Frustrated Beyond Measure

SteveBorland said:

Jep, and there's no space to make a better one either!

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A pair of VM's, with a slight offset built into the stock manifolds, would be my choice, if had "retired man's" time to spend.

concours said:

A pair of VM's, with a slight offset built into the stock manifolds, would be my choice, if had "retired man's" time to spend.

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I have a retired man's time but not working man's funding!

concours said:

A pair of VM's, with a slight offset built into the stock manifolds, would be my choice, if had "retired man's" time to spend.

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I have a pair of VMs with the commando offset manifolds on the shelf but zero time for playing with them!!

Who sells the manifolds and carbs? I would like to give them a try.

Hortons Norton said:

Who sells the manifolds and carbs? I would like to give them a try.

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MAP and niche cycle were the usual supplier but are out of stock , try Power Barns .....

Last time I was down at RGM they had a whole heap of various manifolds. Give them a try.

My report on "frustrated beyond measure." Say what you want about the pros and cons of the single Mikuni set up but that sucker works. It starts. It idles once it runs for a couple of minutes. It run through the gears as good as it ever did with the worn out Amals. It's balanced by default. It doesn't pop and fart on the over run. I can come to a stop without worrying about a flame out and it starts when warmed up. It's just fantastic!

Big_Jim59 said:

It run through the gears as good as it ever did with the worn out Amals.

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Not sure that's saying much

Big_Jim59 said:

My report on "frustrated beyond measure." Say what you want about the pros and cons of the single Mikuni set up but that sucker works. It starts. It idles once it runs for a couple of minutes. It run through the gears as good as it ever did with the worn out Amals. It's balanced by default. It doesn't pop and fart on the over run. I can come to a stop without worrying about a flame out and it starts when warmed up. It's just fantastic!

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Don't forget the light throttle action

marinatlas said:

MAP and niche cycle were the usual supplier but are out of stock , try Power Barns .....

1977-Earlier Norton Commando 750/850 Mikuni Dual Carburetor Kit

These Mikuni carburetor kits are easy bolt on horsepower for the 1977-Earlier Norton 750/850 Commando's. Everything is included for a simple bolt on installation - two Mikuni pre-jetted carburetors, rubber flanges, manifolds, spare jets, throttle cable, a

power-barn.com

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Thanks, looks like they have them in stock.

I wish I was not a cranked up worrier. It took the Norton out for an extended twisty road romp (as twisty as you can find in Texas) and at the midway point I pulled the plugs. It was not a plug chop because pulling over to pull the plugs invites a traffic jam of people offering to help. This is not a bad thing when you are dead in the water but can be slightly aggravating.

I pulled the plugs and both plugs looked brand new (they are actually brand new) with only a ring of soot around the base. The insulator was clean and white and the tip was metallic colored just like it was out of the box.

Question: Do I need to raise the needle a notch?

The bike ran great. It runs up to 70/75 a lot quicker and more willingly then it did the the Amals. There are no flat spots on acceleration and no farting or popping back with a closed throttle. It actually idles which is hard to get used to after all this time and it starts first kick when hot. I am over the moon!

No.

Those plugs sound fine for minimal miles and modern gas. Running like it is I would leave the carbs alone.

htown16 said:

Those plugs sound fine for minimal miles and modern gas. Running like it is I would leave the carbs alone.

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I really can't tell and as I stated I am a cranked up worrier by nature. I am going to re-install the plugs I took out. They have a modicum of color on them (just a little beige) just to make sure that the insulator is not baking white. I was expecting, from what I have read on this forum that I would have a rich condition. It really is quite sweet to have a nice running Norton. It's just such a different bike now.

Glad you got it running to your satisfaction!

Certainly the single carb is less hassle - no synchronizing, etc. But to be fair, Nortons run well and idle perfectly smoothly with a pair of Amal carbs...as long as the carbs are in good condition. An old, clapped out Mikuni won't run any better than an old, clapped out Amal!

Admittedly, a vintage Amal WILL wear out much faster than a Mikuni...

MexicoMike said:

Glad you got it running to your satisfaction!

Certainly the single carb is less hassle - no synchronizing, etc. But to be fair, Nortons run well and idle perfectly smoothly with a pair of Amal carbs...as long as the carbs are in good condition. An old, clapped out Mikuni won't run any better than an old, clapped out Amal!

Admittedly, a vintage Amal WILL wear out much faster than a Mikuni...

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Very true!

Important for the OP and readers to note that the transformation the OP is enjoying really is due to swapping out old and worn out for new. It’s not due to Mik vs Amal or even single vs twin.

But of course, the main point for the OP is he’s now got a Norton he can ENJOY !!

Glad to hear that the simple solution of a single carb got you back on the road. With the single 36mm VM, I almost always turn the idle up manually on a cold start then back as the engine warms. My tutors also directed me to use old header pipes and single carbs to break in fresh engines for the first 500 miles to "set aside" the tuning issues and resulting pipe discolor if you get it wrong. Then, a set of twin Amals prepared as best you can and focus on the tuning after the break in.

Honestly, my first Commando had a 36mm VM already installed so I lived in ignorance. It was not until I got a dual set of Amals on my JPN that I first dealt with a multi-carb Commando. By that time though I was tuning four-across carbs on 400/4's and Strombergs on Triumph motorcars so the dual Amals were as easy as they can be IF you had hot soaked, blown out, hypodermic with cleaning agents, and whoknowswhatelse to bring them back to life. One thing I learned, especially with the 376 Right-hand-with-chopped Monoblocs on my 500cc Triton is the settings for either can vary wildly. I will always thank the tutor who corrected my rigid belief that setting had to be identical across carbs, especially with this challenging set of carbs.

Not to repeat myself, but I just posted this recently in another thread, for those who say they can't get ethanol-free gas: Yes you can.

Mix a gallon of water with three gallons of fuel, shake, let the water bond to the ethanol and settle, and then pour (or better, siphon) the now ethanol-free gas from the top. Using a clear container (I use an old plastic five-gallon watercooler bottle) the line of demarcation between the gas and water layers is quite clear.

Add fuel stabilizer and fill your tank. Note, removing the alcohol will lower the octane somewhat, so I usually go up a grade (to 89 or 91, US standard) when I do this.

Plenty of videos on youtube illustrating the method if the above isn't clear.

BrianK said:

Not to repeat myself, but I just posted this recently in another thread, for those who say they can't get ethanol-free gas: Yes you can.

Mix a gallon of water with three gallons of fuel, shake, let the water bond to the ethanol and settle, and then pour (or better, siphon) the now ethanol-free gas from the top. Using a clear container (I use an old plastic five-gallon watercooler bottle) the line of demarcation between the gas and water layers is quite clear.

Add fuel stabilizer and fill your tank. Note, removing the alcohol will lower the octane somewhat, so I usually go up a grade (to 89 or 91, US standard) when I do this.

Plenty of videos on youtube illustrating the method if the above isn't clear.

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What do you do with the liquid left in the water cooler bottle?

BERT said:

What do you do with the liquid left in the water cooler bottle?

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Do you know, this is the question I have had with this....what do I do with ethanol water mix?

That, and, what to do with the several litres of fuel, of any description, that you drain out of the tank when it has gone off?