Ian's TSS Rebuild

[ianashdown]

Hi,

I recently found this thread https://www.triumphtalk.com/showthr...ph-T140W-750-TSS-8-valves-amp-electric-start! and have read all 65 pages! It's been very interesting and highly informative.

Almost 3 years ago I bought a TSS and made a start on a few thing towards getting it back on the road. Things stalled, but in the last few days I've picked it back up again and hope to have it running for an all British ride on February 22nd.

I've discovered that the top end needs to be rebuilt before I can try to start it, and there is a list of other things that I would like to do too including refurbishing both wheels, new tires, fitting new Amal carbs - it had Bings originally - getting all the electrical items working, fitting original silencers, fitting and modifying new original air filter housing (not TSS but can be modified to fit) and side covers, fitting oil filter, renewing all brake seals, and generally cleaning and polishing,etc, etc. I've managed to find most of the parts I'll need mostly NOS, even the engine parts like wrist pin circlips and piston rings.

As this thread was so detailed and helpful I thought I'd follow the example set and try to detail the Re-birth of this bike on this forum. There will also be many questions as there are details of this particular bike that are quite unique and the help and advice of everyone here will be very helpful, and the encouragement, invaluable!

Hopefully update number one will be coming later today.

Ian Ashdown
San Clemente, California

 

[devo]

Re: 1983 Triumph T140W 750 TSS; 8 valves & electric start!

Sounds all good Ian
You certainly have a mammoth task to complete before feb 22

 

[ianashdown]

Re: 1983 Triumph T140W 750 TSS; 8 valves & electric start!

For sure! If everything goes well it may be possible, but I have an insurance policy for the ride just in case.



Hopefully it will ariive in a week or two.

Ian

 

[ianashdown]

Re: 1983 Triumph T140W 750 TSS; 8 valves & electric start!

Here is a picture of my TSS as I received it in September, 2010 As you can see the start of the story doesn't look too bad! Strange tank colors, but need to be repainted so back to original it was for the tank. The bike has less than 10K miles on it so much of it is in really quite good condition. Some of the rest of it shows signs of being worked on by someone with no clue what they were doing.

There must have been an oil leak at some time at the cylinder to crankcase joint, may have had something to do with no gasket! The fix for that was to cover the entire area with about 1/8" of silicone! One of the tappet blocks has been epoxied in place; that'll be fun to get out! It just looks like someone was completely out of their depth with this bike. Or any other most likely! Fortunately they dodn't seem to have done and serious damage so I thnk it can all be put right.

Last night I discovered that the DPO (need explanation?) had cut the tops of the pushrod tubes. I'm guessing this would have been to encourage oil to flow out out the rocker chanbers. My feeling is that they were probably designed that way, which is unique to the TSS I believe, to encourage more oil to stay in the rocker box! Amyone have any thoughts or history on any issues in this area? One of the tube has actually come apart so the top section with the holes in can be pulled out of the tube so I suspect they should be replaced with standard items if they can be found.

It's a journey of discovery!!

More to come,

Ian

 

[Sea Dog]

Re: 1983 Triumph T140W 750 TSS; 8 valves & electric start!

Hi Ian,

After spotting the photo of your tank, I dropped everything, ran to the shed and with relief noted mine was still on the bike. The paint job on yours looks brilliant! Shame a butcher had a go at yours, however when sorted you will have a great bike. Look forward to sharing your rebuild progress.

 

[ianashdown]

Re: 1983 Triumph T140W 750 TSS; 8 valves & electric start!

Hi,

Fortunately I had a good example to follow ;-). The tank turned out very well, eventually. First off he misunderstood the instructions and repaint end it red with black flashes! It looked great, but . . . . Second time around it looks great! I don't want to mention how much it cost.

I've been talking to Lani at Copper Gaskets and I think we have almost everything nailed down except he and I have different thicknesses for the exhaust rings, mine measure 0.10" and he thinks 0.063". Do you recall the thickness of yours? Also he is suggesting 0.096" thick for the head rings, but I have nothing to compare. I have read either 0.04" or 0.08" depending on desired compression ratio. Again do you recall the thickness you used?

Happy New Year!

ian

 

[Sea Dog]

Re: 1983 Triumph T140W 750 TSS; 8 valves & electric start!

Hi Ian,

My exhaust rings are 0.063" and the exhaust headers fit well. My head rings that Lani supplied are 0.0925" and is perfect for the 98 octane fuel over here in Oz.

Cheers

Bryce

 

[grandpaul]

Re: 1983 Triumph T140W 750 TSS; 8 valves & electric start!

