Triumph Bonneville T140D Project

[at106]

So my suzuki gs125 is now finished so it's time to start my next project. My Dad's triumph t140d special. He's owned it for nearly 30 years but in the last 10 years it hasnt seen much use, infact it was last on the road in 2004! But even though the battery is dead, and the fuel is 8 years old it still started on the third kick! Time for some pictures,

https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture006-2.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture007-2.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture008-2.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture010-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture013-2.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture014-2.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture021-2.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture027-3.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture028-2.jpg

As you can see it needs a good clean, but all the parts seem in pretty good condition. I was originally going to restore the bike as we have all the original parts, but after trial fitting them i've decided against that.

https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture016-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture022-3.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture023-3.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture025-1.jpg

Instead the plan so far is to keep it original as possible but keeping it simple. My ideas so far are;
Fit these side panels, https://triumphbonneville.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product658.html
2 into 1 exhaust like it should have
Smaller headlight
Lower handlebars
Remove the clocks and fit a simple speedo, and mileage counter

But if anyone has any other ideas feel free to say

[duhawkz]

nice it looks in pretty good condition as it is bit of polish will soon see that right, i'd leave it completely standard if it were mine.

i'd love an old bonny to restore but the price of even a basket case on ebay is ridiculous.


____________________
"The guy is a worthless cunt and I honestly believe I would be a slightly happier person if he died." - Chris-Red

[Barnaby]

A '78 Meriden Co-op Triumph that hasn't yet oil stained your patio?

Looking at the overall condition I find it hard to believe it's been kept in a garden shed for 10yrs, the finish quality was abysmal when it left the factory & there's no way that chrome has survived untouched in an unheated environment for the past 10yrs.

Give it a deep service but don't fix anything that isn't broken, most beginners rush in & attempt concours restorations which invariably renders the bike practically worthless.

Patina is your favourite word.

[at106]

It is in good condition considering where it's been kept, the plan is not to do anything that cant be reversed incase i decide to sell it some day so all the original parts will be kept just incase

[at106]

Over the weekend i got some more work done, i've decided to fit a smaller headlight i think it's 5" diameter. Obviously it's not mounted correctly but you get the idea!
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture055-2.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture051-2.jpg

I also decided that the original clocks are too big,
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture039-1.jpg

I then set about removing the handlebar controls to give me some more space to work,
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture053-2.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture054-2.jpg

I've also decided that the warning lights and ignition will be fitted into the headlight shell, i will then fit a smaller speedo and rev counter either side of the headlight.
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture057.jpg

Tomorrow my new handlebars should arrive and then i'll make a mount for the headlight.

[Matt B]

[.Chris.]

Very nice! Personally I'd be leaving it completely as it was - a good service, bit of a clean, MOT and enjoy.
____________________
Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[at106]

Sorry no clipons, just these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390396473760?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_2529wt_1163 I could cafe racer it but i'd like to keep some originality and keep it more practical. Also as i said earlier no original parts will be modified or sold so they can be bolted back on whenever i want

[Matt B]

[at106]

Unfortunately the new bars haven't turned up yet but i've got a couple of pictures of how i intend to mount the clocks. I had to take 1 picture of each clock as i dont have 3 hands

https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture058.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture059-2.jpg

I probably wont be using those clocks i'll probably use something like these which are 27mm smaller in diameter so everything will fit better. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260501124887?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648#ht_668wt_1163

Once the bars and the new clocks turn up i'll make brackets for the headlight and clocks then strip the bike down for a full rebuild

[Slacker24seve...]

[at106]

[at106]

The new bars turned up today so i got them fitted to see how they looked.
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture060-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture061-2.jpg

I then fitted the switch gear and adjusted the angle to make them more comfortable, and this is how it currently looks
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture067-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture073-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture076-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture078.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture079.jpg

In my opinion it looks a lot better and definitely creates the idea im trying to achieve, it also leaves more space to mount the clocks and gives more space around the headlight.
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture074-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture075-1.jpg

There is however one problem, due to the length of the master cylinder it may be in the way of the clocks, but i'll have to wait for the clocks to turn up first.
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture077.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture081.jpg

[Lone-Wolf]

Wotcha.

