TRITON, at last...

willh · Feb 26, 2011

grandpaul said:
Well, TriTons have been built using conversion plates similar to these for what, 50 years? I think any adverse effects are pretty manageable.

Sorry Paul,

I think Carbonfibres last post is in response to my hijacking question. I remembered something about the placement and consequences and asked him to expand on it. I was ignorant of the confines that you have to work with on a featherbed.

Wrench hammer, I have a big Wescott at work that occaisonally sees double duty

Triton Thrasher · Feb 26, 2011

Carbonfibre said:
Main thing to check with any type of special, is whether or not the chain tightens in a certain position over the travel of the rear suspension. If it does then the action of the suspension will be adversely affected, as will the overall handling of the bike..................... they are not likely to be as noticeable on something fitted with an old Brit twin, and are probably just something most people are going to put up with!

No drastic direct effect on handling, but it murders the chain and sprockets.

Webby03 · Feb 27, 2011

Triton Thrasher said:
Carbonfibre said:

Main thing to check with any type of special, is whether or not the chain tightens in a certain position over the travel of the rear suspension. If it does then the action of the suspension will be adversely affected, as will the overall handling of the bike..................... they are not likely to be as noticeable on something fitted with an old Brit twin, and are probably just something most people are going to put up with!

Click to expand...

No drastic direct effect on handling, but it murders the chain and sprockets.

That makes sense!
So, in an ideal world we'd like to have the gearbox sprocket as close to the swingarm pivot as possible.

Triton Thrasher · Feb 27, 2011

Webby03 said:
That makes sense!
So, in an ideal world we'd like to have the gearbox sprocket as close to the swingarm pivot as possible.

Yes, it does keep chain tension more uniform throughout the suspension travel. Some frame builders have actually arranged the swingarm pivot concentric with the sprocket.

Webby03 · Feb 27, 2011

Out of interest TT,

How far (approximate) is your gearbox sprocket from your swingarm pivot?

My bike (Unit construction motor in a wide line) works out to be about 8 3/4", hopefully GPZ's bike should measure up to be the same as I based my engine position on photos from Dresda's web site. For comparison, my 71 OIF Bonnie is about 5 1/2".

Thanks

Webby

grandpaul · Feb 27, 2011

I'll measure mine on Monday, it's over at my friend's house till we get the spindle threaded, welded and cut to to size.

Triton Thrasher · Feb 27, 2011

Webby03 said:
Out of interest TT,

How far (approximate) is your gearbox sprocket from your swingarm pivot?

My bike (Unit construction motor in a wide line) works out to be about 8 3/4", hopefully GPZ's bike should measure up to be the same as I based my engine position on photos from Dresda's web site. For comparison, my 71 OIF Bonnie is about 5 1/2".

Thanks

Webby

Looks like 7". That's a Pre-unit with short alternator chaincase. The chain tightens when the suspension compresses. The rear spring units may be slightly longer than they should be.

Webby03 · Feb 28, 2011

Thanks TT

Webby

grandpaul · Mar 1, 2011

Finished the spindle retrofit kit protoype and am here to report that it's quite nice, and does indeed fit behind the outer conversion plates with 2-1/2 hairs' space clearance.

I'm doing a bit of additional modifiaction to the outer thrust washers to cut in an oil retaining o-ring recess. I decided on this after thinking about it for a bit, it makes sense and will mitigate any potential weepage.

Just waiting on my friend Enrique to e-mail me the pix we took last night as he worked on the lathe threading the unit.

We'll settle on a batch price for the machine work, then I'll set the kit price.

grandpaul · Mar 2, 2011

Done with prototype #1 (except for undercutting the thrust washers and fitting o-rings)

End plates will be painted for now, powdercoated for 1st production run.

Just enough clearance behind the Dresda rearset mounting plate-

Nyloc nut

Nicely turned down welded end, retaining a "dome" with most of the weld intact-

I'm VERY pleased with the results. Very nice smooth swinging motion, and the o-ring detail should produce a nice clean finished installation.

Webby03 · Mar 2, 2011

Looks great GPZ!

Just one suggestion as you are using Dresda engine plates.
As you know, the swingarm spindle would normally bolt though the outer motor/muffler plates for added support. Why not extend the mounting bolts on your spindle mounting plates (the two bolts above and below the spindle) with a couple of small spacers to bolt up to the motor/muffler plates.

Webby

Jeandr · Mar 2, 2011

grandpaul said:
Done with prototype #1

Looks great, bravo. The kiss principle finally came through as it often does when carving metal instead of bits on a computer screen.

Jean

grandpaul · Mar 2, 2011

Webby03 said:
Just one suggestion as you are using Dresda engine plates. As you know, the swingarm spindle would normally bolt though the outer motor/muffler plates for added support. Why not extend the mounting bolts on your spindle mounting plates (the two bolts above and below the spindle) with a couple of small spacers to bolt up to the motor/muffler plates.

Not everyone will use Dresda plates, and the 3/4" bar stock that we ordered came pre-cut to 12" lengths, too short to go all the way through both outer plates.

Also, the spindle conversion is not limited to TriTons, it can be used on any Featherbed frame whether stock or custom.

Webby03 · Mar 2, 2011

Hi GPZ,
Yes, I understand that, but I was talking about YOUR Triton

It was an idea to avoid having to manufacture a longer spindle, just two off the shelf bolts per side and a couple of small bushes.

Webby

grandpaul · Mar 2, 2011

I'm not even sure I'm going to use the outer plates, my frame still has the pillion peg mounts and they are pretty nearly in the perfect location.

The weight I'd save leaving those two bits off is far more than what i gained on the heavy duty spindle.

Webby03 · Mar 3, 2011

You'd save a lot of weight not using those plates, they're heavy!
But I think you might need some additional support to the sides of the motor, maybe a couple of rose joints? That would look pretty trick.

Webby

grandpaul · Mar 5, 2011

Barely used TriSpark ignition that I was able to trade a used Norton tranny for-

britbike220 · Mar 5, 2011

I hope it isn't commando75's slightly used trispark.

Triton Thrasher · Mar 6, 2011

grandpaul said:
Barely used TriSpark ignition that I was able to trade a used Norton tranny for-

Crimped connectors like that come loose eventually. Be ready.

Carbonfibre · Mar 6, 2011

Crimped connectors are also used by Boyer...........so only the best will do for Tri-Spark it seems............lol

TRITON, at last...

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