Fuel in Airbox (and pretty much everywhere else!)

[Borderline]

Just to point out:

The carbs are Japanese.... the same as you'd find on any Japanese bike.

The sprocket changing "problem" was corrected on later models.

The airbox is frustrating the first time you mess with it, but then you learn the trick and it becomes easier.

Lastly, there are videos here on Triumphtalk about a Brit who rode his very early Trophy (91-94?) around the world. They are known to be bulletproof bikes.

No offense is taken though I think someone unloaded a problematic bike on you.

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Not even a tiny bit offended?

Yes the carbs are Japanese but Triumph chose to fit that particular model.

Shame you have to buy a new bike to cure a sprocket changing 'problem'. Should never have been designed that way.

Airbox was badly designed and really shouldn't need a 'trick' in the first place.

Strange definition of bulletproof when you have to carry a sack of ignition coils wherever you go or a selection of fuel taps, fuel pipe, vacuum pipe etc. etc. etc.

No I don't believe my bike is any more problematic than any other early Trophy. Having to research forums to solve it's multitude of issues confirms mine is sadly just a typical example

 

[The Seeker]

Not even a tiny bit offended?

Yes the carbs are Japanese but Triumph chose to fit that particular model.

Shame you have to buy a new bike to cure a sprocket changing 'problem'. Should never have been designed that way.

Airbox was badly designed and really shouldn't need a 'trick' in the first place.

Strange definition of bulletproof when you have to carry a sack of ignition coils wherever you go or a selection of fuel taps, fuel pipe, vacuum pipe etc. etc. etc.

No I don't believe my bike is any more problematic than any other early Trophy. Having to research forums to solve it's multitude of issues confirms mine is sadly just a typical example

No..really no offense taken since I understand your frustration. I just think the previous owner unloaded a bike on you that he knew had potential problems.

1991 was their first year in existence and of course they listened and learned from customer's complaints. The sprocket changing issue is one of those things as well as the side stand cutout switch issue.

I still have the original coils on my '96 with over 100,000 miles on it. Coil failure is due to owners who don't replace the heat shielding correctly.

I also have only replaced an old vacuum hose to the petcock when it eventually cracked from age. My diaphragm inside is still factory as are the fuel lines.

The carbs are exactly the same as my 750-4 Ninja. I've not had a single problem with them on either bike.

As far as the airbox goes, I chalk that up to it being British and rather quirky.....kind of like having lever shocks on an MG.

If you want to know the truth, the one thing I hate most is the insanely difficult (and unnecessarily so) rotating cam style chain adjusters! Whoever thought up that disaster must have been a masochist.

Other than expendables like brake pads, chains, etc., the only parts I've had to replace were (1) the crank position sensor (2) the rear brake light switch.


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[keystiger]

Look here boys....if we are going to compare S*** engineering do a little online surfing for ANY repairs to a 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible!!! Chrysler engineers are obviously paid in crack and black tar heroin!!! Yes Sir the battery IS in the drivers side wheel well....behind a plastic shroud AND you have to remove the tire to remove the battery.....and it goes DOWN HILL from that point.....DON'T GET ME STARTED.

Borderline.....sorry you are unhappy with the Trophy. All 3 of my Triumphs have been excellent and every bit as reliable as any Honda, Suzuki or Kawi I have owned in the past and even more so than some. My 98 Sprint had 98,000 plus miles on it when sold, (4 years ago) and is still running to this day. If you where closer to me I would make you a deal on taking the Trophy off your hands......theres a gem in there, just gotta find her.
It seems the P.O. had seriously neglected her. (and possibly sold you a pig in a poke) You must decide if the bike is worth the extra time and $ if so.....be happy fix her up and enjoy. My wife LOVES her Sebring....and I keep patchin her together with info I glean from the numerous Chrysler support sites (more like suicide hotlines really---NO Don't JUMP!!!) and I must honestly say when she finally does go, I will miss our Saturday afternoons together cussing Chrysler engineers together over beers.......I mean the CAR not the wife

 

[Whitebeard]

Hi Borderline,


Have you fixed the problem?
I have exact same model as yours, mine had problem of fuel flooding through airfilter housing and like you I was getting near selling through frustration. I had previously had starting issue which I finally tracked down to a failed coil (HT side), bike just would not start from cold, back fires, the works. Bike then stayed off road for a couple of weeks after filling up at a different petrol garage on it's test run - probably not relevant but haven't filled bike there since although we still use for cars and have no issues.

Next time out was to go to work and thought something was dripping at work but put it down to the wet roads and spray. When got home that evening it was dripping like a good one, checked it and found to be petrol from the airbox. Internet search pointed me towards Carbs blocked, float levels wrongly set, diaphragms damaged or fuel tap sticking open like when it's in PRIME position. Also some other horror stories.

My fix - strip fuel tap rebuild using new seal kit. Carefully strip float chamber covers, check and spray with carb cleaner. (did 1 at a time and was very careful not to change any settings). Check float levels - OK. Check carb diaphragms - i'm pretty sure the previous owner/mechanic hadn't seated one of them properly and it was not sealing - it was a pig to get back together and make the seal. Don't drop the very small O'ring seals that fit inside just uner the vacuum ports. I found one on the floor after I'd put the carbs back together (luckily before I'd refitted them to the bike ). No problem since, although I made sure bike got used at least once a week and now throw in some redex with every other or every third fill of fuel.

Oh and my airbox has had the "hacksaw" fix to it so it's really easy to take off - pity I spent 2 hrs struggling and cursing before I found that out.

Anyway now happy and wanting to sell her.

 

[Borderline]

The old heap has gone now thank god! Won't touch a Triumph ever again.

 

[The Seeker]

The old heap has gone now thank god! Won't touch a Triumph ever again.

Sad that you'd deprive yourself of one of the best motorcycles in the world because of an experience with a used, possibly misused and abused, 22 year old machine that was their first entry back into building bikes.

There's a reason I never buy the first model year of any bike or car...and especially one that's 22 years old.

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[CarlS]

The old heap has gone now thank god! Won't touch a Triumph ever again.

Sorry you had that bad experience. A lot of us have great experiences with our Triumphs, new and old.

 

[devo]

The old heap has gone now thank god! Won't touch a Triumph ever again.

oh dear
how sad
bye bye.

 

[mmichaael]

oh dear
how sad
bye bye.

Please buy a an old Japanese bike and see how it goes, they all need repairs. My 1994 Trophy has way too many Japanese parts on it that fail. In fact all the problems I have had with this bike have been because of Japanese parts, carbs and fuel petcock being the main culprits. Then there is the German made made parts like the tank and it's lining letting go and filling the tank with lots of plastic skin. I have old Japanese bikes 1100 Virago , Honda Xl 600, XS 1100Yamaha , all of them have issues some right from the factory like the very poor stater on the Virago, that needs a fix kit or the often failing stator and wiring harness burn ups on the Honda or the pick up pulksar coils and frgile fuse block on the Yamaha.