Look what I picked up - 66 Norton Atlas

Johnnymac said:
Also, the numbers on the diagrams don't appear to correspond with anything else in the parts list.....
Click to expand...

The numbers do correspond to parts in earlier dommie parts lists though.
That fork diagram is as it appears in the 1961/62 parts list.
C29 for example is a 15628 Head clip ball race cover.
Qty 1.
1 Shilling and 4 pence.

Oddly, the parts book doesn't show or list the steering bearings though, anywhere (or have I missed something ?).
Earlier dommies took 38 x 1/4" ballbearings ( 2 x 19 sets), do Atlases ?

Johnnymac said:
This doesn't look right to me. From the andover norton diagram. The bolt should go over that cover, not under it.
Click to expand...

You are correct - that cover should be below the nut. Keeps the water and dust out of the steering bearings.
Its possible that nut has been fitted upside down to do that...(it threads down on the steering column = LONG thread).
That nut has a double spigott, different sizes, to locate things - so fitted like that they wouldn't be located.
Should be corrected BEFORE you do any serious bend swinging.... !!

* The steering bearings are almost shown on the frame drawing.
Still haven't found the bearings detailed though...
 
Rohan said:
Johnnymac said:
Also, the numbers on the diagrams don't appear to correspond with anything else in the parts list.....
Click to expand...

The numbers do correspond to parts in earlier dommie parts lists though.
That fork diagram is as it appears in the 1961/62 parts list.
C29 for example is a 15628 Head clip ball race cover.
Qty 1.
1 Shilling and 4 pence.

Oddly, the parts book doesn't show or list the steering bearings though, anywhere (or have I missed something ?).
Earlier dommies took 38 x 1/4" ballbearings ( 2 x 19 sets), do Atlases ?

Johnnymac said:
This doesn't look right to me. From the andover norton diagram. The bolt should go over that cover, not under it.
Click to expand...

You are correct - that cover should be below the nut. Keeps the water and dust out of the steering bearings.
Its possible that nut has been fitted upside down to do that...(it threads down on the steering column = LONG thread).
That nut has a double spigott, different sizes, to locate things - so fitted like that they wouldn't be located.
Should be corrected BEFORE you do any serious bend swinging.... !!

* The steering bearings are almost shown on the frame drawing.
Still haven't found the bearings detailed though...
Click to expand...

Thanks Rohan. I haven't gone more than 50 ft. on this bike since I bought it... I'm going to go through it completely before I go anywhere. I'm pretty sure the guy I bought this from just "restored it" as a nice lookin machine to park in his garage. If he had ridden it anywhere ever, it would have fallen apart. Just about every bolt on it is loose. :evil: Thankfully he says he never took apart or rebuilt the motor or gearbox. Those all look good so far.
 
Slick:

I guess US-made sealed-beams are a lot more rugged than the 1920-designed crap Lucas was selling in the 1960's. My hands-on Atlas mileage is minimal. I was riding either the works "hack" 650SS to and from work, or the Commando prototypes. I did do 1000 miles or so on a P-11 that had a directional instability problem that we were trying to understand and maybe another 700 on the street version of the AJS Stormer. It was a pain in the butt having to shake the Stormer if it had been parked for any legth of time. We were running Castrol R mix because of pre-ignition overheating issues and it separated out from the gas in a couple of hours.
 
Nice bike and have fun with it, there are so many things you can do to make it a smooth rider, but if it was mine I would just leave it the way it is and ride it, it has that well used look about it, just do the right maintenance on it and make sure everything is working the way it should, if not fix it, they are a light bike and they handle very well, but take your time to get use to riding it.

I have a 1960 Manxman that I am building with a hot 650 motor, it didn't come with the orginal tank, oil tank or battery box, it was a exrace bike so it will be built as a caferacer, I am going to run a open belt drive with a Commando clutch for smoother running and light clutch.

So have fun with your new project and what ever you do with this bike enjoy it, the Atlas is not as smooth as the 650s but if you intend to rebuild the motor there are a few things you can do to make the motor run a lot smoother.

Great looking bike and enjoy it what ever you plan on doing with it.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
.........there are so many things you can do to make it a smooth rider....they are a light bike and they handle very well, but take your time to get use to riding it.

....... if you intend to rebuild the motor there are a few things you can do to make the motor run a lot smoother.


Ashley
Click to expand...

