Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Finally!!

Well it took longer than I thought after the divorce but I am officially the owner of one 02 America. I was scanning E-bay and came across an auction for a custom painted 02...the price was low...to low. ALso, the thing was a 100 miles from my home! I sent the guy a couple questions got the right answers answers. I am staring at the auction Thursday night...having that internal debate with the dark side. Long story short I submitted a bid that I thought would get blown up two minutes before auction end. Friday morning the little E-mail dingy, goes dingy..."you have won item #00000000". HOly #$@%@!!!. The down side, the guy that owned it stored the thing outside, I could not believe it!! A day of removal O parts and scrubbing, buffing, de funking is in order. The custom paint, IMO is hideous, gotta go!. The bike ran very well on the 100 mile return flight but surges at stop lights. I am currently and continue to scan the tons of info here, so take it easy on me when I ask a question yall have answered a gazillion times. The AI appears to be gone and the pipes are factory but this SOB is LOUD!!! I have no idea what else was done so I will post as I discover what I really have.

Thanks in advance for your time and info as I will surely be asking for it.

Stoked to finally have my first Triumph!!

lucky one !!! what milage it has and I don't really know what "surges" means .But I'm sure you gonna be happy with this bike like many others

Welocme aboard Joe,you'll find tons of information and a little misinformation as well
So hows the weather for riding in your area, got any pics?
Mikemm03

Well done, and congratulations. It takes all of us time to get our bikes the way we want them, new or used, and really that's half the fun.

Surging at idle? I'd start by cleaning out the carbs and gas tank, and giving it a service. How many miles has it done?

Factory pipes AND loud? They normally don't go together, quite the opposite in fact. Chances are the pipes have had the baffles gutted (which might also explain the surging if he's not had the carbs re-jetted etc to suit). There's plenty of good aftermarket pipes available, it all depends on your desire for volume and your budget.

Woohoo!!

6 months after joining and you finally have one...

And the grin you have now....doesn't fade.

The guys here know far more than I do, so don't be afraid to ask stupid questions. I have been known to in the past and I suspect I will in the future.

And welcome (I probably didn't say it before...)!

Grzegorz, thanks..I think. I was a little disappointed with the condition but for the $$$ I had to take it. The surging I refer to...at a stop the idle (I have no tach) goes up and down, it sounds like, a couple hundred RPM..form almost dead to very high. It is however, internmittent...it does not do it at every stop. I haven't checked the air cleaner or anything else. I got home with it late last night. Thanks again!

LMAO, yeah, the divorce thing took a little longer than I planned. 6 months..Doh! Has it been that long. Thanks for the welcome.

Matt, it has 12176 miles on the odemeter and thanks for the tips. I will scrub today and may take it to my local dealer for a diagnosis later in the week.

Mike, thanks for the welcome. The weather was great 76 for the high yesterday and sunny. The ride home reminded me of what I had been missing the last 11 years. I don't plan on that happening again! I will get some pics today, during the defunking and try and figure out how to post them.

check carbs balance them that is mine poin of view and know something about that (was messing with them a lot )what milage it had I ve got over 30000 on mine and I made 26 000 since I bought it in march 2005

Here are a few pics...I hope.
http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=2288

I'd suggest you buy a can of Seafoam at your local autoparts and add the entire can to a full tank of gas. It will clean out the carbs and get rid of the water from condensation build up.

some of these rust spots on chrome parts you can remove wit some metal polish i'm using Autosol and tooth brush not bad as 2002 and lots of accesories and most important yours side cover says Bonneville America!!! and this was a 2001 and 2002 !!and over 12000 miles not much

Ezcue, Can't tell by the pictures about the exhaust but there is probably at least $1500 worth of options on that bike & that don't include the paint. In fact, I think the paint looks great. I wouldn't be in a rush to get out the sandpaper. Might learn to like it. Welcome to the gang.

Jerry

simichrome is also fantastic stuff. really easy to work with. were you able to get the stock parts from the seller as well?

there is a plethora(i like that word today)of information in the tech vault. search away.

good luck bagging that paint job.

I don't know what you paid for the bike but it was a great deal. All triumphs are. P.S. the paint job looks good to me

For the surging, try connecting the vacuum ports on the carbs with a piece of rubber hose. Either set of ports will work...

Good score! Welcome to your newest obsession.

I have seen that bike here before.
the former owner may have been a member.

look through the photopost, when you find it you
can use the forum search to find posts from the former
owner and maybe more info on the bike.

loud stock pipes tend to have had all the baffles removed.
I should know

Merry Christmas To Your Very Own Self!

Another vote to keep the paint...I'm one for flames.

