Basket Case 69' Norton and new member

RedLetter

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Dec 28, 2021
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New to this forum! Hello everyone.

Tyler From Ellensburg, WA. I've been working with my buddy on Norton's for eight years and I'm finally going to be building one!

I am putting a 750 Norton together from parts from different sources and different years. It'll be a bit of a Johnny cash style special. 69,70,71,72,73,74...

Since i am doing bits and pieces i will be doing improvement modifications. I would like to know about the Comstock front isoelastic spring suspension. I have searched and i cannot find the old thread.

Also curious if anyone has tried putting a circa 2005 Bonneville front end on. Will the steering spindle fit the Norton bearing? it looks very close and could be a bolt on mod.

Has anyone tried a custom wiring harness using a keyless ignition system?

Also tyring to solve the wet sump issue. i have heard of an oil valve with an ignition lockout so you can't burn the engine up!

I'll be posting photos and more questions. I'm very excited to be on the forum and get this dream bike going!
 
The later model stock steering head bearing is 25mm bore. (The early frame bikes with the first generation triple clamps might be different)
There might be bearings with the correct OD and larger ID as an option.

New use for a Kibblewhite Performance valve spring (2013)

Getting ready for my upcoming 4-5000 mile road trip and thought I would play with reducing vibration on the road. The iso rubbers were replace a couple years ago but with heavy 880 pistons and steel rods the bike has never been as smooth as it was originally. Now after a couple years the...
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com
 
RedLetter said:
New to this forum! Hello everyone.

Tyler From Ellensburg, WA. I've been working with my buddy on Norton's for eight years and I'm finally going to be building one!

I am putting a 750 Norton together from parts from different sources and different years. It'll be a bit of a Johnny cash style special. 69,70,71,72,73,74...

Since i am doing bits and pieces i will be doing improvement modifications. I would like to know about the Comstock front isoelastic spring suspension. I have searched and i cannot find the old thread.

Also curious if anyone has tried putting a circa 2005 Bonneville front end on. Will the steering spindle fit the Norton bearing? it looks very close and could be a bolt on mod.

Has anyone tried a custom wiring harness using a keyless ignition system?

Also tyring to solve the wet sump issue. i have heard of an oil valve with an ignition lockout so you can't burn the engine up!

I'll be posting photos and more questions. I'm very excited to be on the forum and get this dream bike going!
Click to expand...
G'day RedLetter I have fitted an 04 Bonneville front end to my 71 fastback, a great improvement. It is not a bolt on I had to make adapter cups to make it fit, machining involved. I could not find bearings to make it a bolt on. Good luck. Smithy
 
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RedLetter said:
Since i am doing bits and pieces i will be doing improvement modifications. I would like to know about the Comstock front isoelastic spring suspension. I have searched and i cannot find the old thread.
Click to expand...

If you can add under the engine springs and mountings (do the mods yourself) why not just make a head steady too.
I should have done that JC mod when the frame was bare but did not want to alter it (the frame)
In hindsight that was short sighted.

Basket Case 69' Norton and new member
 
RedLetter said:
New to this forum! Hello everyone.

Tyler From Ellensburg, WA. I've been working with my buddy on Norton's for eight years and I'm finally going to be building one!

I am putting a 750 Norton together from parts from different sources and different years. It'll be a bit of a Johnny cash style special. 69,70,71,72,73,74...

Since i am doing bits and pieces i will be doing improvement modifications. I would like to know about the Comstock front isoelastic spring suspension. I have searched and i cannot find the old thread.

Also curious if anyone has tried putting a circa 2005 Bonneville front end on. Will the steering spindle fit the Norton bearing? it looks very close and could be a bolt on mod.

Has anyone tried a custom wiring harness using a keyless ignition system?

Also tyring to solve the wet sump issue. i have heard of an oil valve with an ignition lockout so you can't burn the engine up!

I'll be posting photos and more questions. I'm very excited to be on the forum and get this dream bike going!
Click to expand...


Welcome Tyler.

This reading material should last you into (a happy) 2022 ;)

New use for a Kibblewhite Performance valve spring (2013)

Getting ready for my upcoming 4-5000 mile road trip and thought I would play with reducing vibration on the road. The iso rubbers were replace a couple years ago but with heavy 880 pistons and steel rods the bike has never been as smooth as it was originally. Now after a couple years the...
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com

Feked anti-wet sump valve and switch

Hi, I have just purchased one of these devices for my commando but it doesn't come with any wiring diagram or anything, so if anyone on here has fitted one I would appreciate you advice on how you wired it up. Cheers Paul
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com
granttiller.com

Motogadget mo.lock | Grant Tiller

I often get asked about Motogadget - it's superb kit, and I have a few of their bits on my project bike. Very nice quality indeed. Alas, a lot of the electronic bits are for negative earth only, when they are wired via the mo.unit basic or mo.unit blue, so there is a limited application
granttiller.com granttiller.com
 
Thank you all! I really appreciate the quick replies.

I'll be looking into that moto gadget for sure!
There's a lot of reading and thinking that needs to go into this.

Has anyone tried plating metal? trying to decide how i want the bike to look at the end.
Thinking leather, Black, Gold letter and the red tank. Finishing touches isn't my strong suit.
 
