What I did with my classic Triumph today?

925394 Views 10021 Replies 406 Participants Last post by rossmick62, 1 d ago

Rathlindri

Discussion Starter · Jan 19, 2011 (Edited)

As a Hinkley triple owner (don't hate me guys!) I sometimes also read the threads on that section of the Triumph Rat forum and they have a long running thread "what I did to my classic triple today" or something very similar. Posters put up a few lines about what they did with their 'bikes that day..... polished it, rode it, rebuilt it, crashed it, etc etc you get the idea, anything goes really.

Anyway, thought it might be worth starting a similar thread here as I'm selling the "modern" 'bike and concentrating on my classics.
I'll start it off....

Today I got back my speedo which I'd sent to the UK for repair. It was working but had a lot of needle "flutter". Looks like new (still) and can't wait to try it out....

OK who's next?

Richard

Reactions: 1

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Ming

· #161 · Feb 26, 2011

TxTiger said:
Nice job Bill! Those look great, very professional looking job. Did you ever paint your tank, or still polished?

The best thing I've done for my bike recently is buy a 55 gallon drum of Phillips 100 octane race fuel. Street legal, no metals like lead, so I can use it in my new bike too, and zero ethanol so I can store it longer.

Everyone ride safely,

Ron

Hi Ron, thanks, yes my tank is still polished but I am going to paint it myself, this job has given me the confidence to tackle the tank, as this is only the second time I have used rattle cans, the first time was a disaster so I have been a little reluctant since, the side panels were in a real mess when I got them so the tank, which is as new doesn't seem as scary now,
regards,
Bill.

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gatornapper

· #162 · Feb 26, 2011

loctitekid said:
Same thing happened to me on my T140V. Turned out it had two reserve taps, because you are supposed to run with both taps open. I fitted a main tap, because I don't do a lot of 'vigorous riding' (aka racing).

Cheers,
Neil.

Neil - brand new, high-quality main tap from UK with riser pipe (+/- 1 1/4") as I noted on my '72 Bonnie' thread....

Run with only main tap open unless on interstate, never had a problem with fuel starving....

Snakeoil

· #163 · Feb 26, 2011

Ming said:
Hi Ron, thanks, yes my tank is still polished but I am going to paint it myself, this job has given me the confidence to tackle the tank, as this is only the second time I have used rattle cans, the first time was a disaster so I have been a little reluctant since, the side panels were in a real mess when I got them so the tank, which is as new doesn't seem as scary now,
regards,
Bill.

Those don't look bad, Bill. That's just heavy patina.

Those panels came out great. And they look correct on the bike. What model BSA were they from?

I've been giving some thought to using the side panel and tank from my '66 to make a couple of molds so I can make fiberglass side panels for OIF bike. It's very low on the priority list, though.

regards,
Rob

MoBe

· #164 · Feb 26, 2011

After a week of the Flu I got my `73 chainguard brazed back together in preparation for paint tomorrow.Also sandblasted the metal portion of the taillight assembly in prep. for paint.

It`s amazing how much damage a thrown chain can do to a sheet metal chainguard.

Stratofaster

· #165 · Feb 26, 2011

MoBe said:
After a week of the Flu I got my `73 chainguard brazed back together in preparation for paint tomorrow.Also sandblasted the metal portion of the taillight assembly in prep. for paint.

It`s amazing how much damage a thrown chain can do to a sheet metal chainguard.

Better the chain guard than your leg, eh? As for me, I ordered a few parts: a pair of air filters, a pair of float needles, a pair of rocker box gaskets and a pair of rear axle nuts. Once they arrive it will be time to do some serious gettingreadyforspringtimework.

DaveDone

· #166 · Feb 26, 2011

MoBe said:
It`s amazing how much damage a thrown chain can do to a sheet metal chainguard.

Wow, that sounds terrible. Do you know why it happened?
Did it pile up in the primary or what? I never thought about that.

gatornapper

· #167 · Feb 27, 2011 (Edited)

Led two of my sons, 22 & 35, and two of the youngest's friends on a 75 mile twisty challenge on my Bonnie. Bikes trying to keep up with me (

): Ducati Monster 800, Monster 750, Suzuki SV650 (3 "naked" bikes) and Kaw Vulcan. Actually, my youngest sons friends are very green riders and it was a training run for them......and my youngest just got his MC license about 6 months ago. Only my 35 yr. old son is a seasoned experienced rider. I led, he rode sweep.

How many 65 year olds get to do that?????

MoBe

· #168 · Feb 27, 2011

DaveDone said:
Wow, that sounds terrible. Do you know why it happened?
Did it pile up in the primary or what? I never thought about that.

We`re talking about damage caused by some PO and considering the bike was bought at a rolling basketcase price I`m not complaining.Having set the record straight I can honestly say that it is inconceivable to me that anyone other than a completely braindead moron could let a drivechain get worn and loose enough to climb off the rear sprocket,mutilate the chainguard,chew partially through the brake backing plate,break off the brake lever grease nipple and bend the oil sump as if hit by a sledgehammer!

Webby

· #169 · Feb 27, 2011

MoBe said:
We`re talking about damage caused by some PO and considering the bike was bought at a rolling basketcase price I`m not complaining.Having set the record straight I can honestly say that it is inconceivable to me that anyone other than a completely braindead moron could let a drivechain get worn and loose enough to climb off the rear sprocket,mutilate the chainguard,chew partially through the brake backing plate,break off the brake lever grease nipple and bend the oil sump as if hit by a sledgehammer!

