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Motorcycle Discussions => British Bikes => Topic started by: murdo on November 12, 2014, 06:05:20 AM

Title: 1969 Triumph Daytona
Post by: murdo on November 12, 2014, 06:05:20 AM
One of my local club members has been having his 500cc Triumph Daytona repaired by an older gentleman who has sadly passed away. It is a very nice bike with only 9,000 miles on the clock. The bike has developed a slight miss on the right cylinder and he has asked me to have a look at what maybe wrong. It has a single carb, electronic ignition with good spark to both plugs and swapping coils makes no difference. I am thinking that it may be valve trouble and was wondering what I should set the clearances to before I do a compression test. Any advise would be very helpful as I have never worked on a Triumph twin before.
Title: Re: 1969 Triumph Daytona
Post by: rogerwilko on November 12, 2014, 09:17:28 PM
Try another pair of plugs.
Title: Re: 1969 Triumph Daytona
Post by: wink on November 13, 2014, 01:02:39 AM
Exactly what I thought. But I would have swapped them over to see if the left cylinder is misfiring.
Title: Re: 1969 Triumph Daytona
Post by: murdo on November 13, 2014, 03:01:51 AM
Done that. Swapped plugs, then new plugs, still the same which is why I think it may be valve.
Title: Re: 1969 Triumph Daytona
Post by: rogerwilko on November 13, 2014, 04:53:09 AM
A valve wouldn't cause a misfire. You can check clearances if you like but check the points gap for both cylinders if it has twin points.
Title: Re: 1969 Triumph Daytona
Post by: R on November 13, 2014, 08:08:18 AM
A valve can cause a misfire, if it has no clearance.
Just check that both valve pairs have the same clearances.

Says it has leccy ignition.
Tried swapping plug leads. ?

A broken valve spring can cause a misfire, if all other avenues check out good.
You wouldn't expect that with low miles, but you never know until you look.
So can a cracked valve seat...
Title: Re: 1969 Triumph Daytona
Post by: murdo on November 13, 2014, 09:50:06 AM
If anybody can tell me the clearances for the valves, I will do a compression test and leak down test to confirm that all is well mechanically. If all that ok, then I will have to look at maybe changing the ignition system.
Title: Re: 1969 Triumph Daytona
Post by: L.A.B. on November 13, 2014, 10:06:22 AM
http://www.classicbike.biz/Triumph/Repair/350-500/63-74-350-500cc-Repair.pdf
Title: Re: 1969 Triumph Daytona
Post by: murdo on November 13, 2014, 10:36:12 AM
Thank you.  :)
Title: Re: 1969 Triumph Daytona
Post by: rogerwilko on November 13, 2014, 09:21:46 PM
There's misfires and misfires, is it only running on one cylinder or is it intermittent? Intermittent will be electrical .
Title: Re: 1969 Triumph Daytona
Post by: murdo on November 16, 2014, 08:20:18 AM
Thank you Gents for the help.
I had a bit of time today so checked the valve clearances, all good, the compressions are 150 psi in both cylinders, new plugs, checked coils and leads/caps, all good. So I started it up (first kick too) and it would miss on the right cylinder up to 3,000 rpm when it would pick up and run good. I thought it may be an air leak so I pushed the tickler down while idleing as instantly it picked up on the right cylinder. Removing the intake manifold revealed two parts of the gasket missing. Think I found the problem. I cut two new gaskets, a wipe of sealer and put back together. Running lovely now. Time for a road test before tea.