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mick.wilson
Member
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 09:10 pm |
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I always wanted a WWII WD dispatch bike but never really looked into it to much, when I found a 1945 Triumph 3HW on eBay I thought I had to go for it.
The advertisement said “this is not too ambitious a project” so I decided to take up the challenge to get her up and running again. The bike arrived a week or so later and I started to stripe it down to see what parts I would need to get to ride it. It turned out that the bike was imported from India and had a very hard life
As I pulled broken part after broken part off the bike I thought “what have I let myself in for”. As I tried to hunt down parts I found that parts from post war bikes seem to be easily available but for WWII bikes it was a different kettle of fish, luckily eBay has supplied most of the harder to find parts but some just don’t seem to exist any more.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280199112816
Parts bought (so far):
Mag/dyno £300
Wiring harness £45
Regulator £20
Break linings £7.99
Rear tyre £27
Fuel Taps £16
Stickers £3.50
COTTER PIN £2.50
Clutch spring nuts £7.50
Head Bolts £12.50
ROCKER SPINDLE NUTS £6.50
Barrel £26.00
Kick-start Return Spring £5.00
+40 PISTON £33.00
Gearbox outer cover £6.00
Clutch centre hub £7.00
Oil pump £11.00
GASKET SET £19.00
Gearbox shell £15.00
Clutch Springs £10
Gearbox sprocket £13.00
CLUTCH SPROCKET £20.00
Magneto pinion £12.50
Battery box £17
Parts Total £642.99
Crank rebuild £170
Forks rebuild £120
Frame straitening £50
Total £982.99
Parts I still need to find
Rear sprocket,
Drive chain,
Speedo Drive
Speedo
Oil feed, return and rocker pipes,
Cables (all of them)
Front and rear wheel bearings,
Rear wheel adjusters
Fuel tank balance pipe,
Battery.
But I am getting there  slowly
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ClassicMCnut
Member
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 09:20 pm |
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Good luck with it mick and keep going, you'll get there
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Do unto others before they do unto you.Wise men learn by other men's mistakes,fools by their own.
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3hw
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Posted: Fri Jul 4th, 2008 06:47 pm |
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Hi Mick ,
This is about your " india " 3hw . { This is my first posting ever to a forum so
forgive any booboos ! } . Is it 1944 or 45 ? { It says on the seat lug -- T.E.C.--
month -- year . } . You might keep in mind the following --
The indian army used the 3hW until 1965 , when bullets became available and
the 3hWs were auctioned off -- sometimes to families of five with lots of chickens.
Some bikes had a very hard life - 3 wars { WW2 , Indo-China , Indo-Pak } before
the family , but yours seems healthier than mine was .
Some parts were made locally --- I have seen girder spindles , axles , big ends,
push rods , valves , dry clutch plates , pannier racks Etc . I wonder if original
valves are available ANYWHERE now --- the exhaust is KE965 -- same as in
VeloMKVII KTT . If the primary leaks too much you can look at an alloy case off a
3sW .
The gearbox frets back and forth and ultimately breaks a lug so should be
tightened down well .
The correct stance is --- front of chassis slightly higher than rear and lower
fork links pointing slightly down with rider off bike . With rider on both should be
parallel to ground . { Hard-run bikes have settled girder springs and the 3hw
actually handles better "nose down ", but all sorts of girder nasties follow --- }
The 3hw can return amazing fuel consumption figures , but give it plenty of
petrol because any blockage PLUS retarded ignition can make the head and
two feet of exhaust pipe glow red hot which of rider does not notice ---- double
check petrol tank leakages for same reason [!] .
I don't know how much originality you want , but the 3hw accepts part from
triumph twins { for Ex. 3tW ratios } and royal enfield . The bullet rear chain is
same pitch only slightly wider , and works well . { Also valve springs ? }.
I hope these comments are useful , but actually the 3hW is such a versatile
bike , from standard 65 MPH WW2 DR mount to 85 MPH vintage racer , that
preparation depends upon intended usage .
Best of luck with your rebuild .
3HW
4.7.2008
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Velton
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Posted: Fri Jul 4th, 2008 07:05 pm |
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Hi Mick and 3HW, Welcome to the Funny Farm. 
