Hello!
As if I didnt have enough projects I did a little trade this summer. A guy posted an ad with a 500cc 1962 Triumph Speed Twin - non runner - that he was selling. But he would consider trading it for a CB500 or T500. Since I had a suzuki 1971 T500 in sitting in the bicycle basement of my building and no time to ride it because I ride my XS650 cafe racer, I offered it in a clean deal. And we swapped bikes 8)
I have never owned, ridden or wrenched a British bike... So I knew that I was in for a learning experience!
the good: Compression was ok, the gears shifted, original condition, not too much rust
the bad: the electrics were dead ( the PO who had bought it as his own project but never gotten it to run didnt even know which wire was ground for the battery...) and the clutch stuck, and it had been sitting for a long time. Oh, and all chrome on wheels etc had been painted with "poor man's chrome", hence no rust :-\
First thing I did was redoing almost the whole wiring. Surprisingly easy after I spent many hours making one for the XS. Just got to keep the positive grond in mind Then I had lights and spark.
The carb was in bad shape internally but I cleaned it out as good as I could in the kitchen sink.
And then it fired up on 2nd kick! Sounded pretty healthy too...
Then I opened the primary case and found that 4 of the clutch plates that had stuck together from sitting so long. Took a little force to get them seperated. Then a smear of oil and back in. Adjusted the springs visually to minimize drag, then put the cover on, gave it some oil and adjusted the chain. And took the first test drive.
It ran ok, but didnt advance the ignition so well. Probably also needs a thorough cleaning. I got it through the inspection, got a registration (it was still on UK papers) and was ready for the road. I thought. After a few days of small test runs with different ignition settings, it started to get this metallic ratte from the timing wheels. And oil was pouring out of the cases when the engine got warm... Not so good. Now it was obviuous that I was facing a complete engine teardown. And from what I could read from forums the dreaded sludge trap in the crankshaft was probably part of the problem.
I've know my way around the XS650 twin now but these motors are like most things Britsh: just different. So it took me 4 months to get myself together and buy a set of Whitworth tools plus assorted pullers and extractors necessary to take it apart. And yesterday night I spent an hour outside in -4 C taking the motor out of the frame. But now it's out and I'll let you guys know how it goes when an absolute newbie rebuilds a British twin ;D
snow....
here's the challenge.
As if I didnt have enough projects I did a little trade this summer. A guy posted an ad with a 500cc 1962 Triumph Speed Twin - non runner - that he was selling. But he would consider trading it for a CB500 or T500. Since I had a suzuki 1971 T500 in sitting in the bicycle basement of my building and no time to ride it because I ride my XS650 cafe racer, I offered it in a clean deal. And we swapped bikes 8)
I have never owned, ridden or wrenched a British bike... So I knew that I was in for a learning experience!
the good: Compression was ok, the gears shifted, original condition, not too much rust
the bad: the electrics were dead ( the PO who had bought it as his own project but never gotten it to run didnt even know which wire was ground for the battery...) and the clutch stuck, and it had been sitting for a long time. Oh, and all chrome on wheels etc had been painted with "poor man's chrome", hence no rust :-\
First thing I did was redoing almost the whole wiring. Surprisingly easy after I spent many hours making one for the XS. Just got to keep the positive grond in mind Then I had lights and spark.
The carb was in bad shape internally but I cleaned it out as good as I could in the kitchen sink.
And then it fired up on 2nd kick! Sounded pretty healthy too...
Then I opened the primary case and found that 4 of the clutch plates that had stuck together from sitting so long. Took a little force to get them seperated. Then a smear of oil and back in. Adjusted the springs visually to minimize drag, then put the cover on, gave it some oil and adjusted the chain. And took the first test drive.
It ran ok, but didnt advance the ignition so well. Probably also needs a thorough cleaning. I got it through the inspection, got a registration (it was still on UK papers) and was ready for the road. I thought. After a few days of small test runs with different ignition settings, it started to get this metallic ratte from the timing wheels. And oil was pouring out of the cases when the engine got warm... Not so good. Now it was obviuous that I was facing a complete engine teardown. And from what I could read from forums the dreaded sludge trap in the crankshaft was probably part of the problem.
I've know my way around the XS650 twin now but these motors are like most things Britsh: just different. So it took me 4 months to get myself together and buy a set of Whitworth tools plus assorted pullers and extractors necessary to take it apart. And yesterday night I spent an hour outside in -4 C taking the motor out of the frame. But now it's out and I'll let you guys know how it goes when an absolute newbie rebuilds a British twin ;D
snow....
here's the challenge.