A Triumph I picked up

dennisgb · Feb 25, 2015

Don't know if this belongs here, but the engine is a 1966 so maybe it's a classic.

Picked it up on Ebay over the weekend.

Fast Eddie · Feb 28, 2015

The question I'd like to ask is: how do you get that motorbike and sidecar down from that first story veranda ?!?

dennisgb · Feb 28, 2015

I forgot to ask the seller about that bike and sidecar up there when I picked up the bike.

It's gotten a lot of comments. More than my cute little Triumph chopper.

raglafart · Mar 2, 2015

All bikes can go up and down stairs, it's how do you get a full tank of gas at the bowser half way up the stairs that's got me baffled!

grandpaul · Mar 3, 2015

Engine, front end (less extended stanchions) and rear hub are all useable.

The rest can be sold to partly offset the cost of a proper build. Hipsters pay way too much for hardtail frames these days, your good fortune.

dennisgb · Mar 5, 2015

grandpaul said:
Engine, front end (less extended stanchions) and rear hub are all useable.

The rest can be sold to partly offset the cost of a proper build. Hipsters pay way too much for hardtail frames these days, your good fortune.

I originally bought it because I thought the engine was worth what I paid for it.

It has some very good useable "chopper" parts though. Trying to decide whether to put it together as a chopper. Maybe de-rake it and put shorter tubes in there to get it "more" manageable.

Rear wheel is a wide 16" laced into the Triumph hub. It's in very good condition. Front end is CB750 with a 21" wheel in good condition. The old school oil tank has perfect chrome.

A nicer rear fender, seat and tank, fresh paint and de-rake could make a nice little chopped Triumph.

But then again...

Corona850 · Mar 5, 2015

dennisgb said:
A nicer rear fender, seat and tank, fresh paint and de-rake could make a nice little chopped Triumph.

But then again...

There is no such thing as a NICE chopped Triumph. :x

:roll:

dennisgb · Mar 5, 2015

Corona850 said:
There is no such thing as a NICE chopped Triumph. :x

:roll:

The problem is the only thing Triumph is the engine and the rear hub.

The rest of the bike is custom stuff so not like I am killing a good Triumph.

I wouldn't do that

Corona850 · Mar 6, 2015

dennisgb said:
The problem is the only thing Triumph is the engine and the rear hub.

The rest of the bike is custom stuff so not like I am killing a good Triumph.

I wouldn't do that

That's good to hear. Each to his own, I realize, but I don't understand why anyone takes a motorcycle with adequate rear suspension and replaces it with a hard tail. It's baffles me. To take a bike with decent handling and totally f#@k it up until it will only bounce badly in an approxiamately straight line with no ability to go around a corner - why do it?

I am an equal-opportunity curmudgeon, though. There are a lot of things I can't see the point of - Facebook and Twitter spring to mind immediately, but there is a long list besides.

dennisgb said:
I originally bought it because I thought the engine was worth what I paid for it.

And that makes sense. Use the engine in a Rickman chasis (that would be my choice - http://www.rickman-motorcycles.com/parts-and-prices.php) or a Triton. But, really, doesn't the world already have enough choppers? :cry:

grandpaul · Mar 7, 2015

dennisgb said:
... Maybe de-rake it and put shorter tubes in there to get it "more" manageable...

Too bad they didn't use raked yokes instead of laying down the steering head...

dennisgb · Mar 7, 2015

Corona850 said:
dennisgb said:

The problem is the only thing Triumph is the engine and the rear hub.

The rest of the bike is custom stuff so not like I am killing a good Triumph.

I wouldn't do that

Click to expand...

That's good to hear. Each to his own, I realize, but I don't understand why anyone takes a motorcycle with adequate rear suspension and replaces it with a hard tail. It's baffles me. To take a bike with decent handling and totally f#@k it up until it will only bounce badly in an approxiamately straight line with no ability to go around a corner - why do it?

I am an equal-opportunity curmudgeon, though. There are a lot of things I can't see the point of - Facebook and Twitter spring to mind immediately, but there is a long list besides.

dennisgb said:

I originally bought it because I thought the engine was worth what I paid for it.

Click to expand...

