Back in the 1960's I used to do all of this in the hallway to my tiny flat in London, it was a common practice in those days. Lovely Triumph , happy memories.
Keep going! The T-160V was "the one that got away" in my life. I'm glad to see someone else is going to be able to ride and enjoy this one for years to come.
Used a trick I learned from you today. Leaky float bowl on Amal would not stop with new gasket. Took the bowl off and rubbed it flat on the back of my vice, with some wet and dry and WD-40. All fixed, see you can teach an old dog new tricks. Cheers. Keep up the good work, love the videos. Your voice over lady does a great job too.
This is soo inspirational ! No doubt I am like a lot of folks watcing your bike stripdown, been riding them for years but never felt confident enough to have a go with taking a bike apart. Well, that is going to change, and I have put a bid on a T160 restoration project. I may not tackle the engine, but the rest of the bike suddenly appears to me to be a do-able work down jigsaw puzzle, keeping your ordered regime at the centre of things; cleanliness, order, photos - and recognising my limitations. Should be fun and educational!.....lots of cuppas and coming back to the puzzle! Thanks so much, Dave. You're a worthy successor to Line of Duty
I think I was the same way. I use to get compliments on how shiny the cases were. If one was going for a ride on Sunday I’d spend Saturday arvo polishing and detailing. Towards the end of the 70’s Triumph got a bit slack at matching up the case surfaces to each other, so there were cases where I’d have to use a rasp to virtually level the cases then use wet and dry to finish off said cases. My weapon of choice for polishing was Autosol which I still use today. Thanks for a great video Dave, from Down Under.
Been waiting for this! You guys did not disappoint, great video. The patina look, I feel, is the best look. Let's face it, nobody wants to have to keep a bike they ride all the time...spotless and spit shined. Waste of time. I'd rather be wrenching or riding. By the way I pretty much use same products and methods. Secretly it would be nice to have a vapor blaster though. Thanks guys keep up the good work.
I worked as a motorcycle mechanic at a Triumph dealership in New Zealand in the late 60's when we first got these. I remember one week we had every single one we sold back in the shop broken down - for warranty work. The build quality was just shocking! And the three 3-point ignition system a constant nightmare. The timing would stay set for about 50-miles! If only Triumph had spent a few more dollars on electronic ignition. We had many, many really unhappy customers. Sadly, if assembled correctly they were great bikes as Les Williams proved. Put together properly they could almost compete with the Honda 750. Our Triumph shop went bust and I went over to work at the local Suzuki dealer.
I have begun watching your recommissions and really enjoy them. Having been a factory trained Triumph mechanic in the early 70s and restore bikes to this day, I appreciate everything you are doing and do things pretty much the same way. Although there are a couple of suggestions to make things come out a bit better. First of all never use scotch brite on chrome even to remove rust. Use XXXXX steel wool, it won't scratch. Second plain old vinegar on the inside of the fenders well remove the rust and not leave the damage sand blasting does. And use the white scotch brite on the aluminum which is less prone to scratching, a bit more work but better result. Like you said, take your time. Don't get me wrong, I have never seen another mechanic I am more in agreement with..never.
Loving these videos. Would you consider a short series of ‘how to’ videos, techniques for dismantling, different solutions to clean up and restoration of various types of parts (alloy, steel, rubber, plastic etc), including products and materials, and reassembly? Thanks!
My kind of channel... Solid advice.. The bit about moving on a project was timely for me... Best of all.. No affectations or put on accents..well edited very well lit too.. and clear visuals No ' music'.. Thanks.
I used to be a postman in the 70 s. I delivered to many terraced houses where the front room was converted into a small garage for working on motorbikes. No Aspidistras in front of the window.
Hi Dave great work , just a tip for you , I don't know if you've seen them , you can buy felt discs for your disc grinder , use with autosol or compound , they are fantastic. Cheers .
Fun watching all the 'bits and bobs' (as you guys say) getting cleaned up. Would it make any sense to paint the underside of the fenders with rust resistant paint like Rus-Oleum?
My least favourite thing with bikes is keeping the beggars clean. A car you can wash in 15 minutes. Bikes take a lifetime... That starter motor cover I would have given a quick blast of clear coat to keep the rust at bay. Made it look a damn sight better, though. Thanks.
Sidarth I own a t160 since new ,your problem is likely caused by oil pressure washing out your white metal bearings due to excessive wear, I have found that when rebuilding the bottom end cleaning of the sludge traps in the crank are often neglected , these become compacted and you should allow 3 hours to clean them, tiresome I know but all that polishing is futile unless you are aiming for a static display , first use heat to loosen the grub screws, or drill them out
part2 ,then drill out compacted sludge, use an old speedo cable while squirting petrol through till clear,believe me it's worth doing it right, I have 100psi on start up and 30 , 40 when warm, in aus I use penrite 25,,,70 , enduro,
Hi Dave, did I hear you right saying you use kerosene in your parts washer? Looking to get some more fluid for mine but the stuff off the shelve is very poor. Always thought using kerosene was unsafe??
