TOMCC is privileged to have secured the services of Nigel Sprocket, ex Triumph UK to give us the benefit his advice, and to add interest with anecdotes from his years at the Triumph factories.
Nigel joined Triumph in 1903 as an apprentice on the shop floor. He moved with the company to Meriden where he was soon promoted to Head draughtsman on the parallel twins project as a result of his ground breaking work on preventing leather drive belt slippage. When designer of the first Triumph parallel twin, Val Page, pointed out that Triumph hadn’t used belt drive for thirty years and he had already developed a parallel twin engine, Val was immediately transferred to BSA. (as an aside Val’s engine eventually became the BSA A7/A10 range).
Nigel moved on to develop Harris Bonnevilles where his innovative work on saving weight by developing porous castings astounded Harris Bonneville owners worldwide.
When John Bore started Hinkley in a stunning coup he poached Nigel from the dole queue to work in the experimental department where to this day he is developing a standard whitworth thread pattern not only for Hinkley bikes but eventually for all motorcycles. Imagine only one set of spanners required and they’ll be British!
TT accessories market a kit “KT 99 Push in Conversion Kit”. This helps secure ” push in pipes ” which normally relies on the balance pipe and being a tight fit into the head from coming loose.The original finned clamp was just for show. This kit uses the new finned clamp which is screwed to the …
MODIFYING TRIUMPH TWIN ELECTRICS Note from the Author. Originally I was very reluctant to do this item as if there is one sure way to get your head blown off its sticking it above the parapet by having an opinion on a technical matter. I’m certainly interested in constructive criticism and corrections where I’ve gone …
Want to add an oil filter (good idea) but want your bike to look origional? A Trident filter will fit on the rear frame down tube, just attach it with hose clamps and plumb it into the oil return line.
Before I start I like to know as much as possible what is likely to need doing. This time on my 69 Bonnie the prime reason was oil leaks, I suspected the pushrod tube seals but it can be hard to tell where the oil is coming from. No smoke from the exhaust at all …