[gatornapper]

Been looking for a month for my 1/4" socket long extension & universal to take the intake rocker cover off and adjust the intake valves, with no luck. Finally went & bought new ones, set them right beside Bonne where I can't miss them so I can adjust them tomorrow.

Was an incredible 57 deg. here today, but I wouldn't think of taking my new paint up my slippery, 100% mud in some places 1/2 mile drive for a ride even if I did have all the tins back in place - which I don't. Anyway, was out of town most of the daY.....

Need to take a collection to raise about $1,500.00 US for new gravel on my drive before I take Bonne out.......either that or pave a 3 foot wide strip for 1/2 mile.......

Hey, Rath! For less than one day - you already have 3 pages of stuff! You hit a hot button, for sure!

 

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Fired up two electric heaters in the garage to bring the temp up above "freeze to death" (15 F. outside now) and work on the '72 Bonne, adjusted intake valves, installed newly painted rear fender/mudguard. Put front fender on a couple weeks ago.

Agenda for next 7 days: finish rear end assembly, adjust chain, replace oil filter (200 mis. since top-end rebuild) & check for metal particles as suggested by CoBob, add oil, check gearcase oil level, install tank, fire-up just to hear her run.

 

[gatornapper]

See here:

http://www.triumphrat.net/classic-v...ng-to-fixing-up-to-riding-95.html#post1791053

 

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Bob - every word had me drooling. Can't imagine all of 66 degrees. Love hearing of your rides, only wish I could have been behind you and tried to keep up. Can't believe you push that Triton to 7,500 rpm.......you're living the very words "Ride it til it scares ya" Double-darn garantee ya if I get there, I'm buyin'......

Can you please explain the tradition of doing the ton before all the oil changes????

"Enquiring minds want to know....."

 

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Today: began removing the old fuel line on the '71 Trophy 500 and installing a new, braided transparent line.

As per CoBob's suggestion, I changed the oil filter today on the '72 T120V in preparation for tomorrow's 150 + mile ride with 72BonnieCafe after we meet not far from Ft. Lee, VA. She has 256 break-in miles on the new top end now, and it's good to have a new oil filter on. Other good news is that nary a drop of oil was missing since I added just a little at about 100 miles into the break-in.

Jared's (72BonnieCafe) not sure which of his 5 Triumph's he'll be riding tomorrow, but hinted it might be the '72 Bonnie Cafe' racer even though he's trying to sell it ($4,500 if you are interested). I'm really looking forward to meeting him and seeing his awesome craftsmanship.

Needless to say, pics will follow tomorrow's ride....

 

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I started doing the ton with the original 72 TR6 as an indicator as to how it was running. At oil change time, I would do lots of other routine maintenance: chains, air cleaners, torque bolts, check plugs, tire air pressure, spoke tuning, and a general overview. The 72 TR6 has gotten me 107,000 miles and 41 states and counting. It has had dozens of oil changes and I have done the ton before every single one of them. I ran out of time to do it today, but at 100mph, I expect no misses, wobbles, or sour-note sounds. Until an engine blows, I staying with the system; so far--so good. Bob

Ok, gotcha. From now on, I'll be following your example on my T120. But the T100C will have to have another standard, cause I'm sure she was never meant to get that tight......

 

[gatornapper]

Well, this was yesterday, and in fear & trepidation of a double-post, I'll proceed....

Took my T120V for a twisty, 50 mile ride after giving her a good coat of mud going up my 1/2 mile mud drive (taking $$$ collections for gravel....) and loved every minute of it. Two good friends were behind me on their new Harley's, but even at low loads, no more than 1/4 throttle and 4k RPM they couldn't keep up with me in either acceleration or the sharp curves..... 50 deg. when I left, 42 when I got home.

Let her sit & cool down for 1/2 hour after getting home and hosed her down good to get the mud off. Well, most of it anyway.

Cold & rain all week, so I'll have to find something to twiddle on.....

 

[gatornapper]

Pulled the "Bonneville" side tins behind the air boxes to swap them out with much nicer ones that 72BonnieCafe has for me that have the "Bonneville V" on them......500 mile break-in oil change is next, then putting on the period mirrors, Dunstall mufflers and front turn signals I'm getting from 72BonnieCafe as well.......

 

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Was 53 here today, and really wanted to take the T120V out, but she's still in pieces until I get the new "Bonneville V" tins from 72BonnieCafe.....Jimmy, please don't keep making the rest of us jealous.....SO, I adjusted the brake light switch some, put in a new 'SilverStar' brighter 1157 bulb, and worked on the seat cable/wire.

Tomorrow I'll have the tins on but it will only get up to low 40's, so I'll find something else to do on her.

