Fullauto Technologies cylinder heads

worntorn · Sep 2, 2017

Yes there is at least one company in the UK making new alloy heads for very old motorcycles.
The Vincent Spares Co sells them and they are nicer than the originals.
Also, I believe Molnar does Manx heads, or a complete Manx if you want one.
This is very high spec stuff, not cheap, but not crudely made as was suggested somewhere in this thread. Molnar's Vincent cases make the originals look pretty shabby!
Then there is Len Pearson with his improved Goldstar components and many, many others.
Take a good look at a Newby clutch someday.
Lots of innovative and high end small lot manufacturing being done in the UK.
In fact, you could say the place is a hotbed for this type of manufacturing.
Glen

Mark · Sep 2, 2017

The fullauto head may be an increase in performance, but in the end it is an aftermarket part.
Wouldn't that decrease the value of the bike?

worntorn · Sep 2, 2017

I don't think it would for anyone who likes to ride their Norton, just the opposite.
These bikes aren't really very valuable as collector bikes anyway, there are just too many of them out there. You see a few high asking prices but I'll bet 99 percent of all North American Commandos trade hands at under 10k us, and that includes the really immaculate ready to ride machines.

Glen

Fullauto · Sep 2, 2017

Mark said:
The fullauto head may be an increase in performance, but in the end it is an aftermarket part.
Wouldn't that decrease the value of the bike?

Thanks for my daily dose of humour!

acotrel · Sep 2, 2017

How would you be able to tell it is a fullauto head while it is on the bike, without looking inside the exhaust port ? Theoretically you could claim that replicas devalue the original items. But if the original is daggy, that also devalues the bike. I suspect the performance boost the fill auto head gives when bolted onto a motor, might be in part due to the way the valve seats are cut. If you use the three cutters on a standard head, you can get a boost. The anti-reversion aspect is an unknown to me.

Fullauto · Sep 2, 2017

worntorn said:
I don't think it would for anyone who likes to ride their Norton, just the opposite.
These bikes aren't really very valuable as collector bikes anyway, there are just too many of them out there. You see a few high asking prices but I'll bet 99 percent of all North American Commandos trade hands at under 10k us, and that includes the really immaculate ready to ride machines.

Glen

In Australia in the 80s, there were people doing a thriving trade by going to America and filling containers with British bikes, and bringing them to the Oz market. I believe that time has come again. Nortons are ridiculously cheap in North America. A basket case here you would be lucky to get for AU$5000. Almost any clean, rideable bike would be AU$12,000 to $13,000. They have skyrocketed in the last few years.

Fullauto · Sep 2, 2017

Matt Spencer said:
And what about SUPERCHARGERS . HOW Do They WORK With THOSE .

I'd love to find out! How about it Matt?

gortnipper · Sep 2, 2017

Fullauto said:
Matt Spencer said:

And what about SUPERCHARGERS . HOW Do They WORK With THOSE .

Click to expand...

I'd love to find out! How about it Matt?

Hobot? Maybe we could crowd fund him one. Lol

Mark · Sep 2, 2017

Fullauto said:
Mark said:

The fullauto head may be an increase in performance, but in the end it is an aftermarket part.
Wouldn't that decrease the value of the bike?

Click to expand...

Thanks for my daily dose of humour!

You're welcome.

Actually, I have wondered about it for a while now. The same with one of CNW's custom bikes.
From what I can tell... with all of the expensive aftermarket parts on it, there isn't really a whole lot of actual Norton left.
They are cool bikes for sure and they may work better than stock, but then there is the fact that..... they ain't stock.

It kind of reminds me of the old adage: " this is my great grandfathers axe, except that the handle has been replaced three times and the head twice".
Get my point?

jseng1 · Sep 2, 2017

Ken - the heads are cast and air cooled right? No heat treatment other than aging.

I'll take an improved (not just faster or different) Norton over an original any day. I enjoy reliability and efficiency.

Fullauto · Sep 2, 2017

jseng1 said:
Ken - the heads are cast and air cooled right? No heat treatment other than aging.

I'll take an improved (not just faster or different) Norton over an original any day. I enjoy reliability and efficiency.

Heat treated to T6.

Me too.

Fullauto · Sep 2, 2017

Mark said:
Fullauto said:

Mark said:

The fullauto head may be an increase in performance, but in the end it is an aftermarket part.
Wouldn't that decrease the value of the bike?

Click to expand...

Thanks for my daily dose of humour!

Click to expand...

You're welcome.

Actually, I have wondered about it for a while now. The same with one of CNW's custom bikes.
From what I can tell... with all of the expensive aftermarket parts on it, there isn't really a whole lot of actual Norton left.
They are cool bikes for sure and they may work better than stock, but then there is the fact that..... they ain't stock.

It kind of reminds me of the old adage: " this is my great grandfathers axe, except that the handle has been replaced three times and the head twice".
Get my point?

So, you're running the original spark plugs, points, oil and air filter, and tyres, right? That's what you are talking about? I applaud your persistence, but, not for me. I would rather have a bike that performs better in every respect than the "original". Mine handles better, goes better, is more comfortable, doesn't leak oil, gives far better fuel consumption and looks better. Once you've seen one over restored Commando. you've seen them all.

