SEd27
XS650 Addict
Rear hub cover
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snort'n Norton, the pointless? thread
- Thread starter gggGary
- Start date
Rear hub cover
I am nothing if not curious.
Norton can (will) be easily be retrofitted with an oil filter, a bit later in the year they were factory installed. This one may be of interest to XS'rs as well.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/313664410257?epid=192579672&hash=item4907db1291:g:NkwAAOSwU7FhNp8Q
Yet another piece in the bitza puzzle, the cradle of this bike's engine tranny #s should have the mounting holes drilled for the filter bracket but doesn't.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/313664410257?epid=192579672&hash=item4907db1291:g:NkwAAOSwU7FhNp8Q
Yet another piece in the bitza puzzle, the cradle of this bike's engine tranny #s should have the mounting holes drilled for the filter bracket but doesn't.
UM Mission control (hah!) we have a detour.
74 850, was local, and I stupidly made an offer, two hours later it was in Baraboo, then into the van.
Note to self always go to the bike, never let them deliver it to you.
Replaced by a Harley, it had languished "back of the garage" for decades.
Carbs are "new"
Started cleaning n looking, was an oil covered mess, so bad, guy had a road tube installed.
digging into that, supposed few miles on a top job. looked inside cylinders, bores are good, LH piston top carbon flaking off. compression test, RH at 80 aceeptable, LH fail, near zero, crap. Checked valve clearances, LH intake clearance large, pulled carbs, looked in intake and through plug hole, at intake valve, appears to have carbon chunks on seat so valve not closing completely. Next up valve face clean, scrub. Fingers crossed.
74 850, was local, and I stupidly made an offer, two hours later it was in Baraboo, then into the van.
Note to self always go to the bike, never let them deliver it to you.
Replaced by a Harley, it had languished "back of the garage" for decades.
Carbs are "new"
Started cleaning n looking, was an oil covered mess, so bad, guy had a road tube installed.
digging into that, supposed few miles on a top job. looked inside cylinders, bores are good, LH piston top carbon flaking off. compression test, RH at 80 aceeptable, LH fail, near zero, crap. Checked valve clearances, LH intake clearance large, pulled carbs, looked in intake and through plug hole, at intake valve, appears to have carbon chunks on seat so valve not closing completely. Next up valve face clean, scrub. Fingers crossed.
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Zonie
XS650 Enthusiast
Have you ever pulled the head on a Commando? An interesting exercise to say the least. There are 10 mounting bolts and studs. Once all the nuts and bolts are removed the head will pop up from the pressure of the valve springs.
I have seen way to many broken fins because people try and pry the head off because they didn't get all the fasteners off. There are 3 studs that are fastened to the head one behind the carbs and the other two below the exhaust ports. It is sad to say that I can get a head off in about an hour and a half.
Also check where the studs thread into the head. If as you are tightening the nuts you feel it give, you have pulled the threads out of the head. Best fix for that is to send the head to Jim Comstock (Comstock Engineering). He will put new inserts into the head and make you new studs to match. He can also repair the exhaust port threads. I have used him for all these services. He can deck your head at the same time.
John in Texas
I have seen way to many broken fins because people try and pry the head off because they didn't get all the fasteners off. There are 3 studs that are fastened to the head one behind the carbs and the other two below the exhaust ports. It is sad to say that I can get a head off in about an hour and a half.
Also check where the studs thread into the head. If as you are tightening the nuts you feel it give, you have pulled the threads out of the head. Best fix for that is to send the head to Jim Comstock (Comstock Engineering). He will put new inserts into the head and make you new studs to match. He can also repair the exhaust port threads. I have used him for all these services. He can deck your head at the same time.