 

[gatornapper]

'71 T100C - replaced 17 year-old black, cloth-wrapped fuel line with new clear re-inforced fuel line.

'72 T120V - painting "Bonneville V" tins with rattle can Gloss Black. 3 coats, radiant heat dry in front of fireplace, will wet-sand, buff, polish tomorrow hopefully.......

 

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Thanks Red1959. that is quite a compliment coming from you.

Dave - your bike - and RetroRods' - make most of the rest of us put our faces in the mud.......they kinda sets the high-water mark.....

 

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Yes, MoBe! over $3k of gravel finally did it! Trouble is I need another $500 worth, just ain't got it now, and there is one 5' x 5' mudhole left in my parking area near the house......where I can put my face because of my ugly front wheel.......

All the $3k wasn't mine tho....small amount was a neighbor's up near the paved road, and part was my son's next door......but the bulk of it was mine.......no more $$$ on Bonnie parts anytime soon......guess I'll be waiting on those Dunstall's........

 

[gatornapper]

Finished "Bonneville V" tins & installed them.

Took the T120V up and down the drive (1 mile) just to warm the oil a little, changed oil & filter, checked gearbox oil (good), installed two new front turn signal lenses - all ready for tomorrow's almost 60 degrees and as many miles as I can put on her......

 

[gatornapper]

63 great, twisty miles in 60 degree sun, last 40 with a friend and my bro-in-law in his crazy trike following:

 

[gatornapper]

That sounds great GN. I am starting to believe there is another riding season coming.
Wild trike ! tell me, does he wear a seatbelt or helmet? or neither?

Dave - has to wear helmet, no seatbelt that I know of - but I'll check! Kinda like wearing a seatbelt on a bike - don't want that.

HATE having him ride with us......whenever/wherever we stop, he gets ALL the attention, especially from the women! And it ain't him! He's 3 years younger than I am and looks 10 years older....I don't care what kind of bikes are with us - customs, antiques, restorations - his trike gets all the attention.......

What's really weird is coming up behind him in a lane next to him....for quite some time, it looks like the rear half of a VW running on one rear axle and no front half. You can't see the HD Wide Glide front end, and it looks like 1/2 a VW is balanced on a rear axle.......your brain does as "this does not compute"/double-take. I'll post a couple more pics on my "72 Bonnie...." thread.

He rode bikes for years, but arthritis prevented him from being able to hold a two-wheeler up at a stop.

 

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Jimmy - actually I don't think so......it's an automatic so my B-i-L doesn't have to shift....if it was stick, I'm sure it could pop them easily with that light front end popping the clutch.....

But hey, I'm going to ask my B-i-L if he's ever tried it! And if he hasn't, that he needs to!

 

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'72 T120V - rode about 100 miles today, about 25 with 72BonnnieCafe as we rode to my Trumpy mechanic friend Ray so I could introduce him and 72BC - 72BC spent hours just saying "WOW!" as he drooled at all the old Triumph frames, forks, tanks, bikes, parts, cylinders, heads, handlebars.....If i continue this it will last three pages so I'll stop.

Needless to say, they hit it off great and are now best buds. I expect 72BC will be hanging out at Ray's even though it's about 75 minutes away from him.

Between us in our 30 mile ride, we had 3 stops for repairs! Take too long to explain, but two were on his sweet '72 Tiger bobber involving a) magneto kill wire; b) spacer at rear of axle adjuster on hardtail frame. One was on my balancing tube between two sides of intake manifold - came off while riding!

Otherwise a great day riding with a fellow Rat on a gorgeous warm 68 degree day in February.

 

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Too much to list here!

Got my '71 T100C Trophy 500 inspected today, and have questions/issues ....on my thread for her....

http://www.triumphrat.net/members-r...129158-restoring-71-t100c-12.html#post1811895

And put a glorious 175, problem-free, sunny, warm, twisty miles on my '72 Bonnie and when I got home put on my new EMGO Dunstall's on and took her for a 20 mile test ride.....WOW!!!! :flamedude

See my '72 Bonnie thread for details.....

 

[gatornapper]

Sharing my Bonneville with my 22 yr. old Navy son and a good friend of his who rides a hot Yamaha sportbike, and another best friend of my son's (Luke) on my '71 Trophy 500, the four of us put in 80 miles together today, and I'm thinkin', "What are the odds that these guys in their early 20's would be hanging out with an old man in his middle 60's - and all having a great time?"

No question, the old Triumph's and riding together were a key part of it. Luke has learned to ride on my Trophy 500 and I've had the privilege of teaching him to ride from the day he got off a few days on a dirt bike on our property.

Can it get any better?

 

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So I don't commit the great sin of double-posting - see my "72 Bonnie....." thread for all that happened in the last 2 days......