Looks like a great project Mick and 3HW seems to know a lot about that specific model - excellent "Maiden speech" there.
Are there specialist clubs, Forums etc. for ex-Armed Forces bikes?
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Just being old doesn't make it a "Classic."
Aaaah.Nostalgia isn't what it used to be!
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3hw
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Posted: Sun Jul 6th, 2008 01:11 am |
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Velton ,
Thanks for the kind words . I think I will just complete the basic " intro " to the
3hw , then learn how to post properly . The 3hw is unique among the WD bikes
because it it is a genuine war child , an emergency measure that was never
sorted out over a long production run like the others . It is supposed to be a
detuned tiger 80 , but I would call it a " molested T 80 " , because Triumph did
not / could not complete the conversion to a good , solid army plodder .
There is plenty of sports in there still ;
1-- Inlet port inclined to the head and carb inclined TO THE PORT . This is to keep
the mixture adhered to the floor so it goes into the cyl. instead of blowing out
the Exh. valve during the long overlap period [ 75 deg ,same as 3h & T80 , in
fact same cams] .
2 -- Startlingly modern , one-piece head which I think served as the model for the
T Cub one. It is actually partly oil cooled by a gallery across the top so doesn't
need much finning .
3--- excellent handling- doesn't need a head damper at all . There are a couple
vids on youtube showing that -- type triumph 3hw in search videos .
4-- 343 cc power in a 250 sized package ---- and it is here that the rot sets in - - -
a 343 cc with a 250 size big end , and not an ounce of extra material anywhere
on the bike . This general anorexia was fine when parts supply was cheap and
cheerful ,but now - - now perhaps it's better to leave it detuned .
There are some other niggles ;
1-- The owners manual is comprehensive and accurate , but it's wrong about the
cam timings ---fitment of restrictive air filter and " inaudible at 1 Km " silencer
meant a later inlet closure , but TEC retarded BOTH cams by 8 Degs. , giving a
rather strange 50/45 [ in place of 58/37] Exh. Now this is one for a more
knowledgeable person than me ----the Exh cam drives the oil pump which gives
squirts to the big end via two holes which are placed according to the two points
of largest conrod stress , [ AFAIK] , so did or didn't TEC adjust the big end holes
accordingly ? Can someone measure the hole angles on a T80 big end and
tell us ?
2 --- The girders are O.K. for normal riding but NOT for really rough work . If the
wheel leaves the ground the spring extension is checked only by the girder top
bar hitting the spring . I have seen a thirties pic of a Signals rider about 4 feet off
the ground on a triumph single - with a triple spring girder . I wish I had seen it
earlier , because 20 years ago , youth plus stupidity plus 3 feet of air snapped the
head stem of my 3hw neatly into two .
3 --- Some more " raw Edges " -- the petrol tank breather is on top of the cap as
usual , but TEC has thoughtfully placed it within two channels so that it can ingest
a healthy amount of water during a downpour , the gearbox uses engine oil and
leaks via spindles , chain case uses even thinner oil and leaks even more , [ even
when it has not been perforated by the engine shaft shock absorber nut which
INSISTS on coming undone] , footpeg location which helps them " take out "
the GBox cover or the chaincase whenever the bike is dropped -----
So many foibles virtually ensure the 3hw is a interesting bike with CHARACTER . I
actually know very little about it --- chronic lack of spare time & money --- but I
would like to have better aquaintance because it is the perfect bike for people
with a chronic lack of time and money .
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mick.wilson
Member
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Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 06:51 pm |
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Thanks for all the info, I have made some progress as the crank has finally come back all repaired (new big and little end) and I have been told the forks are on there way. The frame is still in the workshop being sorted and I have found most of the parts. I am looking for a rear sprocket and drive chain, I plan to visit “Rockerbox” in Wrecclesham to see if they can help.
 Last edited on Mon Jul 7th, 2008 11:05 pm by mick.wilson
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Velton
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Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 08:03 pm |
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3HW don't worry about learning to "post properly!"
That seems to be some of the most concentrated, detailed and (presumably) well-informed stuff on here.
Mick, you sound as if you're making great progress at good speed.
