1964 Triumph T120 restoration

[stormtrooper]

Hi all,
I am well underway on a restoration of the 64 bonnie which i have been meaning to get stuck into for some time now but there has always been other things to do and has gone on the back burner for the last 10 years. (the run down old house we brought may have had somthing to do with it)
It started its life with me as a 64 but had some bad mods which were not that bad looking back but i like things to be right and a 71 front end and t140 rear wheel just didnt cut it so off they went and the original stock has been fitted, it also came with a 67 tank which i managed to swap for the stock 64, front and rear guards, rims spokes and hubs had to be replaced with stock, its now looking something like it should but still abit to do
Will post up some pics if anyones interested
I am after a seat pan if anyone out there knows of one for sale

[tri boy]

Interested.
Post away. Maybe do a blog on the resto.

[Voltaire]

+1 on the blog and pics, I need some inspiraton for my 59 T110 rebuild. Your speed twin is a real beauty.

[Paul in NZ]

Always interested...... I have some of the specialised engine tools and a fork tool if you need em.

[stormtrooper]

Always interested...... I have some of the specialised engine tools and a fork tool if you need em.

Thanks Paul, i am sure that i will need them at some point.
Cheers to the others for the replys
I managed to get some pics of the bike today, its been in the garage for some time and progress has been slow, there are parts that are loose and just sitting there, most of which will be taken off for painting, also there are some new parts that are to arrive.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=212839

Not sure why pic does not show? anyone had the same problem?

[Paul in NZ]

Man - thats pretty... Love the colour!

[stormtrooper]

Another pic of the bike for those interested.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=212840


No paint as yet, can anyone out there recomend a painter fit for the job?

[eelracing]

I'm with Paul on this,pretty as is.

For me (aside from the ride)patina = character in a classic.

But i'm just envious coz I want it.

[dino3310]

Interested.
Post away. Maybe do a blog on the resto.

:stupid: fookin aye mate great to see another trumpy on the rebuild:Punk:

[Mental Trousers]

A blog is the way to do it. There aren't any size limits on pictures you put into the blogs and the word limit is also much higher so you don't have to split posts. Also means they're altogether in 1 place. Check out Eurodave's Steam Punk build (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/blog.php/2485-Eurodave?blogcategoryid=36) and also my project bike (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/blog.php/3535-Mutterings-ramblings-and-projects?blogcategoryid=36).

[stormtrooper]

Cheers for the info about the blog have posted up.
Up date so far -
Have fitted a boyer electrical system and fired her up the other day, running really well
Bolted up front and rear guards and found a factory seat to do the job, more pics to come

[dino3310]

:wait::wait:

[stormtrooper]

Just fitted a new seat, looking forward to taking it for a ride soon.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=217254

[Bren]

very nice old girl...keep it up

[stormtrooper]

Well as they say good things take time, and still chipping away at it.
Up date so far
New front brake shoes, cable, fork rubbers, springs, and gatter tenisioners. Also new old stock dome bolts for front and back guards.
Pics to come

[dino3310]

:clap:geez i forgot all about ya rebuild

[98tls]

Shes gorgeous fella,great work and good on ya,keep the pics coming eh,still have fond thoughts of watching the old man toil away on an old 650SS Norton,turned out as new,beautiful.

[stormtrooper]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=226106

[stormtrooper]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=226108

[stormtrooper]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=226107

Added up the pics but not easy and they dont come up unless you click on the writing, must be a better way to do it than this?
Anyway cheers for the feedback, will keep adding pics as things change.

[98tls]

:woohoo:Lovely.

[dino3310]

:drool: looking pretty dam fine there bro, well done

[rian]

nice trumpet you got there, are you still going to paint it?
it looks pretty mint in the photers.
good luck on the first ride.

[Redmoggy]

Thats a lovely looking T120 you got there. If you are still looking for a painter i do Triumph paint using original colours and schemes. Drop me a message if i can help.

Roy

[stormtrooper]

Thats a lovely looking T120 you got there. If you are still looking for a painter i do Triumph paint using original colours and schemes. Drop me a message if i can help.

Roy

Hi Roy yes the old girl is in need of a paint job and its great to here of people like yourself that can really make these bikes shine.
I will have to save my pennys up for this one and am looking at getting it done next year at some stage.
I will PM you to talk it over, if its anything like the pic on your profile i will be very happy.

STORMTROOPER

[stormtrooper]

nice trumpet you got there, are you still going to paint it?
it looks pretty mint in the photers.
good luck on the first ride.

Almost there and yes a paint job is on the cards and a ride.
Just checked out your pics of the lighting its a very very nice machine and you have some cool roads down that way to keep it in check, i think the pic with the saddlebags on it parked up by the beach has to be my favorite.

STORMTROOPER

[rian]

Almost there and yes a paint job is on the cards and a ride.
Just checked out your pics of the lighting its a very very nice machine and you have some cool roads down that way to keep it in check, i think the pic with the saddlebags on it parked up by the beach has to be my favorite.

