Okay, so I finally got my hands on a 2003 Triumph 955i. I’d been eyeing this bike for a while, and when a decent one popped up locally, I jumped on it. It wasn’t perfect, of course, but that’s half the fun, right?
The First Look and Initial Fixes
First thing I did was give it a good once-over. The bike started up, which was a good sign, but it was running a bit rough. I noticed some oil leaks, nothing major, but definitely something to address. The previous owner had done some… questionable modifications, so I knew I had some work ahead of me.
- Oil Change and Filter: Standard procedure for any used bike. I drained the old oil, and it was pretty nasty. Swapped out the filter, too.
- Spark Plugs: Pulled the old plugs, and yeah, they were toast. New plugs went in, and I gapped them properly, of course.
- Air Filter: Checked the air filter, and it was filthy. Replaced it with a new one. Makes a huge difference.
Digging Deeper
After those basic fixes, the bike was running better, but still not quite right. I suspected a fuel delivery issue, so I started investigating.
I pulled the fuel pump assembly, and yup, the fuel filter was clogged. It looked original, which is… impressive and horrifying at the same time. I replaced the filter and cleaned out the tank while I was at it. Found some gunk in there, but nothing too crazy.
Those Pesky Oil Leaks
Next up, those oil leaks. I traced them to the valve cover gasket and the clutch cover gasket. Not a huge deal, just a bit time-consuming. I ordered new gaskets, and when they arrived, I got to work.
Replacing the valve cover gasket was pretty straightforward. Just had to be careful not to over-tighten the bolts. The clutch cover gasket was a bit more involved, but still manageable.
Final Touches
With the major stuff out of the way, I turned my attention to some smaller details.
- Chain and Sprockets: The chain was stretched, and the sprockets were worn, so I replaced them all. Safety first, people!
- Brakes: Checked the brake pads and rotors. Pads were okay, but I flushed the brake fluid anyway. Fresh fluid is always a good idea.
- Tires: The tires were old and cracked, so I spooned on a new set. Gotta have good rubber!
- Clean! Cleaned the all bike as best as I could!
The Result
After all that work, the Triumph is running like a champ! It’s smooth, powerful, and sounds amazing. I’m really happy with how it turned out. It’s not a show bike, but it’s a solid rider, and that’s exactly what I wanted. There’s still a few little things I want to do, but for now, I’m just going to enjoy riding it!
