Various stainless parts

It becomes a bit obsessive but once the decision to start using Stainless steel parts  I want to make sure they all are (within reason). This picture is an example of one I remade.

It is one of the domed gearbox nuts.

Cylinders & Pistons

I have quite a few combinations of barrels and pistons and the time has now come to sort a set out for this bike. The first set I have chosen is +10 thou. The wear is minimal and the pistons are OK - what I'm not sure about are the rings. Fortunately I came across a set of NOS Triumph ones. I had been quoted near on £70 from a rings supplier for new ones!! So the next stage is to clean the bores, hone and fit the new rings.

Hopefully I will get the engine complete by the end of January!

A few progress photos..

Chains now on and starting to look more like a motorbike!

A photos of the rear setup.

Trial fit of the restored dynamo and making sure all the bolt holes line up!

Battery box bracket. I remade the bolt and spogots in stainless steel - like most fittings.

More Electrics

It transpires I have the wrong points for the dynamo, so I want to source the correct ones before I finally test the Magneto. This unit is back together but needs a test before going into the bike and hence I would like the correct points. It is a bit of a gamble if it works but I have not invested much in it yet!

The Dynamo in now on the list and it has taken me a while to get to ordering the new armature. This was ordered as a kit with armature, bearing and field coil. with a trial fit, it was impossible to get the armature past the coil, so I used a couple of engineers clamps and tightened up the pole shoe against the case so that I could really tighten the screw and make sure the armature would pass past the shoe.

This technique worked a treat! I did have to drill out the middle fixing hole - the one that has a captive bolt and connects to the timing chain cover.

Apart from that, all the castings for the dynamo have been vapour blasted and I can now assemble with the new parts.  With new main bearing, it spins freely.

Some photos of the current work in progress!

I have a couple of Magnetos. Here is a shot of the rebuild of 2. The one on the right is not that good, so it may need a little more work. All castings have been vapour blasted.

A general view! The tank has been put on to keep me spurred on....

I have just completed the gearbox rebuild and need to finish off the speedo drive before fitting on the chain cases. Once fitted, the speedo drive is difficult to get to.

A close yup of the speedo drive - chain sprocket removed.

I'll soon be moving onto the engine barrels etc!!

Forks on!

It feels like a little progress is being made! It was a bit of a tedious
task but the forks are now installed. It started with re-spraying the cowls
as there was a dent in each that I wanted to remove. Then I discovered the
station sliders were threaded at the bottom ends and the bolts had a
shoulder that need to pass through this 'thread'. The securing nut on one
fork - the one that secures the lower bronze bush - was not threaded
correctly but fortunately I had a spare. The drain plug holes were
completely gummed up and the bores had a very difficult to remove sediment
in the bottom (I used carb cleaner to loosen the rubbish). All in all it
probably took me the best part of a day to sort out all of these issues
(whilst trying to sort out the engine cranks....)

Engine bits!

 

I never realised how complex it could become when I decided to rebuild the crank part of the engine on the 3T.

I must have around 6 engines and all mostly dismantled. Together with spares and suchlike, collected over the years, I have many cranks, rods and flywheels. So you you would think it a simple matter selecting the better components, fitting together and then voila, the bottom end is complete. If only! Most of the parts are of differing diameters and were either ordered as oversize options or have been machined to take up wear! The first engine has ended up with new old stock cranks and rods fitted to a matching flywheel. The second will have the same and the third will have refurbished cranks/rods with new white metal bearings etc. I would have used the flywheel assembly for the first engine but it was kindly pointed out to me that the assembly may not have ever been balanced. Once assembled I may end up getting the flywheel balanced.

So, the engine (lower end) should be together this weekend and I will post a celebratory photo!