Jerry Lynch
Member
I've been riding bikes only since I was 21 (66 now) and started with, in order, '68 Honda 350CB, 70 Kaw H1 500, '68 hardtail chopper Bonneville, '65 Bonneville on a '70 frame bought in boxes from Monaco Triumph Sales in Franklin, PA while I was an apprentice mechanic working for him. Eventually that bike got the swing arm extended 2 inches, a '78 disk brake front end, 16" wheel and knock off H-D rear fender. It also had a Tiger tank with the original parcel grid and when I put the motor together, managed to find the heavier Tiger flywheel and used that for smooth running. Eventually I put about 75K miles on it while doing 3 (ea) top end jobs and no bottom repair. Maybe the fact that I had a Trident oil cooler on it had something to do with the longevity? I did a top end at home for a guy and he gave me a 5-speed tranny that I installed where the 4 speed used to reside.
My last Triumph was a '72 Trident purchased from the showroom floor @ Monaco's after it sat there for about 10 years. That bike I did a complete top to bottom overhaul and is never leaked a drop. The secret to that was a judicious use of Caterpillar Silicone gasket material. I had access to that stuff because I was a heavy equipment and truck mechanic and you learn how to use material so it doesn't get places where it doesn't belong. Never one to leave something alone, I removed the bottom end oil filter and used an external oil filter housing that would accept the Chrysler (same thread as Ford) spin on filter from their Japanese built small cars. I had the carbs bored and sleeved and a balance tube installed at a performance shop in Phoenix, AZ called Tripple Specialties, but they are no longer in business. While in Phoenix attending MMI for H-D Tech school I found a '39 BSA M-20 and eventually brought it back to Pennsylvania and eventually sold it to buy a new car.
Now, because of leg issues, I can't ride a conventional bike, so now it is a Linhai scooter (auto) that I ride until I can build a 650 trike of some kind. Only have 1 picture of my Bonneville that I can find and it is attached.
My last Triumph was a '72 Trident purchased from the showroom floor @ Monaco's after it sat there for about 10 years. That bike I did a complete top to bottom overhaul and is never leaked a drop. The secret to that was a judicious use of Caterpillar Silicone gasket material. I had access to that stuff because I was a heavy equipment and truck mechanic and you learn how to use material so it doesn't get places where it doesn't belong. Never one to leave something alone, I removed the bottom end oil filter and used an external oil filter housing that would accept the Chrysler (same thread as Ford) spin on filter from their Japanese built small cars. I had the carbs bored and sleeved and a balance tube installed at a performance shop in Phoenix, AZ called Tripple Specialties, but they are no longer in business. While in Phoenix attending MMI for H-D Tech school I found a '39 BSA M-20 and eventually brought it back to Pennsylvania and eventually sold it to buy a new car.
Now, because of leg issues, I can't ride a conventional bike, so now it is a Linhai scooter (auto) that I ride until I can build a 650 trike of some kind. Only have 1 picture of my Bonneville that I can find and it is attached.
Welcome from Northern California.
to TT from Mississippi, great introduction glad to have you on board!
