X75 Hurricane heads, true or false

[jellywrestler]

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/parts-for-sale/complete-engines/listing-1979946346.htm?rsqid=ccb52b6c4ab54b8c97648b18ca76a a17


did triumph make a special head for the hurricanes or is it just an urban legend?

[Kickaha]

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/parts-for-sale/complete-engines/listing-1979946346.htm?rsqid=ccb52b6c4ab54b8c97648b18ca76a a17


did triumph make a special head for the hurricanes or is it just an urban legend?

Parts books show the part number as 71-2585 for an X75 cylinder head and T150, T160 and Rocket 3 all different numbers again

[jellywrestler]

Parts books show the part number as 71-2585 for an X75 cylinder head and T150, T160 and Rocket 3 all different numbers again

i'd sort of expect the t150 and t160 heads to be different, surprised that the rocket three and t150 ones are though.

[AllanB]

Interesting, I thought it was just a Craig Vetter styling exercise for Triumph. I like them.

[FJRider]

did triumph make a special head for the hurricanes or is it just an urban legend?

I have looked through a few articles on/for any modifications ... Craig Vetter only modified the cylinder head by enlarging the fin area. This was done purely for aesthetic reasons. Otherwise ... standard specs for a BSA Rocket Three.

[FJRider]

Interesting, I thought it was just a Craig Vetter styling exercise for Triumph. I like them.

And a good way to use/sell unsold BSA Rocket Three bike parts at a premium price ... from the closing down BSA factory.

[jellywrestler]

And a good way to use/sell unsold BSA Rocket Three bike parts at a premium price ... from the closing down BSA factory.

they couldn't even sell the last two in new zealand, they were given away as prizes, one north island and one south island....

[jellywrestler]

I have looked through a few articles on/for any modifications ... Craig Vetter only modified the cylinder head by enlarging the fin area. This was done purely for aesthetic reasons. Otherwise ... standard specs for a BSA Rocket Three.

any pics side by side to compare?

[FJRider]

any pics side by side to compare?

I haven't but that would account for the different part numbers. It would/should also mean (maybe) a BSA Rocket Three head should fit on the X75 (with no modification) if necessary to make one go without buying the original Vetter part.

[jellywrestler]

I haven't but that would account for the different part numbers. It would/should also mean (maybe) a BSA Rocket Three head should fit on the X75 (with no modification) if necessary to make one go without buying the original Vetter part.

but kickaha says they're not different part numbers. it's a huge job to make fins larger and needs a few skills outside the nrom to both weld and prep for this hence it really surprises me if vetter did just that.

[Blackbird]

Saw this one in the public car park at the Pukekohe Classic in 2010. It's the only one I've seen in NZ.

[FJRider]

any pics side by side to compare?

Said to be Rocket 3 heads (The pic with two heads in it) and the one off trademe ...

[FJRider]

Saw this one in the public car park at the Pukekohe Classic in 2010. It's the only one I've seen in NZ.

I saw two at a Vincent rally in Alexandra once. Only once.

[FJRider]

but kickaha says they're not different part numbers. it's a huge job to make fins larger and needs a few skills outside the nrom to both weld and prep for this hence it really surprises me if vetter did just that.

His comment was
Parts books show the part number as 71-2585 for an X75 cylinder head and T150, T160 and Rocket 3 all different numbers again

Note ... All different numbers again.

A relatively simple method would be re-casting the X75 heads. Changing the mold's is a (relatively) simple process. I once worked in a foundry. Making molds was part of my job description.

As I said ... this would account for the different part number for the X75.

[Blackbird]

This probably doesn't add much to the discussion even enlarged but this is Norm Hyde's supercharged Trident drag bike in its solo configuration. Norm was a development engineer on the Trident/Rocket 3 and he and his boss Doug Hele were really good buggers. Supplied a few bits at no cost for my drag bike back in the late 60's.

[husaberg]

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/parts-for-sale/complete-engines/listing-1979946346.htm?rsqid=ccb52b6c4ab54b8c97648b18ca76a a17


did triumph make a special head for the hurricanes or is it just an urban legend?

I have read the original vetter story i think i remember him wanting biger fins to make it look meaner.



