Topic: Am I an idiot or just plain stupid?? 1965 Triumph in house, work begun

[HondaMan]

Hmm...I can already smell the gas on my finger!

You're not saying this monstrosity has the potential to leak  I hope

No, it's the "tickler" that is used as a choke. The Amal carbs have a little spring-loaded button that you push, which pushes the float down to flood the engine with a dribble of fuel. There is usually no seal on the shaft, so the gas gets on your finger, too. On the Bonnevilles (and other twins), you get gas on BOTH fingers!


Ah, the Sixties!

[MoMo]

Looks to be idling a bit high.

[754]

Do you want to sell that plate?
 Get the bike going and have fun with it, a tracker would be fun around town..

[MoMo]

Hmm...I can already smell the gas on my finger!

You're not saying this monstrosity has the potential to leak  I hope

No, it's the "tickler" that is used as a choke. The Amal carbs have a little spring-loaded button that you push, which pushes the float down to flood the engine with a dribble of fuel. There is usually no seal on the shaft, so the gas gets on your finger, too. On the Bonnevilles (and other twins), you get gas on BOTH fingers!


Ah, the Sixties!

I see.   Most of the Spanish bikes I owned had Amals,  at least it keeps the top of  the motor clean, puddles will be on the bottom.

Do you want to sell that plate?
 Get the bike going and have fun with it, a tracker would be fun around town..

You mean the license I assume?  It is the old style PA antique, the state went to an ugly modern version   Think I will keep it for the time being but if I decide to get rid of it, it'll be yours...Larry

[MoMo]

Do you want to sell that plate?
 Get the bike going and have fun with it, a tracker would be fun around town..

Do you collect plates?  If I get rid of it maybe we can trade...Larry

[grcamna2]

Nice purchase Larry  and a worthy Resto.  There's a Brit bike dealer/parts supplier up in Wolfsburg,Nova Scotia that I think will sell triumph parts also:I purchased some parts for a 1975' Norton 750 Commando back 18+ yrs. ago for a nice customer of mine.I miss my customers back on the island I used to reside on.I couldn't take the Winter isolation & 'cabin fever'.

[754]

I have a few plates, not huge amount.. Probably have something cool to trade..
 Do you like the street tracker Triumphs? They really look good..

[MoMo]

I have a few plates, not huge amount.. Probably have something cool to trade..
 Do you like the street tracker Triumphs? They really look good..

Actually like the appearance of most all British bikes in most any form(go figure) but was never all that enthralled with the reliability and vibration reputation so I never rode nor worked on one since I got involved with motorcycles back in the 60s...

[simon#42]

i think you may be pleasantly surprised , slightly different from a japanese bike . yes they do vibrate a bit and yes they do leak a bit of oil but spares are cheap and available and if put together right they are reliable .
on the plus side they handle well are light and pull like a train .
looks like the makings of a good bike to me .

[martin99]

i think you may be pleasantly surprised , slightly different from a japanese bike . yes they do vibrate a bit and yes they do leak a bit of oil but spares are cheap and available and if put together right they are reliable .
on the plus side they handle well are light and pull like a train .
looks like the makings of a good bike to me .

Agreed, a properly fettled Bonneville is a great bike and a lot of fun. Just be sure to keep your distance from whatever's in front of you though, it might take a little longer to stop than what you're used to!

[Trevor from Warragul]

Love the El Camino...

[grcamna2]

Larry,
That Triumph 650 w/ single carb. you have there is the 'Trophy' model?

[HondaMan]

I have a few plates, not huge amount.. Probably have something cool to trade..
 Do you like the street tracker Triumphs? They really look good..

Actually like the appearance of most all British bikes in most any form(go figure) but was never all that enthralled with the reliability and vibration reputation so I never rode nor worked on one since I got involved with motorcycles back in the 60s...

Of all the BSA/Trumpets, this particular model was, in my experience, the reliable bike. With its single carb and tamer camshaft, this version ran and ran and ran, while the Twins suffered the bigger issues we all have heard (and experienced) so much. So, if you want to play with a Brit Twin, this is the one to pick!

[MoMo]

Love the El Camino...

thank you, it is so much fun to drive-like riding a luxury car...

Larry,
That Triumph 650 w/ single carb. you have there is the 'Trophy' model?

It is a 650 Tiger according to my friend   SN starts with T120

[MoMo]

i think you may be pleasantly surprised , slightly different from a japanese bike . yes they do vibrate a bit and yes they do leak a bit of oil but spares are cheap and available and if put together right they are reliable .
on the plus side they handle well are light and pull like a train .
looks like the makings of a good bike to me .

Agreed, a properly fettled Bonneville is a great bike and a lot of fun. Just be sure to keep your distance from whatever's in front of you though, it might take a little longer to stop than what you're used to!