The T160 starter motor was not very usefull on my brothers bike, under ideal conditions (new fully charged battery, heated garage) it worked, after a cold night outside forget it. We came to the conclusion the rpm ratio between starter motor and crankshaft is wrong.
My brother has a T160 Cardinal, which has had rearsets fitted, he wants to to replace them with standard rests and levers, where would you get them from?.
Try L P Williams for Trident parts: www.triumph-spares.co.uk/index.php. It was Les Williams who made the Cardinal in the first place, although he no longer runs the business.
@@peterhatfield5632 Peter are you sure?the cardinal was a lower compression motor built for Saudi Arabia govt ,they didn't last long,.too much sand les Williams made his own improved version of t160 with many custom parts ,very collectable called the legend ,rear sets, brake upgrade,seat,exhaust, switchgear, console ,I have seen one here in tasmania aus,it's a case of what if he was running the show,?
Hi, I notice you never mark the pushrods when you disassemble (so you can reassemble them in the original location). Am I being unnecessarily pedantic or...."?🕊
Back in the 1960's I used to do all of this in the hallway to my tiny flat in London, it was a common practice in those days. Lovely Triumph , happy memories.
Love this style of video. I used to take off my Amel carbs, and polish them to a bright finish. Only to watch them fade back, but I enjoyed doing it.
I bet you those polished Amels made th bike run a lot better! lol
These videos are a honey for us motorcyclists. They reveal the motorcycle part by part.
Keep going! The T-160V was "the one that got away" in my life. I'm glad to see someone else is going to be able to ride and enjoy this one for years to come.
Brings back memories of me doing the same on my kettle, as I was restoring it, nice job Dave 👍
Used a trick I learned from you today. Leaky float bowl on Amal would not stop with new gasket. Took the bowl off and rubbed it flat on the back of my vice, with some wet and dry and WD-40. All fixed, see you can teach an old dog new tricks. Cheers. Keep up the good work, love the videos. Your voice over lady does a great job too.
This is soo inspirational ! No doubt I am like a lot of folks watcing your bike stripdown, been riding them for years but never felt confident enough to have a go with taking a bike apart. Well, that is going to change, and I have put a bid on a T160 restoration project. I may not tackle the engine, but the rest of the bike suddenly appears to me to be a do-able work down jigsaw puzzle, keeping your ordered regime at the centre of things; cleanliness, order, photos - and recognising my limitations. Should be fun and educational!.....lots of cuppas and coming back to the puzzle! Thanks so much, Dave. You're a worthy successor to Line of Duty
I think I was the same way. I use to get compliments on how shiny the cases were. If one was going for a ride on Sunday I’d spend Saturday arvo polishing and detailing. Towards the end of the 70’s Triumph got a bit slack at matching up the case surfaces to each other, so there were cases where I’d have to use a rasp to virtually level the cases then use wet and dry to finish off said cases. My weapon of choice for polishing was Autosol which I still use today. Thanks for a great video Dave, from Down Under.
Loving this series. Dave is just a master genius.
What I would give to spend a week or two giving him a hand and making the brews!
Really enjoyed watching this classic bike being tidied up. Look forward to the next video.
Can't get enough of this. Dave and Classic Motorcycle Channel crew, thank you so much for your effort!
Thanks Dave another great video!
Brings back memories of Simichrome!
Another great video
Thanks for the effort you guys put into them.
I really enjoy the basic no fuss approach to the work that's done on the bikes.
Another very interesting video. Thanks Dave.
Always learn something in every video. Thanks :)
Been waiting for this! You guys did not disappoint, great video. The patina look, I feel, is the best look. Let's face it, nobody wants to have to keep a bike they ride all the time...spotless and spit shined. Waste of time. I'd rather be wrenching or riding.
By the way I pretty much use same products and methods. Secretly it would be nice to have a vapor blaster though. Thanks guys keep up the good work.
Love these videos. Wish i had a T160 to do up
Thanks for sharing this beautiful videos, I really enjoyed them. Grtz from Belgium Erwin, a big Triumph fan. 👌👍😃
great video , keep em commin
I teach high school students automotive skills and i will be using your video as a teaching tool. Goodonya. Chris. Australia
Hi Chris, that's so cool. Thanks for letting us know, it will be interesting to see what they think!
I worked as a motorcycle mechanic at a Triumph dealership in New Zealand in the late 60's when we first got these.
I remember one week we had every single one we sold back in the shop broken down - for warranty work.
The build quality was just shocking! And the three 3-point ignition system a constant nightmare.
The timing would stay set for about 50-miles! If only Triumph had spent a few more dollars on electronic ignition.
We had many, many really unhappy customers.
Sadly, if assembled correctly they were great bikes as Les Williams proved.
