Top 20 1996 Triumph Triumph Thunderbird Questions & Answers

oil leak into cylinder,time to rebuild

some ignitions require a minimum amount of rpms to energize the ignition. Are you saying by turning bike over you mean kick starting or push starting it? Some more info would help

If your bike is popping from the carburetor, then your intake manifold gasket is leaking, if the bike is popping from your exhaust, your exhaust gasket needs to be changed.

Hi Russ not sure what you mean bycrank sensor. There's a igniter pick up on the right side but not aware of a crank sensor io 96 model

Look at your owners manual, it will tell you. If you do not have one, they can be found cheap on ebay.

This should be a straight forward replacement. Unplug the color coded wires and replace the switch with a GENUINE Triumph OEM switch - it will have the correct color coded wires to reconnect.

take the switch out and spray a degreaser into the area where the plunger moves in and out, dry and refit.

Rear bulb needs replaced.

I have a similar problem with mine, but the drop from three to two cylinders only happens when moisture gets into the tach -- the tach itself has been jumping around for years and I pretty much ignored it until now that I'm having the problem. The Tach is connected to a coil, and the moisture appears to short the circuit, preventing the cylinder from firing properly. Perhaps other problems with your tach are causing similar problems with the coil, even in dry weather? I just ordered a new Tach from 2wheelpros.com after shopping around for a while. There may be some aftermarket alternatives for less, but I'm in a hurry to get my bike running again for a charity event, and don't have enough time to look into aftermarket parts and hope they work. I hope this helps -- good luck with yours.

ur wiring harness has damage--inspec it slowly with a clymer repair manual--wires are worn probly from a # of reasons-causin shorts etc--dont du more until u do this--may hurt electronix

try here: http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/triumph/

If your starter will not stop turning over then your starter solenoid contact bar is stuck in the closed position. It should only close when you hit the starter button. With the solenoid out of the bike check the solenoid battery terminals for continuity. If there is continuity across the large terminals, replace the starter solenoid.

Hi, on the underneath of the engine you will find the sump this is the lowest cover on the engine.to the right of the cover you will see a large circular finned cover with a bolt head in the centre of it, this is the oil filter element, to the left of this you will see a smaller circular plug with a hex in the middle for an alun key, this is the oil drain plug, it takes 4 litres 10 w40 engine oil, recheck level after initial running of engine

Yes it is easy to replace shocks. 1st can you adjust preload at bottom w/ spanner.thereis a bolt top & bottom of each. there is a tq speck & use blue locktite on threads,, If you liked the stock shocks check for used or new on ebay . aftermarket a whole aray of makers..is out there ..progressive I have used ..

Accurate gas mileage is difficult to determine due to the constant variations in driving conditions and styles. Even the conversion mathematics can cause what appears to be low gas mileage. With a motorcycle higher and lower mileages can be made due to wind direction and if the motorcycle has a windshield, single rider or two. Hera are a few points to check, adjust and consider for better gas mileage.
First the tires make sure they are at the proper air pressure the manufacture recommends.
The tires are of the correct size for the motorcycle, oversize tires will through off the odometer and cause a faults reading.
Another is that the speedometers/odometers on motorcycle are notoriously inaccurate, compounding the problem with gas mileage.
Make sure your drive line is in good order, I believe your motorcycle is chain driven so make sure it is properly lubricated and the sprockets are in good serviceable order.

Things to do mechanically to improve gas mileage.
Have the engine serviced at regular intervals. All lubrication's are not created equal, switch to a motorcycle grade of synthetics using a new oil filter at each change. Make sure the ignition and valve timing are within specifications and the valves are adjusted properly. With a multiple cylinder engine the carburetors must be balanced and the recommended grade of gas used. As mentioned above make sure the tires are in good serviceable condition, properly balanced, aligned and at the correct pressure.

Now for the rider.
If you are flogging this thing at every stop light, seeing red line every day, burping the throttle on down shifts, spending time sitting in city traffic or carving canyon switch backs and hair pins on and off the throttle then there is no way you are going to get good gas mileage.

Riding the motorcycle as you would normally. Every bike I've had, has had an odometer and or trip odometer, so you can see what your driving style is actually doing for gas mileage. fill the gas tank set the trip odometer to zero and then ride it 100 miles (give a couple miles either way) then fill it again to the same level. I generally fill so the gas level is just at the bottom of the neck. Then write it down the cost and gallons (liters) the trip mileage and the odometer mileage. Do this for five 100 mile fill ups then take you gas mileage from that.

The next test.
Do the same test above but alter you driving habits, ride the motorcycle conservatively, no red line, no burping the throttle on down shifts, limit your time in traffic by leaving earlier or later to get around the traffic congestion. Keep your speed down to the limit or a touch over, limit the weight of the gear or two up riding. Do this and you will see a huge difference in you gas mileage and when I say huge I'd say taking your 27mpg and stuffing that up to 50/55mpg.

I'm in Canada so our five gallons is the US six gallon so this comparison will be off but the difference between the numbers will be seen.
My GL 1000 Goldwing average 40mpg in the city only 47mpg on the highway.
My GL 1500 Goldwing average 42mpg city and 58mpg on the highway with two up and 50 pounds of gear
My 750 Magna average 42mpg city and 55mpg on the highway single rider light on gear
Previous to the Honda's my 650, 750 and the "new" Bonneville all gave me 38mpg city and averaged 48 to 50mpg highway.
Hey I've written a small novel here but I think you can see that gas mileage and motorcycle has a lot to do with riding style.

Cheers Live to ride and Ride to Live

does the hand clutch work or broken cable - is the foot shifter turning the shaft that goes into transmission -or shifter fork in transmission bent - put bike on center stand turn back wheel by hand to see if goes into gear when press on foot shifter

DES with no period after, if referring to playing a game in an easy or cheating mode. Gaming made easy.

Replace it, it can be an irritating mess if you let it go.

Locate the Gold Screw on the carb which has a visible spring behind the screw and turn it slightly clockwise until the bike revs without coughing

Make sure you do this With the Choke OFF...

Here might be a fiew things to check :
1) spark plugs try new ones
2) spark plug boots if they are resistor ones one could be bad
3) fuel flow - try running on reserve the tap could be dirty or just not letting enough though had this happen on my cr250 honda