72 Combat Proddy Build

Coco said:
swooshdave said:
Next problem is that we can't get the brake to work right. Everything is new with a sleeved master cylinder. Lever goes back to the grip. Pistons are moving. Fed fluid from the bottom, then tried regular bleeding. Hasn't changed. Not firm. Sigh.

Seat is finished. I'll update the other thread.
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You may still have air in there caught up somewhere. Have you tried a cheap brake fluid vacuum pump? I use large syringes from the vet supply store since I'm too cheap to buy a vacuum pump. I was in your situation and almost got the pump but just bled a few more times and that did it.
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I do have a vacuum pump, but I can't find it. I need to pull the Bultacos out of the way and look some more. How do you use the vacuum pump on the Norton?
 
swooshdave said:
MarshalNorton said:
In one picture I see allot of different colored objects lying on a box.
Marshal
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Color coded T-Handle Allen Wrenches. You can get them on sale from Harbor Freight for about $5. :mrgreen:

Luckily my dad is out visiting from NC and helping out. The kid is not quite helpful yet. Unless we need additional sound effects...
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about $5 too much!
I got that set a few years back. If its still made the same way, they simply take some hex rod, and mold a plastic handle around it. On the smaller sizes, if you need to loosen a screw thats too tight, the rod spins in the handle instead of turning the screw! I have this image in my head of some chinese factory workers laughing their asses off every time they ship another container of those things!! :mrgreen:
 
DonOR said:
about $5 too much!
I got that set a few years back. If its still made the same way, they simply take some hex rod, and mold a plastic handle around it. On the smaller sizes, if you need to loosen a screw thats too tight, the rod spins in the handle instead of turning the screw! I have this image in my head of some chinese factory workers laughing their asses off every time they ship another container of those things!! :mrgreen:
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You know, I have never had a problem with them. They work great and I can torque them all I want.
 
THATS good news Dave... I still wont be able to get that factory worker image outta my head. maybe I was thinking of toothpaste... Bike is looking really great, do you have an estimated completion date?
 
DonOR said:
THATS good news Dave... I still wont be able to get that factory worker image outta my head. maybe I was thinking of toothpaste... Bike is looking really great, do you have an estimated completion date?
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The rest of my life. :mrgreen:
 
I know what you mean... that's one of the many reasons I never took mine all the way down to the bearings. By the time I would get 'er done, with all the forthcoming arthritis, lower back, rheumatism, etc., etc., all I could do is watch my kid ride it!
 
Shoot, I am all out of breath and sweating my butt off just WATCHING that video.
 
Dave,

Congratulations!!!
Great vid too - far more entertaining than british TV ;)

Great choice of music - I didn't realise Benny Hill had made it across the Pond :shock:

Reminds me of my first Brit - a '59 'Speed' Twin (there was no Trades Description Act back then, I guess) that I put back together with the valve timing out...after 2 weeks of fruitless kicking I admitted defeat and got the bike trailered to Dave Smiths (local Brit Guru), who got it sorted in no time, and then proceeded to take the p*** mercilessly for weeks afterwards.
 
B+Bogus said:
Great choice of music - I didn't realise Benny Hill had made it across the Pond :shock:
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Really? Benny Hill was classic! You didn't think ya'll could keep him for yourself?
 
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0cOl6GvEns[/video]

The next step is to clean it up enough to take it out to the Portland All British Field Meet this weekend. It won't be finished but it will be close to presentable.

http://www.abfm-pdx.com/2010/index.htm

I first went to the ABFM sometime in the late 80s when I had my MG Midget. For a long time I'd go every year. From the MG it was a GT-6 and then the TR-4. One year I had the TR-4 and a Triumph 2000 (it was my brother's 2000 but he had moved to NC and left it with me). For many years there would be maybe one bike, sometimes none. I remember getting excited when one guy would show up with his TR-6 Tiger. "Look, a bike!". I'm not sure if I ever took my Interstate. I can't remember. I probably took the TR-4 instead.

72 Combat Proddy Build


Nowadays there is 20+ bikes, maybe more. I haven't been in a few years. This will be the first time I've shown a vehicle in 20 years, I'd guess. Should be fun. There is at least one other Norton entered. I suspect there will be a few there. They lump all the bikes together in one class.

I was going to fill the front forks with oil and realized I only could find one drain screw. I may see if Ella can pop one in an envelope and send it to me.

I'm working on the side cover. I had to fiberglass in some missing chunks. I should be able to get it done maybe Wednesday?

Then tighten up the front end. I think that's all I can do now. Oh, and get polishing. And clean those old tires and wheels to get them somewhat acceptable. And make a sign explaining it's still a "work in progress".
 
Very nifty.

I had a GT6+ back int he early 80s, another one of those "should have never sold it" deals. Actually traded it away for a Honda XR250, Suzuki RM80 and Yamaha Y-Zinger

Shut up, it seemed like the right thing to do at time. I was young and stupid.
 
grandpaul said:
Very nifty.

I had a GT6+ back int he early 80s, another one of those "should have never sold it" deals. Actually traded it away for a Honda XR250, Suzuki RM80 and Yamaha Y-Zinger

Shut up, it seemed like the right thing to do at time. I was young and stupid.
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The GT-6 I don't miss so much. It was fun but there is no way I'd even fit in it now.

The TR-4 is rotting away at my parents house. :(
 
swooshdave said:
The TR-4 is rotting away at my parents house. :(
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I dated a chick way back in the 70's whose brother used to let me use his TR4. I would love to have one now. Man I loved that car, the chick wasn't so bad either.
 
Them pipes are awfully blue, buddy!

Howzabout a shot of the primary side?
 
grandpaul said:
Them pipes are awfully blue, buddy!

Howzabout a shot of the primary side?
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Yeah, I think they got too hot from idling. Or the timing was off or carbs. Well, they are blue now and no crying about it.

I'm fiberglassing up some notches in the other side cover. Should be done Friday so maybe some pics then. But really, I've been staring at the other side for MONTHS so it was good to get some shots of this side. :mrgreen:
 
I can Guarantee that just idling even all day long in still air direct sunshine on black tarmac will not over heat a proper timed and fueled Commando and certainly Will Not blue the pipes. Only well tuned high fuel flow and hot full combustion WOT will blue pipes unless you have run bike a minute or so with the timing or mixture way off. I know too damn much about this, so know its takes way less than a minute to permanently thermal stain chrome. Diddle you tuning then get new pipes and develop a more normal longer spread out bluing power stain. A commando can start on too advanced timing and turn header cherry bright red whole length to the muffler under 20 sec. Quite a show on night time testing far far away from home.
In above event turned out I'd put extra nut in back of trigger plate with Boyer wire upgrade so magnets clipped the terminals, sending Boyer brains beyond full advance orbit. Would read on the money before starting then shoot off scale on timing light watching.
 
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