Topic: Older Triumph Relaibilty?

[Puntas13]

Any of you guys own or ever work on older triumphs '60s and '70 models? Thinking about picking one up but i have no idea what to expect to keep it running. I know its going to be no honda, but how hard can it be?

[Kframe]

Well, older Trumpets are known for crappy electrics, they're a reason Lucas is referred to as the prince of darkness. 
They also had a fair amount of leaking oil, maybe not as bad as older H-D's, but still it's a well known problem. 

Other than that, they're awesome old bikes.  Strong engines, plenty of beef around critical areas, they never made too much HP or high compression so the actual operation didn't cause undue wear. 

The guys over at TRAT will be able to answer all your Meriden and Coventry model questions.
http://www.triumphrat.net/classic-vintage-and-veteran/

I don't know which, but I think there's a couple years that were really plagued with issues, and the early oil-in-frame ones drove some people to madness.

But, overall, they're awesome!
Good luck!
-K

[Duke McDukiedook]

Just don't lose the smoke!!

[Puntas13]

Definatly need to www.triumphrat.net. I have a newer triumph and ironicaly enough its broke down.

[demon78]

I used to work in various bike shops on old Triumph, BSA's, Norton, etc only back in those days they weren't veteran or vintage this was before oil in frame, and mostly the 650's were great if they were maintained half way decently but they did leak and need fairly frequent tune ups, on the other hand they handled a lot better than the early Jap bikes, I would say if you're reasonably handy and are able to deal with routine maintenance, go for it. ( and I have seen a tr-6 Trumpet that didn't leak, the owner was an ex works type and his had been taken to pieces and reassembled with great care and it was spotless and stayed spotless.)
Bill the demon.

[Uncle Ernie]

Befpre what I call The Electronic Age, people did things like work in a garden, read a book, embroiderym or putz around with their machines.  Olser bikwes often seem to have a religious feeling in thier conversations as a result of so many little ceremonies- the laying on of the hands.  Wiping, checking, adjusting, and even just sitting and looking. 
The people who do it the most have clean bikes that always start.
The ones who don't talk about what a junk bike it is.

Some spouses enjoy your absence (their own private time), and some resent it. 

[wardenerd]

dear G** are you crazy or just aglutton for punishment.  Go all the way and get a norton commando and pull it with a Triumph TR-7.  You will never have to buy gas that way.

[gerhed]

I have a '67 TR6--beautiful,and it's a very light bike--compared to the CB750.
I put a new concentric (should have a monobloc) carb on it a few years ago and it helped a lot.
Electrics are a little mysterious, (mine has a positive ground just to confuse the issue.)
I still run the two sets of points and 2 condensers crammed into a 2 inch tube.
Electronic might be the way to go.
Good luck!

[MCRider]

I owned a 67 Bonneville (T120R) in 1970. (I was 17) Rode it to CA from Indy and back, 6000 miles in 8 weeks. Epic journey. 80% of budget spent on repairs. Thank goodness for friends along the way. Alternator came off end of crank, chipped the end of crank and blew all electrics. Creative shop in OK City brazed it back together. Many parts vibrated nearly off. Daily monitoring of bolt tightness kept my footpegs, kickstarter etc, on board. Rear of gas tank sprung leak where it bolts to frame, required welding.

Tappet lock nut came off, fell down push rod tube part way. Lucky i could retrieve it on side of road. Left bike there Kansas, and hitchhiked to nearest town, had a Norton dealer, got a new nut, got back to the bike before someone nearly stole it. Chased them off.

High excitement. Real fun.

If you seriously intend to ride it, consider the 2-1 rule. Two hours mainteneace for every 1 hour operation. Keep an extra Zener Diode and bracket handy.

That may be exagerated, but it sure seemed real to me.  

On the other hand, I've had several 6000 mile trips on Jap bikes with virtually no problems. Dull.

[demon78]

Yes Gerhed I've seen updates with electronic ignition etc and they make the old beasts great and if you're prepared to put the effort in, they are great bikes, I much prefer a Tiger 100 to a Honda 500 any day you could take the Trumpet out on the highway and not have any trouble keeping up, then take it into the bush without problems, run vintage trials, motocross, vintage road race, green lane and be competitive and have a blast, nothing against 500 Honda but they are more specialized than the Triumph (different design philosophy).
Bill the demon.

[simon#42]

ive got a late 70s oil in the frame bonnie and love it , no its not a honda and yes it does need more in the way of maintenance . but its not unreliable and they are great fun to ride, mine has done 65 thousand miles now  and yes it does leak a bit of oil . get one now while they are still cheap , you wont regret it and even if you do it will probably make you a profit when you sell

[Nikkisixx]

I've had a few Brit bikes, and have 1 runner and a project right now.  They are great bikes and I have ridden longish trips of 800-1000 miles over a weekend.  I spend about an hour working on my Tiger before a trip like that, but I'd spend about the same am mount of time on my 750 Honda.  I like to work on my bikes 

  When buying an older Trumpy there are a few things to look out for:
> The crank has a "sludge trap" that is designed to catch crap in the oil.  It does this well, but can fill up with caught crap and stop oil flow to the crank.  There is no way to know if it is packed without a complete teardown.
> The first year of the oil in frame bikes ('70 or '71 depending on who you talk to) were prone to cracks in the joint were the swingarm meets the oil tube.  The 70/71 OIF (oil in frame) were brazed like the early models.  '72 and on were welded, not brazed and so not as problematic.
> The stator does not have an electro magnet like our beloved Hondas, but a permanent magnet.  Pro - it will make enough juice from kicking to start a bike with a dead battery or you can use a capacitor in place of a battery.  Con - the rotor looses magnetism over time (say 20-30 years).  Couple this with a positive ground and you have the "Lucas Prince of Darkness" issues.
> They will shake parts off and kill you unless you pay them some attention.  Locktite, safety wire, locknuts, nordlocks, and cotter pins are your friends.
>Early models have whitworth fasteners - an excuse to buy tools!

