1971 Interstate Fastback restoration

DogT · Sep 20, 2010

Looks like you have the Euro bars on it. That would be the first change I would make unless I have mechanical issues.

Good Job.

Dave
69S

swooshdave · Sep 20, 2010

DogT said:
Looks like you have the Euro bars on it. That would be the first change I would make unless I have mechanical issues.

Good Job.

Dave
69S

What would you change them to and why? Euro bars actually work pretty good with the Interstate tank. The only upgrade you can make is to rear sets with that big tank since you're sitting so far back.

DogT · Sep 21, 2010

I guess I was not clear. I meant to say that I would change from the USA bars to the Euro bars on my 'S', I'm not telling him what to do.

Dave
69S

rvich · Sep 21, 2010

I agree that it is a really great looking bike. I might have missed it in here, but who did your seat for you? Are you happy with the results? (Comfort, details, etc). I am still undecided on your breather mod, but it does have the .007 appeal. :wink:

Russ

Edit=I went back to look again and see that you commented that the seat was done by a guy in his garage. Does he prefer to stay anonymous? If so, disregard the question. Otherwise this forum might send him some business.

motoalchemist · Sep 21, 2010

rvich said:
I agree that it is a really great looking bike. I might have missed it in here, but who did your seat for you? Are you happy with the results? (Comfort, details, etc). I am still undecided on your breather mod, but it does have the .007 appeal. :wink:

Russ

Edit=I went back to look again and see that you commented that the seat was done by a guy in his garage. Does he prefer to stay anonymous? If so, disregard the question. Otherwise this forum might send him some business.

The seat was done by a guy down the street, yes. His specialty is Vintage Furniture upholstering and restoration, so motorcycle seat covering is not his normal deal. Although--i am very pleased with the look and feel of the seat he did for me. He does have a day job, and spends alot of time on the golf course, so the thing i would caution is his lead time. I will ask him if he is interested in taking on more work and then forward his info to this forum. With me it was a work exchange deal. i worked on his harley and he recovered my Norton seat.

I havent updated the forum about my little vent mod....It didnt work, I was blowing alot of oil out the special pipe. So the pipe you see at the end of the bike doesnt do anything right now. I have re-routed the left and right case vents into a "T" Fitting, and thusly contiued the vent hose to the oil tank fill tube neck. from there i have the standard froth tower hose going to the Intake filter housing..works just fine now. i still may add a PVC valve later.

anyway, im pre-flighting the Norton for a ride right now.

Tyler

motoalchemist · Sep 22, 2010

This may havebeen covered in another thread..My original Lucas headlight bulb (cira 1979) blew out the other day. I wanted to keep the original Lucas reflector and lens, but also wanted a little more illumination. Today i bought a Halogen bulb with a Lucas base. It worked great. Its a little brighter, but spreads light over a larger area. I feel much more confident riding at night with this bulb. which is good since I get off work at 1130pm

here is the bulb, notice the base is exactly like the Lucas unit

Fits right in no mods at all necessary

How it looks installed. I got it at Rabers for 14.95 USD

motoalchemist · Oct 4, 2010

Hello,
So Ive been Enjoying my new Norton and wondered how I lived life for so many years without one. Then suddenly halfway accross the San Mateo bridge.....somthing funny....no wait maybe just bad gas. But No, I only put "good" gas in the Norton. Yes For sure there was somthing amiss, I hope I get accross the bridge before it quits or I ruin it.
I stop the bike and quickly find the problem..... loose RH carb body. Strange, didnt know this was a issue with Nortons.

Called the wife and had her bring the truck and ramp;

Here you can see the nut on the inboard side of the carb. This view is look down from where the tank would normally be.

Here is the Outboard bolt, I actually started turning this one in..... but the vibration damaged the tickler

While I was instection the carbs, i also noticed this Nut missing. This is looking at bottom of engine, lower cradle mount

And the other side...the exhaust headers kept the stud from falling all the way out

T95 · Oct 4, 2010

Lucky Day!
Of all the places to have a mechanical The SM Bridge is one of the last places I would want to be stranded. Glad to hear you made it off that bridge safely!
Is locktight the solution??

rvich · Oct 5, 2010

I made sure I had everything properly snugged up on my bike and found all sorts of stuff had come loose anyway after some riding. Tightened it all back down and haven't had trouble since, but it pays off to look around on the preflight. I had a nut come loose on the carb as well, but then it seems like there was while there when I had them off at least twice a week trying to get things dialed in and so it may have been a conditioned response.

motoalchemist · Oct 22, 2010

rvich said:
I made sure I had everything properly snugged up on my bike and found all sorts of stuff had come loose anyway after some riding. Tightened it all back down and haven't had trouble since, but it pays off to look around on the preflight. I had a nut come loose on the carb as well, but then it seems like there was while there when I had them off at least twice a week trying to get things dialed in and so it may have been a conditioned response.

I have now changed almost half of the original Norton nuts to modern self locking nuts. They look good and wont come loose. Ive also used half a jug of locktite on everything else.

Tyler

DogT · Oct 22, 2010

Rebuilding my 69, I used all the nylocks I could, but unfortunately, the motor studs and gearbox studs are not long enough to engage the nylocks, but I did my best and replaced what I could.

I wouldn't want to be in the Baltimore Harbor tunnel (and I've been there on the Norton) when the carb nuts came off, I'd rather be on the SMF or PCH.

Dave
69S

motoalchemist · Dec 16, 2010

Hello fellow Norton lovers....this was completly unplanned and I cannot afford this...but just picked up this beauty for $1200.
Numbers match and as far as I can tell the only thing missing is the exhaust. ( seat and engine are in truck cab)
I will post more pictures tonight.
Its a 1969, but will do some research on the number to verify.

DogT · Dec 16, 2010

You can't have 2 fastbacks, that's not fair. And since you can't afford it, I'll be glad to take it off your hands. The 'S' needs a buddy anyhow. Let me know when you're coming out with it. I'll be here.

Dave
69S

motoalchemist · Dec 16, 2010

DogT said:
You can't have 2 fastbacks, that's not fair. And since you can't afford it, I'll be glad to take it off your hands. The 'S' needs a buddy anyhow. Let me know when you're coming out with it. I'll be here.

Dave
69S

Well....not to twist the knife...but this is the third fastback in my garage...I havent posted pictures of my other highly modified fastback.

as far as affording it...this latest fastback will be a joint venture between myself and a good friend.

splatt · Dec 16, 2010

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Nice, are the Interstate pipes a pain, they look very retro smart.Want to build an Interback with the rest of my 850 parts, a bit of a retro sleeper.

gtsun · Dec 16, 2010

I can identify it for you, it's called a dog but I'm not sure how it goes on the bike.

gtsun · Dec 17, 2010

Ooops. Please disregard that last post, it was a comment on the dog in the picture of the last post on page #1 of this thread. I was showing a friend how to leave a post and accedently hit the submit button.

motoalchemist · Dec 17, 2010

gtsun said:
Ooops. Please disregard that last post, it was a comment on the dog in the picture of the last post on page #1 of this thread. I was showing a friend how to leave a post and accedently hit the submit button.

He's a stupid dog anyway...lol

Norton-Villier · Dec 17, 2010

Nice Interstate motoalchemist, This last Norton you picked up conferms you now have an addiction to the Norton mortorcycle. Not even Doctor Drew can help you now. Good luck, Phil

motoalchemist · Dec 17, 2010

Freezing and raining like crazy here in the San fran area...hard to belive just over a month ago it was this blissful

1971 Interstate Fastback restoration

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