Is there something about these little Triumphs that we should know?
Last edited on Mon Jul 7th, 2008 08:04 pm by Velton
____________________
Just being old doesn't make it a "Classic."
Aaaah.Nostalgia isn't what it used to be!
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mick.wilson
Member
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Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 12:29 am |
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Looks like I have finally got most of the parts back to start rebuilding my 3HW The frame has come back looking straighter than when it went to the workshop,
the guy had to replace 3 bits of tube on the frame
and now with it’s first coat of primer 8) .
3hw wrote: Is it 1944 or 45 ? { It says on the seat lug -- T.E.C.-- month -- year . }
Looks like it's "TE.09.44." so 1944 then 
Last edited on Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 12:53 am by mick.wilson
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iand
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Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 10:22 am |
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looking good Mick, i remember looking at that bike on ebay when i was looking for a first british bike project, i'm glad i chose to dismiss it, i would be very frustrated by now!!!
from the original pictures on ebay it looked as if the whole bike had been painted with green paint, including the tyres 
____________________
I love it when a plan comes together!
1960 Lambretta LI125 - SOLD,
2001 Honda CG125 - SOLD,
2005 Yamaha FZ6 - SOLD,
1980 Kawasaki Z500,
1967 BSA Bantam D10 - Rideable again(ish)
2008 Aprilia Shiver
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mick.wilson
Member
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Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 10:37 am |
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iand wrote: from the original pictures on ebay it looked as if the whole bike had been painted with green paint, including the tyres
It was well and truly green everywhere
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iand
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Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 10:45 am |
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well rather you than me!
good luck with the rest of the rebuild then!!
____________________
I love it when a plan comes together!
1960 Lambretta LI125 - SOLD,
2001 Honda CG125 - SOLD,
2005 Yamaha FZ6 - SOLD,
1980 Kawasaki Z500,
1967 BSA Bantam D10 - Rideable again(ish)
2008 Aprilia Shiver
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mick.wilson
Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 09:52 am |
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Perfect weather to be working in the kitchen all weekend
Mick
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ClassicMCnut
Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 02:40 pm |
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Looking really good Mick, keep it up AND keep the pictures coming.
Point of interest did you have the paint made up or are you using basic NATO drab green from ex military stock??
SORRYYYYYYYY Bloody double postingLast edited on Mon Sep 8th, 2008 03:11 pm by ClassicMCnut
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Do unto others before they do unto you.Wise men learn by other men's mistakes,fools by their own.
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ClassicMCnut
Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 02:40 pm |
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Looking really good Mick, keep it up AND keep the pictures coming.
Point of interest did you have the paint made up or are you using basic NATO drab green from ex military stock??
____________________
Do unto others before they do unto you.Wise men learn by other men's mistakes,fools by their own.
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mick.wilson
Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 02:49 pm |
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ClassicMCnut wrote: Point of interest did you have the paint made up or are you using basic NATO drab green from ex military stock??
I used "Dallas Autos" Matt Olive Drab spray paint, it's a WWII colour but used on American military vehicles.... close enough 
Mick
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ClassicMCnut
Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 03:10 pm |
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Yeah Mick as you say close enough. I use NATO drab on most of my bikes, once again close enough to the wartime drab olive.
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Do unto others before they do unto you.Wise men learn by other men's mistakes,fools by their own.
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mick.wilson
Member
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Posted: Fri Sep 19th, 2008 11:29 pm |
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A little more work done, I dont know if I have set the mag up right but it's got to be close.
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mick.wilson
Member
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Posted: Wed Oct 15th, 2008 05:18 pm |
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After putting my newly rebuilt back wheel into the frame I noticed I still
could not get the sprockets to line up, so it was back to the workshop for
some more hammering, but it all looks good to go now .
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nala
Member
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Posted: Wed Oct 15th, 2008 06:19 pm |
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| Thats most probably the only one where the chain runs in line Mick
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Long live the "specials" builders
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ClassicMCnut
Member
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Posted: Wed Oct 15th, 2008 06:40 pm |
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That really is a cracking job you're doing on that mate, keep it going
____________________
Do unto others before they do unto you.Wise men learn by other men's mistakes,fools by their own.
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