1965 Tiger 90

[Borderlord]

Just a wee question from me.
What's the correct way to adjust the drive chain on my Tiger 90.
Is it just a matter of slackening off the big axle nut on the drive side and going from there.
And how is the QD wheel removed if I ever have to do that.
Many thanks
Borderlord.........

 

[atomsplitter]

Someone should chime in that has your answer shortly. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Borderlord]

Someone should chime in that has your answer shortly. Welcome to the forum.

Many thanks...............

 

[brooke]

She’s a beauty . Triumphs that age are easy to love , like a college sweetheart except you can keep the bike after the infatuation evaporates and bikes like yours look even better in time . New foam in the seat , and modern rear shocks , bet they ride like new too .

 

[Rudie]

correct way to adjust the drive chain on my Tiger 90.

You must slacken off both the large nut on the brake stub axle and the axle by the speedo drive gearbox then turn each chain adjuster nut by the same number of flats (this assumes the rear wheel is in line with front). Do not slacken either the large nut or the axle too much, both should remain "nipped up" so turning the adjuster nuts takes a little effort. When the chain is adjusted correctly, remember to retighten both the axle and the brake stub axle nut.

Regrettably, specifically the 1965 Triumph 350/500 Owner's Handbook is not available new (although you might find a used copy on Ebay); however, there are few differences from either 1964 or 1966, both of which are available new from the publisher - Andover Norton; either will detail basic maintenance for you.

how is the QD wheel removed

Undo the axle by the speedo drive gearbox and pull it out. There should be a "cotton reel" shaped spacer between the large nut against the speedo drive gearbox and the chain adjuster; if the spacer does not drop out by itself, pull it out; you now have space to pull the wheel towards the right hand side of the swinging arm, disengaging the splines on the wheel hub from those in the brake drum.

Hopefully, the splines will have been greased with something tougher than ordinary grease - ideally boat trailer wheel bearing grease. However, if so, be aware boat trailer wheel bearing grease is very sticky - if you get dust, grit, etc on it, the only way to get it off is degrease, removing all the existing grease (and foreign objects) and regrease with new. When I ran a bike with a q.d. hub, having discovered the above the hard way, I used to carry a plastic bag to put over the hub splines and enough cable ties to secure the bag there, for if ever the wheel had to be removed for any reason.

 

[Borderlord]

You must slacken off both the large nut on the brake stub axle and the axle by the speedo drive gearbox then turn each chain adjuster nut by the same number of flats (this assumes the rear wheel is in line with front). Do not slacken either the large nut or the axle too much, both should remain "nipped up" so turning the adjuster nuts takes a little effort. When the chain is adjusted correctly, remember to retighten both the axle and the brake stub axle nut.

Regrettably, specifically the 1965 Triumph 350/500 Owner's Handbook is not available new (although you might find a used copy on Ebay); however, there are few differences from either 1964 or 1966, both of which are available new from the publisher - Andover Norton; either will detail basic maintenance for you.


Undo the axle by the speedo drive gearbox and pull it out. There should be a "cotton reel" shaped spacer between the large nut against the speedo drive gearbox and the chain adjuster; if the spacer does not drop out by itself, pull it out; you now have space to pull the wheel towards the right hand side of the swinging arm, disengaging the splines on the wheel hub from those in the brake drum.

Hopefully, the splines will have been greased with something tougher than ordinary grease - ideally boat trailer wheel bearing grease. However, if so, be aware boat trailer wheel bearing grease is very sticky - if you get dust, grit, etc on it, the only way to get it off is degrease, removing all the existing grease (and foreign objects) and regrease with new. When I ran a bike with a q.d. hub, having discovered the above the hard way, I used to carry a plastic bag to put over the hub splines and enough cable ties to secure the bag there, for if ever the wheel had to be removed for any reason.

Rudie....thank you so much....I looked at the large nut.... and then saw the nut on the speedo drive side ....and knew there had to be a way of doing it but didn't know how. Great information indeed. And also thanks for the info re the QD wheel.
Best wishes from Ireland
Borderlord.

 

[Rudie]

looked at the large nut.... and then saw the nut on the speedo drive side ....

To be clear, q.d. wheel, just for chain adjustment, do not undo the large nut beside the speedo drive, you must undo the axle (hexagonal head near the speedo drive but outside the swinging arm). The axle passes through the wheel hub and screws into the stub axle through the brake drum.

Triumph 1965 350/500 parts book, free to read online; exploded drawing of the q.d. wheel on page 52 of the pdf.

However, there is at least one misprint in the parts list on the following page - part 42 in the list is "Chain adjuster", that it clearly is not on the drawing (chain adjusters are part 43 on the drawing ...). Part 42 on the drawing is a large rubber ring that fits outside the splines on the wheel hub, seals between the hub and the drum, its part number is 37-1091, worth having one on hand in case you remove the wheel and either do not find the ring at all, or find what is fitted is perished.