Bikes look familiar. Ed Kretz Sr. & Jr. Damn I want a reproduction of one of those sweaters/jerseys.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Johnson Motors Circa 1951
Bikes look familiar. Ed Kretz Sr. & Jr. Damn I want a reproduction of one of those sweaters/jerseys.
Ouches
Tip - don't zealously rev your dry lakes Indian race bike first thing in the morning. Word is it takes 60w a little time to warm up.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
'38 Speed Twin Restoration
The Wayne Hamilton blog is doing a multi-part feature documenting the restoration of a '38 Triumph Speed Twin. I'm really gonna enjoy watching it.
I was a little shocked to see how spindly (and frankly homely) the bike looks with just without the original paint. You'd almost think it was a third world knockoff of some sort.
The scarcity on early parts makes my '51 project seem laughably simple. Having the sort of restoration budget the bikes featured on Wayne's blog seem to have might soften the blow a little.
For the non-Triumph geeks among us this is about what the bike should look like finished. I honestly think it's one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever built.
I was a little shocked to see how spindly (and frankly homely) the bike looks with just without the original paint. You'd almost think it was a third world knockoff of some sort.
The scarcity on early parts makes my '51 project seem laughably simple. Having the sort of restoration budget the bikes featured on Wayne's blog seem to have might soften the blow a little.
For the non-Triumph geeks among us this is about what the bike should look like finished. I honestly think it's one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever built.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Springs & Things!
I've been chasing a few parts recently with surprisingly little success. One of the items on my list are seat springs. My preference is the barrel type pictured below.
The springs listed in the Triumph parts books are 6.5" to 7" long. I suspect the originals may be Lycett made.
I have found next to nothing spare the usual Taiwan Ted V-Twin ones. The V-Twin springs on my new Triumph are rock-hard compared to the original springs. Given my lower back problems I'm sorta hoping to find some originals with decent chrome. The longer V-Twin springs may be a little more pliable than the 3" springs I have but no one around here stocks them so I can't really check 'em out. Please let me know if you have any leads or clever ideas.
I'm also looking for a LUCAS type #31371B headlight switch as used on the pre war and post war instrument panels in the gas tank and in the 1949 to 1959 nacelles (see photos below). I'm hearing someone in New Zealand makes reproductions but I haven't chased them all the way down yet.
The springs listed in the Triumph parts books are 6.5" to 7" long. I suspect the originals may be Lycett made.
I have found next to nothing spare the usual Taiwan Ted V-Twin ones. The V-Twin springs on my new Triumph are rock-hard compared to the original springs. Given my lower back problems I'm sorta hoping to find some originals with decent chrome. The longer V-Twin springs may be a little more pliable than the 3" springs I have but no one around here stocks them so I can't really check 'em out. Please let me know if you have any leads or clever ideas.
I'm also looking for a LUCAS type #31371B headlight switch as used on the pre war and post war instrument panels in the gas tank and in the 1949 to 1959 nacelles (see photos below). I'm hearing someone in New Zealand makes reproductions but I haven't chased them all the way down yet.
Help...
Holy smokes this bike needs to be rescued. Seriously, any chance you think it's a former Seattle Cossacks team bike? Looks like it's currently in California.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Sprunghub Gift Pack
Tom A (Emma's former caretaker) emailed me last weekend to let me know he stumbled across a basket of goodies for my garage while organizing his lovely shop. Price... FREE. Some guys are just unbelievably cool. Thanks Tom!
Tom was hustling around last weekend and left the parts at Brian T's place. Any excuse to see what's cooking up at Brian's place I'm all too willing to jump on. So, '38 Velocette OHC KSS, a crazy '65 Panther 650 single, an Isolastic Featherbed Commando and a new shop under construction. No pictures... I suck.
Brian handed off the parts, endured at least 45 minutes of my stupid questions and offer to let V drive his vintage mini Farmall tractor next time we are up. Thanks Brian.
So this is the actual parts cache.
My favorite part has to be the original paint Amaranth Red Sprunghub rear brake stay, I might just have to hang that in the garage or something. There's a Thunderbird cylinder and head (insane just how much heavier they are than the T100 alloy pieces). Sprunghub parts, cam, top triple clamp, chromed timing cover, nice primary cover, 2 front brake plates, another intake, etc. Cool stuff.
I may need to do a little horse trading for a few parts I really need to finish Emma.
Tom was hustling around last weekend and left the parts at Brian T's place. Any excuse to see what's cooking up at Brian's place I'm all too willing to jump on. So, '38 Velocette OHC KSS, a crazy '65 Panther 650 single, an Isolastic Featherbed Commando and a new shop under construction. No pictures... I suck.
Brian handed off the parts, endured at least 45 minutes of my stupid questions and offer to let V drive his vintage mini Farmall tractor next time we are up. Thanks Brian.
So this is the actual parts cache.
My favorite part has to be the original paint Amaranth Red Sprunghub rear brake stay, I might just have to hang that in the garage or something. There's a Thunderbird cylinder and head (insane just how much heavier they are than the T100 alloy pieces). Sprunghub parts, cam, top triple clamp, chromed timing cover, nice primary cover, 2 front brake plates, another intake, etc. Cool stuff.
I may need to do a little horse trading for a few parts I really need to finish Emma.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
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