1965 Triumph 500

[jamming]

Well, I'm finally getting around to posting some pics of the old beast. Its really rough, but its a matching # bike. The #'s on the engine and frame match. I got a boatload of spare parts, it'll be a fun toy to tinker with.http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/60804463-M.jpghttp://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/60804466-M.jpg

[BobFV1]

Roger - Looks like you have quite a little project ahead of you. Good luck!

[DarthRider]

Any idea if the engines runs - has compression - turns over?
Looks like most of the expensive stuff is there...assuming that's a stock tank & f. fender in the pic! Is that a stock seat pan on there? Got pipes?
Is that a Jap front end or stock? I don't have any refernce material here and I can't tell at a glance.
Check out Emgo if you want to go "cheap & stock appearing"!
I bet you have $1800 worth of stuff, parted out on eBay...not that I'm recommending that!
Have fun...

Dave

[jamming]

Dave, I have 6 Triumph fenders, tank is in good shape, needs paint. Has both stock petcocks. I have 2 stock seatpans, pipes, the engine was running, has compression. I got 2 swingarms, 3 sets of insturments, 2 headlights. That's a Honda front end, good eye. I have the stock forks, and another set of stock wheels. I even have another box of parts I hav'nt even looked in. I have a title and matching numbers.
All for a 100 bucks. Been looking on the net for sources for parts.
Dave, maybe you'll know this, I have a set of 650 jugs and heads, will those work on the 500 lower?
I'm going to strip the frame bare, and take the engine down in the next few weekends. I'll post pics.
Roger

[Sir Limpsalot]

What you have there is "Hours of endless amusement - for two or more players". Has to be the bargain of the decade at $100. You can't fit the 650cc top end to the 500cc cases as the bore centres are different. No matter really because in many ways the unit 500s are nicer machines than their bigger brothers.
If you care to post (or PM me) the engine/frame number I can probably work out the build date etc for you, if you're interested that is.
Great project, good luck with it.
Si

[DarthRider]

Si nailed it on the 500/650 conversion...and that the 500 motor is sweeter.
Double my $1800 eBay estimate!
I'll take the whole load off your hands for $150...ya' can't beat that!

Save

[jamming]

Simon, the serial # is h39878
The full VIN is T1005SCH39878
Appreciate an info I can get.

Dave, nope, I actually thought of parting it out and running with the cash, but I can't, This old scoot needs to be rebuilt and ridden, she's talking to me. I always wanted an old Triumph, Besides, it'll be fun.
Roger

[DarthRider]

Rog -

Don't get me wrong...I'm not recommending eBay!
It's just that "what it would bring on eBay" is always an interesting "benchmark" for me. As is what I paid for it and what it is "really worth" in terms of psychic coin.
Plus it's great to re-assure wifey what a shrewd "investor" we are!

Dave

[Sir Limpsalot]

If you look again you should find the Vin is really T100SS rather than T1005S.
The '65 model year started at engine no H35987 and ended at H40527.Model years traditionally changed build dates after the factory re-opened in September having been closed for the latter part of August for holidays. yours would have left the factory during the early part of '65.
The vin no shows you have a "C" or "Competition" model.
This would have been fitted as standard with a high level siamesed (two into one in modern "speak") exhaust, exiting up the left side of the machine,a smaller competition headlight unit and a skid plate under the front of the engine.
A lot of improvements had already been made for the '64 model year and obviously your machine would have benefited from these. New for '65 were the "domed top" oil pressure relieve valve, a milled slot in the crankshaft allowed a special tool to locate the crank at TDC for ignition timing purposes, front forks with an extra inch of travel and an improved clutch.
As you may know Triumphs of that era were imported into the US in two versions an "East Coast" version distributed by "Tri-Cor" of Towson, Baltimore and a "West Coast" version distributed by "Jomo" of Pasedena, California.
It's not very clear which spec your model would have been, but to be honest the differences were mostly in minor details such as mudguarding and tyre sizes.
The standard colour for your machine would have been: frame and forks in black. Fuel tank in Burnished gold and Alaskan white (gold on the top and white on the bottom).Ignition would have been by Lucas 4CA twin contact breakers.
Having looked at a few photo's of your machine when new I would say the nearer to "stock" you can get the better. Your bike, your project, your call.
Enjoy yourself.
If I can help in any way, just ask.
Si

[Sir Limpsalot]

There should be a pic of a nice '65 T100SC following:
http://img147.imagevenue.com/loc215/th_24942_br03med04.jpg (http://img147.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc215&image=24942_br03med04.jpg)

[Rchop]

I like it Roger. Looks like my kind of project. If you have any questions making any of that old stuff look new...just ask. I'd be happy to share some of my secrets. Here is a pic of one of my previous projects in the reassembly stage:
http://www.frsengineering.com/059.JPG

[jamming]

Thanks Simon, and Randy I followed your chop build and it is sweet. Might take you up on that.
Been out playing with the 500. Cleaning it up, taking stock. First order of business I'm gonna strip it down to the bare frame, and start from there.
It has that old motorcycle smell about it, oil, gas, rubber, Love that smell.
I'll post pics as it goes along.
Rog

[Arby]

Roger

I know you were talking street tracker at one point, but that picture that Si D posted looked awful good.

Either way, if your attention to detail is as good as Rchop, you're gonna have a great looking bike when you're finished.

Every since Darth posted pictures of his Norton, and now you've started on your Triumph, I'm feeling guilty about the one I've got sitting in the shed.

Not quite guilty enough to do anything about it mind you.....

About that "smell". My father started his garage business in 1927, and it stayed in business till 1985, when I closed it up.
We did everything from change oil and tires, to rebuilding Cummins Diesels and welding trucks frames together. And everything in between, just about. So I know what you mean about the smell.

To some, like my wife, it's just the smell of grease. To me, and I'm sure a few others, it something more than "just grease".

Shops today just don't have that smell.

Of course, it could be because they clean up better than we did.

Good luck on your project.

Bob