1971 Interstate Fastback restoration

motoalchemist · Aug 24, 2010

Oh, and another thing just FYI, I bit the bullet and bought brand new Amal parts for the carbs. floats, needles, main jets, pilots jets, float needle. It made all the difference in the world tuning the carbs. My old pilot jets were worn enough you could actually see the hole diameter difference. Was like putting brand new carbs on.

Tyler

grandpaul · Aug 25, 2010

New needles & needle jets are often an overlooked source for old carb transformation.

Good work.

grandpaul · Aug 25, 2010

Check your primary chain adjustment, sounds like it's too tight (crunchy shifting)

Clutch plates should be TOTALLY clean and dry!!!!!

The primary chaincase only takes 1/4 cup of light oil for the CHAIN, NONE for the clutch.

motoalchemist · Sep 7, 2010

First I would like to thank everybody on this list for you help in the last few months getting my Norton done.

There is
no more oil leaking
a perfect running engine
a seat (finally) that is comfy
and a clutch and tranny that is as smooth and silky as santa cruz taffy

I took it out for its FIRST proper ride today through a local twisty road.
tons of tourqe and pulls hard out of corners, yet rumbles along when cruzing without a complaint

So Guess What?

I have another 1971 Norton Command fastback, requirinfg finishing restoration...which will begin in a few weeks
after I clean up my shop.

This Fastback has been modified, until I get a few pics up, Imagine if you will a Commando with a
Honda CBR 900 front end, and a VFR single sided swing arm on the rear. 120/17 front, 180/17 rear
Its gunna be cool.

Happy Labor day fellow Nortoneers

Tyler

motoalchemist · Sep 9, 2010

Hello,
So I have a bout 350 miles on the bike now, since overhaul. If any of you remember my breather system, I have the cam breather running out the back of the bike, and a breather hose coming from the old magneto location to the froth tower in the tank.
Whats happening now is after each run on the freeway, the back fender and the back of my jacket are covered with oil. Its all coming out the breather. I was told this would happen until the rings seat.
Im thinking I should just plug the cam breather and run just the magneto plate breather?

and I mean COVERED, dripping wet with oil, its a mess.

the engine is clean and dry of any oil leak.

Thanks, Tyler

swooshdave · Sep 9, 2010

motoalchemist said:
Hello,
So I have a bout 350 miles on the bike now, since overhaul. If any of you remember my breather system, I have the cam breather running out the back of the bike, and a breather hose coming from the old magneto location to the froth tower in the tank.
Whats happening now is after each run on the freeway, the back fender and the back of my jacket are covered with oil. Its all coming out the breather. I was told this would happen until the rings seat.
Im thinking I should just plug the cam breather and run just the magneto plate breather?

and I mean COVERED, dripping wet with oil, its a mess.

the engine is clean and dry of any oil leak.

Thanks, Tyler

So you had this pipe coming out the bike of the bike from the cam breather. And this is what's coating you and the bike?

Instead of running that pipe out the back, cut it off somewhere and put a hose on it to the oil tank. Excess oil should be routed to the oil tank and not everyone behind you. You could also block the cam breather and then run the bike. You'll know how effective the magneto breather is if the engine starts leaking all over. :mrgreen:

ML · Sep 9, 2010

motoalchemist said:
First I would like to thank everybody on this list for you help in the last few months getting my Norton done.

This Fastback has been modified, until I get a few pics up, Imagine if you will a Commando with a
Honda CBR 900 front end, and a VFR single sided swing arm on the rear. 120/17 front, 180/17 rear
Its gunna be cool.

Tyler

Honda VFR single sided swing arm? Have you had a close look at the Commando frame? In particular the gearbox cradle :shock:

I'm betting it will be easier to put a Commando motor into a VFR.

Mick

motoalchemist · Sep 9, 2010

YEah,
after doing a little more research, Im going to "T" that line into the oil tank with the mag breather. As much as I like that little pipe, Im going to take it off.

I was more worried about "overpressuring" the tank, but basic physics tells you the pressure will be the same regadless of the number of holes, but the volume will increase.
I dont want to blow up my oil tank, but the oil all over the place sucks worse.

Thanks

swooshdave said:
motoalchemist said:

Hello,
So I have a bout 350 miles on the bike now, since overhaul. If any of you remember my breather system, I have the cam breather running out the back of the bike, and a breather hose coming from the old magneto location to the froth tower in the tank.
Whats happening now is after each run on the freeway, the back fender and the back of my jacket are covered with oil. Its all coming out the breather. I was told this would happen until the rings seat.
Im thinking I should just plug the cam breather and run just the magneto plate breather?

and I mean COVERED, dripping wet with oil, its a mess.

the engine is clean and dry of any oil leak.

Thanks, Tyler

Click to expand...

So you had this pipe coming out the bike of the bike from the cam breather. And this is what's coating you and the bike?

Instead of running that pipe out the back, cut it off somewhere and put a hose on it to the oil tank. Excess oil should be routed to the oil tank and not everyone behind you. You could also block the cam breather and then run the bike. You'll know how effective the magneto breather is if the engine starts leaking all over. :mrgreen:

motoalchemist · Sep 9, 2010

The mod is already been done, so when I pull it out of storage, i take some close-ups so you can see how it was all done. Yes it may have been easier to just put a commando engine in a VFR, there are over 200 hours of welding on the frame. As a matter of fact the guy that did the actual welding mention something about never calling him again/ and I never want to see this frame again.

