Starting to consider a color scheme for the Cub. This one is looking good. Classic red topped tank, silver mudguards and black elsewhere.
April 25, 2015
Cub Update
It’s been a little while since we’ve seen this little fella on the blog. Some crucial body parts have been hard to come by. However I have both fenders, a short period trials seat, a clean tank. Looks nearly roadworthy! Exhaust pipe on the list next then the all important ignition set up – the pulse itself.
April 3, 2015
Under Wraps
An evenings chat and local beer with a friend and some of his acquaintances. One of whom had a Norton in his garage, non running, waiting for a rainy day to get back on the road. Sitting since the late eighties we peeked under its protective blankets to see a complete Combat Commando. 1974 750cc in bright yellow.
It certainly wouldn’t take too much effort to get it running again. New tires, battery, plugs, fresh oil, perhaps some gaskets and a carb clean-out.
I think this is what is called mothballed!
February 8, 2015
No slack chain here…
… Installed a spring loaded chain tensioner today. It both takes any slop out as well as lifts the low run due to the whopping sprocket off the ground.
There will be a little more adjusting to do one we get closer to roadworthyness and I need to a an outer stabilizing bar on the tensioner pivot.
February 1, 2015
Sunday Wrenching
Got the engine firmly bolted in. Oil return lines attached and starting to get the clutch adjusted – missing a ball bearing that seats between the push rod and lever. Made a simple support stand so I can shuffle it around easily. Will need to amass some stainless fastenings for the oil tank, fenders and other ancillaries.
January 26, 2015
Needs Home. Wrenches. Patience and GSOH
Going through tough times. In need of some rear support to gain traction. No gas in the tank, indeed no tank. Saddle-up? Well, no saddle. Flat tired. Rusty around the edges as well as middle… And underside. Wiring loom needs reweaving. Amal is AWOL. Seen better days. Would like to enjoy retirement. Or willing to be organ or limb donor!
January 24, 2015
The Weakest Link…
Chain slung over the new whopping sprocket. All 66 teeth on it. To ensure it wouldn’t rub against the hefty trials tire some engine realignment was also accomplished. Just need 3 new high strength 3/8″ engine to frame bolts. The rear brake pedal lever was also given a little more of an s-bend.
December 23, 2014
Rusty owld iron
Sometimes you get to the end of the year feeling like a worn out Triumph. Sludge in hidden crevices, collapsed seat, flat tires, dull finishes, all the oomph has gone and scarpered… Well, another year rears its head as well as the downhill side if the decade (whatever that means!).
November 8, 2014
Get your kicks on Route 66
A whiff of drilling and smattering of grinding I managed to fit the splined KTM kick start with the wider swing arm to the cub. Basically drilling a through hole to fit a cotter pin. Broke three bits to get through the hardened steel. And my Dremel died when fine tuning the fitting. But it works well and looks capable whilst folding neatly against the engine.
We just drove along one end of Rt66 today: Lake Shore Drive here in Chicago.
October 31, 2014
A Skeleton Crew”or “tighten those loose bolts!”
Hallowe’en and the dead shall rise… Well this chopped, hacked and generally abused moto might need more than Dr Frankenstein’s theatrical efforts to awaken with a hearty rort. Even though it says Triumph on the coffin tank the engine looks like a Yamaha… Scary!
Other Frankenbikes:
Boris Karloff styled GI Joe figure with combination.
A dude and his bride highway bound on a pumpkin colored chopper. What torque do you need to tighten neck bolts?
Tea and biscuit Boris?
September 20, 2014
Jigsaw
A current offering on the online bidding site EBay is a ’65 Triumph Cub. The main photo shows a complete bike looking quite sharp. Big letters state the bike ‘needs some work’ and ‘ran when last in one piece’ also ‘mostly there…’ Well, for $1,750 starting price I would at least want a box of spanners and a workshop manual thrown in! It’s not as adventurous as my project with parts being scoured from all corners of The globe. Here’s another… $699.. More reasonable…
September 17, 2014
Tanks a Lot!
As well as tweaking the rear axle alignment and brake arm swing I dropped the tank on to give an even more complete appearance. Lookin’ Good!
September 16, 2014
Back Wheel
There are several variations for setting up a trials rear wheel. It includes the axle adjustment, brake arm pivot, brake rod or cable, chain tensioning, wheel alignment, chain guarding. Snail cams seem like the way to go for easy adjustability, a thin aluminum guard plate to keep the oily chain off the soft wide knobbly tire, and an underside roller/block pushing up with spring action to eliminate slack.
September 15, 2014
Motor
Dropped the small Cub engine into the frame. Glad its only a 50lb lump. Three easy bolts slotted home and it sits comfortably as it should. There is a few alignment issues to address: chain line, rear brake pedal cable and stop, wheel spacing, fork swing. Its a matter of assemble, disassemble… Repeat…..x12…
Truly taking shape now!
September 13, 2014
Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’!
Finally got the wheels put on today. Dean holds the cubbie up here with its new boots shod. Starting to look like a motorcycle.
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