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

Love is tough for sure. You'll get it.

That might not happen if you folks drove on the right side of the road you know...Something to do with the Earth's rotation & lunar cycles, and scaring the hell out of me when I watch your vids.
 
hahaha! yeah I get you mate us brits hey! :) I'm like that watching american footage o.o wrong side of the road! haha

Yeah the feeling of Dejavue when I took the cap off was immense.

These things happen just glad I caught it now before it did any real damage fingers crossed..

Plan is to fit some of the 1 piece rocker spindle end caps with the grub screws to get me outta the jam for a while.

Totally getting new rocker spindles undecided whether to get new rockers as well.

Being an optimist at least it'l be easy fitting the new spindles LOL always look on the bright side an all that.

Just got the timing cover off before it chucked it down shes got a six start pump fitted so least that's good as it matches the rocker spindles. Gonna take the pump off and give it a clean while I've got her apart might even fit a flexible rocker feed line as well as it's a daily rider well was but she shall be again.

Reckon if I got a shift on ordering everything could be test riding by end of next week again explains the crazy readings I was intermittently getting on the plugs with the 376's.
 
Why do people drive on the wrong side of the road eh ? We only had single track roads for stagecoaches. Dick Turpin didn't seem to care. Those spindles once pegged should be fine, my valve train has been a noisy bugger for over 40years and still makes me smile every ride. That is one sweet looking beast, regardless.
 
69238172_10219600894917376_5810696477785194496_o by norton.rider, on Flickr

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
69318718_10219601981824548_1855924955661729792_o by norton.rider, on Flickr

No flat on that rocker spindle?
 
Hi guys was hoping one of you would comment on those spindles was suprised to see they didn't have the flat unless they are original to the bike an early ones? The locking tabs were not engaging with the spindles as they seem a bit far in on the head.

Got some one peice spindle end caps with the grub screw on the way from RGM thought I would give those a whirl as they seem just the ticket as they are designed to stop loose fitting rocker spindles spinning.

Need to get oil gaskets pump seals timing cover seal and some new rocker spindles ordered. Haha Joy's!
 
Hi Tom. I have left some info on the club site . I think the missing flats on the spindle was another AMC wheeze to reduce the overoiling on the inlet side which they later covered by fitting oil seals. I have the same issues on the 67 Atlas. Typical AMC response , solve a problem by not doing something (no flats). But they also should have altered the sideplates so that they could only allow the spindles to be fitted one way. Instead the set up allows spindles to fit or turn the wrong way and flood the inlet side and the oil to miss the rocker bushes, result Smoke, burned valves,seized bush, spindles turn, head wears. RGM kit good.
 
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Thanks bob yep just replied to that :) It's interesting isn't it all the little changes over the years. I'd replace like for like but no one does them.

So thinking of getting the ones with the flats. That's a point regarding the oil seal on the valveguide inlet side

I've been deliberating over what to order all morning lol!
Did notice some oil pooling in the inlet side of the head.
It all ads up now as I've had issues getting a good reading on the plugs been fine then not then fine guessing the spindles spinning explains that. Shall be interesting when I try to fit a new set of spindles.

I did notice on Norvil's website a mention of spacers for the plain rocker spindles.

Interesting stuff.
 
It's interesting isn't it all the little changes over the years. I'd replace like for like but no one does them.

I'm not sure that's necessary-or wise?
Are all four spindles the same?

So thinking of getting the ones with the flats. That's a point regarding the oil seal on the valveguide inlet side

But then, inlet valve seals weren't fitted until late '71 Commando.

I've been deliberating over what to order all morning lol!
Did notice some oil pooling in the inlet side of the head.

If they had been rotating then most likely the head would've been over-oiled at times.

I did notice on Norvil's website a mention of spacers for the plain rocker spindles.

Which spacers? o_O

Edit: Do you mean the 069506 bronze thrust washers?
 
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Hi mate had spotted these 596060 not sure if they are right for my head or not doesn't mention them in my Plumstead manual. Was curious about them as the spindles are set quite deep in the head so the standard end caps were not engaging.

Yep plugs were showing intermittent signs of over oiling which is what led me to start checking stuff out after the cat and fiddle ride.

All spindles are the same and turning only ones I seem to be able to find are the ones with the flats on. So question is which way would you all point the oil hole on the Dommies?

Just reading my 650ss manual part number p106/P
it will be noticed that the rocker spindles have a "flat" on one side. the spindles should be fitted with all flats facing inwards to the centre of the engine and slot spindle end lying horizontal.


so looks like flats in on the dommie are the correct way Interesting stuff.
 
