Britbike forum Forums British motorcycles in general British modified/specials Not a lot of Britbike specials happening...

Kinda slow in this department lately...

There's one happening in my garage right now. Not ready for the big reveal yet however. I was advised not to spill the beans by my mentor. I'll tell you it is an Italian frame, powered by a '72 650 Triumph engine and the disc brake, alloy spoked wheels, forks and swingarm are from a Cagiva.
Just completed today, the top engine mount. I had to narrow the welded bushings so the valve covers could be removed without removing the 10mm bolt.

Not sure when it will be done. Maybe Spring 2023? A lot of parts are ready to install. The engine clutch and transmission are yet to be installed, but have all the parts to do so.

I guess this B40 Trials would qualify:



Still in dry build status but should be finished - - next year when I get back to CO. I built it from a swap meet motor, $27 ebay frame, Ceriani forks from a trove of parts on the shelf, ebay front wheel (KT250), ebay T20 rear hub widened by 1" laced to a nice NOS rear rim with buchanan spokes. I just want something to ride on all the Jeep trails in CO.

Tom

Tom,

This post reply simply won't do!

You must start from the beginning and give the back story / nexus, then relate every detail of the project with as many photos as possible, and as much detailed narrative as possible, INCLUDING mistakes made and/or problems encountered, with solutions you came up with to proceed, etc.

...and zooming in, I see several lumps on the workbench...

You simply MUST post several new threads!

TAKE YOUR TIME, doesn't have to all be done this week...

Parts bolted together , Rickman frame , Kawasaki KZ 900 fork tubes and wheel, and Suzuki k10 engine . Needs a bigger engine.

You must be a gluten for pain and I a sucker for taking the bait! But here are a few more photos:



I started with the swap meet motor as "rebuilt", but never believing what I'm told (as you already know), I proceeded in checking it out.





Firstly, debris in the crankcase that got my attention. And a hole clear thru the cases into the crankcase from where the PO had drilled to convert the motor from distributer to side points. That conversion requires use of B44 transmission inclusive of shift fork shaft which was a threaded stud before the conversion. I pressed a plug in and loctited it. I should have welded it.







I disassembled the crankshaft for inspection and felt that it was good to go. Re-assembly is easier if you mark alignment before disassembly.





I decided to try an Electrix battery-less ignition along with the smaller 18 tooth primary sprocket as I don't have a trials gearbox. After finding TDC, I marked the cases and one tooth on the sprocket because removal of the degree wheel can result in unwanted rotation of the crankshaft disturbing the TDC setting.





Conversion to a Trials machine requires moving the footpegs rearward to get the proper balance I'm told, so after the donation of a couple of appropriate rear pegs that had gone thru the Sunshine Canyon fire in CO, I was able to weld them to what seems like a good location. I was able to retain the rear brake lever pivot so I cobbled up a new brake lever, which at least serves to get the idea.







Rear brake hub is T20 Triumph which I decided to widen by an inch. And on to the rear wheel, I sourced a NOS rear rim, ordered new spokes from Buchanan's, which laced up nicely. It's only a WM2, but is original Jones rim so I felt it sufficient for the riding I'll be doing - - very slowly!



The front wheel is from a Kawasaki 70's trials bike and has a very odd brake stay boss. It's at 90 degrees to the hub, so required some innovation using 1/2 tubing with an angled stud to secure it, along with a cable stay at the appropriate location. I'm using an ATV front brake cable because I like the large range of adjustment using a long threaded end. Also, the cable itself is .100" diameter so gives an extremely solid feel at the handle.

So that's where it stands. I'd like to get a nice trials seat but they are in short supply right now - - might have to make one. Also need fenders, aluminum ones would be most impressive but plastic more appropriate. Anyway I'll disassemble, sandblast, and repaint as I have time.

I "had" a set of forks that would have worked much better for you (lighter). Unbelievable how much stuff I SCRAPPED when we moved 3 years ago...

