For the hugger maybe just go over it with some Scotch-Brite then spray it satin black? Whats the plans for cleaning and painting the engine, my ocd won't take many more pictures of it in that state.
My plan is to do some more intrusive cleaning once I have the headers back on. I'm concerned about the tonnes of crud getting inside the exhaust ports! I doubt I'll paint it. It's an old bike for street use. Maybe tidy it up a bit. Putting the radiator back on should mask the majority of it! . What would folk recommend painting the engine with? I'm not sure I could do much without pulling the motor out and stripping it?
Another exciting day with the STR! Exhaust headers collected which have now been welded up on the balance pipes and pulled out where they'd been crushed, with a plate welded over as the metal was thin. £50. Seems fair to me. Stripped the bike to the cam cover... hopefully a professional en route next week to check the valve clearances....the only bit which needs doing I can't manage myself. Throttle cable bracket removed to get in at the cam covers. All came apart easily. Coil packs out. Spark plugs loosened. New plus and filter to go in.... along with new gaskets. For the OCD amongst us....it does indeed need a good clean... which I'll sort once the cam cover is off. Hopefully getting there now. I knew it'd need some fettling. My final laugh of the day was ordering new chain and sprockets from eBay M&P. When I checked out I'd bought 4. Who f@#£ing knows how that happened. Messaged them straight away to see if there's an easy solution. As it's broken Britain and there's no phone number...I doubt it. Hey ho. Next week. Tyres and going back together. I hope. Please all tune in as I may need some help as to what random parts are and where they go
Be aware that M&P have been bought out and I have heard of several people who purchased from their Ebay shop and have received absolutely nothing. The good thing is, if there is a problem the Ebay Money Back Guarantee will apply.
Thanks Colin. I've absolutely no idea how I was billed for four....but as you say. eBay will wear it in the long run. The heads up is appreciated . Just on with cleaning. Happy days. Lol. I might fix up one of these every year
you were lucky there given the age of the bike, couldn't budge the JIS? screws on mine and had to remove the throttle bodies, replaced them with Allen screws to make it easier next time. Wasn't going to say a thing although I'd give it a clean BEFORE taking the cam cover off, don't want any crap dropping inside. I'd never push anybody to do things they aren't comfortable with, but just checking the valve clearances is easier than all the work you've done getting to this point. Although if they need adjusting and cams removed I can understand that many people are happier leaving that to a professional.
JIS screws? Are those the ones that hold the throttle cable brackets on? I managed with a 300mm pH2 screwdriver which I pushed on hard while a friend turned with mole grips. No problem at all. I noticed on muddysumps video he slackened off the nuts, released to cables from the bracket, then undid the screws in the bracket. Probably a better way. On reflection, you're right. I'll clean it as best I can with it in place, then remove it. I suspect if I'd seen the valve check being done, I'd be comfortable doing it. It's being certain as to cam lobe position etc. a bit beyond me at this stage....but maybe next time . If nothing else, it'll all be clean when I open it up again. Lol. I'm enjoying myself but keen not to wreck anything. I'm chuckling at the amount of dirt. But strangely, all the fasteners are good and largely, things ok. Hey ho. Back together soon hopefully and it'll live to fight another day
All coming together nicely now. . Buttoned back up with new spark plugs and air filter. Went back together smoothly . Tank back on but in a rush today so not ran it yet....The proof of the pudding and all that. Took the wheels out and home to clean in the back garden. Hopefully new tyres to be fitted tomorrow. The only issue found today are the front wheel spacers....which have grooves worn into them. Fairly deep as well! I of course forgot to take a picture. The seats are perfectly smooth and undamaged however. Thoughts? Should I replace them? And if so...any thoughts on what might have caused it and what to replace them with? I only have a picture of the rear spacers...which are fine
Fwiw, if it were me, I would offer the spacers into their oil seals on the wheels without the spindle. It should be fairly easy to gauge if there is a perceivable "gap".
Should you need to replace any/all of the spacers, might be worth taking the opportunity to get a set of captive wheel spacers, which you can get in black anodised aluminium for better looks (IMO) and slightly less weight too. And less stress when changing wheels.
I'll maybe try that. It's like a deep groove about 3mm wide and maybe 1mm deep is worn all round the circumference of both spacers. Roughly in the middle. I'm guessing as they aren't like that from the factory they've worn at some point but the wheel bearings seem fine. Hmmm... maybe replace just to be on the safe side? Does anyone have a bucket of front wheel spacers?
Yes, just like that. I got these ones from Ebay, but it looks like UKRS is cheaper; 2006 - Triumph Daytona 675R 675R ABS Captive wheel spacers. Anodised Black | eBay
Triumph do sometimes "groove" spacers to identify different width options, this is the case on my Thruxton. But not saying its the case with yours and can't find any evidence it was done for the Street Triple. If its a wear mark from the seal either turn the spacer round, if the grooves not in the centre, or replace as suggested. The spacers should be a snug fit in the seals, if they won't stay in when you tip the wheel over then they definitely need replacing, done mine at least twice on both bikes, only a few quid each on Ebay, sizes are on the seal or from Fowlers website. Did you get the valve check done, did it need any shims?
I didn't manage to get them done. The lad who was doing them has had to head away with work and I thought it better to just change the plugs etc and button it back up for next years winter project. I might have a go. I'd be confident if I'd seen someone do it but.....I haven't. Bike starts ok so hopefully fine. Fingers crossed. It was only belt and braces while in there. Jen likely to be riding it mostly so it'll not be knocking it's pan in at empty four million RPM. . Tyres tomorrow. What I have noticed since COVID is no companies seem to answer the phone anymore. It's as if everyone went home and never came back! I'll order some wheel spacers. Cheap peace of mind I'd say . Thanks for the advice fellas.
One other point of interest today. I'm going to try and resurrect one of these every year or so. An obvious stumbling block is taking the screws from the throttle cable bracket...where they often are rounded out or hard to access. New tool for the very job arrived today...along with the M5 cap head bolts to replace the screws installed at the factory
you can see the little pop mark on the screw head which indicates JIS, Philips is near but not quite as good a fit, but if others have already had a go, probably with the wrong screwdriver, its academic. It was an odd choice of screw, given how tight they can be and the access, any sensible person thinking of future maintenance would have just used capheads in the first place. Presumably you can get access through the frame with them being side on, on my gen 3 the screws face towards the cam cover and were a right ba***rd.
Every single one I've tried to get out has already been half butchered. A long PH2 seems the best fit. A two man operation....one to hold the screwdriver straight and apply direct pressure, the second to turn it with mole grips. Then replace with cap heads. I've no idea what triumph were thinking...other than saving 11p. I guess they only see them in the dealers for the first couple of years so it's a moot point. I'd be interested to see what JIS screwdriver sets they have in the dealerships. I'd warrant that's where they get their first butchering. No reason to take those out other than valve clearances. And not many folk will do that themselves. Mind... I've decided to try and find a decent video and maybe have a go later this year . Tank rubbers were also missing and replaced today. One came in my job lot of screws, bolts and trim pieces. The other was £6. That's exactly this view @wobblybiker99 ...from the off side, through the frame.