Hi MoBe, yes I too believe that we could in many cases change "PO" for "Brain Dead Moron"
I'm still trying to figure out why my 69 motor had the sludge trap tube removed

There's a lot of "mechanics" out there that should have their tools confiscated!

Webby

MoBe

· #170 · Feb 27, 2011

There should be license required in order to purchase any tool more complicated than a 1 lb. hammer.

:realmad

Ming

· #171 · Feb 27, 2011

Snakeoil said:
Those don't look bad, Bill. That's just heavy patina.

Those panels came out great. And they look correct on the bike. What model BSA were they from?

I've been giving some thought to using the side panel and tank from my '66 to make a couple of molds so I can make fiberglass side panels for OIF bike. It's very low on the priority list, though.

regards,
Rob

Hi Rob, sorry but I don't know what model BSA they came from they were among a whole pile of stuff in boxes marked "BSA" that my mate bought of a dead guy's brother,so we can't ask the PO either,
regards,
Bill.

loctitekid

· #172 · Feb 27, 2011

MoBe said:
There should be license required in order to purchase any tool more complicated than a 1 lb. hammer.

:realmad

There speaks a man who hasn't seen how much damage I can do with a little hammer!

Still I'm improving with age. I just hope I can become competent before I become senile.

MoBe

· #173 · Feb 27, 2011

loctitekid said:
There speaks a man who hasn't seen how much damage I can do with a little hammer!

Still I'm improving with age. I just hope I can become competent before I become senile.

"Long may you run"................Neil Young

72BonnieCafe

· #174 · Feb 28, 2011

Well lets see.... I got her back ready for the road after someone backed over my 66 Bonneville. Gave me the motivation to go for a full restoration!

looseparts

· #175 · Feb 28, 2011

72BonnieCafe said:
Well lets see.... I got her back ready for the road after someone backed over my 66 Bonneville. Gave me the motivation to go for a full restoration!

Did you have to do more than replace the primary cover? I saw a previous post where you mentioned a foot peg went through the cover when the bike got knocked over, was there other damage?

7873jake

· #176 · Feb 28, 2011

Started scrubbing out the rims on the old girl only to realize that they need a rechrome. They are true and sound but in need of a replate and rebuild.

Anyone I should consider for replating? (Would prefer you guys only recommend platers that are within 45 minutes of the house, do fabulously deep work and only charge about $25-50 per rim.)

NickL

· #177 · Feb 28, 2011

Webby said:
Sounds like fun NickL,
There's a bloke on the accessnorton forum selling an atlas lump, that would bolt straight in

Webby

Here's the link http://www.accessnorton.com/post96224.html#p96224

Thanks Webby
At present, like you i'm a bit strapped for cash,,,,, although this looked like a really good deal, thanks for the response.
I will probably be looking in a few months although i should really use one of my old racing lumps. (A65) iv'e got a couple and the NorBsa thing is tempting as i've never seen it done with an A65 only A10's.
You seem to be doing a very nice job of your Triton, i like the exacting approach you take with layout etc. I also wish i had the resource of a mechancal Engineering firm to scrounge from!!!!!
You mentioned the horrific price of the Grimeca front brake, have you thought of using one out of a Suzuki 'water bottle' they were 4 LS and will lace into a WM2 or 3 rim. A few guys i raced with used them.
Are you going to fit an 'outrigger' bearing behind the clutch? this is a good idea as it makes for better changes and slows wear on the g'box.

Cheers
Nick

looseparts

· #178 · Feb 28, 2011

Today, I anticipated that 'sweet spot' when the temperature would climb above 25 - but the rain hadn't begun. I pushed the gorgeous T100 (now that I have the original red fuel tank's leaks stopped and freshly mounted it back on the bike) on to the driveway in preparation for a bit of a ride. By the time I got my helmet on, it was raining - I took off anyway.

After finally having the much-loved tank (that the entire project was conceptualized around) re-mounted, and the mysterious 3rd and 4th gear misfire solved (right exhaust tappet too tight) I thought I'd look a little deeper into the 'one remaining problem' (he's an optimist!).

The PO had moved the oil fill spout forward on the oil tank. That it is no longer on top of the tank suits me, as my seat does not pivot on hinges and having the spout in a location where the seat can stay put for fill ups is great. But... there's leak.

The return line from the oil pump has a hole in it, right behind the new location of the opening in the filler spout. At idle, oil just dribbles out that hole, into the tank. At speed, I believe oil is shooting as a stream directly at the cap of my oil tank and when I get back from a ride, there is a smear of oil running down the outside of the tank from under the cap all the way down to making a puddle on the ground. I once covered the filler neck with a square of inner-tube rubber and hose-clamped it tightly on the tank neck and after a long ride, there was zero oil on the outside of the tank, so i know that's where the oil is coming from.

I've tried newer and older caps, with different materials (cork and o-rings) as gaskets, but they didn't stop the flow.

Suggestions?

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Speedblue2

· #179 · Feb 28, 2011

Looked at my Speedmaster sitting in the shed all dirty. Looked at it several times during the day while I did some cement work around the house. Wish I would have got to go for a ride it was nice out,not to cold,but sunny.

gatornapper

· #180 · Feb 28, 2011

72BonnieCafe said:
Well lets see.... I got her back ready for the road after someone backed over my 66 Bonneville. Gave me the motivation to go for a full restoration!

Can't wait to see the results Jared. If you need a helping hand, or just an encouraging observer, just call.......

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