Triumph Bonneville.
#1
Triumph Bonneville.
To put this bike into context, my dad has owned it since it was very nearly new and he used to drag race gastly looking 750 triumph engined race bikes. Consequently hes got loads of spares in the garage and some hot and these days desirable parts.
Im not entirely sure what happened but the bike came of the road in the early 80s, the bearing the sprocket spins in collapsed, the bike was stripped down and never actually got rebuilt!
Now that my dad is pretty much bed bound me and a mate figured we would build the thing up for him for new years.
Thought i would share how we got on.
Firstly, i cleared our dinning room out, which made me popular, and then after clearing the stuff in the way got the bike into the house.
Then having sourced a 21tooth sprocket (one of the biggest, given that this bike a conical rear hub the rear sprocket cannot be changed easily and is geared pretty low anyway) put it in the end of the gearbox housing.
I then realised there were about 8 conrods amongst the spares, so began to weigh them and picked the two that weighed exactly the same, gave them a proper clean and with new shells fitted them and ARPs connected them to the crank. Then fitted some 10.5/1 compression pistons (standard 7/1) I then faced the surfaces of the crank cases and put the crank in to its bearings.
I then fitted the cams. I wasnt sure if i would regret it or not, but i opted for a spitfire fast road inlet cam and a Sifton (i think) race exhaust cam
And slid the other half of the crank case on with new gaskets and paste.
Then i had to time the thing up. There were some light weight drilled pulleys in the parts bin, but after doing some research they have a habit of falling to bits and i doubt you would even notice them, so went for standard.
then drove down to Morgo and picked up a high performance oil pump and fitted it. Hopefully this bonneville wont wet sump itself to death!
Barrels on, +60 to match the pistons with new rings.
I then moved onto the gearbox, which was though fiddly at times, pretty simple!
new bearing and oil seal plate, separating the gearbox oil, from the engine oil the clutch uses
Then slotted the gears into the gearbox.
After doing this, i put the timing cover on and the sandwitch plate end on the gearbox and had a cup of tea. :y:
Then, i know how easy those guys on TV make it look. But slotting the engine, which isn't lightweight into the frame and lining it up without damaging the paint isn't as easy as it looks!
I opted for this cylinder head which has been fairly extensively ported and polished, and honed right down, to increase compression. I fitted new vales, and double valve springs and some match carb blocks that are also ported and polished.
On went the AMAL mk1 carburetors and fuel pipes, with new pins, slightly oversized jets, filters and gaskets. And some trumpets to replace the standard airbox!
Next up was the clutch, just the standard clutch went on using t120 springs that are stiffer. Less chance of slip, but the clutch is gorilla grip to say the least. Considered belt drive, but they are expensive and this is a new clutch anyway.
on went the peashooters!
And i realised whilst doing this, though very pretty, im going to have to watch my legs!
HT leads, oil pipes, tachometer etc all connected.
And there she is, all built!
So there we have it, a Triumph Bonneville T140V with 10,000 miles from new, i would say concourse!
5speed box
10.5/1 high compression pistons
Fast road inlet cam
Race exhaust cam
stage 2/3 (i dont know) head
morgo oil pump.
With a good bit of effort and some Autosol later its came up amazing, and the paint on the tank is fabulous, not a mark on it! i went over it with a clay, polish and wax and it was like a mirror. Sadly no pictures from when i did this.
It ran a 12.9 second 1/4 a York (with UK spec bars) and it sounds so so so, so fantastic on full chat. Im really glad ive built this, its great! And my dads perked up and started to potter around with it too which makes me over the moon!
Im not entirely sure what happened but the bike came of the road in the early 80s, the bearing the sprocket spins in collapsed, the bike was stripped down and never actually got rebuilt!
Now that my dad is pretty much bed bound me and a mate figured we would build the thing up for him for new years.
Thought i would share how we got on.
Firstly, i cleared our dinning room out, which made me popular, and then after clearing the stuff in the way got the bike into the house.
Then having sourced a 21tooth sprocket (one of the biggest, given that this bike a conical rear hub the rear sprocket cannot be changed easily and is geared pretty low anyway) put it in the end of the gearbox housing.
I then realised there were about 8 conrods amongst the spares, so began to weigh them and picked the two that weighed exactly the same, gave them a proper clean and with new shells fitted them and ARPs connected them to the crank. Then fitted some 10.5/1 compression pistons (standard 7/1) I then faced the surfaces of the crank cases and put the crank in to its bearings.
I then fitted the cams. I wasnt sure if i would regret it or not, but i opted for a spitfire fast road inlet cam and a Sifton (i think) race exhaust cam
And slid the other half of the crank case on with new gaskets and paste.
Then i had to time the thing up. There were some light weight drilled pulleys in the parts bin, but after doing some research they have a habit of falling to bits and i doubt you would even notice them, so went for standard.
then drove down to Morgo and picked up a high performance oil pump and fitted it. Hopefully this bonneville wont wet sump itself to death!
Barrels on, +60 to match the pistons with new rings.
I then moved onto the gearbox, which was though fiddly at times, pretty simple!
new bearing and oil seal plate, separating the gearbox oil, from the engine oil the clutch uses
Then slotted the gears into the gearbox.
After doing this, i put the timing cover on and the sandwitch plate end on the gearbox and had a cup of tea. :y:
Then, i know how easy those guys on TV make it look. But slotting the engine, which isn't lightweight into the frame and lining it up without damaging the paint isn't as easy as it looks!
I opted for this cylinder head which has been fairly extensively ported and polished, and honed right down, to increase compression. I fitted new vales, and double valve springs and some match carb blocks that are also ported and polished.
On went the AMAL mk1 carburetors and fuel pipes, with new pins, slightly oversized jets, filters and gaskets. And some trumpets to replace the standard airbox!
Next up was the clutch, just the standard clutch went on using t120 springs that are stiffer. Less chance of slip, but the clutch is gorilla grip to say the least. Considered belt drive, but they are expensive and this is a new clutch anyway.
on went the peashooters!
And i realised whilst doing this, though very pretty, im going to have to watch my legs!
HT leads, oil pipes, tachometer etc all connected.
And there she is, all built!
So there we have it, a Triumph Bonneville T140V with 10,000 miles from new, i would say concourse!
5speed box
10.5/1 high compression pistons
Fast road inlet cam
Race exhaust cam
stage 2/3 (i dont know) head
morgo oil pump.
With a good bit of effort and some Autosol later its came up amazing, and the paint on the tank is fabulous, not a mark on it! i went over it with a clay, polish and wax and it was like a mirror. Sadly no pictures from when i did this.
It ran a 12.9 second 1/4 a York (with UK spec bars) and it sounds so so so, so fantastic on full chat. Im really glad ive built this, its great! And my dads perked up and started to potter around with it too which makes me over the moon!
#3
PassionFord Post Troll
Very nice bike, id ride somthing like this if i had a bike licence insted of the normal R1's etc
Bet your wife moaned at you every day for having that in the dining room
Bet your wife moaned at you every day for having that in the dining room
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RstAaron.
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11-09-2012 11:00 PM