Hmm - I bet wiring that neutral warning light will be a tad tricky

<<goes off and does a bit of research>>

Well colour me surprised - it could well have a neutral warning light - the Yanks insisted on it.

Mechanically, there was virtually no difference between the T140E & the new-for-'79 T140D Bonneville Special, again it was mostly an appearance package. Both shared the same "E" engine, mandated by US Smog Regs. Other than Allen screws to replace Phillips on the outer covers, nothing really changed with the engines, with two notable exceptions. First, a new negative-ground electrical system was installed for the first time with a new 3-phase alternator. Then, the T140D got a slick new 2-in-1 header that was unique to the model & quite nice. Work was done to the shift mechanism to make neutral easier to find & to install a US-mandated Neutral Warning Lamp.


Not a bad bike - I had a T140E on the "W" reg - more or less the same machine apart from the Lester mag alloy wheels. I believe the "D" in T140D stood for "Daytona", seeing as it was designed for export . . . . saying that, they also did a slab tank UK model. . . .I dunno ?
____________________
Cheers.
^..^
L.W. - www.moonshiners.org.uk

[Vincent]

If it is an original "special", keep it original, (or at least make sure you keep all the original parts), as they're quite sort after. However, most aren't original, just conversions. The special was one of the most nicked bikes when it came out. As mentioned already, the quality of the Meriden bikes was very poor, I worked in a garage in B'ham that sold them new and we had them all returned with serious faults, one bike came back after 34 miles with a snapped main shaft in the gearbox so, people would nick the specials to use the parts on their earlier bikes. Those in the know would strip new bikes and rebuild, redoing things like the crankcase facings and modifying the carbs, before using them.

If I were you, I'd check the engine and frame numbers to see if it is indeed a genuine Special, if it is, I'd sell it to buy something a lot more..........err...........substantial, (being kind).
____________________
Space Is Deep

[Vincent]

[Matt B]

Like the bars, looking good.
____________________
stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[at106]

It already has a neutral light so that wont be a problem, and it is a genuine special but my dad has owned it for 29 years so keeping it a few years longer wont hurt But i will be keeping all the original parts and replacing or renewing damaged original parts or parts in bad condition as they become available.

More progress
Today i made the headlight bracket, i wont use this one it was just to see what it would look like.
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture087-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture089-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture090-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture091-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture092-1.jpg

However im not sure how to finish it or what material i could make it from, the options are,
aluminium-polished
aluminium-anodized
steel-chrome plated (probably too expensive)
steel-nickel plated (not sure how good it'd look?)
steel powder coated black to match yokes

I also painted the mount black just to see what it looked like,
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture096-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture094-1.jpg

I think it looks good in black as there is quite a bit of chrome at the front and im also going to be adding more

My new clocks arrived today aswell, as you can see they're quite a bit smaller than the originals.
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture086-1.jpg

I think im going to mount them my making an L shaped bracket and mounting it to the original mounts.
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture093-1.jpg

Hopefully my new drill bits will arrive this weekend so i can put the warning lights in the headlight

[Vincent]

You'll need some sort of rubber mounting for the lamp and clocks.
____________________
Space Is Deep

[at106]

[Vincent]

[at106]

Im not sure on the rubber washers at the moment but they can wait! This weekend i got the clock mounts designed, and i found the original master cylinder will just about fit. I can also get the headlight bracket laser cut from 4mm stainless steel for £15 so i'll get that and the clock mounts done

I then set about stripping the bike down.
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture103-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture099-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture100-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture101-1.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture102-1.jpg

Rocker covers off (supposedly to make engine removal easier)
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture106-1.jpg

Pile of parts
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture105-1.jpg

The engine is now out but i dont have any pictures at the moment. The next step will be to strip the rest of the bike down and then clean and refurbish parts to have a rolling chassis built hopefully in the next few months.

[LordShaftesbu...]

They don't make 'em like that any more do they?

[at106]

[at106]

Time for a small update, i've now removed all the nuts, bolts, screws and washers ready for zinc plating.
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture115-1.jpg

And my 5 pages of notes to hopefully make reassembly simple
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/at106/Picture116-2.jpg