Get my point?

Tiger Shark · Sep 3, 2017

Best find one of those crappy "original" layshaft bearings to bring my old girl back to original :idea:

Fast Eddie · Sep 3, 2017

I have NEVER had a bike that I've kept original.

However, I respect those that do. If everyone was like me, there'd be no original ones for future generations to enjoy, just an ever dwindling number of modified bikes and projects, and ever increasing piles of shrapnel !

SteveA · Sep 3, 2017

Mark said:
Fullauto said:

Mark said:

The fullauto head may be an increase in performance, but in the end it is an aftermarket part.
Wouldn't that decrease the value of the bike?

Click to expand...

Thanks for my daily dose of humour!

Click to expand...

You're welcome.

Actually, I have wondered about it for a while now. The same with one of CNW's custom bikes.
From what I can tell... with all of the expensive aftermarket parts on it, there isn't really a whole lot of actual Norton left.
They are cool bikes for sure and they may work better than stock, but then there is the fact that..... they ain't stock.

It kind of reminds me of the old adage: " this is my great grandfathers axe, except that the handle has been replaced three times and the head twice".
Get my point?

Yes I get your point, in the UK it is known as 'Trigger's Broom'.

Using your reasoning a Norton Commando only has value if you never use it!

42 years to 49 years, think about it, you use it, parts wear out, you replace them, parts no longer deliver the reliability or performance needed to use the bike in a modern environment, from brakes and wheels upwards, you replace them!

What 'reaal value' doe it have sitting in the back of the workshop unused?

rvich · Sep 3, 2017

comnoz said:
I think it's great that Ken has found someone willing to do the castings. I spent some time shopping for someone to do them in the States and couldn't even get a price quote. Most places said it was too complex for the work they do, others just gave me a blank stare when I mentioned the numbers. I'm looking forward to seeing the new castings. jim

I don't know that this information will be useful in the future or not, but Pete Langley at Port Townsend Foundry has taken on some really interesting projects over the years including a complete engine for a vintage race car done to the original drawings.

http://www.porttownsendfoundry.com/

Russ

acotrel · Sep 3, 2017

I have great respect for anyone for anyone who can maintain a motorcycle in original as-delivered condition. I think historic racing is good in one way, that it keeps interest in the old racing bikes alive. However it has also destroyed a lot of bikes. It is only on very rare occasions that I see a bike which is totally authentic. The last one I saw was at Phillip Island about ten years ago. It was a Velocette Thruxton which was nut and bolt perfect - a beauty to behold. I don't really like Velocettes and in any case I would never go purist with any bike. But the guy who owned it must have been a bit different from the usual bike owner.
One thing which makes me laugh, is the use of stainless steel components on old British bikes. It sticks out like dogs-balls. But the guys who use it think it is lovely.

acotrel · Sep 3, 2017

I live in North-east Victoria. Because it is rural, we still have a few engineering companies which will do jobbing work. Recently I was looking for a foundry to do a bit of work using the lost-wax process. I found that most of the old foundries have closed. However there is one out the back of buggery that still does a few things. So for whatever I want, I will have to get together with the owner and work with him. It all seems due to the fact that China is dominant in everything and it is turning our society upside-down. I've come to realise that the little guys who make things are a dying breed.
Good luck, Ken - you are a hero ! - If you are successful, you will set an example for the rest of us to follow. And thanks for posting the stuff about getting the foundries to do your work and the pricing. Most guys maintain commercial-in -confidence. Lack of information does not help anybody. Wherever we enthusiasts live, we are all in this together. I know your major objective is to make a dollar, but what you are doing is more than that.

worntorn · Sep 3, 2017

acotrel said:
One thing which makes me laugh, is the use of stainless steel components on old British bikes. It sticks out like dogs-balls. But the guys who use it think it is lovely.

Best not to snicker at those stainless users.

Vincent used a lot of stainless on their pre-war bikes and a fair amount on the post war bikes as well. Phil Irving said he would have preferred to use even more stainless on the post war bikes, but it added too much cost to an already expensive bike .
Other oldtime mc manufacturers used stainless as well.

gortnipper · Sep 3, 2017

worntorn said:
acotrel said:

One thing which makes me laugh, is the use of stainless steel components on old British bikes. It sticks out like dogs-balls. But the guys who use it think it is lovely.

Click to expand...

Best not to snicker at those stainless users.

Vincent used a lot of stainless on their pre-war bikes and a fair amount on the post war bikes as well. Phil Irving said he would have preferred to use even more stainless on the post war bikes, but it added too much cost to an already expensive bike .
Other oldtime mc manufacturers used stainless as well.

and my resto-mod wont be near as rusty +40 years with all the 316.

But, I wont be riding it. Maybe my kids will. Maybe they will revert it to stock with all the rusty OEM nuts and bolts currently in a coffee can. With the shim ISOs and triplex, and the RH10 head that leaks and has fixed up exhaust ports from the PO. And the pitted fork stanchions, and the leaky gas tank, and...

Fullauto Technologies cylinder heads

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