The function of my design then, was to say "Look at me because I am special." The function of the Vetter Rocket was to make me get noticed for the right reasons.
I already loved the triple engine but somebody had emasculated it by shaving its cylinder head fins off. I put them back on. I also put as much space around it as possible, sort of like framing it with the bodywork as a prized painting would be, to make it the center of attention.
I dont know if this translated to production. he liked the BSA engine with the cylinder rake
The longer forks were a bugger up he lengthened Ceriani forks by about 2 inchs and for some reason when the bike reached production they made the BSA/Triumph forks the same amount longer.

I wanted my design to be producible so I made no changes that I thought might jeopardize its production. It also was to incorporate a new Ceriani - style front end. Don sent me a set of Cerianis saying that it pretty much represented the English version coming soon. The problem was that he sent me short, road racing forks and I had to machine slugs to bring the bike back up level. And that seems to have led the English to believe that I had extended the forks, so they extended their Ceriani copies too. The fact is the Vetter Rocket that I made had stock Rocket 3 length forks.
http://www.motohistory.net/featuredstory/vetter-story3.html

[jellywrestler]

His comment was

Note ... All different numbers again.

A relatively simple method would be re-casting the X75 heads. Changing the mold's is a (relatively) simple process. I once worked in a foundry. Making molds was part of my job description.

As I said ... this would account for the different part number for the X75.

i read part number for x75 and T150, others being different. as for re casting, can you imagine the british motorcycle industry doing that at the time? they could barely run a bath far less a motorcycle manufacturing business

[FJRider]

i read part number for x75 and T150, others being different. as for re casting, can you imagine the british motorcycle industry doing that at the time? they could barely run a bath far less a motorcycle manufacturing business

The pic's I posted of the heads say different

[FJRider]

i read part number for x75 and T150, others being different. as for re casting, can you imagine the british motorcycle industry doing that at the time? they could barely run a bath far less a motorcycle manufacturing business

Actually ... The American influence/market says different ... A Houston made BSA Rocket 3 ...

[husaberg]

i read part number for x75 and T150, others being different. as for re casting, can you imagine the british motorcycle industry doing that at the time? they could barely run a bath far less a motorcycle manufacturing business

You might find the different part number is different machining ie not machining off the ends of the head flat or polishing.
which is what it looks like to me remember what craig said they made them smaller he restored them to how they were designed to be.
341313341314


Remember the Enfeild GP5 great big destroyed by silly managers.
It came of with 4 transfer ports and made good power a fair few more than any of the competition the managers looked at it and said villiers starmaker only has 2 transfer so go back and redesign it with 2 and while you are at it get rid of that gearbox that works and use an albion as the companies are related.

The british manufacturing industry collapsed for the sme reason as the Amierican car industry has,they thought they knew better regarding what the customer wanted than the customer did.
Same with Holdern and Ford in Aussie. they never moved with the times or sought out other markets for their products.
The japanese are far more humble.

[JimO]

I saw two at a Vincent rally in Alexandra once. Only once.
there was one getting around in Dunedin a few years ago, havnt seen it for a long time though

[Kickaha]

I saw two at a Vincent rally in Alexandra once. Only once.

Saw one on the Ferry in the early nineties, it'd been repainted a non factory colour and the guy and his girlfriend were touring on it, he was only talking around a 100km range

[Voltaire]

they couldn't even sell the last two in new zealand, they were given away as prizes, one north island and one south island....
You'd know Chris Knibb's, built a Vincent special. I've been told he has one and probably up for sale soon.

[jellywrestler]

You'd know Chris Knibb's, built a Vincent special. I've been told he has one and probably up for sale soon.

they're not rare, there's quite a few round nz per capita.
i'm not looking for one, just curious about finer points....

[FJRider]

Saw one on the Ferry in the early nineties, it'd been repainted a non factory colour and the guy and his girlfriend were touring on it, he was only talking around a 100km range

They only had a 2 1/2 gallon tank. A show pony. Travel at speed and you'll run out of gas.

But they looked good ... I don't think they sold well (in their day) though.

[FJRider]

there was one getting around in Dunedin a few years ago, havnt seen it for a long time though

Probably only goes to car and motorcycle shows ... on a trailer.

[Paul in NZ]

The heads are different. The fins are larger to make the engine look a little bigger...