Motorcycle Update

OK, here's another update on the Triumph bobber.

I pulled it into the basement from the garage so I can work on it. It's cold as hell in the garage and the back door to the basement goes right out to the garage so it was easy.

I put the motor into the frame and started to mock up the rear fender. I picked it up for $10 from a junkyard and I have to fit it, clean it up, and paint it.

I put the rocker box covers on. This proved difficult because for some reason, the bolts did not want to thread. The head is aluminum so I was reluctant to force them too much. I ended up filling the holes with WD40 and blowing them out with compressed air to clean the threads. I don't have a tap that has Whitworth threads so I couldn't clean them with a tap. In the end, it worked and I was able to seat the bolts home.

I'm now working on mounting the oil tank. I bought it from eBay a while back but I didn't get the half of the bracket that mounts to the frame so I have to make my own.

I went to my favorite hardware/surplus store in Lavale looking for a thick enough chuck of steel. They didn't have anything in the raw steel section but luckily I found a blade for a lawn edger that might work. I say "might" because I have to cut and drill the edger blade which appears to be made of hardened steel of some sort. I was unable to cut it with a few initial passes of a hacksaw. I'll have to break out the reciprocating saw and see if I can cut it with that.

I also rebuilt both carbs and have those ready to install.

As always, I'll keep you posted on the progress.