22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england

If you really want to look after your motor, Fit an air filter.And get your mixture set up on a Dyno which will reduce all that carbon.

I'll have a look into that bob seen the benefits of Dyno'ing the two strokes.

my Commando is running an air filter

Mongrels are pretty loyal ISH! I went to the 1st NOC international in 86' the main ball race cage parted and sounded awful. Got it home without any major trauma but slowly back from Belgium. Superblend mains after that ! 1st gearbox rebuild ever this winter, needn't have bothered, but worries about the layshaft bearing problems got me into the cold old shed. All good with no issues so far.

Awesome mate got superblends in the 650SS I'm gonna check the layshaft out if I can't get the clutch to stabilise properly once It's got the new spring cups springs etc fitted hands are full with the Commando at the moment though haha! An a rd250c from 1977 I'm just finishing a refurb on hoping to order the clutch parts for the 650SS week after this one and get stuck in on her!

That reminds me I need to do the gearbox outer cover on the 650SS as well that's let go an leaked all over the floor ha!

I fitted the square section oil seal on the kickstart instead of the old style O ring with better results, unless you have had it machined and lip seal mod. Pack of 10 on fleabay for around £9. Part no. 04-0005Q

Thanks I'll check that out!

Been making a bit of a list on the 650ss of jobs to sort, hopefully she won't give me to much trouble or as much trouble as my Commando haha!

Plan with the 650Ss

1) fix clutch
2) fix gearbox leak
3) forks aren't rebounding when sat on her just sat at lowest point in the travel.
New fork oil an maybe springs.
First gonna slacken all the front end off and reseat the forks (never been brilliant)
4) new oil
5) check mag
6) give her a start an hopefully a run
She's been sat far to long with everything that's gone on the past few years.
Itching to get out on a really long run an use her daily.
7) when a few more of my Japanese bikes are sold gonna get the repro rear mudguard I got from Noc fitted drilled an chromed.

I made the booboo of nipping the forks with the pinch bolt tight and tightening the spindle years ago and no rebound. Earlier this year I piggy backed a condenser on the earth tag of my mag, as having hot start probs, 1000 miles on and still good. Not ideal but doing the job until winter strip. Generic condenser from quick fit points, old mini etc. Copper core HT leads and unsuppressed caps have worked for me as i said before. All the best for the rest of the summer.

Well I ran the camera into my cylinders yesterday to look about. Been having a dirty plug on primary side since resurrection..Timing side pretty dry & nice inside. Left side little oil wet(not a lot) enough to be a nuisance, so I guess I'll join you in the internal inspection program in a couple of months.
Presently I'm leaning towards the intake oil seal, but only the shadow knows until I dig in.
Keep up the good work. Sad about the raw deal on the '68, but you caught things prior to catastrophic damage.

Thanks lads going to have a 650SS weekend as I'm at a stop on the bottom end strip until I get some more tools + parts early on in the week.

Crazy to think how long I've had the 650SS now gonna remedy the lack of use starting this weekend!

Very interested to see how she shapes up to the Commando an I'm itching to see how the Commando will be running properly!

Sorry to hear about the bike mate good thing is they can always be sorted an at least we don't need banks of computers like some of the beemer's I've had.

Good thing is I was just rooting around in my storage boxes for the 650ss an I'd bought new springs from Norvil an some fork oil that I never got round to fitting ! Always a plus.

Thinking breaking the work down.

Tomorrow is the front end issue makes me think it's binding somewhere again with them bottoming and not re bounded, an change the gearbox outer seals and outer cover gasket. Only place that leaks oil on the entire bike.

One thing I've never had apart on her is the forks so looking forward to getting to the bottom of that pun intended

An on Sunday I'm gonna have a look the clutch got new spring cups and springs. Was looking at getting some new plates for her this week as well.

Was looking at the two clutch plate configurations clutch wise looks like mine has got the pre 64' stuff fitted as it's an RGM clutch so may have been all the previous owner could get at the time.

Interesting stuff

Nothing wrong really. Just a little wet but still on her game. Just got back from helping out with climate change by hurrying things along.

that's good mate

Well I did have lots of 650ss plans but looks like the weather is going to stop me hopefully it clears up in a bit

I am still running the primary on ATF, with no issues and the plates don't stick when kicking through with the clutch engaged. And of course I know where my drips come from. ???? The usual place.

Just put new oil an fork springs in.
Does anyone know what weight rider the standard springs are for?

How much of the fork slider extension is on show with a rider on the bike.

slackened it all off tightened in sequence of, top nut, lower yoke, main axle, pinch bolt, mudguard bridge bolts, mudguard stays seems a fair bit better

Take it there's no torque settings for the lower yoke pinch bolts? Or the axle couldn't see any in the manual, got the ones for the top nuts though.

Check the mudguard bridge is not pulling the legs together ,if so pack with washers to avoid any pull ,or push . Bounce forks before tightening axle nut ,then lightly do up pinch bolt at bottom of ns leg. Yoke pinch bolts tight.

Cheers mate yeah have packed it previously might pop it off though an double check was a fair few years ago!

Epic progress today got some new clutch parts!! New nuts plates an a outer pressure plate springs an spring cups.

Engine oil, ATF an some epic tools for the commando it's forecast really bad weather for the next few days so let's hope it's a wrong forecast itching to get them fitted an give her a go.

All from the lads at Norvil really superb day + some info on the Commando.

Fixed the forks yesterday undid the fork pinch bolts an other bolts bounced it with the brake on then re tightened it all miles better fork action.

Fitted a new kickstart an gearshift seal to the SS an outer gearbox cover. Nice to have that oil tight



IMG_20190729_150319085-01 by norton.rider, on Flickr

Got quite passionate after a few private messages on some other social media platforms basically telling me till I'm 50+ I shouldn't be working on Norton's.


Never gonna stop working on them far to much fun hopefully me learning as I go inspires some others my age to get stuck in and have a go.
Covered the latest findings with the cylinder head and how the videos are filmed + some parts on for the Ss.
Just wanna say thanks to everyone that's given me great advice so far.

I understand the desire for making videos (well, kinda) but IMHO it would make for a for more interesting and easy to follow thread if you also added text regarding you findings and progress...

Hi Eddie I'm dyslexic so struggle with writing all have our strengths and weaknesses.

Just realised the part covering the new components didn't upload gonna sort that shortly

Few more coming tonight finally sorted the clutch