Classic Triumph Bonneville

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

People have day jobs, I only do work on my bikes when I'm in the mood, the point isn't to end up with a finished bike, the point is to keep me entertained.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Called me again yesterday just to confirm what's going on inside the carbs...namely, does he have to replace the seals with the ethanol resistant kind. The answer is no, I've already done that. He also noted a slight crack developing in the hose which balances to two inlet manifolds so he's replaced that too. He's nothing if not thorough

Also rerouted the clutch and throttle cables slightly, both of which are brand new PTFE/Stainless jobs.

Sent me a progress photo to show it's nearly back together. Its considerably less assembled than when he picked it up

He did go off on a bit of a tangent in our call: "It's a lovely looking bike this, now it's coming together! You are going to ride it aren't you, would be a shame not to".

[Mr. Dazzle]

So close!

It's all back together and running, starts first kick now apparently. Goes through all the gears etc. as it should, timing is set.

Petrol tank leaks It must've always been leaking, but there's so many other smells associated with the bike I just didn't notice. It's had an empty tank most of the time it's been sat in my garage too. It's not an OE Triumph tank, it's a not-very-good pattern one. I need to decide what to replace it with now, I'm not gonna bother trying to repair I don't think. The current one has the 'toast rack' type thing on it, the older pictures I have of the bike show it was originally fitted with a much more teardrop shaped blue one.

EDIT: One plus side I guess - whatever new tank I get will need painting. This is the perfect opportunity to repaint the fairing at the same time. At the moment the frame has got the semi-original brush applied gloss blue (done by the first owner in '70 and restored by my FiL) and the fairing is incongruous 1980's rattle can Ford Blue. I can get everything looking more appropriate now.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

So close!

It's all back together and running, starts first kick now apparently. Goes through all the gears etc. as it should, timing is set.

Petrol tank leaks It must've always been leaking, but there's so many other smells associated with the bike I just didn't notice. It's had an empty tank most of the time it's been sat in my garage too. It's not an OE Triumph tank, it's a not-very-good pattern one. I need to decide what to replace it with now, I'm not gonna bother trying to repair I don't think. The current one has the 'toast rack' type thing on it, the older pictures I have of the bike show it was originally fitted with a much more teardrop shaped blue one.

If you're thinking of going for a plastic tank have a look at Clarke tanks.

[JackyJoll]

So close!

It's all back together and running, starts first kick now apparently.

Starts first of his kicks- what about yours though?

With a cold engine, I find that if it doesn’t start with one kick, then it wasn’t tickled enough.

[Mr. Dazzle]

He suggested I come over and "make sure you're happy with how it runs".

Maybe he actually means "so I can show you how to start it"

[JackyJoll]

And just in case you had any concerns-

Here’s a Triumph rider easily avoiding some forum regular.

[David]

Do you think he might show me how to start the Victor?

[Taipan]

Do you think he might show me how to start the Victor?

He's good, but he's not that good...

[JackyJoll]

Do you think he might show me how to start the Victor?

He will show you better ways of failing to start it.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I've just arranged to go and see it on Tuesday. He's gonna run of off a bottle of petrol so that we can also look at the damage/leak in the tank. Then he just need to deliver it back to me.

By a happy coincidence I've also got a skip coming this week for some house projects, so I can clear the garage out and make some proper room!

Really not sure what to do with the tank...I'm hoping the damage to the present one is mild enough that I can patch it up for use this summer, then find something in the meantime and arrange for a full paint job on the tank/fairing over winter. There's gonna be some repair needed on the fairing/brackets too so I wanna do it all in one. I also need to figure what colour(s) to do it.

As usual, there are about 5 different kinds of tank which will actually fit this bike.

[JackyJoll]

A smaller tank is always a bigger pain in the arse.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Went to see it today.

It is indeed, back together. He started it from cold on the first kick...runs really nicely, as far as you can tell on the stand at least. It even idles now, which it bluntly refused to do before.

Sounds great, got a proper bark when you rev it and then classic "slap-slap-slap-slap" sound at idle which you get from an engine running loads of valve overlap. Even the mechanic was grinning at the noise.

I did take some video, but I can't be arsed with setting up somewhere to host it. Sorry

[weeksy]

And did you start it ?

[Mr. Dazzle]

No, I was wearing trainers

[weeksy]

[Rockburner]

Sounds good!

[Mr. Dazzle]

He also showed me his Dad's bike which he's working on. A 1938 Aerial, with a 750cc V-twin Jap engine and some Norton bits on it too...

[JackyJoll]

A 1938 Aerial

[slowsider]

A 1938 Aerial

Bound to be a bit of interference on one that old.