The brakes look down right mediocre, bordering on atrocious.  I should easily adapt to the left brake, right shifter as many of my old enduro bikes were built that way.

I have a few plates, not huge amount.. Probably have something cool to trade..
 Do you like the street tracker Triumphs? They really look good..

Actually like the appearance of most all British bikes in most any form(go figure) but was never all that enthralled with the reliability and vibration reputation so I never rode nor worked on one since I got involved with motorcycles back in the 60s...

Of all the BSA/Trumpets, this particular model was, in my experience, the reliable bike. With its single carb and tamer camshaft, this version ran and ran and ran, while the Twins suffered the bigger issues we all have heard (and experienced) so much. So, if you want to play with a Brit Twin, this is the one to pick!

Thanks for the encouragement  HM,  good to know. 

[grcamna2]

Love the El Camino...

thank you, it is so much fun to drive-like riding a luxury car...

Larry,
That Triumph 650 w/ single carb. you have there is the 'Trophy' model?

It is a 650 Tiger according to my friend   SN starts with T120

ok the 'Tiger' T120 and the T120R must have been the Daytona w/ dual carbs and plenty of flooding 

[fmctm1sw]

Looks to be idling a bit high.

LMAO, that's the first thing I thought of! 

[MoMo]

Love the El Camino...

thank you, it is so much fun to drive-like riding a luxury car...

Larry,
That Triumph 650 w/ single carb. you have there is the 'Trophy' model?

It is a 650 Tiger according to my friend   SN starts with T120

ok the 'Tiger' T120 and the T120R must have been the Daytona w/ dual carbs and plenty of flooding 

The battery is shot so I plan on ordering a Scorpion for it early next week,  not a Triumph base of knowledge but I think you are right with the Daytona being a candidate for flood insurance

[72 yellow]

I have a few plates, not huge amount.. Probably have something cool to trade..
 Do you like the street tracker Triumphs? They really look good..

Actually like the appearance of most all British bikes in most any form(go figure) but was never all that enthralled with the reliability and vibration reputation so I never rode nor worked on one since I got involved with motorcycles back in the 60s...

i think you may be pleasantly surprised , slightly different from a japanese bike . yes they do vibrate a bit and yes they do leak a bit of oil but spares are cheap and available and if put together right they are reliable .
on the plus side they handle well are light and pull like a train .
looks like the makings of a good bike to me .

Agreed, a properly fettled Bonneville is a great bike and a lot of fun. Just be sure to keep your distance from whatever's in front of you though, it might take a little longer to stop than what you're used to!

I got my 71 Lightning about 6 years ago.  It came with Boyer ignition, a solid state regulator and new alternator (not Lucas).  I replaced most of the wiring (Seller said new harness, actually 6 inch pieces soldered together).  Vibes are there for sure, but it had been completely reliable.  The only thing the vibrated apart was the cheap wire headlight brackets.  One thing for sure if you go riding or to a bike show you won't see a hundred just like it.  I like 754's suggestion about a street tracker.

[MoMo]

Not up on some of the latest lingo,  what is a street tracker? ...Larry

[754]

And street legal. Looks like a flattracker. Race bike..as close as you can make it..
But the origin was to take a real racer, and then get it to become streetlegal..orvmore often close enough to get away with it.
 In other words usually a hopped up twin,  that weighed around 330 lbs, with more hp than stock..

[MoMo]

And street legal. Looks like a flattracker. Race bike..as close as you can make it..
But the origin was to take a real racer, and then get it to become streetlegal..orvmore often close enough to get away with it.
 In other words usually a hopped up twin,  that weighed around 330 lbs, with more hp than stock..

Like the John Player Norton?

[Retro Rocket]

Look at the link Larry...

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=street+tracker&biw=1366&bih=663&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIsfK04JyCxgIVKBqmCh1nrQBD#tbm=isch&q=street+tracker+kit

[MoMo]

Look at the link Larry...

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=street+tracker&biw=1366&bih=663&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIsfK04JyCxgIVKBqmCh1nrQBD#tbm=isch&q=street+tracker+kit

thanks, looks like what one does is take off the front fender and add an uncomfortable seat .   I am leaning to making it road worthy as is and then maybe restore to stock, but that could be too costly, or doing some sort of build similar to "the street tracker" but with fenders(because fendersrule ) and an original seat if I can find one...Larry

[Retro Rocket]

Look at the link Larry...

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=street+tracker&biw=1366&bih=663&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIsfK04JyCxgIVKBqmCh1nrQBD#tbm=isch&q=street+tracker+kit

thanks, looks like what one does is take off the front fender and add an uncomfortable seat .   I am leaning to making it road worthy as is and then maybe restore to stock, but that could be too costly, or doing some sort of build similar to "the street tracker" but with fenders(because fendersrule ) and an original seat if I can find one...Larry

Agreed, sensible length forks,  bars and seat , thats it...