Probably I'm boring, but I've not seen one as good as they came from the factory in Roadster or Interstate trim. Especially in candy red. I love the long and low look and gentle curve of the stock seats above the rear mudguard.

I'll go back into my cave.
 
RedLetter said:
Thank you all! I really appreciate the quick replies.

I'll be looking into that moto gadget for sure!
There's a lot of reading and thinking that needs to go into this.

Has anyone tried plating metal? trying to decide how i want the bike to look at the end.
Thinking leather, Black, Gold letter and the red tank. Finishing touches isn't my strong suit.
Click to expand...
The wiring diagram that Grant made up for the MO.lock is for my bike. There are more details here-

Muttster: A long, slow '74 resto-mod

Lookin’ Good! Interested to know whether or not your toes and kickstart interfere with each other, especially when hooking the pedal up to change down?
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com

I am happy with it.

The biggest issue with install I found is it can't go behind metal, so not behind the sidecovers or in the headlight shell, etc.

Happy to answer any questions you may have.
 
gortnipper said:
The wiring diagram that Grant made up for the MO.lock is for my bike. There are more details here-

Muttster: A long, slow '74 resto-mod

Lookin’ Good! Interested to know whether or not your toes and kickstart interfere with each other, especially when hooking the pedal up to change down?
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com

I am happy with it.

The biggest issue with install I found is it can't go behind metal, so not behind the sidecovers or in the headlight shell, etc.

Happy to answer any questions you may have.
Click to expand...
well that cancels a few ideas i had. but, brings out a few more! and i am loving that tiny RFID for your finger. freken magician.

Great location for the Ignition too.

i am going to have tons of questions. but first i have to assemble parts and start writing down the ideas i like and sketching it out.
going belt primary, newer front end, the moto ignition, single mikuni carb, tie rod and spring for isolastics, considering the freken valve (only for long storage, i don't want to climb down every week for wet sumping/ lazy).

is that the best oil pressure gauge you have found?
I want to be able to monitor oil pressure, volts, maybe amps, speed, tach, and a neutral light would be nice.

How do you like the changes you made with your brake and shifter?

have you tried any digital speedometers or things outside smiths?

i'm looking into that as well, i enjoy the stock look

i'm not opposed to changing things up if something works better or looks asthetically pleasing.
 
Mart UK said:
Probably I'm boring, but I've not seen one as good as they came from the factory in Roadster or Interstate trim. Especially in candy red. I love the long and low look and gentle curve of the stock seats above the rear mudguard.

I'll go back into my cave.
Click to expand...
I don't disagree about the looks but i'm also open to improving on colors of metal, protecting thigns with plating and trying out new ideas no one has tried yet.
 
RedLetter said:
well that cancels a few ideas i had. but, brings out a few more! and i am loving that tiny RFID for your finger. freken magician.

Great location for the Ignition too.

i am going to have tons of questions. but first i have to assemble parts and start writing down the ideas i like and sketching it out.
going belt primary, newer front end, the moto ignition, single mikuni carb, tie rod and spring for isolastics, considering the freken valve (only for long storage, i don't want to climb down every week for wet sumping/ lazy).

is that the best oil pressure gauge you have found?
I want to be able to monitor oil pressure, volts, maybe amps, speed, tach, and a neutral light would be nice.

How do you like the changes you made with your brake and shifter?

have you tried any digital speedometers or things outside smiths?

i'm looking into that as well, i enjoy the stock look

i'm not opposed to changing things up if something works better or looks asthetically pleasing.
Click to expand...
I dont know if it is the best OPG, it is the only one I have had on the bike and it works fine. They also make a mount that hangs off the side off the fork top nut.

The front brakes are awesome. The rear brake is as good as it gets with the RBM MZ Gold shoes and Don's lever. Much better than any other rear set brake lever I have tried, which is a few.

The shifter works better for me now.

Just have the clocks rebuilt, and buy new cables. No fuss now, rock solid.

 
gortnipper said:
I dont know if it is the best OPG, it is the only one I have had on the bike and it works fine. They also make a mount that hangs off the side off the fork top nut.

The front brakes are awesome. The rear brake is as good as it gets with the RBM MZ Gold shoes and Don's lever. Much better than any other rear set brake lever I have tried, which is a few.

The shifter works better for me now.

Just have the clocks rebuilt, and buy new cables. No fuss now, rock solid.

Click to expand...
i don't have any speedometer or tachometer. i'll have to buy something. sounds like smith is the best. i can fit any of the round stock style. even on the new front end design.
 
RedLetter , you have a couple of choice$ . Searching for stock original instrument$ , which will eventually need rebuilding . Or upgrade to $miths electronic ones which will not need rebuilding. Your choice . $imilar money .
 
RedLetter said:
Also trying to solve the wet sump issue. i have heard of an oil valve with an ignition lockout so you can't burn the engine up!

Usually ends up in a 'what type oil' war thread, ends up locked, too many accounts of fried engines for 1.
Click to expand...
 
RedLetter said:
Since i am doing bits and pieces i will be doing improvement modifications. I would like to know about the Comstock front isoelastic spring suspension. I have searched and i cannot find the old thread.
Click to expand...
Saw that pix once & asked about it years ago ...still no luck.

One thing to watch out for is early yokes don't go with 850 frames, might get into issues with engine/tranny /swingarm/center stand - cradle diffs.
 
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