Triton 650 Build

So, my first Triton!

Ive always thought about owning a Triton, id spend hours browsing pictures on the internet and in magazines, dreaming of one day having a Triton and with the cost of buying a fully built one (if there is such a thing!) constantly going up and up, being fairly young (24) working as a motorcycle mechanic, on not great money, it all got forgotten about.

After getting myself a better job, with a better pay packet, i met an inspector who had one tucked away since the seventies, it took abit of pestering, and nagging, but i finally managed to persuade him to sell it to me, on the grounds that i restored it to keep, rather than sell it on, so at the soonest given opportunity i drove a few hundred miles to Teeside, in the middle of winter to buy my Triton!
Me my old man were passing cars that had drove into ditches, lorries overturned in the snow, but i was determined to get my bike! im very inpatient that way! good job i drive a Volvo!

Ill post a brief over view of the build, im not going to go into too much detail, id rather be building, than sat on a pc telling people about my build!

So off we went!

Here is a few images of the bike, tucked away under a load of clutter.

Jim lee petrol tank

Two, iron heads from an early T110, one 4 fin, one 5 fin.

and the 8 stud alloy in the back ground.

gearbox.

8 stud alloy head (very common for these to crack, mine was no exception )

Hmmm, Slick shift.

Con rods with new shells and big end bearings.

Some high comp pistons!

8" twin leading shoe of a Triumph, this will later be mated to a dommie full width hub.

An extra wide, chrome swinging arm, lovely!
(cleans up well)

A Triumph Tr5-T (i think) speedo.

The bike back at my house.

So that lot all got chucked in the back of my car!

Motor is a T110 (big bearing) with a T120 top end (8-stud head)

Frame looks fairly un-molested apart from the tank mount, isnt a problem, as ive got a larger tank, and the seat mount brackets.

Crank is in very good condition, the guy i bought it from had the big ends ground down ten thou, and covered them in grease paper in the early seventies.

Some light scoring in the barrels, but nothing that wont hone out (currently 0.20 over size)

The only thing on the bike that was spot on was the gearbox! a fresh main shaft bearing and seal, and its ready to go back together, the box is a 1961 Slick shift model.

Crank was stripped down (bolt up crank) and cleaned out, this was very baddly blocked (probably the reason the thing needed re-grinding in the first place!
With fresh high tensile nuts and bolts (£56 for 6!!) conrods were fitted, and the crank was done! now onto the cases.

Below, the cases were cleaned up, three thread repairs done for the primary chain case, new bearings pressed into place, and crank installed on one side (above)

Meanwhile, i sent the frame off for acid dipping, to remove all the old paint., it came back like this, the green is just some light dust left over from the chemicals used.

Ordered up myself some engine mount bolts from Dave Degans.

Had these made up to suit.

Once i was happy everything would line up, i sent the frame for powder coating.

Came out quite well!

So the bike moved into my bedroom. :)

So i went to see a friend of mine who deals in old brit iron!
Only went for a few bits, and ended up coming away with a 9 stud head and all the gubbin's! and a barrel to suit, along with a few bits and pieces.

The head needs new guides (over size) and valves, springs, collets ect.

head was blasted, then sent for new guides.

New guides in, new valves.

valves lapped in, and tested for leaks, heads finished.

New parts for the above.

So my birthday came around (now 25... eek) and my good lady bought me some new pistons!

Ive decided to run fairly low compression ratio for now, until everything is running okay, and bedded in, and will up the compression ratio to a more Bonneville spec (8.5:1) at a later date.