It all started with a cracked header pipe

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Peavey Jeltz

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So back in January the right side of my 2-1 Commando header cracked off right at the flange under the exhaust nut. A local auto muffler shop gave me a piece of 1-1/2″ pipe with a 45° flare on one end. Using a split shaft collar and press I flattened the flare to 90° and ground it down so that the exhaust rose would just pass over it. Cut off old end by about 1" and welded on new end.

On the test ride, the left side exhaust nut stripped out. It was only a matter of time and I knew this would happen eventually as it was already partially stripped out and only holding on by a few threads. Head removed and dispatched to Phil Radford of Fair Spares America for repair on both exhaust ports. The left side was totally gone and the right wasn't too far behind.

After removing the head, a quick examination of the bores with a possible re-ring in mind revealed two deep grooves on the left bore right where the inner wrist pin circlip should have been. I'm surprised it ran as well as it did.

It all started with a cracked header pipe

It all started with a cracked header pipe

It all started with a cracked header pipe

It all started with a cracked header pipe

It all started with a cracked header pipe

It all started with a cracked header pipe
 
Life is like a box of chocolates with these old beasties. I'm afraid to dig deeply into mine and am saving it for the absolutely have to time.... I guess you can say you were lucky.
 
Commandos require a great attention to detail when assembling. Problem is without the failures you don’t know what that detail is.
After working on and restoring them for 40 years I’m still getting schooled.
 
Peavey Jeltz said:
After removing the head, a quick examination of the bores with a possible re-ring in mind revealed two deep grooves on the left bore right where the inner wrist pin circlip should have been. I'm surprised it ran as well as it did.
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High performance lawn mower motor. I think they can't help but keep running with those two big slugs pumping up and down at the same time.

I thought Phil Radford retired. I guess he missed helping Norton owners, and is back at it.

Is that a Bub 2 into 1 pipe?

If I ever take the head off, I know I'm looking at about $5K in aftermarket parts, unless I decide to just build a new motor, then a lot more. So I get stuff I can more or less bolt on, and leave the head where it is.

Good luck holding back on the upgrades.

As the wife always says, "Give a moose a muffin, and he's gonna want jam with it."
 
Schwany said:
I thought Phil Radford retired. I guess he missed helping Norton owners, and is back at it.

Is that a Bub 2 into 1 pipe?
Click to expand...
I thought Phil had retired as well, but he said he was still taking in repair work like heads and outer transmission cover oil seals etc. Quick turnaround too.

The 2-1 exhaust was made (or so I was told) by an outfit called Winning or Winner. Seen one or two photos that look like it.
 
Some additional background for those interested. This motor is about 10-15 years old and has about 15K miles on it. These were +.020 JCC pistons with those single tang wire circlips. The bottom end is completely apart. Parts of the missing circlip were found in the bottom of the timing cover. Timing side main bearing a little crunchy. Rod end shells show wear, fingers crossed on the journals.

This is the one on right. The left engine is the original numbers matching.

It all started with a cracked header pipe
 
The HP lawn mower and moose both got me..... I mean hell it's just a mega Briggs & Stratton on steroids right? Maybe with a bit of treacle and warm beer thrown in. They even smell different than other bikes when hot. Don't even know why I like mine so much, but gonna go ride it now.

You've got an understanding wife.
 
Schwany said:
High performance lawn mower motor. I think they can't help but keep running with those two big slugs pumping up and down at the same time.

I thought Phil Radford retired. I guess he missed helping Norton owners, and is back at it.

Is that a Bub 2 into 1 pipe?

If I ever take the head off, I know I'm looking at about $5K in aftermarket parts, unless I decide to just build a new motor, then a lot more. So I get stuff I can more or less bolt on, and leave the head where it is.

Good luck holding back on the upgrades.

As the wife always says, "Give a moose a muffin, and he's gonna want jam with it."
Click to expand...
A man I knew , ( 40 yrs. ago ) , who bought up British basket cases when they were cheapo and sold off parts said to me " Really Neat Junk ".
 
Two Norton motors next to the vinyl. That is way past cool. Good on ya.

Where's the Thorens?
 
850cmndo said:
Show us analogs what you got.
Click to expand...
I'm going to pretend you were talking to me, just in case you were.

Funny thing is I can't lift the lid on my Thorens where I have it. Not enough space between the lid and the shelf above it. I'll have to remove the lid to use it. Not only that, since I moved I haven't reconnected it to the receiver/amp in 6 years. I think you just gave me a project to pursue. I'll post a pic later. It's a cheap old TD 160. Receiver and separate Amp is a Kenwood KC-X1 setup with Definitive speakers. Old school affordable home theater junk. I have a few LPs that aren't boxed up I can easily access. I don't sit around in a smoking jacket with a pipe full of old dirt weed playing LPs anymore, but I'm going to try it today, sans the weed. Wife should be screaming at me to turn it down in about an hour. :)
 
I look at my old turntable daily..... Stanton 681EEE hasn't had a stylus in 30+ years and wifey tossed my vinyl about that time too.... Don't care for weed though.... not anymore.
 
Moved the turntable up to the top shelf. I forgot how much balls vinyl has. Yowzer

I don't partake in the weed no mo either.

This is the Thorens TD 160 spinning some vinyl. I put some Paul Butterfield on after I took the record that is on there off. Time to go dig the boxes of records out.

It all started with a cracked header pipe


Sorry forum police. I know this has nothing to do with old English iron, and is a waste of bandwidth.
 
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