Author Topic: Bringing Brit Home (Read 3598 times)

bucky katt · « **Reply #25 on:** August 23, 2009, 05:14:34 pm »

i'll trade you for my newly finished k4! seriously though, those are great bikes, despite their elecctrics. a guy that was at ami at the same time as me had the same one and what a sweet sounding motor it had

medic09 · « **Reply #26 on:** August 23, 2009, 05:52:31 pm »

Well, so far I've found 14 !!! wires/connectors that don't seem to go to anything.

The bike was last registered in 88 I see on the plate. As I scrape away the layers of dirt and mud, I'm finding that all the rubber and plastic rotted sitting out there all these years. So one of my early tasks is to locate brake hoses, etc.

I am looking forward to hearing this cat roar one day.

GoatBaSS · « **Reply #27 on:** August 24, 2009, 05:19:35 am »

Ahh yes the rats nest of Sir Lucas. Watch out for the brake light switch in the front break housing. If it has any exposure at this age the plastics are brittle and when I "found" where all my wires went, poof in a puff of smoke went the switch. The journey and the destination?

?

Caminokid · « **Reply #28 on:** August 24, 2009, 12:53:50 pm »

My 750 Bonneville always ran great. Never gave me a problem. So I never had to work on it. Have fun with it.

medic09 · « **Reply #29 on:** August 24, 2009, 06:34:44 pm »

Camino, I'm sure your Bonnie wasn't parked in the woods for over 15 years before you got it.

And this one last ran about 20 years ago, before being parked in the woods.

Goat, I actually British Cycle Supply today and asked Kent if they have a grab bag of all the little rubber and plastic bits that go on the bike.

All the little grommets and switch parts are rotted. Of course I have to replace all the hoses.

Today I did what I'm sure many of you have foolishly (though harmlessly) done. I looked at this presently sad bike, knowing full well what a mess it is, and thought 'well, let's see what happens. Who knows?' So, I put a battery in it. Dead as a doornail. As expected. But I had to try, right?

So, I'm going to start up front and open and clean all the connectors and reclose them with a dollop of dielectric grease as a starting point. The carbs are already rebuilt. The motor should be basically okay, though I know already it needs rings (can wait till winter). Brake parts and rebuild kits on the way. That's new to me - I've never done brakes except bleeding and refilling the disc on my Honda. Tires will wait. The seat will wait.

Should be fun. My wife'll know where to find me. She's been away while I brought it home and got started.

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #30 on:** August 24, 2009, 06:51:12 pm »

Ya sound like a kid on Christmas morning

Good luck with it Doc.

Sam.

Caminokid · « **Reply #31 on:** August 24, 2009, 08:08:16 pm »

Quote from: medic09 on August 24, 2009, 06:34:44 pm

Camino, I'm sure your Bonnie wasn't parked in the woods for over 15 years before you got it. And this one last ran about 20 years ago, before being parked in the woods.

yeah it wasnt 20 years old when I got it! LOL I was just saying these bikes are very dependable. I had alot of fun with mine. I would love to have the one your got and the fun of the search for parts for it.

GoatBaSS · « **Reply #32 on:** August 25, 2009, 04:59:25 am »

Just another thought... I had to use the "tickler" untill gas came out of the carbs to get the Bonnie ready to run. Find out what sort of procedure your pro/prev owner remembers when it came to starting it. I would have to yell "Give BESSIE GIVE!!!!!!!!!!
Then it would start, eventually...

Operator · « **Reply #33 on:** August 25, 2009, 10:47:26 am »

I just found this thread........holy crap, you could carry your Honda on that luggage rack!!!!

I guess it makes up for the weight you save on the seat

medic09 · « **Reply #34 on:** August 26, 2009, 11:45:30 am »

Quote from: GoatBaSS on August 25, 2009, 04:59:25 am

Just another thought... I had to use the "tickler" untill gas came out of the carbs to get the Bonnie ready to run. Find out what sort of procedure your pro/prev owner remembers when it came to starting it. I would have to yell "Give BESSIE GIVE!!!!!!!!!!
Then it would start, eventually...

