Ian's TSS Rebuild

[ianashdown]

Another small Milestone achieved last night. With valves seats recut and lapped it was time to re-assemble the head.



After forgetting to fit the stem seals and having to take all the intake springs off again, I finally had it all back together. Not too bad a job, but having the right type of spring compressor help. I like the screw type; not the fastest, but this isn't a job to rush anyway. It all looks pretty decent!







Now a final clean-up with acetone and the head will be ready to paint. That'll feel like real progress!

I also had to make some repairs to the right hand master cylinder mount so I could fit a mirror. It had been butchered by the DPO. We welded it up so I had to re drill and tap it 10mm x 1.25 for a new Bumm Mirror I'd picked up some time ago.



I set it up on a 2 4 6 block so I could drill the pilot hole square and perpendicular, and drilled a .25" pilot hole. Then with a 3/4 piloted spotface cleaned up the surface.



Because the hole was filled with weld the quality of the metal isn't 100% but i'll do just fine. The tapping drill and tap should arrive this afternoon so I can finish the hole and then repaint it this weekend and assemble the new SS master cylinder etc.

The new Aluminium Tapped Blocks just arrived so maybe I can get them installed too!

My deadline is getting very close and I'm having doubts I can make it, but I'm pushing forward as fast as I can. In the maen time I just picked up a stable-mate for the TSS, an '83 TSX!





620 miles on it! It's not without a few isuues in some of the finishes, but how boring would it be if there was nothing to do!

Ian

 

[CarlS]

Nice work, Ian; and good progress. I like the TSX; great acquisition.

 

[grandpaul]

That is a sharp TSX! I wouldn't mind one for the wyfe...

 

[ianashdown]

Hey GP! Are you trying to make a point? ;-)

Is this the Porsche Boxter of Triumphs?

Ian

 

[grandpaul]

No, I'm saying it would look right in place cruising next to me on my TSS.

 

[ianashdown]

GP - I'm jusy giving you a hard time! I agree I think it would good riding along side a TSS!

Just wish my wife had an interest in riding - sadly not.

Ian

 

[Sea Dog]

Lovely work on the TSS Ian. Are you replacing the steel Cooper rings with the copper when you assemble ?

The TSX looks amazing.

 

[ianashdown]

Hi,
Yes, I will be using the copper rings as supplied by Lani Visconti - great guy! I also did have to have the cylinder ground, by the way. Just a little.

Great progress this weekend. I'll be posting an update soon. At the moment just have to keep pushing as I only have 12 days left! It's going to be tough!

I'm curious to ask how much crush you've seen on the copper rings. I will need to calculate the correct crush on the pushrod tubes. I did go for a pair of Aluminium tappet blocks, which in hope in combination with some silicone 'O'-Rings will keep that area oil tight. I also bought some Aluminium pushrod tubes which now will expand at the same rate as the cylinder so the crush on the sealing washers should stay constant. I'm not sure if I should paint these black, like the steel ones, or leave them natural Aluminium. Might look good left shiny!

More soon.

Ian

 

[Sea Dog]

Hi Ian,
After the initial run and then cooling off over night the head nuts torqued down another quarter turn with the copper Cooper rings. Have done around 4k miles since and checked the torques twice and nothing has moved.

HTH

 

[Sea Dog]

You wouldn't believe it! There are two British spec TSS's for sale in New Zealand at present. Asking price $ NZ 18K. One has spoked wheels and a bit rough, however the cast wheel one is very tidy. Google Trade Me NZ Motorcycles.

 

[grandpaul]

So THAT'S where they all went!!!

 

[ianashdown]

Well, my deadline of February 22nd came and went without the hoped for result. Partly due to a bout of the flu, and partly due to too much work in too little time. I did receive the cylinder back from the machine shop until 3 days before my self imposed deadline and there was just no way possible to make the date. I'm disappointed, but it did get me of my arse and get things moving. There's not too much left to do, and I'm going to take my time re-assembling the top end as I really only want to do it once!

I'll be posting again next week when I have something more to show.

Ian

 

[devo]

Great attitude.
Did you still manage the trip you had planned.?

 

[ianashdown]

Nope! 'fraid not. I had to drive to Sonoma and back the day before in my Truck with a 28' trailer; 973 miles round trip. I left home at 4.00am and got back at 11.00pm. I was in no condition to go riding the next day! I know all the Aussies on here will say "No problem mate, we drive that far for lunch!". Here is California it's a long drive!

Rain like crazy all this weekend so working on bikes, not riding them . . .

Ian

 

[CarlS]

You are definitely having a spell of nasty weather.

 

[ianashdown]

All of SoCal is in a panic about the major storm we're having. I really do feel for the people in the burned areas who are now watching the hillsides for mudslides, but this is nothing more than a Friday for this ex-Brit!

Ian

 

[CarlS]

I have been following the threat of landslides on the news.

 

[devo]

Nope! 'fraid not. I had to drive to Sonoma and back the day before in my Truck with a 28' trailer; 973 miles round trip. I left home at 4.00am and got back at 11.00pm. I was in no condition to go riding the next day! I know all the Aussies on here will say "No problem mate, we drive that far for lunch!". Here is California it's a long drive!

Rain like crazy all this weekend so working on bikes, not riding them . . .

Ian

Thats bad luck,I know you were looking forward to it.

BTW,978 miles with a trailer is a bit of a trip no matter where your from.

 

[Rocky]

Believe it or not, but that storm in California is predicted to be here in the northeast in a couple of days and will be bringing us some snow.

 

[hemibee]

[video=youtube;C_iI8gm7Kzc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_iI8gm7Kzc[/video]