Confessions of a Norton Killer!

MEHAVEY said:

Spray your rustable parts/frame/fenders down with this stuff:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/acf50.php

"Used as directed," it stops[ed] rusting, period.

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Will this product dull a polished finish?

bwolfie said:

Try this stuff out, the sealer looks good.

http://www.sharkhide.com/

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Sharkhide really looks to be user friendly. Any truth to the multiple years claim of protection? Actually, it going to be some time before I need a response to that last question!

bwolfie said:

A good friend of mine used to be a salseman for Flitz. He sent me a huge FREE sample pack of all of their products with a powerball. I have to say I was impressed how well it
worked. Not so good on deep corrosion.

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Flitz! It was "The" product I used to polish up the Norton cases back in the day. About four years ago I bought a small tube. I polished up a ten year old bare aluminum bike frame back to a mirror finish. It took a minimum of effort. The shine lasted easily another year, and that was with me dropping gallons of sweat on it.
So I peeked at my Roadster last month just to confirm the rust was still there. It was! I remembered my little tube of Flitz. I put a small dab on one of the peashooters and started to swirl it in. Magically it cut through the dust and salt deposits to reveal its former sparkling chrome finish. Of course the area still had pore sized rust specks. With another application I was also able to cut through the rust deposits. It gave me hope for salvaging at least some of the chrome! Truthfully, I am sure that once it was in better light the pock marks would be more visible.

MichaelB said:

Welcome back.
There is something about these Nortons that once it gets in, it can't get out.
If you haven't seen this, get a hanky.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b0a_1285968067

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Thanks for the welcome Michael.
Oh Boy, have I seen it! It is a real jewel and I have watched it at least five times already. I even showed it to my wife. Apparently she didn't get the hint as both my birthday and our anniversay have passed and the roadster is still downstaris in my garage. If I only had kids!

hobot said:

hobot is multi brain injured, so at times hard to get grammar right, sorry, worse if I'm tired or excited, like writing about my worse addiction.
This year am testing pricey Zoop kit. http://www.zoops.com/

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No need to be sorry! I have been reading your posts for the last three months and am now able to get 90% of it the first time. I know you have years of dealing with Norton’s, and look forward to your build input and first hand test
of the Zoop-Suit

I used Zoop on stuff I'd polished last year before real handling of them, like rims to put spokes in then tires on and handling-fitting awards. Final part of Zoop kit is to rub off the top of the hard clear coat to remove stuff floated out Al pores and to polish the layer. I left the clear slightly textured/dull layer alone to see if the many little scratches would rub right off. They mostly did! So it did help preserve the finish. But I'm ham fisted mechanic so some scratches reach to the Al, like from the dial gauge on side of Al rim. Next time I'll put tape on, so live and learn, [if there ever is a next time for me]. I left swing arm in living room, I thought propped up out the way but wife brought in plants on a pot hanger, one hung over swing arm, to drip soiled water on it, but so far no marks from that to recover.

My plain Combat Trixie just awaits resurfaced lifters to finish up engine, plus the detailing after sitting a couple-3 years. Don't know about anyone else but about each trip out on a Commando is always some high adventure good or bad. Stay tuned. If I drop off list I'm in jail or dead, just like many before me. I'm feeding on your own flavor of Commando spices too you know.

T95 said:

hobot said:

hobot is multi brain injured, so at times hard to get grammar right, sorry, worse if I'm tired or excited, like writing about my worse addiction.
This year am testing pricey Zoop kit. http://www.zoops.com/

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No need to be sorry! I have been reading your posts for the last three months and am now able to get 90% of it the first time...

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You're way ahead of me.. :shock: :lol:

Glad you kept her. I gave my Commando away in the 80s and like everyone else wish I still had that one with the custom bits.
Rabers in San Jose has been my favorite place for my British bikes these days since all the big British dealers are long gone.
You will find a lot of pattern parts are not up to standard, but if you buy it down at Rabers they will sell you something that works. As long as you have a frame and basic engine you can make a Norton.
I'm over on the other side of the hill in San Mateo, corrosion is a little less over here. When I lived in the City I had to have all the chrome redone.

Cookie said:

Glad you kept her.
Rabers in San Jose has been my favorite place for my British bikes these days since all the big British dealers are long gone.
You will find a lot of pattern parts are not up to standard, but if you buy it down at Rabers they will sell you something that works. As long as you have a frame and basic engine you can make a Norton.
I'm over on the other side of the hill in San Mateo, corrosion is a little less over here. When I lived in the City I had to have all the chrome redone.

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Nice to hear some positive feedback on Rabers. They are close and I know they have been selling British parts since I was a kid. Speaking of close, you may find me knocking on your door one day! Kind of a chilling thought isn't it?
Gary

I buy regularly from Rabers and I live in Hong Kong! They are a great bunch, very enthusiastic and accomodating. If you need second hand parts ask Richard or Bob Raber himself if you can look through their stock upstairs and select what you need at very reasonable prices. They can also send parts like instruments out for reconditioning, get chroming done, wheelbuilding and any number of other services.

hobot said:

hobot is multi brain injured, so at times hard to get grammar right, sorry, worse if I'm tired or excited, like writing about my worse addiction.

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The good thing is you can still sculpt metal to make some very special Commandos, keep going :wink:

Jean

bwolfie said:

Try this stuff out, the sealer looks good.

http://www.sharkhide.com/

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I checked it out be saw this. Looks like gas and oil spills can be a problem.


Q: What products will harm my SHARKHIDE finish?
A: Any petroleum based product like gasoline, solvents, thinners, or any other product's that contain petroleum's, such as waxes and polish's. Also some acid's
and certain cleaners. Since it's absolutely impossible to test all product's for their effects on SHARKHIDE, don't apply anything other than a mild soap
solution and you shouldn't have any problems.