In a previous post, we showed how we begin preparing a tank for paint by burning off all existing paint, body filler, and tank sealer.

We’re not fans of tank sealer, as it eventually fails. We prefer to find and weld leaks shut, and ensure our tanks are properly repaired for the long term.

We recently performed some repairs on a tank which had a faulty repair carried out in it’s lifetime on the mounting studs. The original studs had broken off, and in their place were badly misaligned heli-coils with incorrectly threaded studs. To make matters worse, the new studs were too long, and punctured the tank when installed. The owner then soldered around the base of the studs in a poor attempt to fix the inevitable leaks.

Our typical repair involves removing the faulty studs and bottom caps altogether, and then sealing the holes completely with white brazing flux (which we also use, incidentally, to seal leaks around the filler neck).

Once the leaks are thought to be sealed, we use our gas cap pressure test assembly pictured below to ensure no leaks remain. We affix the cap to the tank, pressurize it with air, wet the outside of the tank, look for bubbles, and re-solder pinholes as necessary.

Finally, we weld and tap new bottom caps which will accept the proper studs. The end result is long-lasting and undetectable.

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We’re continuing to work on our customer’s 1969 Triumph Bonneville.

As we’ve mentioned previously, this bike started as a fine build from a reputable shop.  We’ve been helping to make this bike an even more correct and perfect restoration by applying the correct paint scheme, among other things.

We’ve gone through the bike twice, and swapped out incorrect bolts, nuts, fasteners and other small parts.  Pictured below are a few of the parts we’ve removed and replaced recently, including the crossover pipe and clamps.

The original ’69 Bonneville crossover pipe clamp was a double clamp measuring about 3″ long, and included two bolts on each clamp.  You can see examples of this original clamp on one of our core bikes in the photo below.

Later in 1969 and into 1970, these double clamps were replaced with single clamps.  While high-quality single clamps are readily available, the double clamps simply don’t exist.  We’ve never seen a good-quality reproduction, as those which are available are just not correct – and it shows.

We love our customers, and love helping them make their bike as perfect as possible.  In this case, we were able to find a single set of NOS clamps.  After taking some time to clean the dried masking tape off of them, and shining them up, we installed them on this bike, helping bring this restoration up to snuff.

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One of our customers whose bike is featured here on our website wanted to find out whether his paint job was correct for his particular machine.

In 1969, Triumph featured three different paint schemes on the Bonneville during it’s production run from August of 1968 through July of 1969.  The first featured of an Olympic Flame tank with a 3-inch Silver Sheen stripe down the top-center, much like that of the 1968 Bonneville.  Soon thereafter, the factory moved to a scheme which featured a swept-back scallop coming off the top of the tank badge.  Finally, in later 1969, the factory added a lower wing off the bottom of the tank badge.

Our customer’s bike has both the top scallop and the lower wing as featured on late-1969 Bonnevilles.

We examined two 1969 Bonneville cores in our warehouse (either of which, incidentally, we’d be happy to restore for you) and noted that each bike features the single scallop paint scheme. We then took note of the serial numbers on each bike.

The first VIN begins with “AC” which denotes that it was produced in January of 1969.  The second begins with “GC” which denotes a production date of June of 1969.  As our customer’s bike has a serial number which begins with “AC” and falls between those on our two bikes, we believe the bike came from the factory with only the single top-center scallop.

So, we’re looking forward to getting it right on this bike by furnishing it with a brand new, and factory-correct, Don Hutchinson paint job.

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As you can see by the photos below, we’re starting to see a motorcycle taking shape.

We started by assembling our frame on the lift, and weren’t thrilled to find that the swingarm that came back from powercoating was missing the brackets for the lower shock bolts, as they’d both broken off at some point in its lifetime. Luckily, we happened to have a NOS ’68 swingarm that is in near-mint condition, and so we’ve added that to the long list of factory-original parts on this bike.

Both wheels have been built, including the brake assemblies, and are on the bike which is now officially a “rolling chassis.” The freshly-painted oil tank is on, as is the rear fender, which gives us an idea as to how beautiful the Riveria Blue and Silver Sheen paint is going to be.

Our NOS headlamp assembly is on, as are our rebuilt speedometer and tachometer – all looking fantastic. This week we’ll add a few more things to the chassis as we get started on the motor rebuild. We’re going to build the lower end on the chassis, so we don’t risk damaging the finished part by trying to install a fully-built motor.

We keep saying it…this is going to be a very special bike.

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We’re thrilled to present our latest classic restoration – this stunning 1967 Triumph Bonneville T120R.

We’ve been working on this bike for many months, and it’s an outstanding Triumph restoration we’re very proud of.  There’s not a single piece or part on this bike we haven’t touched.

We’ve used many NOS parts throughout, rebuilt and tuned the engine from the bottom up, powder-coated the frame and other black parts, and applied our signature paint job in Aubergine and Alaskan White, including hand-striped Gold.

This bike is undoubtedly a show-winner, with every nut and bolt as close to factory original as we can muster.  Priced at [price], we expect this bike to find a new home this summer.

Check additional photographs of this bike out in our “Bikes for Sale” section.

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As you likely know if you’ve visited our shop or website, we have a collection of over 100 original vintage Triumph fuel tanks from which we’ve devised our formulas for original paint colors.

When we paint a tank, there comes a point in the process where we bring an original tank into the paint room, and hang it next to our work in progress.  That helps us as we apply the various layers and pinstriping to match the original pattern exactly, right down to the underside of the tank.

This photo is a good example of just how closely we’re able to match original paint color and scheme.  You can also see one of our newly painted fenders peeking out in the background.

We haven’t seen too many of these on the road, and we’re getting excited, as we think this paint job will be stunning.

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We’ve got some goodies stashed away in the corners of our shop, and this is one that’s finally going to see the light of day, so we thought we’d share.

Some of these goodies are for sale…some of them are not.  We’ve been saving this all these years for a special project, and we’ve decided to use it on our ’68 TR6R restoration that’s currently underway.

It’s a 1968 Lucas headlamp assembly, complete with wiring harness, window-type ammeter, and horn/dipswitch.  It’s a little musty, and the rubber bands that held some of the wiring have long since hardened.  But it’ll clean up nicely, and we’re looking forward to seeing it put to good use.

And yes, we have more of these and other goodies.  But, to get your hands on one of these, we’d kindly ask that you buy a bike from us we can include it on….maybe the ’67 or ’70 Bonnevilles that are on deck.

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