Author Topic: Bringing Brit Home (Read 3868 times)

medic09 · « **on:** August 19, 2009, 07:28:55 PM »

Plan on trailering up my '76 Trident. Will try to bring it home Friday morning. Rust, dirt, and all.

The plan when I bought it was to rebuild it with the help of the original owner, a gentleman in his 80s. He's a nice man, and a retired engineer who knows his way around tools and machines. I just can't get out there often enough. At least if the bike is at our house, I can do little bits here and there as I have time. Stan said if I get stuck, I can always call him and he'll hop in the truck and come help. Cool. I think he wants to see his bike back on the road, too.

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #1 on:** August 19, 2009, 07:42:51 PM »

Seat looks a bit hard Doc

just needs a little tender loving care

Sam.

medic09 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 19, 2009, 07:49:52 PM »

Quote from: SamCB750A on August 19, 2009, 07:42:51 PM

Seat looks a bit hard Doc just needs a little tender loving care

Sam.

Racing seat, Sam. Saves weight. You know about those!

Needs quite a bit of TLC, actually. Hasn't been run in about 20 years, and has been sitting in his backyard about 10. Needs new rings, various parts, and there's rust and dirt everywhere. I'll be glad to have it close by so I can chip away at it. I may have to move my wife's untouched project out into the driveway under a cover...

andy750 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 19, 2009, 08:01:07 PM »

Very nice Medic!! Good luck with it!

cheers
Andy

bryanj · « **Reply #4 on:** August 19, 2009, 08:11:05 PM »

1 "special" tool needed is the flat, narrow ring spanner to undo the base nuts, apart from patience and clenliness thats all you need.

ALLWAYS turn on both gas taps even tho' one is labled reserve or the end carb starves of fuel, cylinder runs weak and hole appears in piston

zoo mob · « **Reply #5 on:** August 19, 2009, 08:25:45 PM »

There's one of those for sale in Detroit for $2000/obo that supposedly runs and looks good. I've got a full garage right now, but am defintiely looking to own a Brit 3 at some point. Have fun.

medic09 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 19, 2009, 09:04:54 PM »

Quote from: bryanj on August 19, 2009, 08:11:05 PM

1 "special" tool needed is the flat, narrow ring spanner to undo the base nuts, apart from patience and clenliness thats all you need.

ALLWAYS turn on both gas taps even tho' one is labled reserve or the end carb starves of fuel, cylinder runs weak and hole appears in piston

Stan mentioned something about a narrower wrench today, and showed me the spot on the motor. Not sure where I'll come up with that.

Thanks for that tip about the petcocks! I would've learned the hard way. I suspect it'll be a while before we hear it running, though.

GoatBaSS · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2009, 02:16:44 AM »

Whit-worth-it!
I miss my Bonnie.
Good luck, and great score.
There is a place in Auburn/Opelika AL called Skinners motorcycles. He does some great work and races some trumpet twins in dirt track. I tell you this because I found it was always good to know one more place with Triumph knowledge...
Have fun, and get all the knowledge you can from Stan!

Hush · « **Reply #8 on:** August 20, 2009, 03:47:01 AM »

Got a tip for you Doc, pour some old oil where you are going to park the Triumph.
That way you wont know when it takes a pee, which they always do.

spitfire · « **Reply #9 on:** August 20, 2009, 03:56:19 AM »

As we used to say about Brit bikes and oil leaks:
If it aint circulating on the outside it aint circulating on the inside.

Cheers

Den

bryanj · « **Reply #10 on:** August 20, 2009, 04:23:03 AM »

The Trident aint Whitworth its UNF, And i can probably get you a spanner over here, its a real cheap looking piece but it works so why bother. If you have problem with bits i will act as Post office in UK for you and I hate to think how many I rebuilt so ask away if you have questions, either by Pm or direct to blj@blj.org.uk

You will have fun riding it and there is nothing like the tripple howl when on song!!!

clarkjh · « **Reply #11 on:** August 20, 2009, 05:15:35 AM »

Nice Medic. I'm thinking my next project will be a British bike.

James

medic09 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 20, 2009, 08:52:03 AM »

Thanks, Bryan, for that offer!

Stan said that in his experience, American standard tools work fine. I asked him about Whitworth tools yesterday. This is his second Trident, going way back of course. He said the only difference was the threads were a slightly different size, and same with the bolt heads (if I understood correctly). I asked specifically, and he said that American standard fasteners can substitute just fine, and American tools will work fine, though sometimes a different size.

