1963 650SS Australia

Burgs said:

Hi Possm
View attachment 7562
View attachment 7563
Is this like your battery boxes?
Ordered a set of early Commando Handle bars from Andover that appear to have a small lift so hopefully the hand bar problem will be fixed.
Still having problems with the front mudguard struts, either too short or now too long, so decided that I will have to make a die and make my own struts at 11.875" centre to centre, got the die design finished and programs written so only a matter of freeing up so time to machine. Regards Burgs

Click to expand...

This battery carrier is nothing like the ’65 Atlas one, 2x 6v batteries were just clamped hard on the bottom with a small angle bracket that was flattened at each end with 2 holes) against a long double bent rod that went through 2 holes in rear of case around the back of the box, with threads on the top where it went through the angle bracket.

I would say to you that there is no such thing as a standard police Saint, whether Norton, BSA, Triumph etc.

Mine came with a single seat, radio cut-out at the top of the tank, full Avon fairing with the blue Police sticker rubbed off, so where is your single seat?


https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=51574D0D8CFA2AE226FA1AC2C87CEE5A2662ED6B&thid=OIP.S_iDEPgiEAKOBxocSa-VnAHaKC&mediaurl=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/7f/06/cf/7f06cfa2a3262496d452f6f2eb15cb47--british-motorcycles-triumph-motorcycles.jpg&exph=996&expw=735&q=Norton+650+police+bikes&selectedindex=249&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&ccid=S/iDEPgi&simid=607993958352555338

See the 2 small holes at rear bottom; (click onto next pic)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4493-CHR...h=item33d1d30b2f:g:c8QAAOSw~e5ZVPFO:rk:2:pf:0

I think a 650SS would be a very nice bike to own. Probably better than any 650 Triumph or even an Atlas.

Hi Acotrel
I hope you are right I have wanted one of these since I first saw one many years ago, but couldn't afford it at the time.

burgs

Bernhard
Looks like the ones in this batch all had standard seats, I noticed also in the early photos there weren't any extra lights, but in the photo I posted it shows extra lights on the front and did you notice the two tail lights?
The lights and radios seem to appear in 1964, going by the number plates these bikes are in the same vintage as mine which was plated as OQ031, so they may have updated them at some stage, maybe also updated to 12V.
Again the battery case in mine differs, I will check with the other chap who has the other bike that was delivered at the same time, it is 5 numbers later than mine to see what he knows interestingly, his was plated OQ104.
burgs

Hi All
Been slow progress lately mainly because I ordered the wrong rims first up and have been loaded up with work, which is good as it allows me to buy more motorbike parts and keep she who must be obeyed happy.

Ordered the correct rims and all looked good to start with, ie part numbers and description where correct on the outside of the wrapping, but when I removed the wrapping off the first rim, I noticed written on the inside of the rim in Texta "Disc Brake Front Wheel" oh dear, opened up the other rim and it was correct.
Supplier got onto manufacturer and the correct rim was dispatched quickly, when it arrived I re-spoked the rim and when I went to fit the last outside spoke I was short one, bugger time for a beer.
I rebuilt the front wheel and have had a new tyre fitted so I could sort out the mudguard stays.
The first stays I ordered were too short (deep valanced mudguard), then I ordered what I thought would be the correct ones for the shallow mudguard and they are way too long.
So today I machined up a form tool to flatten the end of the too long stays to suit, the dimension I get on the stays for my bike is 11.5", at this length the mudguard sits true to the tyre, at least by eye, as good as I can get it, hate bad fitting mudguards.

Each of the supplied long stays (Part #019291A) had issues, some had 5/16" clearance holes both ends, some had 5/16" and then 1/4" the other end, and overall centre to centre the holes varied from 12 1/4" to 12 3/8".
The fork end should have been 5/16" clearance and the mudguard 1/4" clearance as far as I can see.

Anyhow all good.
Best regards
Burgs

Hi
Finally got back to the 650SS, decided to fit a Pazon crank triggered Smart Fire Ignition, had to wait a while for Andy to test a new prototype trigger unit.
I still need to machine the trigger rotor and plate to mount the trigger unit to, as well as add a couple of two mm holes in the steel section of the alternator rotor for alignment dowels.

Fitted a Moto Gadget M unit basic, along with the M Button, connected battery yesterday, but the cheap replica Lucas 88SA switch was no good, had to wriggle the switch to get it to work.
Have ordered a new Lucas switch should be here in a couple of days.
The small test I did everything worked but I need to reconfigure the M Unit to suit the way I have set it up, the old 6V horn on 12V is very hard on the ears!

the double coil and alternator regulator are behind the battery and M Units.
I have removed the armature from the magneto and refitted the shell for a bit of originality.
Hopefully I will get a chance to machine the rest of the trigger parts this week and then fit up time and try to start the engine and see what happens.
Burgs

Neat looking space age electrickery you got going on there Burgs !

