T140 Revisited

nighthog

nighthog

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In 1981 I bought a new T140ES, but when my job and associated income ran out a couple of years later, I had to sell it to pay off the debt. I've always been a bit disgruntled by that and quietly hankered after another, so when this one presented itself I simply had to buy it. A bit like Jim and his BSA! That itch needed scratching ...

20250213_124337.jpg20250213_130622.jpg20250213_130755.jpg

It's been in a shed, covered in sawdust (?!) for 10 years, and didn't run for an unknown number of years before that. All the important bits are there and I guess any missing bits should be fairly straightforward to find. And when it's finished, it'll make for a very different riding experience to my XS. As indeed did the SR.

My next problem is one of space:

20250213_140544.jpg

So, the SR500 is up for sale. If any UK dudes fancy it then please get in touch - it's a good one that I've improved and used regularly. I'll miss it, but I simply don't have room for four bikes :(

So, the journey begins - I think it will be quite a long one! Should be (expensive) fun though 😁
Cliff
 
Jim said:
resto/mod build
Click to expand...
Yes, I'm not wedded to originality, but I am to usability. It'll be mostly original with sensible upgrades where necessary. Like the brakes!
Not sure mine will ever be as shiny as Bob's one, but I'll try!

And yes, I'll post progress, when it happens. I started on it today but got defeated by the cold after a couple of hours. Roll on Spring!
 
Toss the Yankee handlebars... get a better seat.... return to its proper British attire... Add electronic spark...proper exhaust... A case of elbow grease...... and you already related that the cost of bringing this old Brit back to service will be.... doesn't matter.. we've all been there done that... and I hope to be doing it a few more things before my /check out time..... I like the thought of leaving with the same bank balance I came into this world with.... 😎
 

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nighthog said:
1980. According to the official log book (V5 for us Brits) it was first registered on 28th May 1980. According to the speedo, it's covered 42,000 miles since then so that sludge trap must be well and truly full!
Click to expand...

Yes interesting Not many seen here from mid 70 ies everyone bought Japanese .
Looks OK but inside can be worn at that mileage Requiring a big effort lets hope for the best. Can have been rebuilt once already.
 
nighthog said:
In 1981 I bought a new T140ES, but when my job and associated income ran out a couple of years later, I had to sell it to pay off the debt. I've always been a bit disgruntled by that and quietly hankered after another, so when this one presented itself I simply had to buy it. A bit like Jim and his BSA! That itch needed scratching ...

View attachment 344067View attachment 344068View attachment 344069

It's been in a shed, covered in sawdust (?!) for 10 years, and didn't run for an unknown number of years before that. All the important bits are there and I guess any missing bits should be fairly straightforward to find. And when it's finished, it'll make for a very different riding experience to my XS. As indeed did the SR.

My next problem is one of space:

View attachment 344070

So, the SR500 is up for sale. If any UK dudes fancy it then please get in touch - it's a good one that I've improved and used regularly. I'll miss it, but I simply don't have room for four bikes :(

So, the journey begins - I think it will be quite a long one! Should be (expensive) fun though 😁
Cliff
Click to expand...
I feel your space pain.......... Same problem for me.
IMG_1056.jpeg
 
Echoing above comments, will be watching with interest. Hope that seat gets the binning it deserves . . . okay, that's harsh, some folks like stepped.

I would love to give a home to your SR500. Like yourself, emotional pull to a bike owned long ago - college kid with drag tuned SR:

https://www.xs650.com/threads/bikes-you-miss.64798/post-864702

But also like yourself, short of space - look below - in my case four is garage full and five would be silly. Much would be solved if somebody would buy the RE Interceptor . . .
 
Thank you, I appreciate the compliments but my efforts pale into insignificance compared to those of some of our members. My XS has been breathed on a bit since the clendar pics, and now looks a little different. Here's a pic:

20240630_140858.jpg

The T140 won't get quite thesame treatment, it'll stay a softly-tuned pleasure bike but I'm already looking into alternative exhaust cams! And hey, maybe a little work on the head .... oh dear ...
 
Got the tank and side panels back from Ultimate Bike Paint today, superb job as usual, so thought it might be a good time to offer a progress report, for progress there has been. And oh boy, have I spent some money .... I knew this was not going to be a cheap resto but this is making quite a dent in my pension pot! Details to follow .........

So, the paint scheme is loosely the same as the US spec 1981 bike I bought new but this won't please rivet counters - sod them, it's only got to please me! So the frame colour is now a dark blue that also sparkles in the sunshine as everything has pearlescent lacquer over two-pack. Garage space is a bit cramped but there's just about enough room to get things done:

20250722_191226.jpg


20250722_191030.jpg


20250722_191123.jpg


So what's been the thinking in the meantime? As you all know, you don't really know what you've got until you take it to bits and for me, the teardown revealed that just about everything was worn out. And the bits that could be salvaged could also be upgraded, so that's what I opted to do. Some bits, like switchgear, I'm replacing with period Yamaha stuff (XS650/SR500).

At present, I'm waiting for an adjustable hand reamer to be delivered so I can sort out the swinging arm bushes as the new replacements are clearly not OE items, and I'm also waiting for the wheels to be built with flangeless alloy rims and stainless spokes (they are at Devon Rim Company).
The crankcases, crankshaft and top end are at Seager Engineering in Suffolk, about 200 miles from me, as Pat can do stuff I can't. Smashing bloke, proper engineer in a very well equipped workshop and specialises in rescuing damaged/worn/broken obsolete engines and parts). He'll do a rebore to +0.040, supply new pistons, rings, and rods (there was a hacksaw cut on one with a bad attempt to polish the damage out. Yes, really), regrind the big end journals and hard chrome and regrind the crank drive side as it had been spinning in the (knackered) bearing. He'll also cerakote the barrels, supply & fit new valves & guides and convert the exhaust ports from push-in to push-over.
And dynamically balance the crank.

Like I said, a bit spendy .....

Other stuff I've refurbished/rebuilt or replaced include brake calipers (that will now bite on floating discs), forks, mudguards (fenders), carbs, head bearings, oh, I've lost count.

Fun & games along the way has included getting the (oil in) frame back from chemical dip and sandblast to find the masking hadn't been done properly and it was full of sand. Oh joy. At least the chemical dip got rid of any remaining oil so the inside was dry - multiple iterations with detergent and pressure washer sorted that out and I'll also be using a paper filter on the sump plate.

One of my friends is rescuing a Benelli Sei so occasionally we swap tales of woe and weep into our beers together ...

But we do it because we love it. Another day, another dollar (spent). Next job is to fit the rear master cylinder.
Cheers -
Cliff
 

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