And that makes sense. Use the engine in a Rickman chasis (that would be my choice - http://www.rickman-motorcycles.com/parts-and-prices.php) or a Triton. But, really, doesn't the world already have enough choppers? :cry:

It was a spontaneous buy. Saw it on Ebay and the price was low...so I put a bid at the end and got it. Guy was close to me so just hooked the trailer up and went and got it. Maybe I will look at that Rickman.

dennisgb · Mar 7, 2015

grandpaul said:
dennisgb said:

... Maybe de-rake it and put shorter tubes in there to get it "more" manageable...

Click to expand...

Too bad they didn't use raked yokes instead of laying down the steering head...

It's an aftermarket frame, not a modified Triumph frame. I guess that radial rake was "cool" back in the day. I cleaned the rear wheel a bit today and the chrome is good...the hub is chromed also.

I pulled the head and it looks like a fresh rebuild...no carbon anywhere. Has a Boyer that looks new...not even plugged in. Was wondering where the wires were so I took the cover off and there in there. Somebody put some money into it and didn't really know what they were doing...has an old battery eliminator in a box that came with it. Probably couldn't get it to run with a Boyer and no battery.

Triton Thrasher · Mar 8, 2015

Sold as an untested rebuild.

That's not all good.

dennisgb · Mar 8, 2015

Triton Thrasher said:
Sold as an untested rebuild.

That's not all good.

No. It was sold as a non-running "frozen" engine. I knew what I was buying. What I found is a bonus...assumed engine would need rebuild.

dennisgb · Mar 15, 2015

The engine was frozen and I tried all the usual tricks to free it up.

Found this slick idea on the web so I made one up and it worked a treat.

Looks like the PO or someone along the way had just done a rebuild on the engine but somehow stored it where water got in the left cylinder. My guess is the rocker boxes were not tight or just sitting on the engine because the cam followers and holders were rusted badly (water in the push rod tubes).

Took a bit to get the holders out because of the rust. Replacing all the parts with new...very spendy parts BTW.

Remembering how to work on Triumph's. Last one I had was back in the 70's.

grandpaul · Mar 15, 2015

That's a novel approach. I assume there is some sort of abutment on the threaded rod so that it doesn't destroy the piston crown?

I would maybe weld a nut to the plate where the threaded rod goes in, looks like the threads would pull out there under a really stuck piston.

dennisgb · Mar 15, 2015

grandpaul said:
That's a novel approach. I assume there is some sort of abutment on the threaded rod so that it doesn't destroy the piston crown?

I would maybe weld a nut to the plate where the threaded rod goes in, looks like the threads would pull out there under a really stuck piston.

I wanted to use a thicker piece of angle but this was all I had. Yes there are only a couple of threads in there but figured I could put a nut under there and reverse the process if I lost them. A welded nut would be better but I am still setting up my shop and don't have the power circuit for the welder yet.

This piston was really stuck. I soaked it with PB blaster for a week...nothing. Tried to turn at the crankshaft...no way. This little trick worked instantly. I didn't even feel it break loose...no tension whatsoever. It felt like I was turning a loose bolt. The bolt is a carriage bolt with the head ground a little. I put some cardboard in there to protect the piston. No damage although I am tossing the pistons because I'm doing a rebore.

dennisgb · Mar 31, 2015

Been working on the engine and basically looks like a complete rebuild.

Got the head done and the cylinders bored out...new pistons.

Had to buy a good set of used rocker boxes because the originals had most of the fins broken off

Engine is going to be worth more than the bike

grandpaul · Apr 4, 2015

As long as the engine and the rest of the bike are in similar shape (mechanically & cosmetically), the engine is always worth more than the rest of the bike.

...sometimes a LOT more.

dennisgb · Apr 7, 2015

grandpaul said:
As long as the engine and the rest of the bike are in similar shape (mechanically & cosmetically), the engine is always worth more than the rest of the bike.

...sometimes a LOT more.

It's one of those condundrums...your original suggestion of parting it out and building a good bike comes into play as I put the motor together. I wish it had less rake on the frame and shorter forks. Making a bobber out of it would make more sense. Looking at the frame it would be tough to modify so maybe a different frame makes sense. Still going down the path of putting it together as it is, but wishing for something different.