Hi All I’ve some decisions to make . My T120v was stolen years ago and broken up , but the scumbags were caught and I got most of it back . I’ve got enough now to start the rebuild , there just one last issue . I have some brand new OE 650cc five speed cases and my intent is to get a low vibration engine built, but I’m missing a metric 650 crank . I’ve got two earlier 650 crankshafts that use imperial sized bearings, but getting a 650 metric crank is proving difficult. So can I use a later T140 crank ? Or is there a neat way of using the earlier parts ? I need someone in the Northwest of the UK that can build a Meriden bottom end, balance the crank and advise on camshafts. Any advice ?
Welcome aboard Bill, hope you enjoy the forum, I'm sure some of the more technically minded members will be along shortly to give you a few pointers, good luck with the rebuild and keep us posted on the progress.
Hi, Bill and welcome. Cheshire is not a million miles away from Aberystwyth so I suspect that a call to SRM Engineering may be worthwhile. You'd be there inside about a couple of hours or so if needs be, and they know their stuff ... allegedly! www.srmclassicbikes.com Never had any dealings with them myself, but they do appear to be highly respected.
Welcome to the Asylum you should fit right in. To keep the inmates happy we will need photos. And keep us updated on you're rebuild Tucker
An old school mate of mine runs this place:- http://www.saddleworthclassics.co.uk/contact.html He specialises in older British bikes, give him a call, ask for Mark.
Thanks all for the welcome and info. It’s been emotional. SRM wanted a mortgage on my house and the blood and bone marrow of my first born child . The wife said no. Then a call to Meriden motorcycles may have saved the day . Still a right load of cash, but affordable and John was knowledgable , sensible and offered me tea . So I’m going to pack up all the bits and see what they suggest. In the meantime I’m now on the hunt for a paint shop to handle the frame, cycle parts and tank.. ... Suggestions on a postcard to...
Maurice the Mysterious . Earlier this year I was at J and S near Tarporley and in the car park was a fully restored T120v . I took photographs of it , and inspired by its pristine presence vowed to dig out my own and get it completed . Maurice was it’s owner , and I took his number intending to share beers and witty banter at some stage . Then lost a phone a few weeks later and his number with it.. sigh.. Looking back at the photographs though I came to the realisation that I didn’t actually like the look of the bike. The fugly side panels , the Flash Gordon rear light, all the indicators, the instruments , the handlebar switches , the wires and cables like an old dears varicose veins criiss-crossing the front end . Blurggg I thought. Don’t like that . So what should I do ? I mulled it over for a for months and then at Creg na Baa at the MGP I saw a bike, another oil in frame 650 that focussed me on what to do. The Manx resident who owned it had bought it without understanding its deviation from standard . It had a simpler mid sixties rear light and number plate , the two part side panels and aluminium air box were gone, replaced with pancake air filters and cheeky little fibreglass panels that mimic the oil tank and battery covers of the pre 1970 unit bikes. It looked better than standard, but was nothing irreversible. So now I have a vision. Clean lines , attention to detail , the best looking bits from different model years , a pastiche, a homage, and other French words meaning cool and elegant . Perhaps paint some stuff that was chrome, chrome some stuff that was paint , install a stainless steel fastner wank-fest , a soft smooth low compression engine , electronic instruments snuggled into period cases, a decent head light. Hopefully I’ll be using Triumph standard parts from different years to make something I do like looking at. Oh don’t worry I’ll keep all,the standard stuff nicely refurbished for Sunday’s , but I want to create something of my own, something stripped, simple and clean... watch this space .