Just gat a XJ900 engine.....

[triker]

..... in a 1956 Triumph Trike

Hi I'm Chris and I have a 2007 Harley FatBoy Screaming Eagle and a HD MT350 with many improvements. Both bikes have been sat in the garage now for almost 3 years since I had my stroke in 2011. I have now took over the ownership of a tatty but fairly sound Trike in an attempt to get back on the road and feel that wind in my face.

The trike is registered as a 1956 Triumph and has a rigid rear axle with drum brakes and 17" alloys. The front end and engine are I believe from a XJ900 diversion. AS some of you will be aware that pre 1960 vehicles are exempt MOT and Tax (payment) but in the current state it wouldn't pass a MOT and I am not prepared to risk mine and others lives until I feel it is safe for the road.Riding after a stroke is hard enough withourt worrying if the brakes are up to it etc.


I think a good weekend on it I will be able to sort out most problems. However I do have a number of issues that I would like to air on this forum to see if anyone can help.

1. There are only the four headers for the exhaust, sounds great but might attract more attention. What is the best solution.... 4 into 2 or 4 into 1?
2. Fork seals look like they might be knackered, is there a kit to service these? any guides available?
3. Having difficulty with gears.... is it one up 4 down? or?
4. Anyone know how I can identify the year/cc etc of the engine?
5. Any advice/guides for servicing the engine?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I will post a picture or two on this forum once I have got it sorted. I'm not doing a full nut and bolt restoration though I might strip it down over the winter month but for now I just want to get it back on the road and enjoy life.

 

[m40man]

Hi - good news that you've recovered well enough to be able to contemplate getting mobile again .

I'm not best placed to suggest anything exhaust-wise. Though pics could help as it currently stands.

Fork seals are plentiful on Ebay & elsewhere, prob nothing else needed. Best sort which model it is first, XJ900 or later XJ900 Diversion, to get right ones.

Gears - 1 down, then up through nuetral to find the other four.

If it's a XJ900 Diversion, the engine number is stamped on the top of the rhs crank case:

If it starts 4K then it's a Diversion. I'm not sure what the earlier XJ900 starts with, but it's not 4KM. Actually we could tell from pictures which it is.

I guess if it's stood a while, you'll want a basic service to start off with - change the oil & filter, see what's living in the air filter, etc. I wonder if the carbs are clogged? Had it running?

[Deleted]

A really good guide to changing fork seals using a simple, home made tool is here:



I use this method. I try to buy genuine seals from main dealers and get the fork oil off ebay.

As M40Man says, see what's living, or died, in the air filter before attempting a start, drain any fuel and put fresh fuel in too.

Engine Identification is fairly simple, if the engine sits straight with the carbs behind it, it's an early XJ900, if the engine slants forward with the carbs above it, it's a diversion engine, but please post a picture.

Change the oil and filter using a motorcycle 10w/40 spec, Halfords do a reasonable spec oil but it's very subjective as to what you may prefer, some car shops sell Millers bike oil which I have used in the past. You may wish to use car oil, I don't but others do.

The differential oil is EP80/90 gear oil.

Check tyres for cracking and replace if necessary. The brakes will need stripping/cleaning and checking, best to change the fluid too.

Good luck.

[triker]

It now seems that my engine is not a Diversion model...... As best as I can work out it is a XJ900 F . The front end seems to be From an XJ900F as well except the clocks have all been removed along with any fairing or headlight cowl. It now has a bolt on headlight.
the only other items that have been borrowed from the XJ900F is the rear master cylinder and rear indicators.

The update so far is.... Rear Drum brakes sorted.... Rear axle is from a robin reliant and have had to change the slave cylinders and adjusters on both sides. Unfortunately looks like the master cylinder might need changing/servicing - anyone know if there's a service kit or what I cam use as a replacement?

other work required; Fork seals, Engine service, electrics to be tidied, front tyre change, and the most difficult part the exhaust - currently all I have is the 4 downpipes..... I have seen collector boxes for the diversion but not for the F. I expect they may fit but no evidence. My other problem is the ground clearance, it's low, very low!, possible need someone to reroute the exhaust completely for me - best place for bespoke exhaust systems anyone?

If it is OK with the forum I would like to remain a member, the advice I have been given so far has been very useful and appreciated. Maybe as some of you may go for a trike one day, maybe my trike can give you the inspiration you may need. I fully understand if I need to be removed from the forum, specialist forums need to be kept unique and I will accept the decision of the administrators. Thanks.

[sledgegreen]

Spend a little more time on here and you will quickly realise that there are owners of a wide diversity of bikes on here. With an XJ900 engine, forks, brake cylinder and indicators (even pre-diversion) you are probably closer to the apparent focus of the forum than many.

Many on here (including me) ran Diversions in the past, now have other bikes, but stay here for the useful advice and friendly chat.

Personally I would like to hear more about the trike and about the many improvements to the MT350.

[teejayexc]

Apr 20, 2014 10:31:03 GMT triker said:

It now seems that my engine is not a Diversion model...... As best as I can work out it is a XJ900 F . The front end seems to be From an XJ900F as well except the clocks have all been removed along with any fairing or headlight cowl. It now has a bolt on headlight.
the only other items that have been borrowed from the XJ900F is the rear master cylinder and rear indicators.

The update so far is.... Rear Drum brakes sorted.... Rear axle is from a robin reliant and have had to change the slave cylinders and adjusters on both sides. Unfortunately looks like the master cylinder might need changing/servicing - anyone know if there's a service kit or what I cam use as a replacement?

other work required; Fork seals, Engine service, electrics to be tidied, front tyre change, and the most difficult part the exhaust - currently all I have is the 4 downpipes..... I have seen collector boxes for the diversion but not for the F. I expect they may fit but no evidence. My other problem is the ground clearance, it's low, very low!, possible need someone to reroute the exhaust completely for me - best place for bespoke exhaust systems anyone?

If it is OK with the forum I would like to remain a member, the advice I have been given so far has been very useful and appreciated. Maybe as some of you may go for a trike one day, maybe my trike can give you the inspiration you may need. I fully understand if I need to be removed from the forum, specialist forums need to be kept unique and I will accept the decision of the administrators. Thanks.

Where abouts are you? There are one or two places known to members that could play about with the zorst routing.

No problems with you posting your rebuild on the forum, it's a bike, (sort of ), at the end of the day.

Good luck with it, and update the thread with pics as you go on, if you can.

Regards, Trev.

[triker]

Thanks, and I'll get some photos up soon. Living in Sheffield so any advice on bespoke exhaust producers appreciated.