Trumph 1940 Speed Twin

[Dexter]

So using the lockdown to tick off a few more mods to the Triumph
Hated the primary chain guard it came with - way to heavy so set about making something a bit more simple.
Didn't have anything the right dia so used a blow torch - its made of aluminium so I pulled it as I heated a section at a time to create/ form the bends....

[Hoghead]

Looks neat!

[Dexter]

Next part to receive its marching orders was the rear exhaust mount, nasty made of more metal and bolts than you could imagine.
I came up with something simple and hidden unless your looking for it.

So this is what got the chop.....


Here's my solution using tube made in 2 parts which have a register so the are held concentric with a fixing bolt through the middle, the top tube also has the mounting tab which uses the seat spring fixing bolt.

[Hoghead]

That looks cleaner- strong too! Clamps always interrupt the flow of the pipes!

[Dexter]

Next on the list was this head steady, its not a conventional type and further investigation these Jack type head steadies were supposed to stop the barrel splitting just above the bottom flange when high compression pistons were used and a guy called charles ..titch...allen came up with the idea.
I just wanted a more engineered solution getting ride of weight, bolts that were too long and jubilee clips...

Here's what we started with


And my solution , I drilled the main bolt to reduce the weight and turned a register on the head to secure the U clamp which fittes around the frame tube to spread the force. The head studs were past their prime so although this works with downward pressure when the engine gets some attention these can be changed out and nuts fitted so the lock wire is a temporary / permanent fix....

[Hoghead]

Looks neat!

[Dexter]

Next up was sorting out the front brake hub, this had been modified by a previous owner and the style and welding were not the best

Old brake plate


I looked at cutting off the welded scoops off this plate but much as I don't like it - its part of the bikes history so it can hang on a nail in the garage till I find a better use for it. I had previously found a replacement brake plate so this was now going to pressed into service with my new design.







Looks like my photo limits up so next installment to follow.....

[Hoghead]

Looks neat,especially polished. Those old brakes always did need a little help. Relined shoes and better cooling were a winner. Radius the lining to the drum always helped too.

[Dexter]

So part 2 of the front brake plate...

New scoop


On the bike

[Hoghead]

Nice! Are you running any mesh in the mouth of the scoop?

[Dexter]

Not yet but as the holes are relatively small not sure if its needed.

[Hoghead]

It's a moot point, the T100 of my yoof came with a TLS brake as standard in '69. It had mesh over the intake, presumably to stop stones. More factory/Street than your race set up.

Brock Yates/Duffy Livingstone's legendary Eliminator hotrod never ran mesh, that ran on dirt and asphalt.





It'd be good to see your Triumph at the sprints! In the nineties my friend Guy used a 500cc Speedway Jap motor in a Cotton race bike at a sprint at Brooklands.
I got beat by him , a WW2 vet in his eighties!

That stripped down race look is excellent

[Dexter]

Hi Hoghead

I hope to do a few track days and sprints with this bike get it out there and show what its got..

Bit more tinkering has it looking like this now, but sure I will find more to do

[Hoghead]

Looking good! A mate of my grandad's committed a heist at the end of WW2 and bought one with the proceeds (much to my Grandad's horror) . Those good lines proved too tempting! A few commandeered T100's became DR bikes with the BEF only to get left at Dunkirk , one by a long deceased friend. Do you have much history with this one?

[Dexter]

Back in the summer taking it easy before a ride out