If you like vintage bikes and are a fair mechanic, you'll really enjoy a Triumph. 

Good luck!

[Brown Bomber]

Rear of gas tank sprung leak where it bolts to frame, required welding.

MC, you manage keep reminding me stuff that happened a long time ago
     I had a friend back in the '70's with a Sportster that also sprung a leak where the tank bolts to the frame, and he carried a bar of hand soap to smear on the crack every so often to stop the leak. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. He rode it that way for several weeks before getting it welded.

     As for getting an older Triumph, I hope to have one myself someday. Like any 40 year old machine, it's gonna take some extra TLC. A friend of mine has a Bonneville that is quite reliable, and this past weekend at the Classic British Motorcycle Club of Cincinnati Rally/Bike Show, one guy rode his 1912 Triumph all over the the Fairgrounds. Seemed like every hour he would fire that thing up, to show someone how easy it started, and then he'd ride it around for about 15 min. I saw him do that at least 4 times on Sat. and 5 or 6 times on Sun.

[Ichiban 4]

Well..I agree with most of what was said earlier..about Triumphs.  Think they're one of the best production bikes made/available during the period of post WWII to when they stopped making them in the mid 70's?

Light years ahead of the American stuff @ the time..Harley's and Indians..and more reliable.  But nothing like the reliability of today's bikes.  Agree that the real limitation with most Brit bikes of the time..were the electrics.  Lucas was/is known for being unreliable.

Think I saw on other threads here though..mention of conversion to 12 volts from the old 6 volt systems..big improvement.  But in addition..I'd go over to electronic ignition..again as mentioned here..if I had an older one today.

The engines and Brampton gear boxes are still almost bullet proof..in IMO..and the Amal carbs are still pretty good..if rebuilt.

Compared to our beloved Honda SOHC 4's however..think that development represented another leap forward in engineering and reliability.  That's just one of the reasons the introduction of the "Nanahan's" 750-4's are referred to as the "dawn of the superbike era"..IMO..the next step in manufacturing accuracy and service reliability.

If you read about the history of Honda development..particularly the Nanahan's..it was the British bike technology that Soichiro copied/developed upon..NOT the American bikes.  That says something..I think..about how highly regarded the Brit bike technology was @ the time.

My 2-cents worth

Ichi

[KeithTurk]

I've had this one a few years now.... it's mostly a okay.... but it's not got a lot of miles on it...

It was used as a movie prop... so it wasn't well cared for ...  but it still runs well and is almost fun to ride... ( the 4" over front end makes it handle like a Mack truck )

K

[Duanob]

Why do the english prefer their beer at room temperature?




Because Lucas makes their refrigeration!




Any question?

[MCRider]

Why do the english prefer their beer at room temperature?




Because Lucas makes their refrigeration!




Any question?

Joe Lucas= Prince of Darkness

Astronauts Nightmare?
















Instruments by Lucas.  



There's a reason for these reputations.

[demon78]

I still remember a buddy taking his Lucas Mag and throwing it far as he could throw it into Comox bay from the shore, all the while screaming #$%* You John Lucas.
Ahh yesteryear.
Bill the demon.

[Duanob]

Joe Lucas= Prince of Darkness

Yes, their motto should've been "More than just electrical glitches"

My old triumph GT6: the wipers would only quit working during the worst downpours and only when doing interstate speeds.

[74cb750]

My brother had a Bonnie T120R which was a joy/challenge to drive,
especially when he was drunk on the back.

I did have to work on it, but I remember he was always losing
parts off it due to the vibration, the speedo was always messed up,
but it was much faster than my Suzuki GT250 and easier to pull
wheelies on. 

[Nikkisixx]

Joe Lucas= Prince of Darkness

Yes, their motto should've been "More than just electrical glitches"

LOL - perhaps it is just operator error?   

I tried the lights directly hooked up to the battery and they all work fine just not hooked up on the bikes harness. Electrical gremlins are something I hate dealing. I do have a tester can anybody give me an idea where to start? Funny, I thought a bike would be simple but I am stumped.

[oldbiker]

Way back, I worked in the drawing office at Triumph Meriden. If those bikes were properly assembled they did not leak any more than any contemporary bike.
If you ever see a late model Tiger Cub look at the tank, or if you see the 250 twin Tigress scooter look at the exhaust system. They were both my work.
I would dearly love to own an early 5T 500 but with the prices asked over here I could never afford one on my pension.

[demon78]

Old Biker I hear you, on my pension, if my wife wasn't working I'd be dammed lucky to have an old bicycle, and as far as the prices of any of the bikes I had when I was young they are astronomical now, who ever thought that an Matchless or Triumph would get that exespensive ?
Bill the demon.

[Nikkisixx]

Way back, I worked in the drawing office at Triumph Meriden. If those bikes were properly assembled they did not leak any more than any contemporary bike.
If you ever see a late model Tiger Cub look at the tank, or if you see the 250 twin Tigress scooter look at the exhaust system. They were both my work.
I would dearly love to own an early 5T 500 but with the prices asked over here I could never afford one on my pension.

Olderbike, the late model Tiger Cubs are great looking little bikes - nice work!