Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 117 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 9:05 am Post subject:
Well, I'm feeling good about the bike, Grandpaul, but we've still got a way to go.
Next on the list is to finish the brakes. I have all the parts I need except for the banjo bolts and the male-male adaptors.
I just had an influx of some cash, so I can order them today.
Remember that the tires look new, but they are about twenty-five years old. I want to replace them. As a long-time BMW rider, I've become enamored over the years with Metzler tires, but I'm reminded of a mistake I made years ago in Europe and would like your opinion.
When I bought my first BMW in Germany, my experience was limited to British bikes. I had been a fan of Dunlop TT100s. A friend made a trip to England and brought back a set that could be fitted onto the wheels of my R75. Problem is that a high speed wobble would scare the hell out of me at speeds over 100MPH. Blaming it on the parabollic design of the Dunlops, I took the advice of a German BMW dealer, switched to Metzlers and the problem was corrected. It was an expensive lesson. I'm worried that Metzlers on a Triumph might cause similar problems.
Does anybody have experience or an opinion on this? Recommendations of tires I should use?
Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 1717 Location: Norfolk UK
Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 9:49 am Post subject:
Tulsaalva wrote:
Does anybody have experience or an opinion on this? Recommendations of tires I should use?
I don't believe that fitting Metzelers (although you don't say which type?) is likely to cause any handling problems on your Bonneville if they are what you prefer?
I am also a long- time BMW R75/7 (& K100RT) owner, and well remember the warnings given during the seventies and eighties not to use Dunlop TT100 tyres on BMWs, and I have always used either Metzeler or Conti tyres on my BMWs. The new Avon Roadriders seem to be liked by British bike riders?
Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 117 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 6:44 am Post subject:
The tires fitted now are Avon Roadrunners. Don't forget this is a T140D Special. The front tire is marked with both 100/90H19 and 4.10H19. The rear is marked 110/90H18 and 4.25/85H18.
The 25+ year old Avons have hairline cracks running around the sidewalls and have to be aired up often. They're rubbish, I'm afraid, even though the tread appears to be unworn.
Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 117 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject:
The clutch is all pretty and clean and works great!
Let's talk about brakes... I just finished rebuilding the rear caliper. My question is: The Factory Manual says not to separate the two halves and, if one does, to consider it a temporary cure. The calipers should be sent to the factory to be rebuilt. They also say that torque is critical. Nothing is said about thread lock although it seems apparent that it was used at the factory. There is a round dot on the side of the threads.
The rebuild kits I bought contain the seal for the junction of the two halves of the calipers. The caliper went together nice and clean, new seals throughout, everything lubed with DOT-4, and torque was set half-way between the values quoted in the manual.
Since sending the calipers back to the factory may be problematic, how much trouble am I in?
Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 117 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 7:28 am Post subject:
grandpaul wrote:
Calipers are one piece bodies. Surely you are talking about the master cylinder?
I read a good overhaul guideline for M/C, I'll see if I can dig it up.
These Lockheed calipers (1979) are definitely two pieces, Grandpaul. Each side contains a cylinder and piston. They are held together by two bolts. There is a passage between the two sides, sealed with a rubber o-ring, to allow fluid to flow to both sides.
The Factory manual said not to separate them but I found it impossible to get both pistons out without doing so. I'm here to tell you it would have been even worse to install the pistons with the new seals without having the sides apart. It was tough enough as it was because the pistons (and the outer seal!) had to be perfectly lined up with the cylinder to get them to go in. It wasn't easy! I'm embarrassed to say how long it took me with a myriad of repeated tries before I was able to slide them home "gently" as the book said.
Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 117 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 7:32 am Post subject:
Incidentally, I found no difference between the parts I removed from the caliper and the master cylinder and the parts I installed. The bike has 14,000 Kilometers on the odometer.
Edit: Actually, I guess there was one difference. The fit of the caliper pistons was tighter (not overly so) with the new seals than it had been with the original ones. I guess that's to be expected.
I'm pretty sure I could have just flushed the system with new brake fluid and the brakes would have worked fine.
Since I'd already bought the parts, though, there was no reason to not use them.
Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 1717 Location: Norfolk UK
Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 9:34 am Post subject:
Tulsaalva wrote:
These Lockheed calipers (1979) are definitely two pieces,
Yes, the Triumph Lockheed cast steel calipers certainly are two piece units, and were so from when they were first used in 1973. Unlike the Norton Lockheed type.
Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 1717 Location: Norfolk UK
Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 9:58 am Post subject:
grandpaul wrote:
Wierd, every Norton Lockheed stamped CALIPER I've rebuilt is one piece, with the threaded lugs for mounting only 1/2 depth of the cast body.
But neither Tulsaalva or myself were referring to the NORTON Lockheed caliper? Which is totally different to the CAST STEEL Triumph caliper. As I said, "UNLIKE the Norton Lockheed type".
The bike in question being a TRIUMPH Bonneville T140D.
Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 117 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 9:48 am Post subject:
I'm hoping UPS brings some banjoes and banjo nuts, today. Tomorrow is more likely, though.
MASTER CYLINDER:
I've replaced the rubber parts, inspected the pristine bore, and reassembled the front master cylinder. I've found that the two parts screw together much more easily. Should I use some sealer on the threads?
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At the end of 1967 the Norton Commando was announced.
The Norton Commando was greeted with a certain amount of scepticism because on first sight the commando appeared to comprise of the old Norton Dominator twin cylinder engine mounted at an inclined angle in a set of new cylinder parts.
It was not realized that the new Norton Commando Isolastic method of engine suspension damped out all engine vibration and produced a machine which had uncanny smoothness for a vertical twin. In due course the critics were silenced and the Norton Commando had the distinction of being regarded as the first of todays so called superbikes. There can be little doubt that the original design concept of the Norton Commando has proved correct, since comparatively few modifications of any real consequence have been made since production commenced during 1968.
Now nearly 40 years later Norton Commando riders like us are a breed of our own, and as far as we are concerned its still more fun to go for a blat on the old Norton Commando, and fast. As a Norton Commando owner and enthusiast, my goal here is to promote and give credit to those who keep the Norton name going.
It is more deserving to give credit to the Commando itself, for after all these years it continues to be respected. The original Commando designers like John Favill are those who deserve the credit for developing this incredible motorcycle.
The Norton Commando Roadster and Interstate of the late seventies, never died. Although the Norton Villiers factory dispersed the tradition lived on. Today Kenny Dreer in the USA is developing the new 952 CC Norton. What a great looking bike this is, and its engineering is still based on the original layout. It will be interesting to see how the new 952CC Norton does in todays tough motorcycle market. One thing is for sure, I would own one if I could afford it.
