I owned a T150T and later a T160V in my twenties in the 1970’s ….. if only I and my fellow Tridentitus sufferers in Ilford TOMCC knew of the gems you have just revealed in your brilliant video. Most of our maintenance was carried out with the engine still in the frame, ar the bottom of the garden (no workshop luxury for us) so setting runouts up on a lathe were out of the question 😂. …. Thanks for a truly brilliant insight into our years of suffering, way back in our twenties , cheers👍

I'll never own a Trident, but I truly enjoyed learning about how to set up the clutch in one.

This series, especially this video have been a godsend to me whilst trying to sort myT150v. All very clear and it all makes sense. My clutch pressure plate was 9 thou out! Hoping when all is back together I will have a “great clutch” too. Many thank.

Never understand thumbs down when someone takes the time and effort to impart very useful info. Thanks for sharing.

@benellimon

4 жыл бұрын

My guess is the "thumbs down" relates to the idiotic design of the clutch, and not the video itself (which is excellent).

I'm very happy to have finally finished the next video in the series on the T160 rebuild - It's all about the clutch. I learned a lot in the process as well so I hope you find it useful!

excellent,everything i needed to know about my clutch but was afraid to ask...

Good video, thanks.

Had two Tridents. 1969 and 1973. The 69 had a bent crankshaft. Got a new one after a two year wait. The 73 smoked, apparently, because the guy who bored the cylinders on the boring machine, retired. The new guy didn't do well with the boring machine with the markings worn off. (Or so the story goes.) New bore and pistons. Then the prince of darkness reared it's ugly head. Parts were impossible. Basically gave the bikes away 30 years ago. Got a GS1000. Then a Honda 919. Still have the 919. My conclusion after 25 years of Triumph. They don't do good in California, riding 60 miles a day on the LA freeways. Oh, and I did replace the Amals with Mikuni's. What a difference.

Great video thank you

I've been following this to make two Trident clutches work right. The closest I got was .035" by mixing and matching parts between two clutches. I have no lathe so I had to find matching parts. Finally figured out which parts were perfect but still could not get it. No matter how I assembled the same areas were tight and loose in the paper strip test. It finally dawned on me that although I had carefully checked the thickness of the clutch plate at many locations and they were all good that there was one more needed test. The clutch plate is warped! That's the first thing I should have checked - I hate is I miss stupid stuff!

@ClassicTriumph

3 жыл бұрын

Greg, We've had a few dodgy clutch plates that caused grief as well. Since making this video we've started making the clutches adjustable so they are easier to get right. Have a look at kzread.info/dash/bejne/o6GdqpJ7k665pKQ.html

superb

Love you videos never had Trident but had couple of the Twins but always wondered were clutch migrated to after left primary case on trident

Brilliant mate! Is my understand correct in that you skimmed the plate absolutely flat and uniform across the entire surface on a lathe, but took off the strict minimum of metal to do so?

I fitted a Borg and Beck clutch plate on my T160V in 1983, the plate is the same as was fitted to the Austin Mini.

@ClassicTriumph

3 жыл бұрын

David thanks for your comment, however I really need to make the point here that you cannot successfully use a mini clutch plate in a Trident. If you had no problems back in 1983 it may not have been the plate you thought it was. A mini clutch plate has a spring system built into it so that the clutch plate compresses as it is taking up the driving force. On a mini this provides some drivetrain shock absorbtion but on a Trident where there is less clutch lift available it just provides headaches. You pull in the clutch lever and the clutch plate expands in thickness. The linings stay in contact with the clutch and pressure plate and it can not fully disengage causing significant drag. I strongly suggest that nobody tries fitting a mini clutch to a Trident! They will regret doing so! (sorry David)

@mmark8394

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you ' I've been using a mini clutch for a while 'now and have had no problems '.please note boss is affixed on the other side

Good stuff. When the clutch is apart is it straight forward for a machine shop to lighten the clutch components?

@ClassicTriumph

6 жыл бұрын

Steven Armstrong I can't think of any reason why not. The only comment I would make is that I'm not a big fan of drilling holes in the end plate the clutch mounts on because it then flexes even more than it does normally.

Hi I just watched your additional clutch video , I have a t160 but haven't looked at the clutch as yet , but am a engine machinist , so the adjustable set up you made seemed to work OK , but I was wondering if the diaphragm spring could be measured on a surface plate and if it has a few high spots I think this would hold on a magnetic chuck with some edge straps to hold and with a reciprocating surface grinder take a few thou off to true it a bit , I know the uneveness could be both sides . On my T160 I feel a slight vibe just as I let the clutch out , not sure if its the primary chain ? I will have a look one day , I will reset my free board, see if the clutch works . I haven't had the bike long and will be doing stuff as required , like your triplex set up . Cheers great video .