ML said:
motoalchemist said:

First I would like to thank everybody on this list for you help in the last few months getting my Norton done.

This Fastback has been modified, until I get a few pics up, Imagine if you will a Commando with a
Honda CBR 900 front end, and a VFR single sided swing arm on the rear. 120/17 front, 180/17 rear
Its gunna be cool.

Tyler

Click to expand...

Honda VFR single sided swing arm? Have you had a close look at the Commando frame? In particular the gearbox cradle :shock:

I'm betting it will be easier to put a Commando motor into a VFR.

Mick

grandpaul · Sep 10, 2010

motoalchemist said:
The mod is already been done, so when I pull it out of storage, i take some close-ups so you can see how it was all done. Yes it may have been easier to just put a commando engine in a VFR, there are over 200 hours of welding on the frame. As a matter of fact the guy that did the actual welding mention something about never calling him again/ and I never want to see this frame again.

Personally, I can't WAIT to see it!

I basically gave away the ZX6 frame that i got the front end from (for my Blue bike); i shold have kept it...

pelican · Sep 10, 2010

haha, that's funny right there :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

motoalchemist said:
The mod is already been done, so when I pull it out of storage, i take some close-ups so you can see how it was all done. Yes it may have been easier to just put a commando engine in a VFR, there are over 200 hours of welding on the frame. As a matter of fact the guy that did the actual welding mention something about never calling him again/ and I never want to see this frame again.

ML said:

motoalchemist said:

First I would like to thank everybody on this list for you help in the last few months getting my Norton done.

This Fastback has been modified, until I get a few pics up, Imagine if you will a Commando with a
Honda CBR 900 front end, and a VFR single sided swing arm on the rear. 120/17 front, 180/17 rear
Its gunna be cool.

Tyler

Click to expand...

Honda VFR single sided swing arm? Have you had a close look at the Commando frame? In particular the gearbox cradle :shock:

I'm betting it will be easier to put a Commando motor into a VFR.

Mick

Click to expand...

motoalchemist · Sep 10, 2010

Hi,
quick question, I am confused do to conflicting answers.

What is considered the "froth tower" on the Norton oil tank?
A. the hose connection on the riser where oil is added to tank for regular service? (the oil cap actually twists on this part)
B. the hose connection on the "bulge" slightly forward of the service port on top of the oil tank?

I want to connect my crancase breather to the froth tower.(?)

Thanks.

Ron L · Sep 10, 2010

The crankcase should be vented to the connection on the oil filler neck. The tank is in turn vented from the oil separator (bulge) on the top of the tank to the air filter or into a catch bottle (or to your fancy line to the back of the bike). Little or no oil mist should come from this line.

swooshdave · Sep 10, 2010

official-oil-line-routing-thread-t6132.html

motoalchemist · Sep 10, 2010

Ron L said:
The crankcase should be vented to the connection on the oil filler neck. The tank is in turn vented from the oil separator (bulge) on the top of the tank to the air filter or into a catch bottle (or to your fancy line to the back of the bike). Little or no oil mist should come from this line.

Thanks Ron, I was pretty confident this was proper anyway, but I just wanted to verify, alot of oil was coming out.
I am going to re-route the vent hoses tomorrow, and I thing I am going to add a Chevy EGR valve inline. Based on the thread in this forum it will help with keeping the crankcase unpressurized.

And I will get to keep my fancy line

Tyler

motoalchemist · Sep 20, 2010

So no real questions or technical stuff. I took the norton out for a small ride just to warm the oil so I can do its first oil change after overhaul. I have put 500 miles on the new engine so Im going to replace it (the oil) tonight.
I took the bike downtown Danville (california) and thought it fitting to take a picture of the norton across from Elliots, a pub that is over 100 years old, as the Norton motorcycle company is just as old.

jsouthard · Sep 20, 2010

This might be one of the nicest looking commando's i have ever seen.

Great job.

DogT · Sep 20, 2010

What kind of a license plate is that? 9?

Nice, but you know they painted the chain guards on the fastbacks, I think, but it looks good.

Dave
69S

motoalchemist · Sep 20, 2010

jsouthard said:
This might be one of the nicest looking commando's i have ever seen.

Great job.

Joe,
Thank you very much, Its been amazing all the compliments I have been getting on this bike. Ive been staring at it so long in the garage, I forgot how neat it really is.

Tyler

motoalchemist · Sep 20, 2010

DogT said:
What kind of a license plate is that? 9?

Nice, but you know they painted the chain guards on the fastbacks, I think, but it looks good.

Dave
69S

Hi Dave,
Thanks.. That chain gaurd is a CNW (colorado norton works) custom. You buy them in plain steel, then its up to you on the finish. I ended up getting it chrome plated because a friend of mine was sending out a "batch" of plating,. Its cheaper to get stuff plated in a package, so I sent it with his stuff.
Otherwise I had every intention to paint is shiney Black.

The licence plate is a Temporary tag they give us here in Cali for vehicles like mine that have been off the books for so long, while you get all the inspection done. (this way the bike can operate legally on the roads) The "9" is for September (2010). I have the new plates already, just havent put them on yet. I kinda like the euro look of the temporary tags.

Tyler

1971 Interstate Fastback restoration

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