Thursday, April 2, 2015

"What year is your Triumph?" How to read and identify Triumph engine and frame numbers (VIN)

Triumph Engine & Frame Numbers 101

Here's a quick and dirty crash course on identifying that amazing vintage Triumph that just pulled up to the rally without outing yourself as a noob by asking "What year is it?"

1969 - on

Note: The engine number is located on the left side of the engine immediately below the cylinder barrel.
The frame number is stamped on the left side of the frame, on the front engine mounting lug.

The first letter indicates the month of manufacture as follows:-

A - January
B - February
C - March
D - April
E - May
G - June
H - July
J - August
K - September
N - October
P - November
X - December

The second letter indicates the season year of manufacture as follows :-

C - 1969
D - 1970
E - 1971
G - 1972
H - 1973
J - 1974
K - 1975
N - 1976
P - 1977
X - 1978
A - 1979
B - 1980

The third section is a numerical block of five figures which commence with engine number 00100.

The fourth section indicates the model.

Example: NC00100T120R - N=Month C=Year, Number, T120R=Model.

1963 to 1968 Unit 650cc

1963 - DU101 to DU5824
1964 - DU5825 to DU13374
1965 - DU13375 to DU24874
1966 - DU24875 to DU44393
1967 - DU44394 to DU66245
1968 - DU66246 to DU90282

1957 to 1968 Unit 350 & 500cc

1957 - H101 to H760
1958 - H761 to H5484
1959 - H5485 to H11511
1960 - H11512 to H18611
1961 - H18612 to H25251
1962 - H25252 to H29732
1963 - H29733 to H32464
1964 - H32465 to H35986
1965 - H35987 to H40527
1966 - H40528 to H49832
1967 - H49833 to H57082
1968 - H57083 to H67331

Frame number prefix :

Rigid - 3T = TC
Rigid - 5T, T100, 6T, TR5 = TF
Swing Arm - all pre-unit = S
Swing Arm - '21' = H

1950 to 1962 Pre-Unit 500 & 650cc

Engine numbers had a prefix indicating the model type along the lines above such as 3T, 5T, 6T, T100, T110, 3TA, 5TA etc. This was followed by a number from the list below.

YEAR - Pre-Unit 500 & 650cc

1950 - From 100N
1951 - 101NA to 15808NA
1952 - 15809NA to 25000NA then 25000 to 32302
1953 - 32303 to 44134
1954 - 44135 to 56699
1955 - 56700 to 70929
1956 - 70930 to 82799 then 0100 to 0944
1957 - 0945 to 011115
1958 - 011116 to 020075
1959 - 020076 to 029363
1960 - 029364 to 030424 then D101 to D7726
1961 - D7727 to D15788
1962 - D15789 on

1937 to 1949

The year and model were used as a prefix to the engine number
From 1937 to 1939 the final digit ( 7, 8 or 9 ) was used.

From 1946 to 1949 the final two figures ( 46, 47, 48 or 49.)

The model numbers were T or 5T for the Speed Twin, T100 for Tiger 100, 3T for 350 twin & TR5 for Trophy.

Typical numbers were thus:
8-T-1234 ( 1938 Speed Twin )
47-5T-23456 ( 1947 Speed Twin )
9-T100-45678 ( 1939 Tiger 100 )

Pre-war frames ( 1937 / 39 ) used the prefix TH for the 500cc models ( 5T & T90 ) and TF for the Tiger 100.

Engine numbers commenced at:
1946 - 72000
1947 - 79046
1948 - 88782
1949 - 100762

Monday, March 23, 2015

TUNC Budget Racing DIY Files: Repair/Replace a Battery in a AMB TransX MyLaps Transponder 260/160

In a sport where $$$=Speed and a new AMB transponder will set you back $400 you may want to take a chance on repairing your DOA transponder.

When the battery on your AMB transponder withers or dies, place it on your trusty workbench and give this hack a whirl. What do you have to lose? Besides your AMB warranty of-course?

My transponder laid dormant for a couple of years and completely died in storage. I had the earlier model TranxX 260 with the 4 screws (seen below). The later ones appear to be completely sealed which may need a little more labor.

Here's a video of a guy cutting out the battery from a sealed unit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZXUOUzy-J0

Another option is sending your unit to Australia for a more professional repair:

http://www.transponderservices.com/

The last and least expensive option is making the repair yourself. Below are the steps I took to repair my transponder which is still working fine after a year.

STEP 1: Remove the 4 screws

STEP 2: Liberate the old battery.

Notes: Use a heat guy and take your time. I placed foil over the sections I was not removing and used several small picks and a box cutter to expose the battery and connectors. Once the epoxy was free I broke the weld from the battery posts and removed the battery.

STEP 3: Install and secure new battery.

Notes: I purchased a 1.2V 2700 mAh battery from the local battery store (Batteries Plus) for $3 and asked them to weld/arc the tabs on for me. A couple of dabs of solder to the existing leads is enough to hold. I mounted the battery with craft glue.

STEP 4: Re-install screws, charge and spend that $400 you just saved on that new set of cams you've been wanting. See you in the paddock!

-#281 TUNC

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Shh, White Lightnin'

Chad fires up the BSA 441 for the first time in 2014.

...or so the late George Jones lyric goes. Since 2009 the American Historic Motorcycle Racing Association (AHRMA) has held one of the East Coast's best kept secrets: The Carolinas White Lightening Cross Country Classic. The race has been held for the past several years in Chester, SC and is one of the highlights of the AHRMA vintage cross country calendar. The course is a great combination of single track trails, fire roads and grass track as it zig-zags in and out of the woods on the South Carolina farmland. Ton Up NC members have particapted in the event for most of its history and it typically signals the beginning of the racing year for most of us. What follows is a quick glimpse at what you've been missing out on if you've never attended. This year the event is scheduled for March 12 and 13, 2016. More info. here.

Jim and his Triumph T25T

The starting line.

Ton Up NC's Eric P. gets the hole shot on his Honda Elsinore MT250 (unfortunately, the Elsie blew up after a lap)

Camp Ton Up Chester, SC.

Talking shop with Malcom Smith's former mechanic.

The post-race steak dinner.

Chad takes home first place and hold's Scott's "Cool Bike" award for his AJS (pictured above).

Ton Up NC = Riding, Racing and Restoration of Vintage Motorcycles.

If you would like to be a support our mission and the annual Bull City Rumble Vintage Motorcycle show, please visit our webstore and purchase a shirt, poster, patch or sticker.

Ton Up NC webstore: tonup.bigcartel.com