@davidwright1957

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comments. I like your thinking... I wish I had easy access to a surface grinder! We now have a supplier who makes fully machined Diaphragm springs which have perfectly accurate surfaces, so I tried one in a clutch I was working on but it actually did not make much difference to the outcome and I'm going to have to add the adjuster screws shown in another one of our videos to get it working correctly.

That clutch inner that you have tig welded , which part wears out ? Inner or outer ? And I suppose it's unobtainable as you are fixing them ? Cheers .

@ClassicTriumph

Жыл бұрын

Both the clutch hub spline and the clutch spline can wear significantly. In some engines that we dismantle there is really significant wear and in others there is not much wear at all. Some Trident owners believe it is worth putting a coating of dry grease on the spline when reassembling but I am opposed to that because of concern that the grease may spin out onto the clutch plate surface.

Surely the factory didn't do all that procedure on clutch assembly, so what were the bikes like when brand new?

@ClassicTriumph

2 жыл бұрын

Some were OK but many had clutch drag problems, which is why I went to the trouble of looking into why. I will soon have more information on this topic as we will have the results of some testing we have been doing.

Good video Where did you learn to rebuild engines?

@ClassicTriumph

8 жыл бұрын

Richard, I was always under engine bonnets as a kid growing up on a farm and then did an apprenticeship in fitting and machining. After that just lots of practice!

@richwebber5275

8 жыл бұрын

+Triumph Enthusiast im doing a toolmaking apprenticeship, i have a 1958 triumph 3TA

@ClassicTriumph

8 жыл бұрын

Then you'll be all over this kind of stuff before long! You just need to ask yourself lots of logical questions and use your skills to think things through to find solutions to problems.

@lumberjack4987

5 жыл бұрын

that's the best job in the world. When i was doing mine i was told that when i finished there wouldn't be any thing i couldn't do! And he was right. Mine you 7yrs was a long time to be an apprentice

I have my Rocket 3 engine close to being pulled down but the clutch spigot I can't crack, the one that fits on a taper on the Mainshaft with a key, I don.t own a heavy duty puller so maybe that is the problem, maybe I need a bigger and better one.. The engine so far is in good condition, the barrel bore is like new, has venolia pistons and a nor fleet stroker crank. have googled this and it is 850 ? If you know anything about this I would like for you to give me your Knowledge I am 67 and have been a Motorcycle fanatic since before I left school ,have worked on lots of bikes but this is my first English triple, rode many in my youth as I was good at getting the timing right so my friends would want me to work on there bikes,I have a 72 Commando, 70 Triumph tiger and a 69 BSA Firebird they all have electronic timing and so will this Rocket .PAZON from NEW ZEALAND have good systems. I maybe forgot to tell you I am Australian. Your video links are well done and enjoy watching, Thanks.

@ClassicTriumph

6 жыл бұрын

Brian Critchley you might want to phone me on 0408 989 494 for a chat sometime. David.

@briancritchley5295

5 жыл бұрын

OK , have your number is there a time when is better for you to talk, the taper is cracked and have the engine fully apart, have done the clutch as best I can do following your ideas. The bore was 71mm Have the rings, they were Hyundi and perfect fit, the bearings I found from BJs in Brisbane.big end standard 10 mains. have done the head and except for a valve lap could not find any wear at all, very strange, your help would be much appreciable for me as although I have owned worked on and ridden many English motorcycles in my 66 years this is my first triple I did have friends who had them and rode a few as I was good at getting the points timing right..Brian.

@ClassicTriumph

5 жыл бұрын

Brian Critchley tomorrow afternoon after 3 would be fine or any time on Monday. We are at the Aussie Triples rally at the moment. Leaving after lunch tomorrow.

Way too complicated .

Why the bloody hell did triumph ever come up with this abomination of a clutch god only knows a proper wet multi plate WITH A DECENT LEAVER!! would have been much better need a PhD and a micrometer to get this thing working properly

The Trident clutch is a load of junk.

@ClassicTriumph

7 жыл бұрын

stephen murray It works perfectly when blueprinted and assembled perfectly. Its just not so easy to achieve that!

@123shrike

7 жыл бұрын

The time ,complexity, waight are all issues with this clutch today as they were 40 odd years ago when the triumph factory raided the Austin mini production line to get hold it. get a Newby clutch convarsion fit and forget part.