What do you think of that? This bike is a keeper if I get it up and running. Do I need to invest in Whitworth tools before I get started?

Hmmmm...new tools. Might have to get another cabinet/box just for the Brit stuff. Have to tell the wife...

For a guy who was always into books or nature, I surprise myself in my advancing age!

Hush · « **Reply #13 on:** August 20, 2009, 02:19:41 PM »

Check this one out Doc....these old Brits certainly hold their price.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=237200844

medic09 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 20, 2009, 02:48:10 PM »

Hush, that is a fine example of nice bike! Interesting that it is a US import, rather than a British version. It could be that by then, the end of Trident history, there were more bikes being made for the US market in an attempt to float Triumph.

Are many bikes down there US imports?

Steve_K · « **Reply #15 on:** August 20, 2009, 05:55:27 PM »

When I worked in a Triumph,BSA and Kawasaki shop I used British Standard, metric, and inch wrenches. On some of the older twins I remember using Whitworth tools. Not sure what the diff is between British Standard and Whitworth wrenches. It was back in the 70's and I remember the the shop owner had a big monkey wrench that we used once in awhile. The twins and triples sounded great and handled very well. Lucas electrics bring back fond?? memories. Those bikes are great. have fun ridding when finished.
Steve_K

bryanj · « **Reply #16 on:** August 20, 2009, 08:46:04 PM »

You dont need any Whitworth tools at all for the trident. There were a few "common" problems, mail me direct and i will try and think of a list, I think the "special" spanner is 1/2 inch af ring (might be 7/16) but its totaly flat and thin and usually needs the outer ground a bit to clear the fins, nuts are standard UNF threads but look like a spline (or indide of normal---NOT 6 Point---spanner/socket

Hush · « **Reply #17 on:** August 21, 2009, 04:13:56 AM »

Don't think so Doc, actually until I cut'n pasted that i didn't realise it was a US import, I'd say they would be fairly rare down here, we tended to import straight from Britain all out Trumpies.

medic09 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 21, 2009, 05:07:19 PM »

Brought it home today. Trouble with titling it. Bureaucratic stuff that I need to iron out later. My first symbolic act was to remove the highway bars. Sorry Stan! Lots of little stuff already cropping up. Front brake diaphragm is torn. Rear brake frozen, pressing on disc. Strange wires loose and hanging. All sorts of stuff.

The plan is to put off the ring job until winter, when we're closed in for a while. For now, change all fluids, address immediate safety issues, get battery, reinstall carbs...and see if it runs.

May take a while, but that's fine. It's all fun and therapeutic.

Hush · « **Reply #19 on:** August 21, 2009, 05:17:47 PM »

Nice start to a project Doc, hours of happy fun to be spent sorting that one out.

clarkjh · « **Reply #20 on:** August 21, 2009, 06:48:45 PM »

Hey medic, here are some pics from another forum to get the restoration fluids running.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=497705
Some nice stuff
James

bryanj · « **Reply #21 on:** August 22, 2009, 03:21:39 AM »

Disc pads and caliper bits are same as one of the British Leyland Mini's.

probably dont help you much over there but worth mentioning

medic09 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 22, 2009, 07:45:23 PM »

Quote from: bryanj on August 22, 2009, 03:21:39 AM

Disc pads and caliper bits are same as one of the British Leyland Mini's.

probably dont help you much over there but worth mentioning

Yup, that'll help a lot.

medic09 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 22, 2009, 07:52:43 PM »

Quote from: clarkjh on August 21, 2009, 06:48:45 PM

Hey medic, here are some pics from another forum to get the restoration fluids running.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=497705
Some nice stuff
James

James, you should post this to the general forum. The members would go ga-ga over those bikes!

clarkjh · « **Reply #24 on:** August 23, 2009, 03:10:47 PM »

Quote from: medic09 on August 22, 2009, 07:52:43 PM

Quote from: clarkjh on August 21, 2009, 06:48:45 PM
Hey medic, here are some pics from another forum to get the restoration fluids running.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=497705
Some nice stuff
James

James, you should post this to the general forum. The members would go ga-ga over those bikes!

Put it in the open forum.
James

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Author Topic: Bringing Brit Home (Read 3868 times)