John in Texas
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Zonie
XS650 Enthusiast
The early Commandos didn't have a remote oil filter and so the cradles, weren't drilled.Norton can (will) be easily be retrofitted with an oil filter, a bit later in the year they were factory installed. This one may be of interest to XS'rs as well.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/313664410257?epid=192579672&hash=item4907db1291:g:NkwAAOSwU7FhNp8Q
Yet another piece in the bitza puzzle, the cradle of this bike's engine tranny #s should have the mounting holes drilled for the filter bracket but doesn't.
Also, remove the oil tank and flush it. Points or electronic ignition?
That 72 seems to be a bastard with parts from several/many donors. Both bikes have been converted to electronic. I'm looking into an Accel dual tower coil.
Zonie
XS650 Enthusiast
Where most of the Norton Commando's use Unified thread fasteners, US SAE the engine uses CEI thread, do you have the correct tools? Getting to the nuts under the intake and exhaust ports requires the curved wrench. With fewer dealers left in the US you may have to go to Andover Norton or RGM motors, both in the UK. Andover Norton still makes most parts for the Commandos and earlier models; they hold the rights to them and make parts using the original drawings.
Zonie
XS650 Enthusiast
Ever look at the Colorado Norton Works, web site?
Where are you at if I may ask?
John in Texas
Correct tools
I got metric, SAE, British standard and whitworth, often none fit very well.
Thanks for the hints and help.
That 72 head is badly fuggled, lots O broken fins.
74 head has had the exhaust threads welded and I assume retapped.
The intake valve guides look new.
Oh yeah drooled over CNW site many times, was at their booth down at Barber Vintagefest.
Live in the Great White North, Wisconsin.
Live in the Great White North, Wisconsin.
Zonie
XS650 Enthusiast
Yeah, Matt does great work. I have one of his starter kits on my 74 850. I am thinking about going to Barbers this year, but we will see about that the closer it gets.
Seems this is a Commando page on an XS site. Wonder what went wrong.
Commandos are a very attractive bike, I thought so in 73.
It has taken a while but when you have an itch, it has to be scratched. Right. https://photos.app.goo.gl/fpYK75x2hZVkYLH46
Sometimes you wish you hadn’t scratched it.
The video is before.
It all started with a slight dribble from the front of the head joint.
Commandos are a very attractive bike, I thought so in 73.
It has taken a while but when you have an itch, it has to be scratched. Right. https://photos.app.goo.gl/fpYK75x2hZVkYLH46
Sometimes you wish you hadn’t scratched it.
The video is before.
It all started with a slight dribble from the front of the head joint.
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I remember a "Cycle" magazine test from the early 70's on the Commando. Doing 1/4 mile testing, the E.T. was the same whether they shifted at 6k or 7k rpm.
Zonie
XS650 Enthusiast
There is a guy in Washington who can rebuild your clocks. Does great work but he has a "Real job"and it takes time. You can contact him at g.poirier.ohc@att.net. He has done several for me.
Check and see if the stud that is next to the pushrod tunnel has broken through. Easy enough to fix if that is the problem. I had one on a bike I bought with low mileage. I first thought that there was a head gasket leak but that wasn't the case it was a casting flaw and when they drilled and tapped the hole it broke into the pushrod tunnel. Good thing I bought 2 head gaskets.
If you want to you can contact me off list at Norton_je@yahoo.com
Cheers
John
Gary Gary Gary……do we need to do an intervention with you? Your Norton addiction is getting out of hand.
Thumbs up, used him also, great to work with.
It can get even worse, A good buddy of mine had a Commando 850 roadster, A BSA Rocket 3, a Honda CBX 1000, a Kawasaki H2 750 and KH 500. And an RD350. Then he sold all 4 japanese bikes and bought 2 mid-60s BSA 650 unit twins! Two!
I have been suggesting that he needs a 2 stroke. For example a Scott or a Silk
I have been suggesting that he needs a 2 stroke. For example a Scott or a Silk
And I have trouble keeping up with the routine maintenance on an XS650 and an XS1100. And yet, I want more!
Nortons rule!
Nortons rule!
