Featured Triumph Bonnie Owner At Last-t140 Project

I have finally taken the plunge and got this 1977 T140, which I intend to make into a useable motorcycle but not a nut and bolt restoration to standard trim. There is quite a bit of it missing but the major parts are all present and correct. I think it’s a great looking bike, I have never attempted anything like this before and all my tools are metric. This will probably take me a long time but I will post anything interesting as I go along. Don’t hold your breath though! I am looking forward to getting to know this old bike, learning from other knowledgeable owners and getting it back on the road where it belongs. Cheers

 

Thanks very much for the sound advice-especially the buying bits as you go along-it will probably add up to more than I would like to admit!

I have made a small start but taking it some of it apart. I must say that I am really enjoying working on the Bonnie, it is a lovely bike to work on and I already feel an attachment to it! Definitely a keeper.

 

Thank you, I will do. I have lots to learn but I am already enjoying myself and it’s great to have an old Triumph and one that I can actually work on rather than just the usual maintenance stuff.

 

Thanks, I this is my first attempt but I want it to be functional rather than cosmetically perfect because I want to enjoy riding it and not get too precious about it and just polish it in the garage.

 

No idea how it got to this state but it has come back from the USA on a Nova. It’s been poorly hand painted and almost all the wiring and electrics are missing but there’s not that much to start with! The carbs are missing and so is the front master cylinder etc. It looks as though it was thrown together because most of the bolts are loose, although on the plus side the engine and frame numbers match as do the crankcase halves, so unless someone has gone to a lot of trouble forging the numbers (for not much gain in a US auction) then hopefully the basics are ok. No idea what I will find inside but as Iron has said it’s all part of the fun!

 

Thanks you very much for your kind offer, much appreciated, however the seller gave me a Haynes manual for it. Advice is always welcome though so please come back and see how it’s going!

 

Yes I agree, I do like the standard Bonnie but I also like the way it looks as it is- if it was done to a rideable standard! I am going to keep it to a level where I don’t get precious about it so it will be mechanically sound but not a nut and bolt restoration as I know I won’t ride it much if I do that, and I do want to ride it a lot, maintain it a lot and modify adapt it as I go along. With luck I can keep it for a long time and enjoy owning a British Classic

 

Firstly I must apologise for not responding to all of the positive comments from everyone earlier, I didn’t see the posts until last night ‍♂️ Here are a couple of pictures of the progress so far, and there are even signs of some tlc from the previous owner as there are new guides in the exhaust valves and +040 pistons. Some other bits look a bit worse for wear but all in all I am very happy with it!

 

Bonnie clutch looks surprised to be back in the UK

 

Ok a few more bits removed, I have found that the inlet valves are a bit wobbly in the guides, exhaust guides had been replaced already and are fine. Also, I have had a look at the bores and pistons but it has occurred to me that I don’t have a clue what I am looking at! Can anyone recommend an engineering shop in/near Manchester who can replace the inlet valve guides (I believe they need reaming to match the valves?) and inspect the barrel/ bores and pistons to see if they are serviceable or not? If anyone knows a trustworthy engineering company I would be most grateful

 

Will do Joe, it was the top of my budget at the time, amazing how much they are going up in value! I got it to rebuild to a rideable condition and enjoy without going too far down the showroom condition route, because I know that if I do that I will get all precious about it and not ride it. I love the sound of the proper old Triumph twins and hopefully I will be able to kick it back into life later this year.

 

Thanks very much, that’s exactly the sort of info I need. I will remove the piston rings and measure the gap in the bore at several points and see if the wear is even, there doesn’t appear to be any blow-by past the rings and there is still evidence of a recent hone on the bores-they look ok to me but I will measure and check! I am taking it completely to pieces and checking bearings etc, I have already bought a new sludge trap cap with a hex head on it, hopefully the old one will come out....

I must say that I am really enjoying owning and restoring this old bike, it’s so much fun and I will get enormous pleasure riding it after spending so much time and effort getting it back on the road, knowing that I have had my hands deep in the bowels of the engine and gearbox! I have never attempted this before but it’s a labour of love and this is one bike that I intend to keep