T140 progress and thoughts...

Fast Eddie

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I cleaned the T140 yesterday and went for a bit of a blast. It looked so sweet I thought I’d show off some pics here!

Also some notes:

I’ve decided I’m very happy with the 1/2” longer rear Koni shocks, handling is greatly improved over the Taiwanese Girling look-alike jobs that were fitted and, especially for a tall bloke, the raised seat height helps.

I didn’t like the stock T140 US bars as much as I seemed to remember! They’re a tad too high and have a slightly strange angle to them. Then I discovered that Norton Commando US bars look similar, but are lower and without the strange angle. They are perfect!

The MK11 carbs that I came SO close to throwing over a hedge in front of a combined harvester are now actually working beautifully. Note: T140Es MUST use a hotter plug than other Triumph twins. If you don’t, they’ll foul, and fouled plugs do NOT help the process of setting up carbs!

I’m currently trying the 3.5 slides again and they seem good. Whilst I had the carbs apart this time I noticed some fine dirt in them, manufacturing debris from inside the new tank. I don’t think think it was actually impacting the carburation (Amal’s are good like that) but I cleaned them out and fitted some in line filters anyway.

The Hyde disc kit, along with 13mm master cylinder and braided hose, is a huge improvement over stock. But not as good as I remember twin discs being. If I were to go through such a brake upgrade again I think I’d go the twin disc route.

I’m really pleased with how this bike runs now. It starts great, it started second kick recently after being stood for nearly 3 months. It pootles through traffic like a H*nda, revs out like it should and sounds wonderful when doing so, then ticks over solidly feeling like it would do so all day long.

We all know T140s have a bad rep for vibes right? Perhaps because we caned them harder when we were young? This is remarkably smooth up to around 5,500rpm and only ‘uncomfortable’ above 6,000. Considering that the torque and power is best between 3k and 6k, and an 80mph cruise is smooth, the vibes are just a none issue.

And we all know T140s handle right? Well that one is true. It really is a sweet handling thing, very neutral, a very light feel and very flickable. I remember the good handling, but I think it’s improved further with Roadriders. And of course, ‘as new’ forks and Koni shocks help too.

And no... it doesn’t leak ANY oil. Perhaps aided by the reed valve breather I’ve fitted?

And finally, if you don’t think T140s are pretty... there’s something very wrong with you...


T140 progress and thoughts...
T140 progress and thoughts...
T140 progress and thoughts...
T140 progress and thoughts...
T140 progress and thoughts...
T140 progress and thoughts...
 
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Very pretty Nigel. Agree that a well balanced 750 bonnie can be very smooth (relatively), though a bit of a lottery as they came out of Meriden!
My own dynamically balanced bike is actually smoother than both commandos up to about 80mph/4500rpm (geared pretty high). It's not noticably rougher over that but I can't hang on with the (650) US bars! A mate with a dead stock bonnie one day apart in (1975) production date is horrible above 60.
 
I do often wonder if some of the vibes folk complain about isn’t due to unbalanced wheels...?
 
My '77 Tiger is the same, smooth & fine handling & I haven't had the crank balanced. A mate of mine had a '73 650 Tiger back in the early eighties which vibrated so badly the clock & rear light brackets used to snap off. I once went on the back down the motorway to collect some part or other, & at 5000rpm couldn't keep my feet on the footrests due to them vibrating off. To cure the rear light problem I gave him a ribber mounted rear light/number plate bracket from a 750/4 Honda & guess what.....it fractured & fell off!
 
A gorgeous T140 you have there. As perfect can be by the looks of the pics too. Just curious, is your rear tire centered in the rear fender? ... 9 out of 10 are not; as I believe the 2 or 3 chaps they had lacing the wheels didn't do the offset to spec properly. According to my measurements, when the offset is done as per manual spec ... the rear wheel is centered. Your thoughts ???

FWIW ... I run a 1972 Conical rear wheel on my 1976 T140, that has a 1969 T120 engine. (I know, a bit of a "bitsa") Anyway, It always bugged me (pet peve of mine) how the disc brake rear wheel was NOT centered. Even my brand new 1978 T140E bought by me on April 1, 1979 when I was a Senior in High School ... had the rear wheel not centered, ugh. (not meaning to hi jack your thread ...)
 
A gorgeous T140 you have there. As perfect can be by the looks of the pics too. Just curious, is your rear tire centered in the rear fender? ... 9 out of 10 are not; as I believe the 2 or 3 chaps they had lacing the wheels didn't do the offset to spec properly. According to my measurements, when the offset is done as per manual spec ... the rear wheel is centered. Your thoughts ???

FWIW ... I run a 1972 Conical rear wheel on my 1976 T140, that has a 1969 T120 engine. (I know, a bit of a "bitsa") Anyway, It always bugged me (pet peve of mine) how the disc brake rear wheel was NOT centered. Even my brand new 1978 T140E bought by me on April 1, 1979 when I was a Senior in High School ... had the rear wheel not centered, ugh. (not meaning to hi jack your thread ...)

Thanks!

Regarding the rear wheel being centered in the fender...

Surely what’s important is that the rear wheel is aligned with the front wheel, which in turn is centered within the front fork legs?

Then the rear fender is tweaked accordingly.

At least that’s my normal procedure.
 
Lawn ? what lawn ?

Please replace that hideous rear light assembly with something more appropriate.
Otherwise , not bad at all :)
 
@ Nortribuell, Rear wheel short for yer...

@ Sam, note freshly cut lawn...



View attachment 12048

Yes. yes and YES! Yours looks like ... one of the 1 in 10 ... that is actually correct:) I agree that both front and rear wheels need aligned with each other too. My 1978 T140E front and rear wheels were NOT aligned; hence my "theory" that the two or three chaps that laced the rear wheels, got the offset wrong. Sure appreciate you posting the pics, and especially the rear view of your beautiful T140E also :) Cheers! Pat
 
It’s the grab rail, it’s not symmetrical. Not sure why...


The grab rail is a later (or T140D?) 'single mudguard attachment bolt' item which probably accounts for the blanking bolt each side of the tail lamp housing of the standard two-bolt mudguard and is offset as it fastens to the upper shock mounts which are both offset left of the seat tube centres although I don't know if the apparent offset is intentional or whether it requires a little 'fine adjustment'? :)
 
Man, you certainly have a way of working with black. Did you powder coat that D grabrail? Love the finish on the forks too. My left cylinder on my D is running rich even though I've tried to lean it out quite a bit. I wish I hadn't had my MKIIs serviced. I was talked into that job last Fall. I had a blown headgasket which was replaced along with the pushrod seals. Remarkably, it was still running pretty good. Anyway, couldn't agree with you more on how lovely and fun the 140 is. I love it. Pretty much a Swiss watch.
 
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