a little help from the Norton gurus please

I have another real stupid question , I bought an electronic ignition for it and I wanted to time it before I put it back in the bike, everything that I read about Norton says with a degree wheel you split the difference, but I was planning on timing it before I put the head back on, is it possible to do this, do I just do it from Top Dead Center, or do I have to put the head back on and then take the two readings and split the difference, I just figured it would be easier to time it before I put the head on so I could see when the Pistons are at the very top but I guess that's not true dead center according to the Norton manual

That is NOT a real stupid question. More often than not I give a stupid answer! Most of us make a piston stop that goes into the spark plug hole. We then spin the motor slowly forward and back until it comes to rest before and after TDC. We adjust the degree wheel to read the same at both stops.

Sounds to me like all you need to do is set up a pointer on the degree wheel and rotate the piston to find the peak of its rise. Rotate the wheel so that the pointer reads zero at this location. Then just rotate the desired 28 degrees or what is needed for your particular ignition. Then put the outer case on and verify the reading on your timing scale. The outer cover on the primary will usually rotate a bit around its center bolt so that the timing scale will move relative to the rotor. So push your outer case full against its pins either clockwise or counter and then make a note of how the primary was positioned and what the scale read. Then you will be ready to use the timing light when you have it assembled.

Russ

Scotty,

There are Norton owners in Landing NJ which should be close to you and several in the Easton PA area. Also, Classic Cycles Ltd (British Bike Shop) in Baptistown NJ. PM me if you want their contact info.

George

I actually meant a reputable Norton shop not just Norton owners, but yes Landing is very close to m, its part of Lake Hopatcong where I grew up, unless you mean Mays Landing which is about 4 hours from me

"I actually meant a reputable Norton shop not just Norton owners, but yes Landing is very close to m, its part of Lake Hopatcong where I grew up, unless you mean Mays Landing which is about 4 hours from me."

New York City Norton is in northern NJ; probably the best Norton service in the eastern US, maybe the country.

Scott,
Road Scholar is right. Kenny Cummings, NYC Norton, is not far from you. He is located in Jersey City, drop him an E-mail. Check out his web site http://nycnorton.com/. He is a great guy and should be a excellent source of info for local talent (of which I’m sure he is the best).

There is also the Delaware Valley Norton Riders http://www.dvnr.org/ . They are a bunch of real nice, knowledge guys (and girls). Baldy from a previous post is the President, so if you want some info about them contact him.

These bikes are pretty easy to work on, and with the information on this site you will be able to find the answer to any question you might have. I had to rebuild mine last season due to a bad cam and did everything myself except the head work.

FWIW I’m located in Mays Landing, and courious to know who the South Jersey guy you mentioned is.

Good luck,
Pete

Classic Cycles is the only guy I heard of it New Jersey he's by Frenchtown

Scott,
Thanks. I heard of them, don’t know anything about their work.
Pete

Scott,

There are DVNR members that work on Nortons in the Easton PA area and a member in Landing (not Mays Landing) NJ. Classic Cycle and NYC Norton are two shops not too far from you that do Norton work.

George

Thanks you have no idea how many people don't know the difference between Landing and Mays Landing, it's hilarious

I'm in Upper Black Eddy PA just across the river from Milford NJ. If you need help with the pushrods it is no problem. Get some rubber bands. I'm a DVNR member but not very active in the club. I've had mine since new so have done just about everything at least once. RT 519 goes most of the way between us. I'm across the river from Classic Cycles in Baptistown. I only know one poor guy who had work done and it had to go back after he troubleshot the problem himself. I didn't find out exactly what happened because he sold the bike shortly afterwards. Nothing to do with the bike itself though. His wife was not a fan.
Russ