STORMTROOPER

yes the beezer goes pretty good, just did a trip to the haast last weekend, via devils staircase, crown range and haast pass, pretty awesome roads.
the english bikes handle pretty well so scraped the pegs a few times, the beeza soaked it all up in its stride.

[Redmoggy]

Stormtrooper,i am off my feet for 6-8 weeks after a truck hit me and the missus head on. Were good but the Sprint was toast. The bike in my profile is my own TR6 and the paint is now 3 or 4 years old. When your ready i'll send some more recent pics of tanks.

All the best with the bike,it will not disappoint on that first ride.

Roy

[Taz]

You do the pics like this. Use the managed attachments section.

[stormtrooper]

Stormtrooper,i am off my feet for 6-8 weeks after a truck hit me and the missus head on. Were good but the Sprint was toast. The bike in my profile is my own TR6 and the paint is now 3 or 4 years old. When your ready i'll send some more recent pics of tanks.

All the best with the bike,it will not disappoint on that first ride.

Roy

Cheers Roy, hope you and your wife are on the mend, sounds like you two were very lucky to walk away from the crash.

STORMTROOPER

[swamy]

Good job on the restoration!

Did you have a Lucas K2F magneto prior to installing the Boyer ignition unit? If yes, was the bike running on 6 volts (standard) or 12 volts (modified)?

[stormtrooper]

Good job on the restoration!

Did you have a Lucas K2F magneto prior to installing the Boyer ignition unit? If yes, was the bike running on 6 volts (standard) or 12 volts (modified)?

I had a Boyer ignition fitted( running on 12volts) by Classic Cycles prior to that it was stock.
One of the best mods i have had done, runs sweet plus i can see on the nightime rides.

[swamy]

I inherited my dad's 1961 T120R, which is currently being restored overseas.
The mechanic in charge of the restoration decided to convert it to 12 volts causing the K2F magneto to overheat and stall the bike once it heats up.

Was considering the Boyer ignition but my dad wanted to keep it original. Got the magneto refurbished to our needs by a company in the UK. The bike apparently runs fine now.

[Paul in NZ]

I inherited my dad's 1961 T120R, which is currently being restored overseas.
The mechanic in charge of the restoration decided to convert it to 12 volts causing the K2F magneto to overheat and stall the bike once it heats up.

Was considering the Boyer ignition but my dad wanted to keep it original. Got the magneto refurbished to our needs by a company in the UK. The bike apparently runs fine now.

Um - I think you are getting a tad 'confused'...

Stormtroopers bike is a unit construction model. 12v alternator from day one and never ever fitted with a magneto from the factory. (aftermarket ones, joe hunt etc made some)

A 61 is a pre unit model. From memory a 61 T120 had an alternator but ignition was magneto. A magneto is a totally self contained ignition unit and not connected to the 12V (or 6v) system in any way shape or form. Its failure was due to age and the heat from the engine running (common) and nothing to do with a 12v upgrade.

Early alternator systems on these bikes were pretty 'basic' and output contol was done via coil switching via the lucas PR8 switch. It was state of the art then but its complicated and failure prone so if you and not after 100% originality and want to actually use it at night I'd suggest upgrading to a modern rect / reg plus relays on the lights.

BTW - nice bike (61 T120R), you are a lucky guy but I would have had it restored here, probably cheaper...

[swamy]

Um - I think you are getting a tad 'confused'...

Stormtroopers bike is a unit construction model. 12v alternator from day one and never ever fitted with a magneto from the factory. (aftermarket ones, joe hunt etc made some)

A 61 is a pre unit model. From memory a 61 T120 had an alternator but ignition was magneto. A magneto is a totally self contained ignition unit and not connected to the 12V (or 6v) system in any way shape or form. Its failure was due to age and the heat from the engine running (common) and nothing to do with a 12v upgrade.

Early alternator systems on these bikes were pretty 'basic' and output contol was done via coil switching via the lucas PR8 switch. It was state of the art then but its complicated and failure prone so if you and not after 100% originality and want to actually use it at night I'd suggest upgrading to a modern rect / reg plus relays on the lights.

BTW - nice bike (61 T120R), you are a lucky guy but I would have had it restored here, probably cheaper...


You are right, I am a tad confused. All this is new to me as I only know the bike from riding as a pillion when I was a kid. It was in storage (with occasional use) for about 20 years before being re-restored from last year.

Yes, it is a pre-unit model, with an alternator and magneto ignition. The bike used to run fine when it was 6 volts. I am aware of the K2F magneto issues but it only started to play up when the 12 volt conversion was done. Either way, it is fixed now :)

Trying to keep it as original as possible and wont be using it at night.

Thanks, the restoration is way cheaper than it would be over here. Hope to have the bike in NZ sometime this year.

Here is a picture of what the biked looked like when I last saw it a few months ago:
228666

[Paul in NZ]

looks very nice

[stormtrooper]

Another classic bonnie almost ready to cruze the streets, Looks sharp swamy, cheers for posting

[swamy]

Another classic bonnie almost ready to cruze the streets, Looks sharp swamy, cheers for posting

Thanks, so does yours.
I will be seeing the bike again next month and will keep you updated on progress. Hope your restoration is going well.