Hello all, finally got my stolen recovered America on the road, not ridden a Hinckley twin before and am very impressed with it on the road. 11,000 mile (I think that is genuine mileage as the front tyre was the original and cams etc look like new but it does rattle a bit - do they all do that!?) bike was rescued from a crack den having been stolen and used for target practice I think - tank smashed in with a hammer, rear mudguard hammered, carbs missing, airbox, ignition switch and a lot of wiring missing and otherwise cut up and torn out, cotton wool and cocktail sticks stuffed in the inlet ports (yes, really!), speedo smashed with a hammer I think, front wheel spoke nipples broken, generally totally vandalised by crackheads. Strange things included two nails hammered into the top tube of the frame - strong crackheads it seems - and black paint thrown over the offside of the engine, you can see that I am still cleaning that off - using white spirit and a lot of patience... and the bracket for the rear of the plastic side panel has been twisted and broken off the frame - has anybody got one they have taken off to clean up their frame on a bobber/chopper conversion please!? New or good used parts used: As new tank airbox airbox chrome grilles carbs ignition sensor battery box battery speedo glass - from Triumph TR4 sports car! headlamp clips - yes, I don't know why they were stolen! side panel rear light - as new rear indicators and mounting bars air injection system plugs - I used Nissan oil drain plugs, dirt cheap! dual seat - as new paint - aerosol metallic black on mudguards - tank is original mint Triumph paint starter lead new Battlax front tyre - original had been slashed ignition switch - Chinese one for Honda CBT 125 - works perfectly with relays fitted - retains parking lights too oil and filter air filter k&N - airbox de-baffled wiring - relays and light and heavy cables fuel tap seals 135 main jets spoke nipples rear footrests and mounts left handlebar switch - dipswitch was smashed All this bought on ebay over nearly two years so total cost including buying the bike was £1120 - it can be done, if you have the patience! Thanks to all on here for your help, parts and encouragement.
I'm sure this bike will treat you well, @slimlavud, for saving it from such a sad life. Sort of like a rescue dog who is forever grateful to his (or her) new owner and knows where his bread is buttered.
Thanks all, it was a labour of love and while I checked the valve clearances and ran a compression test, I had no idea what the motor might be like until I finished everything. It ran up on one cylinder and my heart sank but it was just a bad spark plug. It does whine in the gears quite a bit but I guess that I hear it because the standard e Faust’s are so quiet!? And there seems to be a lot of driveline slack/shunt? The chain is correctly tensioned and the Cush drive rubbers are good - is this on/off throttle slack normal?
Slimlavud Well got to second everything the peeps have said. You have resurrected a real gem. Your throttle slack may need adjustment and check the chain for tight spots. But as you ride the bike it will free up considerably. Good on you i take my hat of to you. Regards Joe.
Thanks Joe, I do have a bit too much play in the two throttle cables, the chain is the original I think (11,000 miles on the clock seems genuine) and the bike seems quite easy on the chain, it hasn’t slacked off at all in 300 miles. The front and rear sprockets are original and the nuts and studs are tight so if nothing goes bang I’ll just keep riding it!
Slimlavud Yes i had the same on my 675 and the bike war real jerky i readjusted the cables to about a mill play and all fine. Next time you get a chance get it on the stand turn the wheel slowly and listen to the chain go over the rear sprocket if it has tight spots you will hear it click or jump. Also take a look at the sprockets make sure they have not started to bend or turn. Regards Joe.
I love to see rescued bikes back on the road. All three of mine were neglected, and parked. I get more joy out of them than I would if I bought new. What joy in that ? Payments, high license/insurance fees. You can do an awful lot of upgrading for what you put.out in payments on a new one. GOOD JOB ! ...J.D.
