[catdogdouche]

hello all, new to the forum and wanted share my rebuilds progress as i go along and maybe pick up a few suggestions and tips along the way, ive got a 1955 triumph t110 chopper that im rebuilding, built back in the 60s in san jose CA, looking to rebuild the engine as its been sitting since the late 80s i believe, was told the bottom end was done at that time but i notice its done with sylicon gaskets, looking for a gasket kit online and not sure what to get, ive found ones for 63 and up models and various models in the late 50s but no 55 t110 650, was wondering if there is a difference or would any gasket kit work for the air cooled twins, also if anyone knew where to aquire the proper kit thatd be awesome, i will take better pictures of the engine eventually but ive got some of the lot, this will be my first rebuild so far and look forward to getting some feedback, thanks

 

[StuartMac]

Hi,

Firstly, welcome to the Forum.

would any gasket kit work for the air cooled twins

By-and-large, no. "63 and up" 650 engines are "unit construction" - the crankcase, gearbox case and primary case are just separate compartments within a pair of crankcase castings. Otoh, pre-'63 650 engines are "pre-unit" - the crankcase, gearbox case and primary case are completely separate castings, crankcase and gearbox case bolt to the separate primary case (and to the frame). A few (cylinder base and head?) gaskets might be interchangeable between unit and pre-unit but I wouldn't bank on it.

sitting since the late 80s i believe, was told the bottom end was done at that time but i notice its done with sylicon gaskets

Depends what you mean by "silicon gaskets"? They might be better-quality than the usually-paper ones available now?

looking for a gasket kit online

My experience of "kits" certainly for unit engines, they usually cover a number of model years, Triumph made regular changes, particularly to pushrod tube seals, "kits" include all sorts of meaningless O-rings and similar. I prefer to go though the parts book applicable to the year (index of online free-to-read parts books including '55 pre-unit) and make a list of the gaskets, seals and tab washers I'll need for a given engine - no more time-consuming overall than sorting through "kits".

Hth.

Regards,

 

[GrandPaulZ]

hello all, new to the forum and wanted share my rebuilds progress as i go along and maybe pick up a few suggestions and tips along the way, ive got a 1955 triumph t110 chopper that im rebuilding, built back in the 60s in san jose CA,

Howdy!

As far as STYLING - the only "right" and "wrong" moves are what YOU, the builder, decide are right or wrong.

As far as mechanical assistance, we have many good - great tech people here and you will have no shortage of great advice.

WE LIKE PHOTOS!

(oh, yeah, thanx for starting this thread in the correct section!)

-out

 

[The Bonneville Shop]

Hi Catdog, we offer some parts for the pre-unit Triumph engines, and may be able to be a resource for you. Here are some links to gaskets that may be useful to you. Best of luck with your project.
-Dave

TRIUMPH 650 PRE-UNIT TOP END DECOKE GASKET SET W/COPPER HEADGASKET 1959-62 PN# TBS-1648

Triumph 650 Pre-Unit Top End Decoke Gasket Set with Copper Headgasket 1959-62 PN# TBS-1648

www.thebonnevilleshop.com

TRIUMPH 500 650 PRE-UNIT PRIMARY COVER GASKET (1) 1954-62 PN# 57-1226 T1226

Triumph 500 650 Pre-Unit Primary Cover Gasket (1) 1954-62 PN# 57-1226 T1226

www.thebonnevilleshop.com

TRIUMPH 500 650 PRE-UNIT PRIMARY COVER GASKET (1) DYNAMO TYPE 1954-59 (1) PN# 57-1189 T1189

Triumph 500 650 Pre-Unit Primary Cover Gasket (1) Dynamo Type 1954-59 (1) PN# 57-1189 T1189

www.thebonnevilleshop.com

 

[GrandPaulZ]

Hi Catdog, we offer some parts for the pre-unit Triumph engines, and may be able to be a resource for you.

I can personally vouch for The Bonneville Shop. Good folks.

 

[The Bonneville Shop]

I can personally vouch for The Bonneville Shop. Good folks.

Thanks Paul. Merry Christmas!
-Dave

 

[steve welte]

and when it comes to sealing areas that never had or used gaskets you can do no better than 3 Bond, Honda Bond, YamaBond. All the same product.

 

[1951thunderbird]

Looks like you've got a sweet project to work on will be keeping an eye on your build.
Here's another supply house closer to your state they also offer machining services if ya need.
They offer the Cleveland "rubber coated" base gaskets Glen Kerr uses these on his double engine powered drag bike " Double Trouble"he had high praise on the Cleveland gaskets .

F/G TRIUMPH TOP END GASKET KITS

The world's best Triumph gaskets ever. period. A wealth of research, materials, machinery, and experience have resulted in bringing you the best fitting, most effective, easiest to use, and least noticeable gaskets ever created for vintage Triumph motorcycles.

www.fagengine.com

 

[catdogdouche]

thanks everyone for the support, information is key for me to complete this project and im sure ill need plenty more of it, gonna start cleaning the parts while i wait for the gasket kit and paint the frame, maybe clean out the tank and paint that aswell (going for a black and green color combo like my current bike, ill enclose a picture) excited to start the rebuild, possably gonna need a new coil and other things along the way that are missing in the parts boxed i have, also might need some help with the wiring, familiar with some electronics but if anyone has a simplified map to wiring everything up that would be much appreciated, wish i had more knowledge to share with others to return the favors but just getting into the hobby to be honest, and again i thank everyone for the support, merry christmas and a happy new year to all

 

[1951thunderbird]

Hi catdog
What are you referring to "coil" ?
Do you have another photo of your engine number side but further away something that looks like this behind the jugs?