Welcome to the forum, Ian. I'm taking the liberty of creating a new thread with these posts on your bike.

This looks like the first contestant in the "most improved 2014" contest!

 

[CarlS]

Ian, that tank looks really good. And I like your insurance policy!

 

[Rocky]

Looking good

 

[DaveM]

You did a great job on that tank it sure looks nice now

 

[ianashdown]

48 Days to go.

I think I have all the parts and spectial tools ordered. I've found a local Vapor Blasting shop to clean the cylinder and head, and have plenty of VHT epoxy spray black to repaint it. New Copper Gaskets will be ordered on Monday from Copper Gaskests in Phoenix.

The Pistons and bores look fine so a light re-hone and NOS rings and that should be fine. I'll check out the valves once the valve spring compressor arrives, my standard one can't reach down inside the rocker box to compress the spring, so I've had to order one of a different design. Also, the head that sits on the valve spring top cap needs to be quite small or it will just disapear up inside some compressors!

New tires should be fitted on Tuesday. I think I'm going to fit Avon AM26's 100-90-19 on the front an 120-90-18 on the rear, The other option apart from TT100's is Bridgestone Spitfire S11's. They also make a 110-90-19 for the front. Does anyone have any comments or suggestions?

Here's a couple of pictures of progress, if you can call it that! At the moment if feels like I'm going backwards!

Ian

 

[Rocky]

Nice pics
These projects take a lot of time so stick with it. When it's all finished and running you will have a huge feeling of satisfaction.

 

[Sea Dog]

Thanks for the photos Ian,

Sounds like things are in great shape inside the engine....good news.

All the best

Bryce

 

[CarlS]

Progress! thanks for the pics.

 

[grandpaul]

I love the LOOK of the rod tops, look like gold anodizing; HOWEVER, I know that's actually burned oil (but not too bad)

 

[mikechev]

G'day Ian, I haven't been here for a while but thanks to your e-mail I got mine out the other day and it was great to get back on the bike again. Although the realities of owning and ridding an old bike soon showed up, bottom of the taco drive fell off and the battery would't take a full charge. Still great fun though

Did you get my e-mail with the pics? were they of any help?

Cheers

Mike

 

[ianashdown]

Hi Mike,

Yes, owning an old bike can be 'character building'! One reason I have a 2009 Ducati Monster to ride as well as my old bikes. It always starts, always runs nicely, nothing falls off etc. It scratches a differed itch than the old bikes though.

45 Days to go.

As usual the path between two points is never a straight line when it comes to working on these old bikes. I've take the wheels off to have new tires fitted and found the sprocket was only held on with two bolts, and they were only finger tight! Upon closer inspection the remains of the other two bolts were broken off and stuck in the wheel. I've had many of these Morris wheels NOS and they often seemed to use locktite and 3 out of 10 times the bolts will brake trying to get them out. I thought I'd try to use a bolt extractor and after soaking penetrating oil in the hole for a couple of days I applied some heat and tried the extractor. Not a chance! They are STUCK!

So, what the best way to recover this situation? I realised that the adaptor/bearing housing is made of steel and would make an excellent guide to drill out the broken bolt, 10mm, and get ready to helicoil the new hole. I've ordered a long Helicoil (3/8"-16 x 9/16"long), the tapping drill (letter X, just a few thou bigger than the 10mm drill), and tap etc so if it all arrives tonight we should be good to get the wheel threads fixed.

I like to use Copaslip on these bolts. They should come out next time if you do!

I then have to clean up the inside of the rim where there are bits of the old tire and some corrosion. This is caused, I think, from the water based lube the tire fitters used to use. I believe they use something better these days - we'll find out! New Avon AM26's Front and Rear.

I think everything will be back on track very soon . .

Updates to follow.

Ian

 

[Sea Dog]

G'day Ian, I haven't been here for a while but thanks to your e-mail I got mine out the other day and it was great to get back on the bike again. Although the realities of owning and ridding an old bike soon showed up, bottom of the taco drive fell off and the battery would't take a full charge. Still great fun though

Did you get my e-mail with the pics? were they of any help?

Cheers

Mike

Hello Mike,

Great to know you are still getting out and about on your TSS. Mine is running well. Usually get it out every week for a good run. Wet season just setting in, so it will spend more time in the shed. Hope all is good with you.

Bryce

 

[Sea Dog]

Hi Ian,

Thanks for the info regarding the rear sprocket bolts. Mine are tight, so will leave alone.

Looking forward to further updates

Cheers

Bryce