It's Alive, or how not to start a Norton.

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prmurat said:
I guess this the reason for a difference in calves size??

Change spark plug wires & connectors??? Always such a huge improvement!
Philippe
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Everything new. Going to get some more gas and see how many times it takes today. My guess is three at the most.
 
10 out of 10 for perserverance. That video was very funny! Thanks for giving us all a good laugh.

I've never been in a situation like that of course :oops: :oops: :oops:
 
Dave -

We have all been on the edge of our seats for the past year waiting for you to get to this milestone. This is after hashing out every minute detail sometimes to excruciating levels (not that anyone really minded). Also we have witnessed a number of youtube videos of other Nortons starting on the first kick after a rebuild. Your Norton build was the ultimate reality show and the finale was very fitting. I loved it! Hope you get over the wounds soon. Good thing you're a trials guy in good shape!

Russ
 
haha, great ! Wonderful to hear this beauty !
(even if it took "some" time to start it...)
Congratulations Dave !
:wink:

P.S. I guess you kicked it 1000 times without ignition to ensure proper lubrification - and to make this brilliant video :mrgreen:
 
NOW YOU'VE DONE IT!

You've created a Monster, Dave. It (and you) will not be happy without feeding it gallons and gallons of petrol, and exercising it with swift, open throttle runs through the gears. Remarkable job, congratulations, have fun, and ride safely!!

Cheers,

Don
 
Sadly today was filled with more kicking. It did fire and run about three times. And when it was running it RAN. If you might have noticed I'm using a borrowed battery (that doesn't fit) and crappy clipon leads to the bike. I'm suspecting that I may not be getting good enough connection and it's likely I'm kicking for nothing. Well, it is exercise...

Proper battery is on it's way. That will go in with solid connections and I'll try again.
 
Yes, having the proper battery ON THE BIKE, with proper cables, makes a difference.

Get your tune-up right, re-check your valve lash settings.

It'll all be good soon.

TEST RIDE! TEST RIDE!

(take an on-board video with a cheap little keyfob camera)
 
grandpaul said:
Yes, having the proper battery ON THE BIKE, with proper cables, makes a difference.

Get your tune-up right, re-check your valve lash settings.

It'll all be good soon.

TEST RIDE! TEST RIDE!

(take an on-board video with a cheap little keyfob camera)
Click to expand...

Battery will probably show up tomorrow. Don't know what time but we are headed out of town for the weekend. Sadly next week I have to go to work, so no more of this extensive play time for Dave.

I have to be careful about a test ride. The po-po tend to frown on an unlicensed rider on an unregistered, uninsured bike. I do have the back alley but I've had neighbors call the cops from just a few trips on the Pursang (granted it's not exactly muffled) but a Norton would have the whole damn force on me. I'm surprised someone hasn't called already from the thing running so far, God bless that bastard is loud. Dem Harley guys will be staring and pointing and complaining about the "loud Limey bike". :mrgreen:
 
Grity as you rub me my respects for classic efforts of stick to it endurance and relief its not anything major keeping you from Commando joy rides soon. Takes about 1000 miles to shake out the bugs and over sights, carry provisions of tape, zip ties, wires, pliers, fuse, plugs, band aids and let someone know your planned route and return. Road side crap and be used to nip up on hot loose oil filter or knock exhaust rings back on enough for a few more miles till reaching home. Alas not fully fettered until first kick every time cold or hot. If in doubt after 1st kick, try once more, then stop and rest while looking for cause to continue.

hobot
 
Good news was that when it was running it was merrily pumping oil and everything else looked happy. Of course my goal is to get a one kicker and I know that will take a while but I think I've proven my level of perseverance/stupidity...
 
ludwig said:
Forget valves and carbs for a while .
Likely your timing is way off.
Next time you get it to run , have everything ready to strobe time it .
Use the external battery to power the lamp .
Whoever is holding the camera can hold the throttle ..
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Yeah, we managed to get a strobe on it and it was about 40º at 5k. Yes, external battery on the strobe. Bike ran across the smooth garage floor like a angry beaver. Shut it down to adjust the plate and then it wouldn't start again. Sigh.
 
I'm exhausted too, but looks like your clutch is sicking looking at the rear wheel, so on to the next project for you! :D
 
I've had to creep timing up or down to find the happy staring zone, then bump up till hint of or a hard back fire, then tweak retard till it don't bite back. Then make sure it can take hi throttle loads and not detonate. But your movie does prove that doing the same thing over and over again in Commando sometimes gives different results. Of course ya never know when till ya stop. I got most my work outs like yours, rather far away from home to motive me beyond reasonable. There is a saying that the number of people watching increases the number of kicks too.
A whole bunch of us watching hehe.

One strange thing I mention in my case, facing impossible stuck-jammed-frozen-buggerd hang ups, was bringing it to attention of concerned members, seemed to bring group mind power to focus and next time attempted it worked out nice. Too weird but years of it happening on two Combat. I've come to depend on it.
 
swooshdave said:
ludwig said:
Forget valves and carbs for a while .
Likely your timing is way off.
Next time you get it to run , have everything ready to strobe time it .
Use the external battery to power the lamp .
Whoever is holding the camera can hold the throttle ..
Click to expand...

Yeah, we managed to get a strobe on it and it was about 40º at 5k. Yes, external battery on the strobe. Bike ran across the smooth garage floor like a angry beaver. Shut it down to adjust the plate and then it wouldn't start again. Sigh.
Click to expand...

I don't think that I've ever seen a beaver, angry or otherwise. Are you running electronic ? I just do the stator plate finger tight and adjust while it's running - Don't blame me if you lose your fingertips or burn yourself on the exhaust though.

Don't worry about the revolving rear wheel. It's just stiction from oil that has crept into the sleeve gear. The older the Norton, the more they do that.
 
bmwbob said:
I'm exhausted too, but looks like your clutch is sicking looking at the rear wheel, so on to the next project for you! :D
Click to expand...

A couple times I forgot it was in gear. Dry clutch so I hope it's not sticking. You can stop it with your hand easily.
 
Onya Dave, been there, done that, not so long ago now. Ditched the points and installed a Boyer. Starts soooo much better when it's all set up right. If I may offer a comment - go and check you've got oil circulating before you run it any further though...

edit... sorry Dave if that sounds like I'm trying to teach you how to suck eggs, it wasn't meant that way. Just not to get carried away with the buzz of success is all. Hope I haven't offended or sounded smug.
 
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