This would be your magneto
For wiring pretty hard to beat a new harness you can find those here for your model 1955 t110.

1940's & 1950's

BritshWiring is your complete source for wiring harnesses, components and accessories for your classic car restoration project.

www.britishwiring.com

 

[StuartMac]

Hi,

For wiring pretty hard to beat a new harness you can find those here for your model 1955 t110.

1940's & 1950's

BritshWiring is your complete source for wiring harnesses, components and accessories for your classic car restoration project.

www.britishwiring.com

1955 triumph t110 chopper

No chance. Wiring harnesses BW sell are pretty-much exact copies of what Lucas supplied Triumph; standard '55 had speedo. and Ammeter mounted in the nacelle over the top of the forks, with either a PRS8 combined ignition and lighting switch (coil ignition) or lighting switch and separate magneto cutout button. While @catdogdouche will need the speedo. and the/some switches, he won't be using the nacelle to mount 'em.

simplified map to wiring everything up

1950's Triumph wiring wasn't complicated; nevertheless, following it slavishly is unwise - DC electrics were only 6V, Lucas didn't supply/fit any fuses, the wiring varied depending whether the bike had, as above, coil or magneto for ignition and a dynamo or alternator for generation. Imho, better is: first identify the ignition and generation components you have, then decide if you're actually going to use them (or simplify with one or two of the electrical advances in the last three-quarters of a century ) - then decide where you're going to mount the relevant switches, finally connect things together.

Hth.

Regards,

 

[newsh]

The T110 had a swingarm and rear shocks so that’s definitely not a 55 frame, it’s earlier, has it got a frame number? Your primary cases are also both the earlier type as fitted to the Dynamo and Magneto bikes. Same as my 52 bike and @51thunderbird ‘s bike

The frame has the brackets under the seat for the dynamo cut-out unit so could be a thunderbird frame up to ‘53, in 54 the 650 got an alternator and coil ignition, in ‘55 a swinging arm frame.

Some more pics would be great!

 

[StuartMac]

Hi John,

Your primary cases are also both the earlier type as fitted to the Dynamo and Magneto bikes.

The OP has a photo. of the engine number, which is in the '55 number range, the crankcase doesn't appear to have been machined (to remove an earlier number), the lettering and numbering font appears to be 'correct'? Impossible to bolt earlier dynamo primary cases to a '55 crankcase?

The T110 had a swingarm and rear shocks so that’s definitely not a 55 frame

Has the OP supplied the frame number to you in a PM? If not, without knowing the frame number, how can you be certain the front frame loop doesn't match the engine? From the OP:-

1955 triumph t110 chopper
built back in the 60s in san jose CA

... View attachment 801417 shows the rear frame bolted to the front frame loop, as is usual on pre-OIF twin frames; no chance the original builder bolted either an earlier Triumph rigid rear frame or a once-common aftermarket rigid rear frame to the Triumph front frame loop that matches the engine?

The frame has the brackets under the seat for the dynamo cut-out unit

If the rear frame is aftermarket, possibly it won't have these brackets?

Some more pics would be great!

+1 nevertheless.

Hth.

Regards,

 

[steve welte]

since most of everything I build is never stock I always build my own harnesses. This way I don't deal with the Prince of Darkness, and use all modern dautch waterproof connectors and circuit breakers.

 

[newsh]

Hi John,

The OP has a photo. of the engine number, which is in the '55 number range, the crankcase doesn't appear to have been machined (to remove an earlier number), the lettering and numbering font appears to be 'correct'? Impossible to bolt earlier dynamo primary cases to a '55 crankcase?


Has the OP supplied the frame number to you in a PM? If not, without knowing the frame number, how can you be certain the front frame loop doesn't match the engine? From the OP:-

... View attachment 801417 shows the rear frame bolted to the front frame loop, as is usual on pre-OIF twin frames; no chance the original builder bolted either an earlier Triumph rigid rear frame or a once-common aftermarket rigid rear frame to the Triumph front frame loop that matches the engine?


If the rear frame is aftermarket, possibly it won't have these brackets?


+1 nevertheless.

Hth.

Regards,

Yes it definitely looks like genuine T110 engine (or at very least the crankcases) in an earlier rigid frame.

The picture shows a stock rigid rear frame, not aftermarket, with cutout brackets, pillion/exhaust lugs and the lugs for the spring saddle. I agree it’s possible the front loop of the frame is ‘55 with an earlier rear end bolted to it. The tank lugs are missing from the front loop, I’m trying to remember if they bolt on, too dark and cold to go and look at mine now.

In my post I did ask if the frame has a number.

 

[catdogdouche]

heres some more pictures of frame and part numbers, first is the bottom end block number, then the next 2 are the lucus tags on the magneto (so pretty sure it was the magneto setup), the frame number, transmission, and the tank i have seems to have bolt bracket holes for some coils to be there, didnt come with any in the 2 vietnam footlockers i got full of parts, ill post some more pics of the other electrical components it did come with, thanks again for the input👍

 

[StuartMac]

Hi,

frame number View attachment 801637

"27653"? = '52 frame?

Regards,

 

[catdogdouche]

interesting, contrary to the description of the original builder of the chopper, it would be interesting though, this thing is a mish mash of various years and models of triumphs, still neat, hope to build it up correctly, or atleast to where it runs and functions properly

 

[catdogdouche]

sorry bout the lighting, busy in the day only get to my mini shop in the evening, heres some pics of the frame, rims, electrical components and engine tranny ect., hoping i have everything i need, gonna send all these to the solo motorcycle pro in my town for his opinion and diagnosis, let me know what you think and what some of these are, i appreciate it thanks guys 👍

 

[catdogdouche]

heres more 👍