1967/1969 Bonnie Rebuild Desert Sled Project - Any Advice

Discussion in 'Vintage Classics' started by Sundance, Sep 15, 2021.

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  1. Sundance

    Sundance Well-Known Member

    Aug 2, 2021
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    Arlington, VA
    OK, I get that. However when the carb is fully seated and the nuts are on the studs, they aren't able to be tightened enough to secure the carb. So the studs are too long, or not enough of the stud is threaded. So to fix this I need to find a way to move the carb back a bit, like with a spacer, or replace the studs and/or manifolds. I suppose I could also use a very thick washer or several washers. I was hoping someone might have experience with this and had the proper fix. The photo is with the nut tightened all the way.

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  2. darkman

    darkman Crème de la Crème

    Oct 26, 2015
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    The rubber washers go over the stud with the cup washers and then the nuts, with the nut up tight the carb will then seal on its rubber O ring and you still have a small amount of flex in the carb to manifold.

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  3. Iron

    Iron Elite Member

    Dec 29, 2021
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    Yep, use those cupped washers etc from post #309. You also need to turn the carb up the right way or it'll be a right arse trying to get the throttle cable attached :D
     
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  4. Sundance

    Sundance Well-Known Member

    Aug 2, 2021
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    Yeah, thanks for the right side up!! I obviously didn't notice when I was trying to show the gap. I think I would have caught it - eventually ha - but I suppose this is how one gains some humility.
     
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  5. Sundance

    Sundance Well-Known Member

    Aug 2, 2021
    217
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    Arlington, VA
    I could use some advice on my carburetor install again. So my tank petcocks impinge on the Amals. I would think this may have happened to others before me and so I aim looking for a good solutions to get this all to fit. I am assuming the carbs should be oriented vertically straight, rather that canted to make room? Thank you for any advice.

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  6. darkman

    darkman Crème de la Crème

    Oct 26, 2015
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    Never seen that before, another tank or reposition the taps are a couple of options.
     
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  7. speedrattle

    speedrattle Senior Member

    Feb 19, 2021
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    #327 speedrattle, May 11, 2022
    Last edited: May 11, 2022
    that certainly is odd. is the tank aftermarket? how do you have it mounted?

    you can cant the carbs over, i think.

    they jets are concentric to the float bowl, so moderate tipping doesnt change the fuel level.

    or you can shim the back of the tank up just enough to clear?
     
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  8. Sundance

    Sundance Well-Known Member

    Aug 2, 2021
    217
    93
    Arlington, VA
    Thanks SR. I see the carbs are already canted a bit forward which can't be modified, which got me thinking about this as a fix. I've spoken to some who say they can't be canted and some who say it should be ok. I have the tank mounted as it shows in the 1967/69 parts manual. With this there is still not much clearance under the tank. I'm waiting on some crush washers and will get my petcocks set and see what I have to work with on the carbs.
     
  9. speedrattle

    speedrattle Senior Member

    Feb 19, 2021
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    the forward/aft position of the carbs cannot be changed. you can twist them left or right. thats what i meant. they can be twisted quite a bit without mixture difficulties.

    mounting an aftermarket tank (if thats what you have) must be done by trial and error-- the stock situation no longer applies. you may have to shim it back or up to get the petcocs to clear.

    or, you can ditch the petcocks and install hose barbs that run to an inline petcock mounted in the hose, remote from the both the tank and the carbs. that would take some detective work to find the parts, but could be done.
     
  10. Sundance

    Sundance Well-Known Member

    Aug 2, 2021
    217
    93
    Arlington, VA
    SR, thanks. I've thought of installing hose barbs and have been looking around for something that will fit. In the meantime I've been fiddling a bit and think I can get what clearance I need by mounting the tank a tad higher. I'll be looking for some appropriate rubber washers to add a half inch or so, and may also need some mounting bolts a bit longer. I think this will do the trick and still allow the regular/traditional petcocks to be used that I already have. I thought this would be straightforward but it has turned 0out to be another case of needing to do a lot of fitting here and there! I'v got the oil lines set, just need the fuel lines and tank.
     
