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Oh my, it seems I need some insight...

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:29 pm
by chemicalpoet
For one it is like 2 AM and I appologise for the lackluster explaination in the subject line lol Here's the skinny. I have a 99' Triumph T-Bird sport (which I do love) but since I got it back in Oct it ha been in and out of the shop more so than a drunkard and his liquor store visits! The deal was that it needed new coils the first time, which I suggested but nooOoo... they had to figure it out by themselves. I finally got that worked out. Then, the bulbs in the signals were out, had to replace *the did all this free, which actually suprised me* It seemed all groovy and well... the got pretty cold. I rode it occasionally and did my first chain clean after about 200 miles. Last night I tooker' for a spin and all was well right up until the engine started to "mumble" and "shake" a bike when I gave it gas. Ok, so maybe it's nothing? I rev it a bit and goes away at higher RPMs... comes back when I slow. o_o SO I took the interstate back home (fastest way back to where I live) and it was shaking like crazy, and then suddenly vverrruummmmmmmmm... mm.... *zooo* it died. I could not start it running so I pulled over. I thought *well darn, maybe those coils were no good?* No dice after a while. Then I decided to switch to reserve just to see what's up. Miraculously it DID start a bit with a full choke. After a wait it did start up in reserve and I rode home.

Now i'm thinking that it may just be the gas indicator bulb is out, just like the others were, or maybe some bad gas got in there? Or perhaps the plugs are fouled? Timing? That's why i'm here! I need some info. by the vets' running around here that you think might be the problem here. I really hate to ship her off to the dealer (across the planet it seems *like 130 miles there and back*) for something that could be small. Thanks mates for anything you can come up with and take care! 8)

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:34 pm
by Skier
First and foremost: fill up the tank and see if it works fine again. If it does, well, chances are pretty good you just ran it low on gas, so the primary pickup wasn't getting any fuel.

Always check the cheap things first. :)

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:17 am
by Kal
Inclined to agree with Skier. Petrol indicators arent always horribly accurate.

Fill her up, make note of the mileage and run her down to the reserve again.

I will promise you that you can do more on your bike than you think you can.

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:58 am
by Gummiente
I had a '95 Thunderbird, the precursor to your Sport. Wonderful bike, but a real expensive pain in the "O Ring" to own because of poor reliability. Things got better with later model years, but some problems were never totally sorted out... which brings me to your situation. What you've described sounds to me like one of two possible scenarios (both of which I've experienced), one being a tank of bad gas like others have already suggested. The other is more serious and expensive because it involves the ignition system. The ignition pickup plate (located under the kidney shaped cover on the right hand side of the motor, if memory serves) is susceptible to heat and will eventually begin to break down. If the motor runs fine when cold but starts to run rough when hot, this is the usual culprit. As it gets worse, it will cut out completely when the motor gets hot but will work again once the motor has cooled off. However, it will eventually fail completely and leave you stranded by the roadside. Don't ask me how I know.

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:12 am
by jstark47
If you don't already know about this site, you might want to post this in the "Hinckley Classics" board on this forum: http://www.triumphrat.net/modules.php?o ... file=index Lots of people there who have these bikes.

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:13 am
by chemicalpoet
Whew (*>_<) sounds pretty rough. Well, if all goes spiffy today, as far as the weather is concerned, I will test it out and see how she does! : ) thanks a lot guys.

~j.B

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 2:47 am
by 2wheel
There are a few Triumph links here:

http://www.2wheelcentral.com/triumph.htm

Did you know about the recall?

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/tbird/tbs-recall.htm