Fast Eddie I had a fair bit of trouble with Lucas electrickery back in the late 60s and 70s, so thought I would try modern electrickery for a new challenge.
I have everything hidden away so normal persons will not suspect anything is out of order.
I have tided up the wiring today and things look a lot better.
Getting keen to hear the old girl make a bit of noise other than that horn.
Burgs

Wow that's cool

Hi Tom
Been following your story with your 650SS.
Didn't get much of a chance this week but made a new nut for the rotor and machined the adaptor for the ignition trigger rotor only to get the angles wrong, not a biggy, as I saved the program, just need to change the threaded holes a few degrees.

The new Lucas 88SA switch arrived and turns out to be a bit different in operation to the cheap one I used, so had to add extra jumpers.
The issue with the switches is I need to supply positive to the M-Unit for ignition and the other functions are switched to earth for them to operate, the Lucas 88SA switches are good for this, so long as they operate!

Sorted out the configuration of the Motogadget M-Unit, just needed to read the manual switch I used for the handle bars is a bit dicky, blinkers, horn work good but the light switch is a bit how's your mother, I have a couple of spares so will swap out as they seem to have a better action on the light switch.

Hopefully I can make up the rest of the ignition parts on Monday.

Burgs

Ok
Machined the remaining ignition parts, made one big stuff up that I shouldn't have, took for granted that the 3 alternator studs were true to the axis of the cylinder only to notice that it wasn't when I bolted every thing up, had to slot the plate holes to make up for my error.
Not a biggy, just need to alter the program to suit and cut another one once I work out how many degrees to swing it.
Connected wires to the trigger and all seems to be working.

Also set the engraving tool a bit deep, which doesn't look good.


Well next thing on the list is to fill with oil, connect the oil pressure gauge and wind over on the rollers, if oil pressure ok fit the tank and a bit of petrol and see what happens.

Burgs

Hi
Machined the parts for the ignition, fitted the parts today but noticed that the alternator bolts are not true to the axis of the cylinder, will sort out how much and change the program and cut a new mounting plate, should have had a closer look and not assumed.

I have slotted the three mount stud holes to get me to a starting position for now, looks like it was about 4 to 5 degrees retarded.
In the meantime mount test oil pressure gauge, and run on the starter rollers to check all is well, then add petrol and see what happens?

Burgs

That is so nice! Now you can fab up a mess of them, sell them, and pay yourself back for the materials and maybe the M-unit.

Hi Grandpaul
Finished making and selling things, much prefer making things for myself.
Checked the primary cover still fits, all good except for the alternator wires, they stick straight out, gave them a gentle tap folded them out of the way, now cover fits again.
Got the timing done tonight, did final wiring on the ignition, got spark, fitted fuel tank and connected the tank to carbies, then no petrol, ok I will top up the oil tank and no oil .
So thought now time for beer o'clock, and grab some petrol and oil on the way home from work tomorrow and see what happens.

Burgs

Great progress

Is it tomorrow yet?? Great thread on your build! thanks for posting.

Yeah CJ and Tom, tomorrow already, wife is in Spain so I am batching, had a doctors appointment plus domestics duties I had forgot about, so didn't get much done this afternoon.
What I did do was top up the oil, found a leak around the relief valve, fitted new copper washers so will check again tomorrow, found another leak from the sump plug also.
Couldn't help myself so put petrol in the tank and kicked over to see what response I got, response was not much other than a little back fire out of the exhaust.
Kick start leg is not all that strong any more, so will set up the roller starter tomorrow afternoon and see what happens.
Back fire out the exhaust suggests to me timing is late, but I also have a suspicion that the oil may have dried up around the bores from the time the engine has sat resulting in lack of compression , although one cylinder seems to have more compression than the other note to myself need to recheck valve clearances.
Roller start will help in what is happening. reduces my exhaustion at least, there are a myriad of things that could be wrong, so one step at a time.
I pride myself on the fact that after rebuilds I usually get a start first kick or hit of the starter, so this has been a bit of disappointment .

Must admit it is starting to look good to me, at least, with the exhaust system and tank fitted.



One thing I have to do is find some heat resistant insulation for the tacho cable, don't want something that looks bulky and out of place, ie I want wrap the cable not the exhaust, so may be the wrap ends up about 25mm long.

Burgs

Do you get a lot of earth quakes round your way? (straps and clamp)

Hi Strom No Australia is very stable, but I have had two bikes fall off this table when I was not looking so I do not trust it any more.

First time was a ZZR1100 all looked good phone rang, answered the phone and bike fell off the stand, second time had the Commando on, and turned around and over it went so, I will put as many straps as I deem necessary to prevent another issue from ever happening again .

You may also note that the tiedowns are not all that tight, but they prevent the above events happening again.

Other words better to be safe than sorry!
Burgs