Remarkable work, esp the painting. Four times? You have true patience.
1965 Triumph Bonneville TT
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- Start date
Beautiful standard of work. There's no way it looked that good when it left the factory.
A word of warning about the tank mounted rack. A long time ago I went to an RTA where a Triumph rider had T-boned a car, at relatively low speed. The impact drove him up the tank, where his wedding tackle took all the force and stopped him. It was the first time I heard the medical term 'de-gloving'.
From that day, I have never had anything on the tank that could emulate what happened to that poor chap.
I do tend to persevere somewhat.
I knew what the problems were and how to solve them but it can be bloody frustrating when you think it's all going well and then something unexpected happens.And then some things go better than expected and it makes it all worthwhile. This is the finished '67 TR6C tank which started out as in posts 184-186 above. I had virtually no issues with the painting at all.
From this......
To this, finished today......(it needs the knee grips sticking on yet)
The 'Trophy Special' decal is a waterslide and it took me four attempts to get it right, at £6.60 a pop. I've just had to order three more, there are 2 per bike, one on the tank and one on the sidepanel.
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I do tend to persevere somewhat.
And then some things go better than expected and it makes it all worthwhile. This is the finished '67 TR6C tank which started out as in posts 184-186 above. I had virtually no issues with the painting at all.
From this......
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To this, finished today......(it needs the knee grips sticking on yet)
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The 'Trophy Special' decal is a waterslide and it took me four attempts to get it right, at £6.60 a pop. I've just had to order three more, there are 2 per bike, one on the tank and one on the sidepanel.
That's stunning that Andy
Thanks Paul.That's stunning that Andy
Lovely high standard of workmanship.
Could you tell us (me), about your plating set up please.
Is it a Caswell product?
I have toyed a couple of times with plating small parts, but then always farmed it out to a plater.
Is it a Caswell product?
I have toyed a couple of times with plating small parts, but then always farmed it out to a plater.
It's from E Plating. https://eplating.co.uk/ 5 litre Zinc/Nickel kit £162.85 including shipping. It seems ok so far. I've previously had a kit from Gateros Plating https://www.gaterosplating.co.uk/ but that was 12 years ago. There not cheap unless you're doing a lot of parts but it's very satisfying and I hate waiting for jobs to be done by other people.
Just a small update, I've painted the side panels for all three bikes. Different models of the same bike could have different side panels and Triumph changed them frequently along with the rear subframe and oil tank. Getting the correct combination of parts can be time-consuming. From left to right, 1963-65 T120C TT (no switch holes). 1967 one-year-only T120R, (1 switch hole) This is going on the '67 TR6C which originally would have had Energy Transfer ignition with no battery or switch gear. I want an ignition switch so I've used the T120R panel. On the right 1968-70 T120/TR6 with no switch holes, ignition switch is on the fork shroud. (The 1966 bikes again had a one-year-only panel that came in 3 variations depending on the actual model.) So from 1965-1968 Triumph used 8 different side panels on the 650 twins.
In primer.
In black. I'll flat them back and polish them when fully cured.
We're off to Croatia on the GSA tomorrow for a couple of weeks. I've now got everything I need to get the T120C TT running so hopefully that should be the next update.
In primer.
In black. I'll flat them back and polish them when fully cured.
We're off to Croatia on the GSA tomorrow for a couple of weeks. I've now got everything I need to get the T120C TT running so hopefully that should be the next update.
She's a runner! First start attempt was yesterday, fired on the very first kick but wouldn't run. So I used the starter rollers, it would fire consistently but wouldn't respond to any throttle at all. Tried again today after adjusting the airscrews and ignition timing and she fired up immediately but sounded a little too advanced on the ignition but all in all I was well pleased with the first run. Some tweaking required to carburation and ignition timing but mechanically all is good. Just one slight oil leak from the exhaust pushrod tube which unfortunately means a full top end strip down but after all it is 60 years old so can't complain really.
Brilliant!!That must've been a great feeling to hear it run for the first time.A credit to you
Kimbo
Kimbo
Fantastic to see it come to life, well done
It's finished. Got the ignition timing and carbs set up, there's no air filter on in the video and the idle speed needs lowering slightly.
It's just 51 weeks since I started the rebuild, thanks for all the encouragement and comments it really does make a difference when problems arise or the motivation falters.
I need to get the TR6Cs finished now, I'll start another thread for those. Thanks again, Andy.
......and this is what they were made for, it's fascinating to think of where it's been, what it's done and who rode it but unfortunately I have no history at all.
Got the ignition timing and carbs set up, there's no air filter on in the video and the idle speed needs lowering slightly.It's just 51 weeks since I started the rebuild, thanks for all the encouragement and comments it really does make a difference when problems arise or the motivation falters.
I need to get the TR6Cs finished now, I'll start another thread for those. Thanks again, Andy.
......and this is what they were made for, it's fascinating to think of where it's been, what it's done and who rode it but unfortunately I have no history at all.
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Top man,thankyou for taking the time to post all the photos up.Bike looks superb
Absolutely cracking! Have very much enjoyed reading this.
Are you going to put a headlight on?
Are you going to put a headlight on?
It's finished.
It's just 51 weeks since I started the rebuild, thanks for all the encouragement and comments it really does make a difference when problems arise or the motivation falters.
I need to get the TR6Cs finished now, I'll start another thread for those. Thanks again, Andy.
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......and this is what they were made for, it's fascinating to think of where it's been, what it's done and who rode it but unfortunately I have no history at all.
Tis a think of beauty Andy and no mistake
No, being competition bikes they didn't come with lights, speedometer, horn, battery or silencers but bizarrely had the parcel rack! It's exactly as supplied to Johnson Motors the USA West Coast importers.
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