Hi mate had spotted these 596060 not sure if they are right for my head or not doesn't mention them in my Plumstead manual.

No, the 596060 spacers are used when fitting narrow width 'late type' rockers (not specifically "Commando" as it says) to pre-114870 heads.



All spindles are the same and turning only ones I seem to be able to find are the ones with the flats on. So question is which way would you all point the oil hole on the Dommies?

Your 650SS has the high pressure rocker feed therefore the flats must face outwards.


Just reading my 650ss manual part number p106/P
it will be noticed that the rocker spindles have a "flat" on one side. the spindles should be fitted with all flats facing inwards to the centre of the engine and slot spindle end lying horizontal.


so looks like flats in on the dommie are the correct way Interesting stuff.

I think you will find the information to face them inwards is wrong.

For a high pressure rocker feed the flats must face outwards or the head will flood with oil. Edit: And also result in a loss of oil pressure if faced inwards.
 
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ok thanks mate :) totally miss read that!! Thanks for pointing it out least that saves a bit of money haha.

Yep I must admit when I read that it confused me just goes to show can't trust the manuals.

Thanks for the advice.
 
22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
69301805_10219612236920919_5938992425136553984_o by norton.rider, on Flickr

Picture from the other night while riding on the Cat and fiddle :)

An here's the footage from the trip really enjoyed that ride was so peaceful up there reminded me when I used to ride up every single day at about 5 am in the summers.



Going to drive an pick a load of parts up tomorrow so hopefully should have the 650ss back on the road start of next week :) really missing riding her.
 
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Have I missed something? Where was it established this 650 has the high pressure top end oiling system.

A high pressure system would explain the plain rocker spindles, but it is possible the PO changed the spindles and not the oil feed.

First place to start ..... where is the top end oil feed coming from? Low pressure = tap off oil return line where it enters oil tank. High pressure = tap off timing cover.

Slick
 
Hi Slick the rocker feed on mine is from the timing cover to the very top of the cylinder head not the side like on the commando. Crankcase breather comes of the primary side at the back of the crankcase not of the side like on the atlas / early commando.

Fitted with a six start oil pump which I believe was standard from 66' dont quote me on that though my 66/67 plumstead norton manual mentions plain rocker spindles.
 
Ok .... I did not pick up yours was a '67, .... my bad.

In that case, I agree with LAB, spindles with flats should be turned outwards. Flats turned inwards is for low pressure systems. Wrong way round will flood the head with high pressure systems, or starve the rockers with low pressure systems.

Six start oil pumps were standard from '66.

Slick

Edit: The information you quote from your Norton manual must be a holdover from the earlier low pressure systems.
 
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Flats turned inwards is for low pressure systems. Wrong way round will flood the head with high pressure systems, or starve the rockers with low pressure systems.

Edit: The information you quote from your Norton manual must be a holdover from the earlier low pressure systems.

However, the low pressure 'scrolled' spindles didn't have a flat or at least the ones available now don't?
https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-details/18683
 
Yep that's what confused me when it said flats that the scrolled rocker spindles didn't have them I'm guessing someone made a miss print an the proof readers didn't pick it up maybe. Having grown up around print an worked in it for 10+ years till the company went under some of the mistakes by huge blue chip companies that we used to catch doesn't suprise me lol
 
Just bought her a load of new parts from Gaz an Les at Norvil really grateful to them for fitting me in so I can get the SS out again :) gonna get up really early tomorrow an get stuck in.

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
IMG_20190829_144907_598 by norton.rider, on Flickr

How cool are these bar ends :) designed by Kate at Norvil to cut down on vibration through the bars looking forward to giving them a whirl in comparison judging the difference on the modern bikes when I used to alter bar end weights these could be really interesting.

Got a Doherty throttle grip as well to replace the amal one I've had grief with.

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
IMG_20190829_144907_596 by norton.rider, on Flickr
 
The no-flat high pressure shafts must certainly be short lived. I don't have a 67 to check.
I did check the early heads back to 57.
You all are aware that the rocker is drilled from the ball end to the shaft...?

IT'S about the ball end of the rocker!!!
On spiraled low pressure shafts the flat supplies the rocker ball (push rod) end with casual oiling . otherwise it may get starved if the flat is faced away from the ball end. There would not be anything aligned with the rocker hole.

IT'S about the ball end of the rocker!!!
On the HP shafts the HP supply would spray and splash like crazy being that all 4 rocker ball end would always be supplied full time with forceful oiling. That's why they are NOT lined up.
 
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