Triumph Tiger Cub misfire - the cause, the fix and the test ride.

After yesterday's little trip into the hills and mountains ended up with misfiring and my doubting as to whether we would make it home, here we find the cause of the trouble, although a few other things were checked over 'just in case', before a short test ride was taken to see if normal service was resumed.

[@VinceJones-uj3cm]

Watching the cub fly arround those roads is like doing a' hazard perception course'😅

[@neilmcintosh1200]

That early 'untidy' version seemed less prone to trouble unless a gorilla had the bike in which case the clamp would have been over-tightened and the dizzy body crushed. Same as on that gorgeous RE Clipper 250 and the last B33s.

[@andrewslattery403]

The test ride: the reward for a job well done.

[@tonygriffiths2485]

I'd been doing some maintenance and found I needed to go down to the shop. Started up fine, got to my destination, did the shopping I needed. Then on re starting the bike I got Pfft ! On checking I found the battery leads were as loose as an Egyptian brothel in Cleopatra's time (I think). Tightened up the connections, and rode home saying very rude words to myself most of the way. Problem solved :) For a 200cc engine that pulls like a good'n, you can hear it. I'd say you have fixed that alright, thanks for the enjoyment :)

[@williamnethercott4364]

My old 3TA had a similar type of distributor clamp but it never came loose. Which was just as well because the distributor was rubbish and it didn't need any help to misbehave. Good job!

[@paulgibson5326]

what a great little bike don"t need a big bike to enjoy the ride on the back roads it performs well for an old girl paul west yorkshire

[@daveharriman2756]

Interesting, my first Cub a 62 model, didn't have that clamp, it relied on a (stripped lol) philips screw in the case just under the Distributer, looks like it's missing on yours, my dad put a jubilee clip at the bottom of the Dizzy, was ok most of the times! I love those Cubs!

[@paulhenshaw4514]

The clamp on my '58 Cub is correct, what you had on yours was a slightly later version, in an attempt to 'tidy up' the engine's appearance a little.

[@hermangibbs8163]

Almost felt like a sport bkke out on the highway.

[@MONTY-YTNOM]

I had a B40 where the dizzy would come lose.

[@user-fv7wt1fc7o]

Morning Paul, have been enjoying your video’s. I have a 1965 sports cub, is it usual not to be able to rotate the engine backwards when adjusting rocker clearances ? Hope you don’t mind me asking for your advise, many thanks David

[@paulhenshaw4514]

The engine should rotate backwards - I suspect your kickstart pawl may not be disengaging properly, this can be verified by putting the machine in gear, clutch in and try to roll it backwards. If it won't roll back, that's the problem and it should be fixed, as potentially dangerous out on the road at junctions etc.

[@MegaTubescreamer]

the one on my cub has an allen key bolt through the engine casing and the base of the distributor is a bit loose which i think is due to 60 yrs of wear from engine vibe`s ,i wish it had that external clamp paul !

[@highdownmartin]

About 1982 I was riding my C15 back to Lewes when it gave an enormous backfire and I got hit on the right leg. And coasted to a halt from fifty. The distributor had jumped out and was dangling by the lo tension wire and ht lead. No external clamp so if the screw is buggered it’s an engine out job to sort it.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

The slightly later Cubs had an internal clamp, but you only had to remove the timing covers and not the engine, if a replacement were needed, the C15 would be the same. My type of cub is better, with the external clamp, but looks less 'tidy'.

[@highdownmartin]

@@paulhenshaw4514 been a long time Paul! I thought it required a case split.

[@derekgfrench]

My friend had a BSA C15 with a similar points 'tower' sticking out of the top. That also used to get loose and rotate on his bike causing it to run poorly. I wonder why bikes no longer use such a design?

[@markalton2809]

The dread Lucas mushroom, not the happiest of timing methods.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

This is one of the few times I have had trouble with them, I have to say.

[@markalton2809]

@@paulhenshaw4514 I've had a lot of bother with the C15 variant, slippage, lash, wandering spark and variable performance, oddly the B40 I had was as solid as a rock.

[@noonsight2010]

Sweet!