IN COMING!

COUNTING CARBS

I was very interested in Rowena's comments in the January subscriber newsletter regarding the performance differential between single and twin carburettor units. I agree. Although perhaps the twin carb unit may have a slight advantage on acceleration initially, the performance difference when underway is so insignificant it would be hard to tell them apart. The TR7RV certainly has a faster top speed. My friend David has a Triumph T140E and I have a repatriated TR7RV which I obtained from Nigeria in several tea chests.

This TR7RV was formally purchased as an order direct from Triumph in 1979 to supplyT140s and TR7s to the army. They were in army colours and fitted with a single seat. I won my bike in an auction; it was then returned to the UK as cargo . Once it was transferred to my home I was quite sure this would be quite a challenge. The machine was completely stripped of all electrical fittings and the wiring loom. The obvious items like mudguards and stays were easy to identify but, having never seen the machine in its complete condition, the whole job was like a big jigsaw puzzle.

I found the clocks and instrument binnacle and all the handlebar components in one tea chest. I was curious about its mileage - but the clock revealed just 1723km recorded. What had happened?

I stripped the engine, primary side first, to find out if the gearbox had caused the engine to stop turning. It was clear from the state of the clutch and primary chain that the TR7 had done a lot more distance than the speedo stated. The rollers on the primary chain had sections with smashed links and the actual clutch