Classic Triumph Bonneville

[Mr. Dazzle]

I went to put my new fuel hoses and filters on today. That all works fine, but when tightening the hoses up I noticed the petcocks (taps in modern speak ) were a bit wobbly. Sure enough, the dowty sealing washers on the taps are shot...not ethanol resistant I bet.

So new washers it is! They only cost a couple of quid but it's annoying. They're just 1/4" BSP seals. If I were more of a mechanic I'd have them in my garage already.

[Mr. Dazzle]

They're just 1/4" BSP seals.

FFS no they're not....never simple with this bike They're actually "Stat O Seals" with the castellation, like this:



That'd probably explain why the dowty seals I took out didn't fit correctly.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Right...finally got off my arse and put the fuel tank back on today compete with new inline filters. The petrol panic here in MK is also over so I didnt feel like a cvnt going to get a Jerry can of optimax.

I've charged the battery up and put it back in. Blew the main fuse and then remembered this bike is positive earth (FFS, schoolboy). Fortunately I've got a stash of spare fuses.

Pulled the clutch and kicked her through a couple of times. Checked that I had sparks (taking the plugs out is 5s on this bike). Then I tickled the carbs, found the compression and gave her a solid hoof.

Fuck me, it only bloody started on the first kick didn't it? It took maybe a minute of gentle coaxing on the throttle to keep her running, but after than she just settled into a beautiful slap-slap-slap sounding idle.

Sadly I have shit i need to do this afternoon, but I plan to take her for a spin tonight when baby D is asleep.

Still bastard loud too.

[Count Steer]

Right...finally got off my arse and put the fuel tank back on today compete with new inline filters. The petrol panic here in MK is also over so I didnt feel like a cvnt going to get a Jerry can of optimax.

I've charged the battery up and put it back in. Blew the main fuse and then remembered this bike is positive earth (FFS, schoolboy). Fortunately I've got a stash of spare fuses.

Pulled the clutch and kicked her through a couple of times. Checked that I had sparks (taking the plugs out is 5s on this bike). Then I tickled the carbs, found the compression and gave her a solid hoof.

Fuck me, it only bloody started on the first kick didn't it? It took maybe a minute of gentle coaxing on the throttle to keep her running, but after than she just settled into a beautiful slap-slap-slap sounding idle.

Sadly I have shit i need to do this afternoon, but I plan to take her for a spin tonight when baby D is asleep.

Still bastard loud too.

Woohoo! It lives!

[Skub]

Sadly I have shit i need to do this afternoon, but I plan to take her for a spin tonight when baby D is asleep.

Bet it won't start then.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Aye, pretty much resigned myself already that I've used up the one easy start.

[Skub]

Aye, pretty much resigned myself already that I've used up the one easy start.

Saves waking the bairn and being in the doghouse as a result.

[Taipan]

You'd best go out whilst Baby D is awake!

[Mr. Dazzle]

Slight change of schedule, just been out for a quick shake down.

Generally pretty good. Still starts pretty easily. I stalled at a roundabout and managed to get her straight away again.

Fuelling is not right I don't think. Either that or something bigger. I deliberately went very rich on all the jetting cause its got the high comp pistons and very open breathing. I've heard these bikes will hole pistons faster than you can blink, so I started off super rich. On middle throttle its not very happy, stuttering and generally lumpy. When/if you can eek up to full throttle she's pretty happy, but with a brand new engine I don't wanna push too hard.

It's still not slow either! Obviously not fast by bike standards, but I was leaving the other traffic behind without even meaning too. 75mph is no effort at all.

1st gear is mostly missing in action

Sounds glorious when you get it on song up through the gears.

Had a massive massive brown trousers moment I was trying to get a feel for the front brake, which is super wooden but actually very powerful. Locked the front wheel and had a huge squeal from the (pathetic) front tyre and crossed 2 lanes while almost of full lock. Blind luck there were no other vehciles in my path. The tyres are 10 year old TT100s which could probably stand to be replaced.

It also won't idle now, which makes me wonder if the plugs are now covered in crap.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Well....

There you go....only on one side though? Although, this is the side where the fuel comes in (RHS carb), the left tap is the reserve and was turned off.

This plug was brand new with the rebuild, so irs got about 15 miles total on it.

[KungFooBob]

It's richer than Potter!

[Mr. Dazzle]

It's richer than Potter!

Secretly prefers the left too.

[JackyJoll]

If the needles in the throttle slides are clipped in the notch that lifts them highest, that can cause horrible richness at normal running throttle openings.

Could the carb on your rich side have the clip in the bottom notch like that.

You are well advised to give it bursts of full throttle if the piston rings are new.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Well its worth a look.

I've got a bunch of jets in the garage, they're so cheap it made more sense to buy loads and only pay postage once.

[JackyJoll]

The main jet only affects mixture at more than about 2/3 throttle.

[KungFooBob]

Indeed, to do a proper plug chop you need kill the engine after a run at specific throttle position, coast to a stop and check the plug.

[Mr. Dazzle]

And mark the twist grip...1/2 grip doesn't necessarily mean 1/2 throttle.

Fucking carbs!

[KungFooBob]

oh and get some Avon Roadriders. They don't have a 'classic' looking thread pattern like TT''s, but I'm sure they'll do them in the right sizes and they're a pretty good tyre.

[Mr. Dazzle]

IIRC I put richer needle jets in too...although its sometimes a little hard to find out what stock size os anyway.

Probably worth making sure there are no sanfus first though, seems kinda weird the right should be loads worse than the left. The left looked OK. The right exhaust was also covered in loads of soot and the left wasn't.

Could also be floats?

[JackyJoll]

106 needle jets are almost universal.

And 107 is a lot richer than 106.