Restoring & Modifying 1971 OIF TR120

[NM Bonny]

That's a lovely Bonnie! Wish I still had my 1976 T140V 750 5Spd, but in a weak moment, I let it go. Mind you, I wouldn't have my 1996 900 Thunderbird if I hadn't. Both are awesome bikes in their own way.

A weak moment… or was it a moment of clarity? I still have pangs of regret about selling the ’64 VW Microbus Westfalia I rescued from a junkyard here in Albuquerque—largely because it wouldn’t stop quickly enough to avoid collisions (lots of veering onto the shoulder on the highway to avoid brake lights). If only I’d have known what I do now about retrofitting brakes!

But, I guess there’s a method to your madness. Sounds like you’ve got a bike you really enjoy, after all.

Regardless, thanks for the compliment! One of these days, I’ll paint-and-polish the sidecovers and finally be done with her!

 

[Lordmac]

I got off the bike and… yup. L/H Volvo horn had vibrated off the mount.

Are you telling me . . . do you mean to say . . . are you inferring, that your horn just up and fell off, somewhere on the pavement, bouncing to its total destruction, probably lost forever, after you went to all the trouble to rescue it from the graveyard? Ingrate horn.

 

[Lordmac]

regret about selling the ’64 VW Microbus Westfalia

No kidding. Bet somebody is mighty glad to have it right about now . . .

Still love that blue on yer bike. You know, those aluniun, er, aluminium, uh, aluminum! colored side covers kind of go with the overall scheme, I think . . .

 

[NM Bonny]

Are you telling me . . . do you mean to say . . . are you inferring, that your horn just up and fell off, somewhere on the pavement, bouncing to its total destruction, probably lost forever, after you went to all the trouble to rescue it from the graveyard? Ingrate horn.

Exactly right. I’m just hopeful it didn’t bounce up and hit someone’s windshield!

 

[NM Bonny]

No kidding. Bet somebody is mighty glad to have it right about now . . .

Still love that blue on yer bike. You know, those aluniun, er, aluminium, uh, aluminum! colored side covers kind of go with the overall scheme, I think . . .

Thanks, I really favor the color. Had someone stop me at the Coop last week and ask about it.

Yes: those side covers need to be polished (I’ve just been reluctant to dive into more metal polishing), and will also get little white stripes as a backdrop for the gold Bonneville scripts. Color-matched ‘mist blue metallic' accents, too, if the touch-up leftover paint my friend gave me is still viable inside the can. We’ll see…

 

[dave448]

Are you telling me . . . do you mean to say . . . are you inferring, that your horn just up and fell off, somewhere on the pavement, bouncing to its total destruction, probably lost forever, after you went to all the trouble to rescue it from the graveyard? Ingrate horn.

huh?.. a horn was in a ..graveyard

 

[Lordmac]

huh?.. a horn was in a ..graveyard

Scary!

 

[NM Bonny]

Two more resto/mods:


First - the copper rivet that provides contact for the high beam button disappeared (must’ve vibrated out through the hole that used to pass the leads—which is no longer used, as my clip-ons are drilled for internal wiring). So, as shown, I just cut off a nail and soldered the wire to it.

However, one side of the assembly has a copper C-shaped thingy that limits travel of the contact (like the end in the photo), while the other does not. This was creating too much distance, such that the button worked intermittently. So, per the 2n and 3rd pics, I drilled the button—which has a convenient well molded into it—inserted a screw, then held the screw against the belt sander (on low) until the clearance was just right for consistent actuation.


Second - the headlight aimer is great but vibrates loose. The headlight doesn’t droop but the knob rattles. So, I’m going to make up a brass or copper plate that will fasten invisibly to the back of the dash, clamped by the nuts that affix the gauges—and shaped kind of like a Cheshire moon. It will have a bent-up tab that will ride against the nut behind the dash on the upper end of the aluminum adjuster shaft (4th pic). That will give six detents per revolution, which will allow fine adjustment for headlight aiming.

Finally, I will install a spring between the nut and dash panel to arrest the rattling. Photos when finished…

 

[Lordmac]

the headlight aimer is great but vibrates loose

What? Now wait just a minute . . . you mean to tell me . . . that your Triumph VIBRATES?

If you ever owned a Honda 305 you'd know the meaning of the word. After riding that thing, my Triumph seemed like a sowing machine in comparison.

 

[NM Bonny]

What? Now wait just a minute . . . you mean to tell me . . . that your Triumph VIBRATES?

If you ever owned a Honda 305 you'd know the meaning of the word. After riding that thing, my Triumph seemed like a sowing machine in comparison.

I haven’t ridden a Honda 305. Just a CB550 and CB750, which I owned before (CB550) and after (CB750) my ’71 XS1B 650. Of course, both inline fours were indeed smooth as can be.

Both of my present, two-wheeled vibratory devices have a 360-degree crank: the ’71 Bonny and the ’51 Panhead. I honestly don’t find the vibration of either to be a big deal, if ridden at 65~70 mph. That said, weirdly the 650cc Bonny seems to loosen bolts faster than the 1200cc Panhead. Not sure why…

Update: I’ve been rechecking the rocker cover fasteners and they don’t seem to be loosening significantly—though it’s still my practice to put a wrench on them for a gentle pull every now and then. The oil seepage is now nearly nil, save for the front pushrod @ the bottom end (very little) and the front rocker box, which I evidently didn’t use enough Ultra Gray on; the rear isn’t seeping so much as a drop.

But when I park the thing outside a restaurant on the clean pavement as in a recent post outside Panera, it doesn’t leave a single drip. Very satisfying for a 54-year-old bike.

 

[NM Bonny]

Sooo… I had been avoiding opening the can of leftover paint, as I was afraid of what I’d find. But took a break from doing taxes just now to add some loctite here and there... and was pleased to find that what’s left is indeed viable—and it looks like there’s enough to spray both side covers!

I frankly had been leaning toward a paint-and-polish option mainly because when I swirled the can I couldn’t feel much if any movement in there, so had assumed there was a teensy amount in the bottom. But there’s plenty; it’s just really thick. I assume Chuck thins it out by some formula in order to shoot it—and judging from what’s there, I would think I’ve got enough to do both side covers handily.

Therefore, I think what I’ll do is see if I can exchange some day labor on one of his high-end restoration projects (I saw an XKE that’s been around for a while last time I was down at his shop) for having him shoot the side covers in this 1966 GM mist blue metallic. Then, I’ll let them outgas and cure for several weeks—which it’s best to do anyway before applying decals—and scribble various designs for the white patch or stripe onto which I’ll place the ‘Bonneville’ decals.

Thereafter, I’ll shoot some 2X clear coat over the covers with decals for a really durable finish, and the bike will be officially ‘done’ for the foreseeable future. That is, until whenever this engine gets tired and I install a Morgo 750cc kit and 21-tooth tranny sprocket…