Plenty of parts and another bike arrive!

It’s been quite a while since I last looked at the Triumph. I have spent the last 6 months restoring my Alfa Romeo Giulia GTV2000 and it is now back from having been painted. So thoughts now move across to the 3T which I have promised myself to get sorted for next spring! As I was missing so many bits, I ended up buying a complete bike and a massive amount of spares to go with it. I’ll now have enough to build 2 bikes – or as a friend put it, you can get the second one right!

The picture shows the arrival of the spares etc and my little helper inspecting some of the parts still in the back of the car!

I’ll be posting a little more frequently as the nights draw in!

Tank repairs

Whilst it is still in my mind, a word of warning. I had my tank repaired/refinished by ‘Finishing Touch’ in Essex – Whilst the chroming and de-denting was good, the welding was amateurish and the paintwork very poor. I won’t go into the full details but needless to say that it is essential to inspect work as it progresses (I requested this in writing but it was ignored) otherwise you end up being presented with a ‘fait accompli’ – From a distance the tank looks good but everyone who looks at it close up asks who painted it – and not in a good way! You learn your lesson – in this case a very expensive one!

Progress ?

I now have all the parts to build up the front forks. The only parts not painted are the fork covers with the headlamp ears. Trouble is that the cold weather seems to go on forever and I can be bothered to warm up the workshop before I attack it in earnest! I’ll post a picture once the forks are assembled!

Chasing 3T parts!

What I am discovering is that some parts are easy to get and some are not! There is quite a lot of interchangeability between the 5T / Speed Twin and the 3T but there are some that seem to be special to the 3T. What also transpires is that some parts are just rare! Still it would be no fun if you could just go out and buy all the bits! I am still trying to source all the bits to finish off the front forks. What is proving difficult is the top yoke – H380 – I have one but it had been mullered (Handle bar lugs modified) BUT it will give me something to at least build up everything and test.

I have now organized the wheels to be re-done and I have sent off the tank for refurbishment. The wheels are to be built up from the existing hubs which will be renovated. Once question is whether I paint to sprung hub or polish it ?

The frame now powder coated

The frame has now been stripped and any part that can be blasted and powder coated has been. The frame was in a reasonable shape and no repairs were necessary. Quite a lot of studs were damaged and/or seized in the fram and a few snapped off by the rear wheel mount. I’ll post up some detailed shots in due course as we start the build up. The first stage will be to clean up all thread holes and source the front forks etc – these were not with the bike. You will notice from the picture that there is 'gaffer' tape on the frame to stop it getting chipped!

Photos of what I have to start with....

As you can see the bike is not very complete BUT it does have an original Buff Log Book (albeit Irish) and shows that the frame and engine numbers are correct and do match. I shall attempt to do some research on the bike!

The parts are going to take some finding but it is going to be a challenge! The first stage is a strip down to see exactly what I have.

It's on it's way...

Well my project bike is on its way and should be with me this week. I wonder how many years it is going to take to restore it!