  11. speedrattle

    speedrattle Senior Member

    Feb 19, 2021
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    #331 speedrattle, May 17, 2022
    Last edited: May 18, 2022
    nothing is straightforward on these old tarts unless you spend a lot of time sourcing NOS or matching used bits.

    tbeyve all had decades to accumulate bodges and improvements.

    i have a T120 ive owned for 45 years. was stock when i got it and now its full of bodges and improvements that i cant blame anybody for but me.
     
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  12. Sundance

    Sundance Well-Known Member

    Aug 2, 2021
    217
    93
    Arlington, VA
    That must be the case with my old bike. I've tried to replace items with the correct part numbers for a 1967 frame and 1969 engine. A few times I've purchased the same part number from different stores and got different items. One of the most tedious jobs has been getting the gas tank set with enough clearance underneath for the stays and other parts of the engine and frame. Then the manifolds and carbs and such a similar amount of assembling and re-assembling a few times over to make sure all will fit when I get to the part to tighten/torque everything up. I've tried to approach it more like meditation - ha, but often need to walk away for awhile. Anyway, overall it is a great challenge and when you get things right there is some feeling of accomplishment. Not sure I could have kept at it without the forum support. Thanks again!
     
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  13. speedrattle

    speedrattle Senior Member

    Feb 19, 2021
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    ive learned more in the last 10 years from sources like this forum than i learned in the previous 30.

    theres a vast amount of expertise available that comes from the communication thst the net provides.

    in the 90s, i was the only person i knew with a triumph. not so now. i learn new stuff every day.
     
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  14. Sundance

    Sundance Well-Known Member

    Aug 2, 2021
    217
    93
    Arlington, VA
    Wiring questions. I am beginning to wire my bike and arm asking for advice. I have a headlight (hi/lo beam), tach and speedo with illumination, tail light, and a pazon ignition with a podtronics regulator/rectifier. I’ve got new coils, 2 6 volt, and the coils, and pazon are installed and the bike is timed statically. The lights and gauges has small male bullet type connectors on the wiring. I’m planning on a single point negative ground. So my questions revolve around what type of connectors are good/best to use when connecting all the electrical components. Also, as this seems to be a bit of a challenge for me, any advice on how to approach this, like what to do first, second and so on. I know there is quite a bit on-line about this, but a lot varies. Oh, I am thinking of using a 3 position switch or 2 toggles (one to turn on ignition and brake light, the second to turn on lights). Thanks for any help.
     
  15. Sundance

    Sundance Well-Known Member

    Aug 2, 2021
    217
    93
    Arlington, VA
    Tachometer and Speedometer: I bought a mini tach and speedo that I have installed on my 1969 T120R. These are from Lowbrow and I thought they would work OK. However, the standard Triumph tach cable does not work with this - the standard cable has a square male fitting and these mini instruments need a round cable fitting. So I am wondering if anyone has used something like this before? Is there an adapter available to make these work on my 1969 tack drive and speedo drive? Any comments are appreciated.

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  16. speedrattle

    speedrattle Senior Member

    Feb 19, 2021
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    the veglia replicas sold by eurotrash jambalaya have an adapter that converts a square triumph cable end to a blade . . .

    i think.


    give joe a call and see whether thats the case
     
  17. Sundance

    Sundance Well-Known Member

    Aug 2, 2021
    217
    93
    Arlington, VA
    thanks SR, I'll give them a call!
     
  18. Sundance

    Sundance Well-Known Member

    Aug 2, 2021
    217
    93
    Arlington, VA
    On the chance that I cannot get my “mini” tach and speedo to work with this bike . . . are there any other options for instruments rather than the original or replica smiths items? Thank for any help.
     
  19. speedrattle

    speedrattle Senior Member

    Feb 19, 2021
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    speedhut sells design-it-yourself GPS speedos and you can buy from them or from dime city.

    the dime city clocks were designed to look like smiths but need a 12v source . theyre plastic so you can hook em up even with positive ground, so long as you keep them out of the stock wiring
     
  20. speedrattle

    speedrattle Senior Member

    Feb 19, 2021
    1,106
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    appalachia usa
    maybe not dime city.

    cant find em now
     
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