Cograts on the bike. I dont usually go for flame paint jobs. But I like this one. Have to agree with Paula I vote keep it.

I just found the photos of your "new" bike.
they were in my computer dated may 2003.
I doubt you will find them in the photopost
unless the former owner updated after,
THE GREAT FORUM CHANGE OF 05

you may have to look through the archives.
you could contact the former owner and ask if he was
a member here , get his member name and search the archive.

here are the photos I found photo 1 photo 2 photo 3

Thanks to all for the info and to Pete, man that is unreal. I wish I could get in touch with the guy. It is obvious that it has internal mods...AI removed and something is up with the pipes. It would save me a ton of detective work. Pretty impressive,sure you are not "employed with the Agency??" LOL, thanks for the info.

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but surges at stop lights

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This usually means there is a lean mixture condition. Check for vacuum leaks around the carb mounts and all the vacuum hoses.

(Also, surging at idle can also be caused by a faulty knock sensor - in your car.)

And congrats on your nice purchase. You are correct in saying that this web site is a repository of great knowledge. There are several really sharp folks who have posted much valuable info in various threads.

PapaDean, thanks for the reply. I did notice last night that the boots that connect the carbs to the intakes are cracked and dry rotted pretty bad. Also when I throttle the bike the carb assembly physically moves backwards toward the airbox about a 1/16" of an inch.

Ezcue,

I believe a little carb movement is normal & not to worry. Somewhere in the dark recesses, I seem to remember a guy from the New Orleans area working emergency services or fire with a BA that used to post on here? Who knows?

Hattiesburg? Homeplace of Brett Favre .

JH

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It is obvious that it has internal mods...AI removed and something is up with the pipes.

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I would not jump to the "internal" conclusion.
most people just do pipes and carb jets.
and that is all that is needed by most.

simply look in the end of the pipes with a flashlight.
the stock pipes have a baffle at the end with a small!!
hole in it.
there are 4 total baffle plates.
you will be able to see if one or more plates have been
removed.

Now for the air box.
stock factory airbox from 02 would have a snorlkle in the top.
there are also 2 smaller snorkles in side between the filter
and the carbs.
all of these should be removed for better air flow.

does your carbs have brass phillips head screws or stainless
allen head screws holding the top cover and the bottom bowl
on?

these are just a few things that will help in the info gathering.

That is a sweet looking scoot. I must ad my vote to keep the paint. It looks great! You'll love it. Congrats!

Pete, I just got back in from checking out the stuff you asked about.

The pipes, looks like somebody went at the inside with a torch. I can see all the way to where the pipe narrows, joining the header pipe?? That is the only neckdown I see inside the pipes. The carbs have brass phillips and there is one place on the top of the airbox with a red plastic plug pushed in it, just aft of the left carb(one on the choke knob side). The boots that connect both carbs to the intakes and the one that connects the left carb to the airbox has some serious dry rot on the bottom of the boot. I have not been into the airbox yet to check for snorkels. Man, I can't tell yah how much I appreciate the help. Really thanks!!

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That is a sweet looking scoot. I must ad my vote to keep the paint.

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Stef, thanks. I am just not a flame type O guy. I found a Cardinal red tank and front fender...they are on the way.
May be some custom tins in the classified section very soon.

the plug in the top of the airbox is the former location
of a hose to the air injection emisions crap.
sounds like all the baffles have been removed.
most likely the carbs have been rejetted.
the brass screws tend to strip out, I recomend you get the
stainless allens from
newspeedmaster.com

the boots from the carbs to the intake, I think you will have
to go to the dealer for those.
I am not sure you can get just the boot from the airbox to the carb.
it is glued to the airbox I think
not sure the dealer will sell just the boot.

I have a used airbox with the rubbers for the other ends. I think it's from an '02, because they have springs around them instead of clamps like my '03 has. They're yours if you want them. Send me an address.....

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Is this turning into a group project?

Cody

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LMAO, Ugh...yep, looks that way.
Thanks to all for the info on "The Piglet Project"

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I have a used airbox with the rubbers for the other ends. I think it's from an '02, because they have springs around them instead of clamps like my '03 has. They're yours if you want them. Send me an address.....

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Wow!! Thanks Grump. I will PM yah with the info. Let me know what I owe you. I really appreciate it!!

Congrats on a Great Bike(I like the flames) I know your're having fun with it.
Let me know if you need anything I got a few bits lying around.
Jim

Jim, thanks to you as well. I will let you know what I find as I tear into this thing. Also, I am just blown away by the hospitality of the forum members. I frequent several other forums pretaining to my various and asunder obsessive/compulsive hobbies syndrome but none as willing to help as here. Again, thanks to all for the advice and the parts offers just blow mw away!!