The Triumph Tiger Cub Bible

Mike Estall bought his first Tiger Cub in 1956. Since then he has completed a succession of restoration projects (mostly Tiger Cubs or Terriers) and has researched and collected a vast amount of technical information on these postwar lightweights. He now runs the Tiger Cub and Terrier Register and a worldwide information service for Cub & Terrier owners.

A(c) Mike Estall & Veloce Publishing Foreword 4 Acknowledgements 4 About the Author 5 Chapter 1 The beginnings 9 1.1 Introduction 9 1.2 The opposition 9 1.3 The Triumph 'Look' 9 1.4 E.T.'s first thoughts 9 1.5 Post-war austerity 10 1.6 Initial designs 10 1.7 Publicity 10 1.8 Design and styling 11 1.9 Design features - policy and design criteria 11 1.10 Design features - lubrication system 12 1.11 Design features - sludge trap 12 1.12 Design features - timing side main bearing 12 1.13 Design features - primary chain tensioner 12 1.14 Design features - cylinder head and barrel 13 1.15 Design features - crankcase and oil seals 13 1.16 Design features - flywheel assembly 13 1.17 Design features - transmission, valve gear, gear indicator, dimensions 13 1.18 Design features - electrical system 14 1.19 Design features - cycle parts 14 1.20 Prototype wouldn't start 14 1.21 Prototype variation and production machines 14 1.22 Electrical system - Wipac and Lucas in pre-production machines 15 1.23 Electrical system - Lucas for production models. Alternator wire colours 15 1.24 Electrical system - points location 16 1.25 First showing 17 1.26 The competitors 17 1.27 Assembly track 18 1.28 Delay after launch 18 1.29 The 'minimum amount of metal' policy 18 Chapter 2 Methods and procedures 19 2.1 Financial year 19 2.2 Acquisition of the machine serial number and model type 19 2.3 Order of building on the track 20 2.4 Frame and engine numbers described 20 2.5 Location of frame and engine numbers 20 2.6 Registration numbers 20 2.7 First production machine 21 2.8 'Year' number sequences 21 2.9 Numbers after 100013 summarized 21 2.10 Numbering and model type anomalies. Gaps in number ranges 22 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.11 Different frame and engine numbers 22 2.12 Duplication of machine numbers 22 2.13 Differences in model type 22 2.14 Financial year & machine numbering. Clerical errors 23 2.15 Register of machines 23 2.16 New season's colour schemes 23 Chapter 3 Taking the plunge 26 3.1 Plunger suspension 26 3.2 Overall gearing 26 3.3 The Tiger Cub introduced 28 3.4 Tiger Cub - first impressions 28 3.5 Tiger Cub - delay in early sales 28 3.6 Press road tests 28 3.7 Problem areas - general 29 3.8 Problem areas - lubrication and oil leaks 30 3.9 Problem areas - excessive oil pressure 30 3.10 Problem areas - 'wet-sumping' 30 3.11 Problem areas - clutch and primary drive 32 3.12 Problem areas - electrics 32 3.13 Problem areas - rear suspension, centre stand, frame, cables, rear chain 33 3.14 Problem areas - big ends and flywheel assemblies 33 3.15 Problem areas - troubles due to performance 34 3.16 Problem areas - noise 35 3.17 Problem areas - other 35 3.18 Problem areas - summary 35 3.19 Total sales of the plunger models 36 3.20 Fochj - 'The Italian job' 36 Chapter 4 The Gaffer's Gallop 39 4.1 The runners and riders 39 4.2 The route 39 4.3 The performance 40 4.4 The results 40 Chapter 5 Full swing at Meriden 43 5.1 Design changes - new swinging fork frame, steering lock 43 5.2 Design changes - hydraulic front fork 44 5.3 Design changes - two-piece crankcase. Experimental paper oil filter 44 5.4 Design changes - general improvements 45 5.5 Design changes - silencing 45 5.6 Design changes - carburettor 46 5.7 Design changes - 'works' trials machines 47 5.8 Design changes - petrol tank and badge type 48 5.9 Design changes - side panels 49 5.10 Design changes - large inlet valve 51 5.11 Design changes - new crankcase and 'two-ball' mains. Revised oilways 51 5.12 Design changes - new crankcase with 'side points' 55 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.13 Design changes - twin switches, gear indicator move, new alternators 55 5.14 Design changes - cylinder barrel and head finning 55 5.15 Design changes - wheel and tyre sizes, brake drums and speedometer drive 55 5.16 Design changes - pistons, cams and gearsets 56 5.17 New models - T20 & T20J 57 5.18 New models - T20C and derivatives T20CA and T20CB 58 5.19 New models - T20S 61 5.20 New models - T20S derivatives - model types and specifications 62 5.21 New model - the origins of the Mountain Cub 64 5.22 New models with Energy Transfer systems 66 5.23 Energy Transfer - operating principles 66 5.24 Prototype - the two-stroke twin 67 5.25 Prototype - the