Featured 73 Tiger 750 Top End Rebuild

I refitted my repainted barrels and refurbished cylinder head to my 1973 Tiger 750 using a copper head gasket and some replacement fasteners to replace the mish mash I found.

I had the head vapour blasted and replaced the badly pitted exhaust valves with LF Harris ones I got at a bargain price. I also picked up some NOS inlet valves, still in the original grease and cheap as chips. After measuring the head crush I fitted thin white seals to the push rod tubes - the originals were a mangled mess and probably too thick.

Next job is to fit the repaired rocker boxes which I have modified to use the recommended thrust washer arrangement to enhance the rocker lubrication.

 

Almost there now. Rocker boxes fitted and valve clearances set. Rocker oil feed connected. Head steady fitted and carb + manifold refitted. The rubber seal between the single carb and airbox requires a contortionist with 12" long fingers to refit.

Just need to refit the RH airbox cover, headers and mufflers to finish this phase. I have a couple of small jobs to do on the primary drive side and that should be it ready for the spring.

I have ordered an Evotech engine guard for my 23 T120 so that's next on the list.

 

The 73 parts book shows 4 bolt covers, this changed to 6 bolt in the 74 parts book.

My matching numbers bike was manufactured on 21st March 73, and despatched from the factory on 19th July 73 but not registered until Nov 73. Over the last 50 years it has had a few owners and there is evidence of that a lot of work has been carried out with some really nice work and mods but also more than a few bodges which I am gradually undoing. So basically its impossible to say if the rocker boxes are original but they did have the original incorrect thrust washer configuration and a fair amount of wear and tear so who knows.

From the condition of my rocker boxes, the original 4 bolt mounting holes were quite weak and prone to damage so maybe the move to 6 bolt was to add a bit of strength.

 

All finished, just need to mix up some fresh fuel as I drained and cleaned the tank.