As some of you know, i've been collecting parts to put a Pre-Unit Triumph together. Picked up a set of cases at Wauseon a couple years ago (intended for a trike project that seems to have gotten lost in the clutter...). Then i got an OE rigid frame that needs a little love. Those parts have been collecting dust for some time now. Then in an effort to clean up around here one day, i stuck the engine in the frame (to save room, of course...). From that point, i've begun to hang parts on it, and this is where i'm at so far (not very far! lol) Plan is for a simple, classic chop. I'll be taking the neck back to stock rake, stock forks, spool 21" front, 19" rear, wassel fender, wassel tank, bates seatm and small z-bars i think. No plans of getting fancy with it, just make a good solid rider from old/swap parts, and get it out of my life, and hopefully put a buck or two in my pocket.
don't hold your breath, this one is gonna be slow going (bunch of other stuff 'in front' of it right now...)
...old original frames are no weird or too small; check them in a complete stock motorcycle and you ll see that they are not so small.
Both 19 wheels, mud guards etc; put besides an HD and fully clothed they are not so small.
I've been gathering parts for a pre unit rigid project for a loooong time. Don't know if I'll ever get to it but I will tell you what I paid for the first chunk of mine.
I got an unmolested '52 frame front loop, an unmolested rear loop of an unknown year (It was painted a different color from the front) a rigid non sprung rear wheel/brake/axle/spacers setup, a transmission, and a perfect 1947 oil tank minus the screw in cap all that stuff bolted together for $175.
I have since acquired an engine (sorta.. a '56 TR6 with an incorrect cast iron top end and rods that look like someone chewed on them,) a nice set of primary covers, and a sprung hub wheel, in case I want to go that way. I also had a set of KZ1000 trees modified to fit the frame and have fited the Kaw forks to the roller.
i won't tell you what i paid for this one then...lol
old original frames are no weird or too small; check them in a complete stock motorcycle and you ll see that they are not so small.
Both 19 wheels, mud guards etc; put besides an HD and fully clothed they are not so small.
I notice you have an alternator engine. What were you planning to do about the primary side? You could always run an open primary. You could search for a set of primary covers from a '53-'54 5T, 54 6T. (If you do, learn the difference between these and the outer for a TRW, which looks similar.) When I was thinking about running a '61 engine in my project I thought about taking a set of alternator swingarm primaries and a set of rigid generator primaries and mapping the places where you could cut them and weld them together in sort of a Frankenstein set of rigid primaries for an alternator engine. I'm not even 100% sure it could be done, but it's the start of an idea. Good luck.
Great to see this build thread come up I'm fairly new to Britts in general and have a similar project going on.
Here is my frame adventure..... http://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181642
I'll be watching, learning and cheering you on. Don't hold back on the details.
plans have evolved slightly, still same overall idea, but i'm hoping to get it up and running in time to take it to Mama Tried this winter, the ice racing bug bit me last year...
Scored some ice tires from Dustin
Grabbed a nice 1.60X21 AL wheel @ wauseon
Picked up some Ceriani forks on ebay
Started on the frame/neck mods last night, and hope to get it into roller status next week.
I had the rigid preunit fever when I got my 61. It had an incorrect rear section and I was itching to build a 50s style factory racer. With a little convincing from the peanut gallery, I kept it as is due to more stock parts than not.
Will definitely keep my eye on this one!
got the neck welded back up (still have a BUNCH of cleanup work to do yet) and had to slap the forks on to get a good look at it. Also got the axle plates opened up to accept the unit style rear axle. Now that its in 'roller' status, it will probably go back into the corner while i finish up the sporty.
image1 I know you said this one was going to be SLOW, but, any updates??
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