Excellant informative films, coupled with a book I have just read by Hughie Hancox an ex Triumph employee and restorer I now know a lot more about Triumphs than I did whilst riding them over forty five years ago.
These bikes were made by engineers who had a good eye for detail and with a solid engine like it had why bother with a torque wrench, you need them for delicately made stuff. Motorbike vibrate a bit so to stop bolts loosening, use some elbow grease!
My 1954 ( '55 model ) Thunderbird,owned 30 years, similar to the bikes in this film,still gives unending pleasure everytime I ride it and it does NOT leak oil !.The problem is the gearbox leaks more than the engine and this can be eliminated as I have done.It may be a hard ' pill to swallow ' for some but I still say it is the most beautiful motorcycle ever produced.Survival rate is great, indicating just how durable they are, and the huge prices they now fetch reflects the desirability of them.
this film was 1954.the 8 inch front brake drum had a wavy edge that year only.the racing on T100s in I.O.MAN was the 1954 clubmans TT.how do i know?cos i am on no 12,a fantastic engine and gearbox.120 m.p.h. on sulby.but that frame with the addition of lights dynamo and silencers in 1956 was frightening.riding a gold star later i couldnt believe the difference.but nice people.the man putting the T100 engine on the test bench was stan truslove.
At 2pm on Sunday 25th October 2009, a Blue Plaque will be unveiled at 8 Philip Walk , Peckham, London SE15 to commemorate Edward Turner, the MD of Triumph motorcycles, who lived and worked there- ALL INVITED !
thank you basketcase3, great vids - we can see why the engineering of Triumphs back then made them great, what came after woz `management' - or the lack of it... Nothing wrong with the original designs, but the complacency & arrogance of the industry back then saw to it that Triumph, or any British motorcycle manufacturer would fail - However, by copying the `copyists' (soz, didn't mean `Japs' :) ) Triumph are back! - Thanks for the vids man, big thumbs-up to ya :)
SpeedTriple59 - In the 3 Triumph Factory Films did you see a gasget being fitted? no - nor did I, thats probably why Triumphs dripped oil, I had two T110 in 1959 & 1960, both dripped oil ! !
@SpeedTriple59 When I was a new car get ready man in the 70's for a Jaguar/Volvo/Rolls Royce dealer, "Controlled Seepage"was a term I heard a Rolls Royce Factory Rep used to shut up a customer who was complaining about oil on her garage floor. It was all I could do to burst out loud laughing.
@SpeedTriple59 ...it was the materials of the era...properly rebuilt Triumphs,with modern gasket materials,and proper modern sealants,and LOC-TITE,and the use of a torque wrench,will stop about 99% of those oil leaks...
@MrBullethead63 "...it was the materials of the era...properly rebuilt Triumphs,with modern gasket materials,and proper modern sealants,and LOC-TITE,and the use of a torque wrench,will stop about 99% of those oil leaks..."
Yes - but the basic design itself had the biggest influence on potential for oil leaks: vertically split crankcases. Engines (and gearboxes) with horizontally split casings don't leak oil!
I have a 66 that does not leak a drop since rebuilt...
cavemandan 2 months ago
penang means pulau pinang in malaysia or other place?
MrFiz82 3 months ago
Blood hell MNX 676 in this clip is still on the road!!
scott4fliss 6 months ago
The world is not as nice as it was.
CodeTwo2 10 months ago
Excellant informative films, coupled with a book I have just read by Hughie Hancox an ex Triumph employee and restorer I now know a lot more about Triumphs than I did whilst riding them over forty five years ago.
speedtwin007 11 months ago
Loved the machining and assembly,but I thought the best part was the IOM/TT course...thanks for sharing these films!
MrBullethead63 1 year ago
These bikes were made by engineers who had a good eye for detail and with a solid engine like it had why bother with a torque wrench, you need them for delicately made stuff. Motorbike vibrate a bit so to stop bolts loosening, use some elbow grease!
vaestanfors 1 year ago
well that was just wonderful. It's inspired me to take my 1972 Trident for a run, and I would, if it wasn't perpetually broken.
orchidtender 1 year ago
Gosh!
What a frightfully nice film.
It just goes to prove that the greatest gift that god can give to you is that you are British.
