Special Service Tools...

Very little progress over the last couple of weeks. A word of advice--read the manual in advance and plan ahead--if you need special service tools, order them prior to your disassembly. The are a couple of tools I need to specifically remove the crank & cam pinion gears. Luckily, there is an alternative, but the cases have to be separated. This works out pretty well for me since I was already planning on a complete disassembly. Order those tools!!

swing arm blues...

Made a lot of progress over the last couple of weeks. The engine and gearbox is partially taken apart. My repair manual came in this week; I was very excited to have it because I was at the point where I didn't want to mess with anything for fear of messing something up. There are a couple of special tools that are required for certain jobs, and I wish I had taken the time to research and acquire some of them. The clutch assembly has one such special tool that I wish I had to remove the assembly off the taper. I ended up damaging the outer clutch cover and the clutch pushrod because I used the alternative method (in the repair manual). I removed the rear wheel assembly today and was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. I am really looking forward to stripping the rest of the engine and gearbox so that I can remove them completely in order to get the frame and other painted components powder coated. The only problem I am having so far is the lack of a few tools such as an some larger 6 point sockets (1 1/8) and some snap ring pliers. Hopefully I'll have a chance to continue some more on it over the holiday tomorrow.

Wire Nightmare

The last three days have been very productive on the bike. I finally finished up the lift table, and it has proved extremely valuable. My back definitely appreciates the table. Fenders, footpegs, complete wiring harness, lights, and levers have all been removed. It's almost like a puzzle--you have to pull off the three or four parts just to get one part off. I managed to take numerous photos that should be very helpful when the assembly begins.

A few of the parts were blasted today. It's amazing how many years of rust and paint can be removed in just a short time. All of the blasted parts will most likely be powder coated when the frame is ready. I lined up the powder today, and it looks like it will be a smooth process.

The main concern from today is the rewiring. Everything on this bike runs through the headlight tub. When the bike was produced, Triumph did a good job of enabling the wires to disconnect; but it doesn't change the fact that they all have to go back together--properly.

Rusty bolts...

Well, made very little progress on the bike today. I pulled the gas tank and the exhaust off. I only twisted off three bolts! I have a feeling this is a sign of things to come. Most of the bolts on this bike are extremely rusted and will probably require some work to get off. So far the hardware is very inconsistent; some of the bolts were different size on one side of the exhaust versus the other.

I definitely have to get that motorcycle lift finished. Working all hunched over and on the garage floor just isn't going to cut it.

Picked it up...

Last week I picked up a motorcycle that my dad gave me last year. It is a 1973 Triumph 750 Tiger that was built in England. My father purchased the bike from a couple in Arkansas whose son did not return home from Vietnam. Although I don't have any idea who the bike originally belonged to, I find it a fitting tribute to rebuild the bike both for my dad and the original owner that gave his life for his country.

The bike is in pretty rough shape because it has been stored outside for the last several years. The motor is completely locked up, so I cut the chain so I could at least move it in and out of the garage. I have decided to build a motorcycle lift table so I don't have to spend a lot of time hunched over, and this should facilitate the rebuild process much easier. I plan to restore the bike to original specs as much as possible. I know for sure that I will upgrade the electrical system and any other safety items. This bike holds a special place for me, and I am very excited to get started.