Chuck B's '76 Bonnie Restoration

[grandpaul]

It's 10AM Eastern, I think he's out for a ride...

 

[Greyfell]

The tank turned out BEAUTIFUL!

 

[ChuckB]

Here is a video I just made so you can hear it run.

 

[Greyfell]

It's always great when a plan comes together!

 

[grandpaul]

Nice. Half a kick.

 

[ChuckB]

I did have one oil leak. At the rocker shaft tee. I removed it and filed all four surfaces down and it solved the problem. I was thankful it wasn't the o-rings!


Finally going to take it for a ride today.. still need to get a tag. Also a set of grips and mirrors.

 

[ChuckB]

 

[ChuckB]

Took it down the road. Runs very strong, but kind of blubbers at high speed. I got home and the plugs are sooty black. Does anyone know the ball park main jet size for a stock 750? I have the needles set at the middle position, but don't know any of the jet sizes.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

That is even better in the flesh, the pictures are really nice too. Perfect, just perfect.

 

[Rocky]

You have every right to be super proud of the bike and the effort you put into it
Sorry, but I have never worked with a 750.

 

[ChuckB]

Thanks again for the all the praises. I am not worthy!

I was able to find the jet info I needed and after checking my carbs have ordered the proper jets.

 

[ChuckB]

For the dozen or so following my thread that are into the vintage Triumphs and have followed this thread from the beginning, I felt I owed it to you to come back and give you a ride report.. I took the bike out a couple times as a kind of a shake down ride during the last two weeks.. no tag, so I only went a couple miles or so.... Found out a few things that delayed my anticipation.. parts on order.. To make a long story short, replaced the carbs with some new Amal Premiums, found the stator not putting out so I replaced it with a high output stator, and some other misc tweaks.. Now don't get me wrong.. before the improvements, riding the bike was a dream come true despite it's problems.. this even made me more excited! I completed all the repairs last weekend, but it was too wet to ride on the dirt road..Well, I got home a little late tonight but it was sunny for a change. It was the first time since all the improvements, including getting a tag, that the planets were aligned! Rode it over to a friends house about 10 miles away who is mainly into vintage jap bikes. Wow! As sweet as I remembered my past T140's being! I let Carl take it for a spin.. he was impressed. He admitted that this was his first ride on a Triumph and now he understood why these bikes are so desirable. He was blown away, but not as much as I was! I took the long way home and really pushed it. Topped the tank with some rec gas at a station out of my way just to get some more miles on it.. didn't want to take it home! I am truly amazed at how fun this bike is and realize how lucky I am to have stumbled upon it! It truly doesn't get better than this! Did I mention that I am pumped??!!

 

[Rocky]

Wonderful! The feeling of satisfaction is only understood by those of us who have gone through the same thing.
It's a fantastic looking bike

 

[grandpaul]

I take it you double-checked your plugs after a good run?

Well done.

 

[Greyfell]

That bike really is a thing of beauty, a work of art.

 

[ChuckB]

I take it you double-checked your plugs after a good run?

Well done.

Of course.. as soon as I got home. And this is after going slow down the dirt road and letting the bike idle while opening up the gate, then driving it in the garage. I consider this reasonably rich. I can always drop the main jet from 200 back to 190..

 

[triumph david]

, Chuck you just explained the way i feel on my T140. I love the paint, it inspires me to get busy on my extra tank! I can't even think of a excuse of why i have been so lazy. Your bike looks very good all the way around, you did GREAT!

 

[ChuckB]

, Chuck you just explained the way i feel on my T140. I love the paint, it inspires me to get busy on my extra tank! I can't even think of a excuse of why i have been so lazy. Your bike looks very good all the way around, you did GREAT!

Thanks! It's a rocket! The only thing that scares me is doing 3500 RPM and only going 55.. I researched it and it is normal though. I'm not use to this.. my other bikes do about 75 at this RPM..

 

[grandpaul]

Let me guess...

Your other bikes are described by one or more of the following:
-4 valves per cylinder
-overhead cam(s)
-water cooled
-3 or 4 cylinder
-750cc or greater
-less than 10 years old

 

[ChuckB]

Let me guess...

Your other bikes are described by one or more of the following:
-4 valves per cylinder
-overhead cam(s)
-water cooled
-3 or 4 cylinder
-750cc or greater
-less than 10 years old

I have 6 bikes, including the triumph..

Newest one is 15 years years old, but does have 4 valves per cylinder, overhead cam, water cooled: 2001 KTM LC4 640 CC's (single cylinder)

The rest are over 750 CC's with no other similarities that you list.

1973 HD FLH
1981 HD FXS
1986 HD FLTC
2000 HD SERG

To summarize:

-4 valves per cylinder: 1
-overhead cam(s): 1
-water cooled: 1
-3 or 4 cylinder: none
-750cc or greater: 5
-less than 10 years old: none

Technically, your statement is correct. ( The 750 CC guess saved you though! )

They all are currently tagged and run.