Hurrah!
avril2 1 year ago
i wonder how durable the thruxton is. wonder how many miles they can get before croaking
choopdewoot 1 year ago
My 1954 ( '55 model ) Thunderbird,owned 30 years, similar to the bikes in this film,still gives unending pleasure everytime I ride it and it does NOT leak oil !.The problem is the gearbox leaks more than the engine and this can be eliminated as I have done.It may be a hard ' pill to swallow ' for some but I still say it is the most beautiful motorcycle ever produced.Survival rate is great, indicating just how durable they are, and the huge prices they now fetch reflects the desirability of them.
flammasherman 1 year ago
Beautiful in all the ways, thank you for sharing this !!!!
portacurbo 1 year ago
Imagine most of them are now gone! a part of history rusting somewhere in some junk yard how sad!
th3matchless 1 year ago
Bloody well done for putting these on youtube. I loved 'em!
uraldneprvw 2 years ago
forgot to say that this film is in the video 99.99 TRIUMPH.plus fantastic performance by the late ray pickrell
1956triumph 2 years ago
this film was 1954.the 8 inch front brake drum had a wavy edge that year only.the racing on T100s in I.O.MAN was the 1954 clubmans TT.how do i know?cos i am on no 12,a fantastic engine and gearbox.120 m.p.h. on sulby.but that frame with the addition of lights dynamo and silencers in 1956 was frightening.riding a gold star later i couldnt believe the difference.but nice people.the man putting the T100 engine on the test bench was stan truslove.
1956triumph 2 years ago 2
Great series of films, really enjoyed them. Just wish we could have heard the engine noises instead of the commentator!
tdmlewis 2 years ago 2
Hiya...you got the 850 or 900 ??
Bazza
basketcase3 2 years ago
At 2pm on Sunday 25th October 2009, a Blue Plaque will be unveiled at 8 Philip Walk , Peckham, London SE15 to commemorate Edward Turner, the MD of Triumph motorcycles, who lived and worked there- ALL INVITED !
meriden4ever 2 years ago
very choice set of films
yeatesy68 2 years ago
when coppers were men thats to say at least 6 feet not sawn off little runs we have today
polskich 2 years ago
one assumes this was the meriden factory?
Zer0kbps 2 years ago
Thanks for posting this series. BIKE BRITISH.
BeetleBerlin 2 years ago
thank you basketcase3, great vids - we can see why the engineering of Triumphs back then made them great, what came after woz `management' - or the lack of it... Nothing wrong with the original designs, but the complacency & arrogance of the industry back then saw to it that Triumph, or any British motorcycle manufacturer would fail - However, by copying the `copyists' (soz, didn't mean `Japs' :) ) Triumph are back! - Thanks for the vids man, big thumbs-up to ya :)
jonnosmythe 2 years ago
What a great era! It would be so cool to work in those factories.
trimphbsa 3 years ago
SpeedTriple59 - In the 3 Triumph Factory Films did you see a gasget being fitted? no - nor did I, thats probably why Triumphs dripped oil, I had two T110 in 1959 & 1960, both dripped oil ! !
jammyhartley 3 years ago
Nor did I see a Torque Wrench Being used.
bydabeav 3 years ago
But... An awful lot of them are still running though! Wonder if modern day Triumphs will still be running in 50 years?
xlaptopx 3 years ago
Yes they are i have a modern triumph and that is oil tight,but alas would love a 68 bonnie, but prices are sky high at moment..
SpeedTriple59 3 years ago
I love triumphs one of the most beautiful bikes ever made but why the hell did the always leak oil???? was it due to tolerances or bad management..
SpeedTriple59 3 years ago
Complacency I think...The moderm Trumpets are oil tight though...aren't they..? My favorite is the Rocket 3. A Monster !!! : )
basketcase3 3 years ago
Comment removed
jonnosmythe 2 years ago
@SpeedTriple59 When I was a new car get ready man in the 70's for a Jaguar/Volvo/Rolls Royce dealer, "Controlled Seepage"was a term I heard a Rolls Royce Factory Rep used to shut up a customer who was complaining about oil on her garage floor. It was all I could do to burst out loud laughing.
peejay1954 1 year ago
@SpeedTriple59 ...it was the materials of the era...properly rebuilt Triumphs,with modern gasket materials,and proper modern sealants,and LOC-TITE,and the use of a torque wrench,will stop about 99% of those oil leaks...
MrBullethead63 1 year ago
Comment removed
CodeTwo2 10 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@MrBullethead63 "...it was the materials of the era...properly rebuilt Triumphs,with modern gasket materials,and proper modern sealants,and LOC-TITE,and the use of a torque wrench,will stop about 99% of those oil leaks..."
Yes - but the basic design itself had the biggest influence on potential for oil leaks: vertically split crankcases. Engines (and gearboxes) with horizontally split casings don't leak oil!
CodeTwo2 10 months ago
Thank you for this historic Triumph movie.
My 1955 Thunderbird will benefit from this
when I start rebuilding.
deltagrooveblues 3 years ago
Thank you, very interesting, it´s true.
mastropiero968 3 years ago
Very interesting. Thank you.
Eddydiesel 3 years ago