How to Remove Triumph T140 Sludge Trap Before Its Too Late + Removing Con Rods on Triumph Twins | 37

How to Remove Triumph T140 Sludge Trap Before Its Too Late + Removing Con Rods on Triumph Twins In this episode I’m back in the workshop continuing work on what will eventually become a restomod desert sled style build, with the aim of riding it before its birthday in August. There’s been a short gap since the last video, largely thanks to the cold weather. Even with both the diesel heater and the wall heater running, it takes a good while to get any warmth into the workshop, and that definitely affects how quickly I can nip out and get things done. #ad Here's what we used in this video (affiliate links). As an eBay Partner Network affiliate and Amazon Associate, we earn commissions from qualifying purchases: Two Jaw Bearing Puller: https://ebay.us/ppdKPq 5/8 UNF Tap: https://ebay.us/VkdiOx Triumph Crank Pinion Tool: https://ebay.us/5dxTw0 Triumph/BSA Cam Pinion tool: https://ebay.us/ZdJFMv Imperial 12 piece socket set: https://ebay.us/zt8TSc 1 7/8ths Inch Triumph Gearbox Sprocket Spanner: https://ebay.us/Zise4W Hand impact driver: https://ebay.us/7XcXsh Imperial Allen Key Socket Set: https://ebay.us/kBpYSl Thanks for supporting the channel! On these motors, oil filtration is extremely basic by modern standards. There’s no full-flow paper filter as standard, and instead Triumph relied on a centrifugal sludge trap built into the crankshaft itself. As the crank spins, fine particles in the oil are flung outwards and collect inside a tube in the flywheel. Over time, this sludge builds up, and if it’s left unchecked it can eventually block the oil feed to the big end bearings. When that happens, failure isn’t a question of if, but when. When I first opened this engine up, the plan was fairly simple. I wanted to inspect and clean the sludge trap and, if possible, avoid going much further than that. As you saw previously, that idea didn’t last very long. Once the crank was out it became clear there was a bearing in the way that I didn’t have the right puller for, which meant I couldn’t properly inspect the sludge trap. In this video the aim is to remove that bearing, get the sludge trap out and see exactly what’s going on inside. I was fully expecting it to be dirty, and if it was, the plan was always to strip things further and clean everything properly. Like many jobs, it quickly turned into a “while you’re in there” situation. I’d already decided to replace the seals, including the timing cover seal, and once you start uncovering things it’s hard not to keep going. A new puller with thinner feet finally allowed me to remove the stubborn bearing, with a bit of heat and patience helping things along. With the bearing out, attention turned to the sludge trap plug. These are notoriously tight and awkward, especially with the concave slot design, but after some careful heating, cooling and persuasion with an impact driver, it finally came free. Inside, there was enough sludge to justify the job, even though it wasn’t the worst I’ve ever seen. It was clear this engine had done a fair bit of running since it was last cleaned. From there, I decided to remove the conrods so I could properly clean the oilways and check the big end bearings. I took care to mark everything so it would go back together exactly as it came apart, especially as I’m planning to reuse the conrods. The bearings showed some marking but nothing immediately disastrous, and the crank journals themselves looked promising, though they’ll still need to be measured to confirm they’re within spec. The sludge trap tube came out using a tap, revealing more debris inside, but again nothing catastrophic. It’s a good reminder of why this job matters, as blocked oilways can cause serious damage if left unchecked. Cold hands aside, it’s been a worthwhile session and I’m glad I took the time to do it properly. Next time I’ll be finishing off the cleaning, measuring the crank journals and deciding whether new shells are needed. Progress is definitely being made. If you’re following along with the build, make sure you’re subscribed, and if you enjoy the content a like now and again really does help. Thanks very much for watching. For more helpful how-to guides and restoration project logs, visit our blog: https://www.spannerrash.com/