My 76 Trumpet Comes To Me A Week From Tomorrow

[Josheezpapa]

My wife's ex is moving out of state.. ive known him 34 years and its been sitting the whole time... sometimes stored well, sometimes outdoors for long periods... ive still never seen it, but ive always jabbed him regarding buying it... its complete minus a badly deteriorated and rusted seat.
He sold his home in a gated community and is selling his toys and tools ... so I asked him to finally give me a number on the Triumph

He is going out of state, wants me to pick it up next Tues at our agreed upon price...

Ive reserved a rental trailer though I have two and a pickup.. my race trailer has a car and push vehicle (quad) in it.. the other is a snowmobile trailer.. too tall... my pickup is a 5.5 ft bed dakota ...
I don't wanna get clear out there and find out I can't haul it ... a u haul m cycle trailer is 20.00.

man, I'm REALLY excited!!!!! I recently became disabled, will give me something to keep me busy when my race car leaves me a few minutes... I haven't owned a Triumph for many years.. a mid to late 70s Bonnie is one of the prettiest motorcycles ever built
This one will be rough as can be though I'm sure

 

[grandpaul]

My wife's ex is moving out of state.. .. so I asked him to finally give me a number on the Triumph

He is going out of state, wants me to pick it up next Tues at our agreed upon price...

This one will be rough as can be though I'm sure

Welcome!

You are starting with a proper assumption. Here is a hyperlink to a proper "wake-up" procedure for a classic Britbike: Waking the Sleeping Beast

Of course, this forum was a good start at having ready help, too. Be sure to start a new thread with a "before" photo (or photos) before you do anything to it. Then, document your progress with as much narrative, and as many pix as you can/want.

Being in the middle of the country (more or less) means there's a decent chance there will be someone nearby to lend a hand or tool.

 

[Josheezpapa]

Welcome!

You are starting with a proper assumption. Here is a hyperlink to a proper "wake-up" procedure for a classic Britbike: Waking the Sleeping Beast

Of course, this forum was a good start at having ready help, too. Be sure to start a new thread with a "before" photo (or photos) before you do anything to it. Then, document your progress with as much narrative, and as many pix as you can/want.

Being in the middle of the country (more or less) means there's a decent chance there will be someone nearby to lend a hand or tool.

Thanks for the positive thoughts.. I will do that

 

[TimGz]

I just purchased my 74 Trident that sat since 1996. Don’t be afraid to lowball as you will may find yourself replacing all the rubber components including Brake hoses, seals, grips, bushings, etc. As no one parts seller has all, the freight can add up if you do not hold off until the bike is completely gone through through. Your correct year parts book and work shop manual may become your best friend.

 

[Josheezpapa]

The story is...
I sold my 73 Trident and built a pinhead chop with shovel tops in a Ness frame.. was cool, Hunt mag, Morris cast wheels, Hurst Airhart brakes, etc...
But I never liked it as much as the modded Trident...
When I met my wife 34 years ago, I had the pan, her ex had this 76 Triumph 750. Its been sitting the whole time.. many years outdoors in the weeds.
All this time, ive never seen it... but I've been jabbing him along the way...
"Ready to sell methat Triumph yet?"
Always "no".
He got into restoring early 50s MGs instead...

Well, the time has came for him to sell his beautiful home in a gated community, and all his stuff and retire to Florida....
So I hit him up at the granddaughters graduation... he said "$500.00" so I said yes, completely sight unseen.
With my current state of health, it will be ongoing maybe forever, in between time spent on the race car... I recently became disabled and lost my job of 25 years...

Long story short... regardless of whats usable ( he says its complete, seat is shot, seat pan is rusty, he doesn't know if it rolls.....
I'm willing to risk 500.00 on this deal.

Tomorrow's the day

 

[TimGz]

$500 is a great deal!

I paid $2000 for my Trident. And so far have put another 2500 in it and looking at another 1500. It’s completely stripped down with the frame painted last week, so looking forward to putting it together this Summer. The beauty of it is that parts are available. Good deal!

 

[Josheezpapa]

$500 is a great deal!

I paid $2000 for my Trident. And so far have put another 2500 in it and looking at another 1500. It’s completely stripped down with the frame painted last week, so looking forward to putting it together this Summer. The beauty of it is that parts are available. Good deal!

I loved my t150v... it was my daily back when... it was out to 800+cc, 810 or 850 ish, Routt parts, mikunis, alphabet 3 into 1 header, was a 73... black and red, it was fast to be sure.
I missed a shift one night, rpmd it to the moon, blew a pushrod... after I fixed it, it was never the same again. I sold it for a couple hundred bucks in about 84...
The buyer reported to me that after I took the cylinders off to inspect, something went wrong, and a dowel wasn't letting the cylinders sit down like they should.