overhead cam twin 68 Chapter 6 Built at BSA 69 6.1 Move to Small Heath - reasons behind the decision 69 6.2 Move to Small Heath - warranties and build quality 69 6.3 Machine numbering - different to Triumph 70 6.4 New model - T20B Bantam Cub 70 6.5 New model - T20B Super Cub 70 6.6 Bantam and Super Cubs - their undeserved unpopularity 71 6.7 The other Small Heath models 71 6.8 New model? - the 'Tarbuk' Conversion 72 6.9 New model? - T20 Bantam 175 74 6.10 Prototype - 'Pastoral Cub' 74 6.11 Total sales from Small Heath 74 Chapter 7 Stateside 75 7.1 The American market 75 7.2 USA machine specification 75 7.3 Triumph Corporation - 'TriCor' 75 7.4 Johnson Motors - 'JoMo' 76 7.5 Sales to the USA 76 7.6 Early machines rationed 77 7.7 Export packing 77 7.8 Announcement of the Tiger Cub in the USA 77 7.9 Dedicated USA models 77 7.10 Colour schemes 78 7.11 After-market performance parts 78 7.12 Competition in the States 80 7.13 Types of events in the USA 81 7.14 Major Enduro successes 81 7.15 Cubs on 'Short-tracks' 82 7.16 Other events 84 7.17 A world speed record 85 Chapter 8 The 'Bermuda Cub' 89 8.1 Capacity and bore limits 89 8.2 Special model, numbers delivered 89 8.3 Legislation from 1905 to 1947 89 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8.4 1946 legislation, definitions 90 8.5 First demonstration. 1946 legislation, speed limit 90 8.6 1949 legislation, pedals, engine power 91 8.7 1951 and 1953 legislation, no pedals, weight limits 91 8.8 1956 and 1973 legislation, capacity limited to 150cc 91 8.9 Noise limit 91 8.10 Legislation - summary 91 8.11 The first imports by Charles Young 91 8.12 Engine configuration - '150' and engine types 92 8.13 Engine configuration - barrel, pushrods and flywheel assembly 92 8.14 Cycle parts 92 8.15 Sales - general 92 8.16 Bermuda today 92 Chapter 9 The Cub in competition 94 9.1 General 94 9.2 1953 96 9.3 1954 97 9.4 1955 98 9.5 1956 99 9.6 1957 100 9.7 1958 100 9.8 1959 101 9.9 Late-fifties and early sixties 102 9.10 1960 102 9.11 1961 102 9.12 1962/3 104 9.13 1964/5 104 9.14 1966 onwards 104 9.15 The 'Comerfords Cub' 105 Chapter 10 Military, Police, and the Utilities 107 10.1 The French Army Cub 107 10.2 Orders and first deliveries 108 10.3 Technical details 108 10.4 Colour scheme 108 10.5 Machine identification 108 10.6 Machine maintenance 109 10.8 Problems with electrics 109 10.9 Problems with oil leaks 109 10.10 Problems with centre stands 110 10.11 Problems with overheating 110 10.12 Cessation of contract 110 10.13 The French Army Cub delivery total 111 10.14 The French Army Super Cub? 111 10.15 The French (dis)Connection 111 10.16 The French Army Cub today 111 10.17 Cubs in the British Army 111 10.18 T20WD, features used on later models 112 10.19 T20WD, testing 112 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.20 T20WD, purchase by other armed forces 113 10.21 Cubs in the Constabulary 113 10.22 Police Terriers 114 10.23 Police Cubs in Cambridge 114 10.24 The RUC 114 10.25 The T20P 114 10.26 T20P livery and equipment 114 10.27 Police Super and Mountain Cubs 115 10.28 Police machines - summary 115 10.29 Local Authority users 118 10.30 Summary 118 Chapter 11 In memoriam 119 11.1 Early hopes 119 11.2 Trouble on the horizon 119 11.3 The new Japanese industry 119 11.4 Sales to the end 120 11.5 Cub deliveries abroad 120 11.6 The end of the line 120 11.7 The Tiger Cub today 122 Appendix 1 Model profiles 125 App.1.1 T15 1954 to 1956 125 App.1.2 T20 1954 and 1955 127 App.1.3 T20 1956 129 App.1.4 T20 1957 131 App.1.5 T20, T20J 1958 133 App.1.6 T20, T20J 1959 135 App.1.7 T20, T20J 1960 137 App.1.8 T20 1961 and 1962 T20J 1961 139 App.1.9 T20 1963 onwards 141 App.1.10 T20C 1957 to 1959 143 App.1.11 T20CA 1958 and 1959 145 App.1.12 T20S 1959 to 1961 T20W 1960 147 App.1.13 T20T 1961 149 App.1.14 T20SL 1961 151 App.1.15 T20SS 1962 to 1965 153 App.1.16 T20SH 1962 to 1966 155 App.1.17 T20SR, T20SC 1962 to 1965 157 App.1.18 TR20, TS20 1962 to 1965 159 App.1.19 T20SM, T20M 1964 to 1967 161 App.1.20 T20M.WD Fr. Army 1964 to 1967 163 App.1.21 T20B Bantam Cub 1966 to 1968 165 App.1.22 T20B Super Cub 1967 to 1969 167 Appendix 2 Production year - first and last serial numbers. Model types 168 Appendix 3 Component dimensions 170 Appendix 4 Carburettor - types and settings 177 Appendix 5 Model colour schemes 178 Appendix 6 Delivery details - by country of delivery 180 Appendix 7 Delivery details - by number of destination countries 193 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 8 Published road tests 194 Appendix 9 Chronology of specification changes 195 Appendix 10 Useful addresses 205 Appendix 11 Further reading 205 Index 206 A(c) Mike Estall & Veloce Publishing