Put together properly they could almost compete with the Honda 750.
Our Triumph shop went bust and I went over to work at the local Suzuki dealer.
You're like the person on youtube I would pick to be my best friend.
Gumption is your friend, cheap and readily available at any supermarket.
Ultra fine brass wool and wd 40 is really good on rusty chrome and stainless. Brass brushes are good on cast aluminum.
Another thoroughly interesting video. Thankyou.
I have begun watching your recommissions and really enjoy them. Having been a factory trained Triumph mechanic in the early 70s and restore bikes to this day, I appreciate everything you are doing and do things pretty much the same way. Although there are a couple of suggestions to make things come out a bit better. First of all never use scotch brite on chrome even to remove rust. Use XXXXX steel wool, it won't scratch. Second plain old vinegar on the inside of the fenders well remove the rust and not leave the damage sand blasting does. And use the white scotch brite on the aluminum which is less prone to scratching, a bit more work but better result. Like you said, take your time. Don't get me wrong, I have never seen another mechanic I am more in agreement with..never.
Great series, cheers
Nice video keep up the good work. 👍
Loving these videos.
Would you consider a short series of ‘how to’ videos, techniques for dismantling, different solutions to clean up and restoration of various types of parts (alloy, steel, rubber, plastic etc), including products and materials, and reassembly?
Thanks!
My kind of channel...
Solid advice.. The bit about moving on a project was timely for me...
Best of all.. No affectations or put on accents..well edited very well lit too.. and clear visuals
No ' music'.. Thanks.
Great work. Cheap too costing mainly elbow grease. Get the next video up soon please 👍
I used to be a postman in the 70 s. I delivered to many terraced houses where the front room was converted into a small garage for working on motorbikes. No Aspidistras in front of the window.
Would like to know the best way to preserve the polishing job after it’s finished
Interesting all this love it❤️
Solvol Autosol, great polish, used it on my T150V back in 72, I wish I had used clear lack afterwards to keep that shine.
Should always check that old shocks still have some damping action. Quick to take apart and reassemble.
Hi Dave great work , just a tip for you , I don't know if you've seen them , you can buy felt discs for your disc grinder , use with autosol or compound , they are fantastic. Cheers .
Thanks for the tip Cobra! Alex
Fun watching all the 'bits and bobs' (as you guys say) getting cleaned up. Would it make any sense to paint the underside of the fenders with rust resistant paint like Rus-Oleum?
My least favourite thing with bikes is keeping the beggars clean. A car you can wash in 15 minutes. Bikes take a lifetime... That starter motor cover I would have given a quick blast of clear coat to keep the rust at bay. Made it look a damn sight better, though. Thanks.
Try cleaning the chrome with aluminium cooking foil and water, it works a treat👍🇬🇧
Great video! Just a question- if you do find metal filings within the oil filter, what are the most likely causes?
Sidarth I own a t160 since new ,your problem is likely caused by oil pressure washing out your white metal bearings due to excessive wear, I have found that when rebuilding the bottom end cleaning of the sludge traps in the crank are often neglected , these become compacted and you should allow 3 hours to clean them, tiresome I know but all that polishing is futile unless you are aiming for a static display , first use heat to loosen the grub screws, or drill them out
part2 ,then drill out compacted sludge, use an old speedo cable while squirting petrol through till clear,believe me it's worth doing it right, I have 100psi on start up and 30 , 40 when warm, in aus I use penrite 25,,,70 , enduro,
Hi Dave, did I hear you right saying you use kerosene in your parts washer? Looking to get some more fluid for mine but the stuff off the shelve is very poor. Always thought using kerosene was unsafe??
The T160 starter motor was not very usefull on my brothers bike, under ideal conditions (new fully charged battery, heated garage) it worked, after a cold night outside forget it. We came to the conclusion the rpm ratio between starter motor and crankshaft is wrong.
my t-150 I always used never dull works much better than paste...turned it into like crome look...
I am about to do the rings in a t160 do you have a video or some pointers .
Thank you for your assistance.
John
My brother has a T160 Cardinal, which has had rearsets fitted, he wants to to replace them with standard rests and levers, where would you get them from?.
Try L P Williams for Trident parts: www.triumph-spares.co.uk/index.php. It was Les Williams who made the Cardinal in the first place, although he no longer runs the business.
@@peterhatfield5632 Peter are you sure?the cardinal was a lower compression motor built for Saudi Arabia govt ,they didn't last long,.too much sand les Williams made his own improved version of t160 with many custom parts ,very collectable called the legend ,rear sets, brake upgrade,seat,exhaust, switchgear, console ,I have seen one here in tasmania aus,it's a case of what if he was running the show,?
Solvol or Brasso?
Hi, I notice you never mark the pushrods when you disassemble (so you can reassemble them in the original location). Am I being unnecessarily pedantic or...."?🕊
I see he’s OCD about cleaning like me.