Featured What you been doing with your TRIUMPH today??

A bit more work on the STRS, removed the rear drop link to re grease everything, low and behold the needle rollers fell apart, water ingress was the cause. I ordered a complete drop and drag link repair kit, and a new drop link, I intended having the original Cerakoted, however a new OEM link was just as cheap. Also found a slightly tight thread on the heel guard fastner, so re tapped both threads along with the fasteners. I'm just doing a few hours here and there on the bike as I am busy with other jobs. Interestingly though, I only re greased the rear suspension prior to going to the IOM S100 in July. It was the worst weather I have seen though on the Island, I guess riding in those conditions saw water getting in to the bearings. Oh and I managed to get a replacement OEM coolant expansion bottle for the original that was split at the fitting holes, at £5 a real bargain that makes a change.

 

A lovely sunny day today and I was able to take the opportunity to get out on the Speed 400. I took a quick trip to Minehead and an ice cream on t he sea front. As it is half term here there were quite a few people about and even a couple of hardy - or foolhardy folks actually in the water!!
Picture looking along the front towards Butlins.

 

Changing oil and getting the bike ready to be put away for the winter. Today it’s looking like the riding season is coming to an end here.

 

Nice ride, company, and food

 

Most monoshock road bikes, at least the ones I've owned, have suspension linkages in direct line of fire from spray and debris from the rear wheel. High speeds in wet weather is like pointing a jet wash at the linkage, small wonder that water gets in. I've made spray guards or rubber boots from sheet rubber, that plastic damp course stuff or even old inner tubes and they certainly work and protect the linkage from the worst of it.

 

Another job completed, a new OEM suspension link arrived today, fitted new bearings and seals, greased the bearings copiously, interestingly all the old seals had no springs installed, these are essential in securing the seal lips tight onto the sleeves once in place, the new ones have the springs in place thankfully. the bearings and seals in the rear Ohlins shock were like new so just needed cleaning and re greasing. Just waiting for the suspension links being Cerakoted, then I can complete fitting it all, before moving on to re installing the header pipes, rad etc etc. In case anyone is thinking of replacing these bearings, then make sure you have access to a press, initially I used a manual bearing removal/installer tool, however they were in that tight the tool failed to budge them, I went to the family workshop and used a hydraulic press, less than 10 minutes and old ones out and new ones installed. Making sure they were installed to the right depth (the width of the seal) so it sits flush.