workshop manual

[milne]

hi all,,,i was wondering if anyone can help me with getting a workshop manual for my newly aquired 78 t140e,i know theres a few out there,but what would be the best one to have and to work with,i figure ive got a fair bit of work to do to this girl,,the bike was up to 6months ago a resident of usa,dont know whether that makes a difference or not,,someone told me haines was the best,but ide rather ask the question,,,     thanks look forward  to responses       colin

[steviepope2000]

Hi Colin
The Haynes is good as it provides lots of pictures, my only reserve is that Haynes also tend to have some silly errors in areas such as torque figures.
The official Triumph manual is better in terms of technical info but only has illustrations, no pictures and is (in my opinion) probably best suited as a stand-alone manual to an owner with a fairly good Triumph/mechanical knowledge.
I personally use the official manual but having had my bike from new know every nut & bolt. For a new comer I'd say go for the Haynes (and maybe later get the official manual) and if in doubt use this or the BonnevilleOwnersClub forum and ask, you'll find no question is treated as too simple, there are plenty of members willing to help advise you keep your bike on the road and keep another classic alive.
Stevie.P, 79T140E,
Plymouth, UK

[milne]

 hey stevie,,thanks for your response..  ill take your advice and go haines,and look get the other as well..im looking forward to getting the bike back from the shop and start tinkering...i rode 20 years ago but only had jap bikes,,with one eye on a bonnie,,,i did alot of work on them myself but havent ever worked on a bonnie..but im really looking forward to it,im mechanically minded,  i must say,i read most of the forums when i joined recently and even reading them has given me a big rush to get into it,i was amazed at some of the tecnical subjects and advice some of the members have given one another..its great to no the knowledge is there to tap into....  once again thanks for your advice
                                                                                                       colin milne

[milne]

well, ive purchased my haynes and its been great reading it,,well i havent got me bike back yet...
   however i shall not dwell on that  !!!!!
    i have a question
   my engine and frame numbers,which match,  are b x, which from the book indicates it was made  in
 febuary 1978..
  so as im readind my trusty new haynes it sais that the amall mk 2 carbs werent introduced until september 78..along with electronic ignition  re designed cylinder head,veglia intruments and a negative earth electrical system..    now mine didnt have the electonic ignition when i purchased,he recommended that i get it installed,which i did..   were all these changes graduall over 1978,or were some of the improvements done especially for the usa market,mine did come from the usa.....or was mine one that has been fitted with the mk2 amalls by a previous owner ?  i honestly cant remember what brand instruments i have,,,i only had it for 3 hours b4 it went back to the shop..hopefully someone knows the background of this great model..............................thanks colin

[dodger]

The T140E was introduced on January 1st 1978 and fitted with Amal mk2 carbs this was to comply with US emissions, the veglia instruments where fitted to some batches of bikes to overcome supply problems . Not sure about the electronic ignition or when they changed to negative earth but I dont think they changed untill 1979 ? ,the part number list that I have shows the 1978 model using the 12v coils which sugests no electronic ignition and the part numbers for the zenor and rectifier are the same as previous years so would think that the bike was still positive earth.

[milne]

 thanks dodger,       its good to get the background on her,
                                            cherrs colin

[milne]

hi all
       well,just a wee question to u all.
        ive found a place in n.z. who have manuals etc for classic bikes,i ordered one as a compliment to my haynes,,
 ive emailed him and asked do u have a parts book for my model.....he replied that there was no parts book for my 78 t140e as it was an interim model to comply with u.s. emision stds, so i would need both the 78 &79 parts book to cover my model  ?    sales ploy   or  truth ?
  sounds to me that it would be pretty confusing having both years to refer to for part numbers
  can anyone confirm which parts book im best purchasing and whether or not hes correct
 or will it depend on frame no etc ?
  i certainly dont want to get it wrong,  i thought it would be a good reference point to have ..
                                         thanks in advance
                                          colin

[steviepope2000]

Hi Colin,
I don't think it's a sales ploy. The problem is as he says, you hit the point where they were rushing to meet the latest U.S emmission specs.
The old problem of a new spec, but old spec parts still on the shelf to be used up first causes the headache at model change points. I know because my '79 is shown as having fork scraper sleeves, but it definately came with fork gaiters.
You query if the previous owner fitted your amal mk2's, but the parallel head and mk2's and a Halogen headlight were introduced in '78, so should have been standard and electronic ignition came on the '79 model (September 78 onwards - mine was built November 78).
I would suggest you go for the 78 parts book and if you are looking up a part that doesn't appear in the list then let me know and I'll email you the equivalent 79 page (I have my 79 parts and workshop manuals scanned).
Stevie.P, 79T140E,
Plymouth, UK

[milne]

hey stevie...thanks for your reply, yes i see what u mean and understand what he meant,,ill order the 78 parts book and compare the bike to the book,thanks for the offer to send details on the 79 one.
i now understand it a bit better,i suppose to it had a bit to do with there production year,,august to july ?  so that would make mine, frame no-t140ebx  febuary,a late model 78.  and right on the cross over with the different variations and parts..ok...
  hey im like a computor stevie,,sometimes youve got to punch the information in to me  lol
   but now im clear,,thanks heaps
                                     colin

[monashmick]

Hi Colin,
try this link
http://sackheads.org/~caseyc/triumph/reference/99-7059.pdf

[milne]

hey monashmick,
                              thanks for that ,ill have a wee peek....cheers
              what are u riding at the moment  ?

[monashmick]

G'day Colin.
I notice you are from Melbourne as well. I am in the South East.  I have a 1976 T140V, 1969 TR25W, and 1984 BMW R80GS

[milne]

gidday michael,
                      hey ,,another bonnie rider in melbourne ,nice to meet u
  i recon im pretty close to u as well  re  monash mick .   im in malvern east near burke rd
  that sounds like a nice collection of bikes u have there
ive only just got back into bikes after quite a few years and havent  had much joy with it mechanically,but soon to be sorted with a bit of luck, 
  how often are you out and about riding
                                        colin

[monashmick]

Colin,
I am not able to get out as much as I would like due to current work and home commitments and I have a number of other interests as well - fishing - 4 wheel driving.
 In my (much) younger days I rode the Bonnie to Perth and back 4 times ( and another time rode my wife's BMW) and have ridden the GS to Cape York in FNQ via Birdsville. I guess I am into the longer trips rather than boy racer style, although the trip up through Warburton, Cambarville, Marysville, Black Spur and home still holds great attraction to me;  but is has been about 2 months since I last did that trip - I might go next weekend now you have got me thinking about it

Michael

[milne]

hi michael,
                     hey thats a huge ride to perth and back,thats serious riding
            im exactly the same,im over the "boy racer" syndrome that i think we all went thru in our youth,
and all those episodes and stupid speed thrill things we used to do,thats why i decided on a classic triumph.  ive had my t140e since november,but if youve read the threads,had no luck at all with her,so when i finally get her back next week it will be more a test of reliability before i can be confident enough to atempt to take her any distance, i have an acreage near ballarat which i had invisaged weekend rides out there which would be a great ride,then back thru dalesford - woodend way home.  ahh just the thought.
 but to perth, that would be an incredible ride.
  well michael, i hope ive spurred u into thoughts about riding ,,and if mine gets sorted ill give u a shout when i attempt a decent length ride, allways more fun with other riders..
                                             all the best
                                                              colin