil pressure to keep this engine going and this could be problematic with dried up seals and gaskets.
Another problem could be electrical loom which in stock form is quite complicated.
This bike is not going to be a quick fix ( like a twin could be ) after all this years, in reality it needs complete crank up rebuild to work properly.
I wouldn't even bother with trying to start it up in this shape, it could caused more bad than good in this situation.
Its engine / gearbox / clutch combo is complicated and quite fragile, it is not a Suzuki GS which I wouldn't hesitate to start after 30 years of sleep in some shed.
Adam is right, I'd better come pick it up and dispose of it properly. I will not charge you a lot for the service, no worries.
Don't know if you have decided to keep the bike or sell it.
If you want to keep it, we are here to help you get it going.
If you want to sell it, I might be interested. I'm fairly local, would pickup with cash in hand.
If you want to keep it, we are here to help you get it going.
If you want to sell it, I might be interested. I'm fairly local, would pickup with cash in hand.
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