classic motorcycle forum

Can we ask if you have the one specified for a Triumph.
And the recommended needle.
And correct floatchamber.

SU apparently have approx a thousand different needles and settings suitable for all manner of things,
so being somewhere in the ballpark is somewhat essential.

Is the choke system returning to normal running position correctly ?

A possibly quicker way to remove old paint off steel parts is to hot-tub it in caustic soda solution
(sodium hydroxide)(drain cleaner).(NaOH).

I have a small plastic drum of it mixed up, and just boil it in an old electric kettle and then pour it into an old steel drum with the part in there. The old paint often sloughs right off.

Watch that hot caustic is - hot caustic !!
It will eat skin, flesh, clothes, eyes and low flying aircraft if it comes in contact.
So old clothes, safety glasses and gloves are not just a good idea...
Watch that alloy parts and hot caustic are deadly enemies too, so keep aluminium well away.
Hot tubbing is how the iron engine reconditioners clean up old engines.
Dissolves grease and oil too, although these are best gone before you begin.

Watch too that when you add the dry caustic into (cold) water, it can spit back,
so stay well clear. And into hot water is a no no, can be quite violent.

Hopethishelps,andasalways,takecare

after a bit of looking the frame is a NORMAN & I am unsure what has been done to it
there have been different brackets welded on & the frame has been bent to give a steeper steering angle as well the rear shocks are not correct

That steeper steering head angle may be an indication that it has beem modified with trials slow speed stuff in mind.
Don Morley describes doing that to a pukka trials model BSA after studying a factory bike, and "his father nearly went spare at the sight", but apparently it does vastly improve the slow speed steering.

Clean them up and post the pics, and we can see if anyone here knows them.
Albions sold to a number of makers, including Royal Enfields for quite a myriad of models,
for quite some years, so they will be No 1 suspect (just by volume ?).
Rudges used Moss boxes, didn't they. ?
Was that exclusively.

What about a postwar chainguard ?

http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/partsbooks/pages/4525/Prop+Stand%2C+Pillion+Footrests%2C+Chain+Covers+And+Chains+

Click on No 30, its pn 32090

Would anyone know whats I am likely to have destroyed ! ?

Possibly nothing ?  If you are lucky.  And as long as the battery is still OK.

If you have a good poke around the battery connections and wires and fuse holder, you may be lucky and find something that has been lightly cooked  and lost its conductivity/connection. A good clean of all connectors around there, inc battery terminals and fuse holder may well restore the connection. The wire from the battery to fuse holder may be suspect too.
Check the power wire to the switch is still intact too, if nothing is obvious.

The short shouldn't have affected anything further downstream. Hopefully.
As long as the short wasn't further afield...
Good Luck, &AppyEaster !

It does sound like oil is getting into exhaust pipes or combustion chamber.
Are the plugs really dirty/oily.

Can you cut off or block off the oil supply to the head (temporarily), take it for a short ride,
and then see if it smokes on startup next morning when cold.
Drain the sump before starting it.

If no smoke, then its in the top end, if smoke then its somewhere down lower.

Don't forget to reconnect the oil supply to the top end either.
If the ride is quite short, lack of oil won't hurt. Note short ride though.