That's about what I remember and expect for all the Brit bikes from back then. If a Bonnie is called 'Bessie' (sounds like the Borden's cow!), is a Trident called 'Tessie' ?

GoatBaSS · « **Reply #35 on:** August 27, 2009, 04:57:53 am »

I Like It!!!!

bryanj · « **Reply #36 on:** August 30, 2009, 05:55:41 am »

Medic, i have all your pics but cant find my T160 manual, which is not unusual ---specially since i last used it 20 years ago and have moved twice!!---

You did say you had some literature, do you have a wiring diagram and if so can you scan it and mail it?
Cheers Bryan

medic09 · « **Reply #37 on:** August 30, 2009, 09:34:22 am »

Byan, I will get that to you. It may take a bit. I REALLY appreciate all your help.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking since the coils are wired in series for the Boyer setup, that leaves at least six wires that came from there. That should account for six of the wires that I have just hanging around. I've learned that the fused wire should have a ring at the end, and goes directly to the negative battery post along with the heavy black wire that runs to the starter. The far end is at the keyed ignition switch, I think. That still leaves some wires unexplained.

Isn't this fun?

GoatBaSS · « **Reply #38 on:** August 31, 2009, 04:34:38 am »

It gave me a great appreciation for old Brit tech and even more for Honda know how!

bryanj · « **Reply #39 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:36:28 pm »

Shouldn't that fused wire, along with the main solenoid lead go to the +ve? the later Triumphs were -ve ground same as Hondas!!

medic09 · « **Reply #40 on:** September 01, 2009, 02:58:54 pm »

Quote from: bryanj on August 31, 2009, 11:36:28 pm

Shouldn't that fused wire, along with the main solenoid lead go to the +ve? the later Triumphs were -ve ground same as Hondas!!

I don't think Triumph did these things smoothly.

The shop manual shows positive ground. The note on the fuse in the manual says "The fuse is to be found on the brown/blue live lead from the battery negative terminal."

bryanj · « **Reply #41 on:** September 02, 2009, 07:46:20 am »

I noticed that on the diagram you sent me, could be the ancient memory playing up mate. I will check it out for you but there is an easy way for you to check with a multimeter:

Bellow the headlamp should be the Zenere diode bolted to a large finned lump of alluminium and with a heavy Brown/Blue wire connected to it----Disconnect the wire and check which direction has continuity and which none with the leads both ways round (hope that make s sense) then let me know

grumburg · « **Reply #42 on:** September 02, 2009, 08:45:02 am »

Quote from Peter Egan: "Four most expensive words in any restoration are: 'While I'm at it.'"

72 yellow · « **Reply #43 on:** September 02, 2009, 06:33:13 pm »

Joseph Lucas "The Prince of Darkness".

I saw a t-shirt at a swap meet that had a picture of a Lucas switch. It was labled off-dim-flicker.

bryanj · « **Reply #44 on:** September 03, 2009, 12:12:25 am »

The full saying is:-

Saint Joseph Lucas, Prince of Darkness with his intermitent electron!!

medic09 · « **Reply #45 on:** September 07, 2009, 02:33:07 pm »

Quote from: bryanj on September 02, 2009, 07:46:20 am

I noticed that on the diagram you sent me, could be the ancient memory playing up mate. I will check it out for you but there is an easy way for you to check with a multimeter:

Bellow the headlamp should be the Zenere diode bolted to a large finned lump of alluminium and with a heavy Brown/Blue wire connected to it----Disconnect the wire and check which direction has continuity and which none with the leads both ways round (hope that make s sense) then let me know

I haven't forgotten about all this. I'm in Connecticut for a few days to visit my mum. Then holydays coming up on the Jewish calendar. I'll be doing little bits-by-bit for the next while.

News:

Author Topic: Bringing Brit Home (Read 3598 times)