guzzipro

GUZZI'S TRIUMPH'S

I bought a 500 triumph pre unit chop last october with a view to building a bobber. The bike was all there just about running but had been discarded in a shed and left to rust away . It was a shame really as whoever had built it had put a lot of effort into the bike but its not to my taste. With the help of a good mate Phil we went to preston to pick up the bike . Once i had got it home i checked the oil was pumping up and let it tick over for a while and then it died. i went through the usual stuff and i could not figure it. i cleaned out the fuel system checked the spark and points gap pissed about for a while checking wiring ,coils, ht leads etc but still no luck. I asked a friend we call dave the vicar, an expert on old brits to come and have a look even he could not get the bloody thing running again but what i had found was that holding the plug away from the head it would jump a good blue spark but if i touched the head with the plug their was no spark at all i started to think in the right direction at last.
Rufforth auto jumble was on so i decided to go and get new plugs, condenser, and points. we were home just after lunch and i was dying to get the old brit running. i fitted the condenser first and the plugs were still sat on the head and as i turned the ignition key on a beautiful blue spark cracked across the plug i then knew it would run. i fitted the new bits and kicked the bike, . first kick a pop, second kick it burst into life and ticked over like a brit twin should, loud and sweet. That was it i fell in love with the strange looking softail.

I was talking to a mate who came to have a look and we were talking about the rebuild . He said it would be a shame to pull it all in bits. After he left i started to polish up a few bits and give it a clean it started to look much better so my idea was to put it back on the road and run it for a while.

A few days later my friend Mr Carter ( i call him the opinionator ) and i were chewing the fat and he told me he would love to build a tribsa and asked if i knew of any bits for sale, my old mate Blackneck came to mind, i knew he had a pre unit 500 TR5 Trophy or should i say bits of one. I did not know its value and told Mr carter what bits Blackneck had , he valued it at £500 . Frame , pre unit 500 lump, gearbox, forks and yokes, a tank, oil tank,rear shocks,speedo and a couple of pipes. all in salvagable condition . He said bid Blackneck the £500 i will pay that. That night my brain went into overdrive . I started thinking that i would have the best of both world if i bought the bits, i could ride the softail and build the hardtail bobber. The tight yorkshire git in me then bid Blackneck the following day (sorry Mr carter) and he agreed to sell as he could use the money to put his magnificent triumph chop back on the road. i was buzzing with the thought of our new bike club and having the old brits to ride out on and especially the thought of Blacknecks triumph being resurrected having sat behind his couch for sixteen years. i cant wait for the new season to start.
Guzzi.
PS i went cap in hand to my mate Mr carter and he was of the opinion that i was a tight selfish yorkshire git and so i offered him the bits for what i had paid and after i had listened to his long lasting opinion again he declined the offer. what a guy. ive picked up a set of girder forks and a coffin tank plus quite a few more bits and bats . As things progress i will keep you all posted.