1966 Triumph T100SC

[1962siia]

Hey all:

Just picked up a new project. After completing the Moto Melee on the Aermacchi I was sure I needed a bigger bike for next year and found this crusty beast on CL and couldn't help myself. It hasn't been run in 40+ years so this will be a project I'm sure.

Will need to replace everything rubber but it seems to have compression, and it has spark. All the oil and fuel was drained a long time ago, and the tank looks good inside. I filled it with oil and it immediately started leaking from the primary side. I think its the seal behind the clutch (ugh!), and I put gas in it and it leaks from the pet cocks. I've got a catch pan under it and I'm going to hope that things swell up enough that the fuel stops leaking so badly, but I'm sure it wont be that easy. Its got 5571 miles on it, original tires, and the guy I bought it from had an epic collections of triumphs and bsa's. He bought it from his buddy who was the original owner, and it came with the original purchase receipt and owners manual. I'm pretty confident the mileage is real, but it clearly got ridden hard by a young man and then put away. Last sticker on the plate is 1974. The seller dealt with title and reg and put it on non op so DMV will be easy at least. Also came with factory replacement fenders and tank pads. Its missing some stuff like exhaust clamps, tank badges, and the headlight surround is damaged and will need to be replace. Fork seals are also leaking. Here we go!

Plan is to get it running and keep it looking slightly crusty and ride it.

 

[navy8ret]

That is freakn AWESOME!!!

 

[SFMCjohn]

That is freakn AWESOME!!!

+1! super-awesome ... afm199arty

now that’s a real ride-it-to-Baja BARF Vintage Baja bike ...

 

[1962siia]

Thanks guys. Tomorrow I'll go through the carb and see if i can get it to fire!

More pics tomorrow too.

 

[OaklandF4i]

 

[bmwbob51]

Great project if you're mechanically incline. Just remember it's usually more cost effective to buy a restored bike than restore a bike. But restoring a bike yourself and riding it is priceless!

 

[1962siia]

 

[1962siia]

Great project if you're mechanically incline. Just remember it's usually more cost effective to buy a restored bike than restore a bike. But restoring a bike yourself and riding it is priceless!

Yeah I'm sure it is but I like the project and I have been known to turn a wrench. I actually know very little about these bikes so learning about them will be fun for me too. Today the plan is to go through the Amal monobloc carb and make sure its able to do it's thing. Also want to make sure the oil pump is working before I try to start the thing.

 

[SFMCjohn]

“If money were no object, what bikes would you buy?”



[YOUTUBE]hg_Nw20GG0E[/YOUTUBE]

And he finally pays tribute to The Driver and The Mechanic by stealing their story:

“There’s nothing like building up an old automobile from scratch and wiping out one of those Detroit machines. That'll give you a set of emotions that'll stay with you, you know what I mean? Those satisfactions are permanent.”

Mr. Oates as GTO, 1971 ...

gifting an old bike with a happy second life ... priceless.

 

[1962siia]

IT STARTED!!!! Woot! Spent the morning cleaning the carb. It was not too bad but there was some clogged jets for sure. Also dumped a bunch of oil in the valve covers and confirmed the oil pump is functioning. I actually removed the oil line to the head and pumped oil into it as well.

Once I had it back together it took a few mins to adjust the carb so it would start but it sounds pretty decent all things considered! I’m stoked!!

Any input on pilot air screw and throttle air screw settings appreciated.

 

[1962siia]

Spent the afternoon just messing around trying to decide what to do with the looks of this bike. It was more crusty than it looked in the craigslist pics but since it started I got pretty fired up today and decided I'd spend some time working on the surface rust that is on a lot of the chrome bits. It was stored inside but 40+ years was showing on the rims especially. Just giving it a first pass. I dont want to have to paint anything just want it looking sharp with a nice patina.

 

[OaklandF4i]

Again....

Sooooooo jealous. Fricking awesome bike!

Naval Jelly makes rust removal pain free. Might consider just a thin coat of a clear rattle can on the rims to keep future rust at bay where the chrome or any other plating is gone.

 

[1962siia]

I actually rode the bike today. Just up and down my street a couple times and was able to shift through all the gears. Totally fun to ride but it has intermittent spark on the right cyl. Found a lose wire to one of the condensers on the points and soldered it but that didn't seem to do it. I've ordered new capacitors for the coils and hoping that helps. When its firing on both it runs pretty well. The primary leak is bad so I just drained it for now. I wont really ride it until I fix the leak. Also fixed the petcock leaks with new o-rings from the hardware store.

Next up order every rubber seal on the bike and replace them.

 

[auntiebling]

So much envy.

Clear on chrome: will eventually.peel and be a pain to strip. If anything, put wax on it.

 

[augustiron]

I would also add:
Strip the bike as far as you can without taking the engine out of the frame and clean everything, inspect it and put it back together.
Getting a wrench on all the bolts, getting grease everywhere it needs to be, and touching every part to understand it and make sure it is working right, cleaned up and tight now will go a long way in the future on a bike that has been sitting that long.

You know it runs, now go make sure it is all right, safe and dialed for your time together.

 

[1962siia]

I completely agree with you and that is the plan. The whole front end is coming off, new grease in steering head, new forks seals/oil, brake pads and front tire and wheel bearings.

The swing arm has a zirc fitting so I'll pump in grease until the old is out, new chain, and possibly shocks and new rear tire and wheel bearings.

My plan is to go the desert sled route with this bike so may chop the beat up fenders down, go with dual sport tires, or maybe trials tires, and make an aluminum skid plate to start. Also want a pipe guard because I've already burned my leg on the pipe once. Brings back memories of childhood riding!

 

[1962siia]

Finding some motivation here! Epic footage, even if the triumph doesnt win!
[youtube]3a64niu0db8[/youtube]

 

[1962siia]

I ordered replacement ignition coils because they are cheap and one of the originals had a loose wire and they are both cracked.

Gave the bike a bath on the front lawn. Now it’s time for mini golf. Woot!

 

[elemetal]

Cool bike D, glad to see it in a good home. Reminds me of a funny story.

My Dad was into BSA/Triumph before the Japanese invasion and was a machinist so was always modding and tinkering. A friend bought one and the motor went south so they rebuilt it, thing ran good and the friend was all excited about how great the rebuilt bike was....When it was parked and the friend at work Dad poured a tablespoon of oil on the ground right under the motor...The friend was apoplectic about what could have gone wrong. Dad waited about 2 days to tell him....

 

[1962siia]

I thought it was if they aren’t leaking you have a problem!

Was reading about these bikes today and found that they actually put a hole in the sprocket cover on the primary side to oil the chain. They stopped doing it a few hundred vin numbers past mine. I’ll be plugging that hole while I’ve got it part to replace the seal and gasket there. Apparently it lets a lot of oil out so maybe that’s part of the leak on that side.

Did more polishing today too. Probably should be ordering fork seals and new gators and get on that next.