TR5T

New to forum navigating is still difficult. Looking for any sound information on accurately restoring these bikes. Have a couple and question what is original. Turn signals and rear fenders in particular. The 73 has a bee hive taillight and turn signals on headlight, one owner and supposed to be original. The other 73 has rear fender extension , square taillight and and turn signals on handlebars. This bike has 686 miles and I think is original, but theses years we know they threw parts on anything they would fit. Any guide for restoration would be great

They all had the 917 tail light, rear indicators off the rear chrome rail and add on clamp brackets on the handle bars for the front.

Late 1972 builds, who knows but that is all I have ever seen.

These are the rarer 1974 models though but all are hard to find in original complete condition.



Picture of this original 1973 model ?

Trying to compile what is correct. Purchased these over the last five years and have just now gotten to the point of making things correct. My 74 has a metal air cleaner like 73. Slight rust appears to be original. Sooo at serial number did they change over to glass fiber? All of mine (4) appear to have a lug on the right swing arm for a passenger foot peg but nothing on left side. One 73 has 686 miles but no serial number on frame, none I blasted it clean. So I guess it's a dealer replacement and they didn't restamp frame. Shame was, it set in dirt floor barn for 50 years. Took a year of soaking to get engine apart. I'll try to post pics later Thanks for your pics

I can't see any 74 model (If they were built in 1974 given the factory lock in at the time) having the metal air box, the fibre glass version is probably rarer than unobtainium (and not even sure I have even seen one for sale ever)

My first 1974 TR5T had the short outlet 1973 muffler and 1973 kick start lever both with patina that seemed to match the bike so who knows, the two 74's in the picture are exactly 100 apart in HJ engine numbers.
The 74 would normally have the long outlet muffler and straight kick start lever.

HJ56669.
This was a '4800 mile bike still with its Dunlop's but had had a much harder life.
One of 929 units.



Original decal, how about that 'oxy welding.



HJ 56569 after I serviced it before sale close to a year ago.
This bike spent most of its life on a farm in Oregon (1974 to 2012) doing a shade over 2000 miles and still having its original Dunlop Trials tyres until that last year.
They are very rare in this condition and 99.9% original including the Krizman spark arrestor. (The Dunlop's probably had traces of 1974 air)



I kept the other one.

Great looking bike don't blame you for keeping it. The decal for the spark arrester on one of mine is on the rear fender. I gathered extra exhaust systems and none have the decal.. There is a boss on the right side of the swing arm for a passenger foot peg?!?! But none on the left side. If it wasn't for foot peg, what for? there are more questions then answers, Common reply was they put anything on they had in stock at the factory during those years. These were assembled from BSA B50 frames, I just found out, so was it possible they had an 8 inch front break as the B50. One of mine had this and I changed it out for a 6 inch spare I had.

According to Steve Wilson the frames were Meriden built and: 'Derived from the BSA Victor unit singles, but differed from it dimensionally'. Seems the OE 6" front brake was a Rickman design for their two-stroke machines, derided by most and usually replaced with the 8" 'comical 'ub'

The TR5T only had the small hub brake.
It is easy enough to get them to work with a modern bonded lining compound and arcing.

Snowy week end here in Pennsylvania , good time to really get into sorting out and redoing my TR5T's. So the first bike I purchased was supposed to be original, well the rear tail light was incorrect, something I knew when purchased but questioned, drilled holes on rear fender confirmed that. The turn signals, blinkers; are mounted on headlight so I'm ready to tear them off when low and behold the service section F1 shows them on the head light, most people say all were mounted on handle bars. So here I am with more questions then answers. I appreciate everyone's input.

Anything is possible with the very first build bikes (including the black Denso instruments over chromed)

The U brackets for the indicators on the bars are hard to find but I got a pair (indicators/mounting parts) off MachV motors on eBay, they had a habit of parting out really nice complete bikes.
Original skid plates and Krizman spark arrestors can be hard to find also but was lucky enough to find both including a NOS 1974 muffler which would have been once on the shelves of the Sandy Bandit.

I did pick up a new B50 seat after seeing this pic long ago.

Thanks for info I have bought parts from that ebay sight and was always pleased with their condition. Baxter had the U clamps and I machined other pieces from stainless, I had an original set as copies. I have three complete exhaust system, one being a MTM aftermarket head pipe. Trying to make 3 really nice bikes from 4

Time Warp said:

I did pick up a new B50 seat after seeing this pic long ago.

View attachment 21495

Click to expand...

That’s a beauty ...

mean gene said:

New to forum navigating is still difficult. Looking for any sound information on accurately restoring these bikes. Have a couple and question what is original. Turn signals and rear fenders in particular. The 73 has a bee hive taillight and turn signals on headlight, one owner and supposed to be original. The other 73 has rear fender extension , square taillight and and turn signals on handlebars. This bike has 686 miles and I think is original, but theses years we know they threw parts on anything they would fit. Any guide for restoration would be great

Click to expand...

You don't always need a forum, just put your bike make and model in the Google box and click images.