Not so much a special as a replica of the late 60's ISDT T100 bikes. Over the years, I have found T100 frames from 62, 65, 66 up to 73 but none with papers. so when a 68 Daytona came up with papers I bought it. Of course, it was in boxes. so some bits were missing. Shortly after purchase, I sold the front wheel, the new rear fender, the gas tank and other bits as I had already found some of the stuff I would use. I had a 69 Victor alloy tank, alloy fenders, T100C headlight, new two into one down to the right pipes with some donated Victor exhaust pipe to get the single T100C muffler on it going up, built folding slightly rearward pegs and controls, already had front alloy engine mounts coming off the roadster that I made 35 years ago, shortened and modified the mounts on a 69 dual seat, Honda braced wider bars, B40 front wheel, older narrower T100 triples to suit the wheel which now has a Triumph axle, pair of late T100 sliders and new late stanchions, road legal knobbies, lots of engine parts and the like. As is often the case, the project went on the back burner while other things took over but I am now back at it and after a dry build some time ago, am painting the frame and all the black bits so I can get to the final assembly while I still might be able to ride it.... Modified a C15 chainguard, have a choice of gear sets and sprockets, ( gearbox and rear wheel ) and lots of other bits. Hope to have it back to being a bike in 2023. It's a matching number Daytona which may offend some but it can always go back to being a roadster when I'm done. There was enough stuff missing and all stored in boxes in a leaky shed so it wasn't going to be a roadster without a lot of time and money anyway and I already have a roadster. Besides, dirt and gravel is more fun than the road these days and we still have logging roads in the area that I can ride to during the winter. When I have something to show, I'll learn how to get out of my low tech mode and post some photos, maybe in the spring.

Turned the photo darkroom into a temporary paint shop, and using a brush and with the heated film/print dryer on and the exhaust fan going, don't have to wait for the spring to do the painting as the winter rains have recently shown up. Any photo work will have to wait for a week or two though......

Cheers, Wilf

Looking forward to seeing it, Wilf. You've been talking this project a long while...

Nice project OT!

Haven't logged in here in many years. Honored that the gold A65 bobber I built all those years ago is still being used as the thumbnail for this forum.
Cheers, Bernie

"If it ain't broke, don't "fix" it"

I've got two Brit projects- a '76 Triumph motor to be installed in a Wasp RT 3 frame and a '56 Ariel Square Four motor in a Wasp roadrace frame. The frames have been on order for two years in February... The Triumph motor was rebuilt with a late 60's intake cam, fresh bore and pistons, various bearings, seals, etc. Hillbilly supervised the assembly and occasional bodge. Tried my hand at nickel plating with good to fair results. Used a vengar and salt bath and nickel rods connected to a 12V 1.8 amp power source.

The Ariel is down to the cases. In the last year I had new valve guides and valve job done on the head after vapor blasting it, Cylinder vapor blasted , bored, new rods from Bennet Longman of Iron Horse, new pistons ready to go. A shout out to IMD pistons for a quality product and great customer service! Of course one of the crankcases was cracked and needs welding. Currently removing the old epoxy. Roller bearings were good but the babbitted bushing are out of tolerance so the must be re-done.

I have 2 projects on the go.
Rickman Mk3 TT (flat track style) with Jawa speedway engine and Norton gearbox
1936 OK Supreme flying cloud with JAP 350 grass track engine and Norton "dolls head" gearbox

Today I was playing with engine mounts. I need to offset the engine 4mm to the left to allow the oil drain plug to clear the frame tube

I would love to have a Jawa in a good frame!

Speedway engines are bullet proof. My GM500 has a rev limiter set at 13.500rpm

Installed Morris retard mechanism on Joe Hunt magneto. Able to time at stock 34 degrees , with no kick backs.

interesting you were able to crossover.

i wonder whether it fits on an original fairbanks morse.