I LOVED that motorcycle...
This should be a fun project... I have a hunch where I wanna go with the rebuild, but until I see it.... who knows.. im not expecting much

Her ex and I have always been friendly towards one another, I don't know if he's giving me a deal or not.... I kind of doubt it. Lol ... we shall see.
I have a 5.5 ft pickup, a snowmobile trailer and my race trailer.. none will work right for this, so I've got a uhaul motorcycle trailer reserved for tomorrow.
Wish me luck. Lol

 

[TimGz]

I loved my t150v... it was my daily back when... it was out to 800+cc, 810 or 850 ish, Routt parts, mikunis, alphabet 3 into 1 header, was a 73... black and red, it was fast to be sure.
I missed a shift one night, rpmd it to the moon, blew a pushrod... after I fixed it, it was never the same again. I sold it for a couple hundred bucks in about 84...
The buyer reported to me that after I took the cylinders off to inspect, something went wrong, and a dowel wasn't letting the cylinders sit down like they should.

I LOVED that motorcycle...
This should be a fun project... I have a hunch where I wanna go with the rebuild, but until I see it.... who knows.. im not expecting much

Her ex and I have always been friendly towards one another, I don't know if he's giving me a deal or not.... I kind of doubt it. Lol ... we shall see.
I have a 5.5 ft pickup, a snowmobile trailer and my race trailer.. none will work right for this, so I've got a uhaul motorcycle trailer reserved for tomorrow.
Wish me luck. Lol

That’s what I used - a U-Haul trailer when I picked mine up. Very handy and at a good price. I just started putting my bike together today! Good luck with yours!

 

[Josheezpapa]

That’s what I used - a U-Haul trailer when I picked mine up. Very handy and at a good price. I just started putting my bike together today! Good luck with yours!

My u haul experience wasn't good.
The trailer woulda been 15.00 plus 8.00 insurance, woulda been a bargain...
BUT
The right brake and turn didn't work on the trailer. The only guy working said it was my truck.
I did have a bad bulb on that side, which should have had zero effect, but I went and fixed it and came back....
Waited an hour to be helped, only one guy working.. right rear stop and turn still didn't work... so I went home, got out the circuit tester... ( my other truck has a light hitch and too small a ball, weird trailer connector, and I was out otime)
Circuit checked ok... I hooked it up to my snowmobile trailer... it worked ok....
I don't have a ramp for my sled trailer, I usea board, and no wheel chock for a bike, but I hooked it up and went to get the bike....
Seller threw a couple car tires down, and we laid the bike down and strapped it on

The tires on the bike are so bad, it doesn't roll.. im not sure how I'm gonna unload it, but it is home at least

And it is in HORRIFIC condition, the direction of this project has to change, or be aborted entirely.

But it is a 76 Bonneville, complete, which is a good thing, but NOTHING is good.
Except maybe the forks are clean and rebuildable, frame will clean up with powder coat, being all there is a hig help, if you take pictures during disassembly, reassembly is easier, and you at least start with all the hardware.

Maybe its just a parts unit... I'll look at it for a couple days and decide

 

[TimGz]

In retrospect l could have gone the parts bike route, but my brother brought the bike home when I lived with him 25 years ago and we talked about fixing it up. He had a Bonneville and I had a BSA Lightning at the time. He passed two years ago this week. My younger brother bought his Bonneville and I purchased the Trident from my sister-in-law despite its condition. I am ending up replacing about everything on it except the engine, frame and the wheels! It also helps that I connected with his friend, the original owner and a bonafide Triumph mechanic. Either way with the price you paid for it you will be ahead of the game if you enjoy working on it and have the time as their value has sky rocketed the last few years.

 

[Josheezpapa]

Your Trident is the same colors I had my 73 painted... The painter charged a lot back then (40yrs ago) because he was convinced to make it look like the picture i gave him, the pinstripes had to be gold leaf. Lol...I didnt care, it was my pride and joy
I didn't have him do the center stripe

 

[grandpaul]

The tires on the bike are so bad, it doesn't roll.. im not sure how I'm gonna unload it, but it is home at least
And it is in HORRIFIC condition, the direction of this project has to change, or be aborted entirely.
But it is a 76 Bonneville, complete, which is a good thing, but NOTHING is good.
Maybe its just a parts unit... I'll look at it for a couple days and decide

Hey, I've started with some pretty sorry sights...

 

[Josheezpapa]

Hey, I've started with some pretty sorry sights...

Very nice work ... VERY nice !

 

[TimGz]

Definitely inspiring work!