Ashley:

Besides JS Eng lightweight pistons and rods, what things can be done? I agree with the handling part....if one can just reduce the vibes, the bike leaves little to be desired.

I used to say, "it handles so well I would probably kill myself if I rode anything else."

Slick
 
I opened up the gearbox inspection cover last night to check the oil level... because there wasn't a leak anywhere.... I figured it was empty...it was full of grease. Yuck.

Look what I picked up - 66 Norton Atlas
 
Johnny:

Fuel tank mounted hard on the frame, steering head assembly wrong, and now grease in the gearbox; I am having bad thoughts about the PO.

Slick
 
It does sound like you may need to go through this bike more than you had wished.
Just checking that everything is (appropriately !) greased and oiled correctly,
and all nut bolts and fasteners tightened and suitably locked would be a good start.

Wouldn't be the first time that something that was 'restored' needed doing it.
Having all the cosmetics and mechanicals looking good is a very good start....
 
Johnnymac said:
I opened up the gearbox inspection cover last night to check the oil level... because there wasn't a leak anywhere.... I figured it was empty...it was full of grease. Yuck.

Look what I picked up - 66 Norton Atlas
Click to expand...

That's not even the sort of grease that's for grease-filled gearboxes!
 
Triton Thrasher said:
Johnnymac said:
I opened up the gearbox inspection cover last night to check the oil level... because there wasn't a leak anywhere.... I figured it was empty...it was full of grease. Yuck.

Look what I picked up - 66 Norton Atlas
Click to expand...

That's not even the sort of grease that's for grease-filled gearboxes!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't know why it was in there. The guy I bought this from says he only ever rode it 100 miles and mothballed it 20 years ago so maybe he put it in there for storage? No idea. He had a garage full of other brit bikes that he's selling off. He says he powdercoated the frame then put the bike back together and was essentially a decoration piece for him. I pulled the gearbox outer cover off and cleaned it up. It doesn't look like the actual gears have any grease on them. I'm just going to put a new kickstarter oil seal on there and seal it back up and move on to the next item on the list.

How do you like this one...? The right rear axel adjuster looks like it broke of and was then powdercoated over. Wonderful.

Look what I picked up - 66 Norton Atlas
 
How do you like this one...? The right rear axel adjuster looks like it broke of and was then powdercoated over. Wonderful.

Look what I picked up - 66 Norton Atlas
[/quote]

That stinks...How do I know? Mine had a broken adjuster on the same side and PO had tried to drill it and broke the bit off in there...Took to my favorite shop and they got it out after splitting the casting and welding back up...Just had it done yesterday...I ordered helicoil from these people and waiting it to complete the repair... http://www.britishfasteners.com/index.php If you do need a helicoil with correct 1/4x26 threads I would be able to provide....
 
frankdamp said:
That's a very nice machine. You might want to visit your dentist to make sure none of your fillings are loose. Also, if you do any riding after dark, or use the headlight as a reminder to folk that you're out there in daylight, buy a few headlight bulbs. The vibration of the Atlas shakes the filaments off the posts inside the bulb in about 4000 miles and it doesn't matter whether the lights are frequently on.

Kidding about the teeth, but not about the headlight!
Click to expand...

No need to kid.

When I first put a Triton on the road, I did lose fillings.

Front bulbs lasted a couple of thousand miles, as you say. All it needed was rubber mounting of the headlamp shell.
 
Besides JS Eng lightweight pistons and rods, what things can be done? I agree with the handling part....if one can just reduce the vibes, the bike leaves little to be desired.

I used to say, "it handles so well I would probably kill myself if I rode anything else."

Slick[/quote]

With any Norton motors the cheapest way to get a motor to run smoother is to get the crank balanced, but of course thats when the motor is pulled down for rebuild, as you be aware I have had my 850 in a Featherbed frame now for 34 years with a hot motor and balanced crank for the Featherbed frame, my Featherbed runs very smoothly for a solid mounted mortor, I still have my orginal light bulb in the head light (still working) and in the 34 years its been on the road I have only had 2 nuts come off, one was the nut on the muffler bracket and the other was the top gear box nut (but I think I forgot to tighen that one up), my crank was balanced at 72% balance factor.

Ashley
 
Considering the coin I spent (and the anguish endured dealing with a well-known "restorer") in putting my '66 Atlas back together, I think you did quite well. It looks great. There will ALWAYS be those annoying tidbits, but as I tell my loving wife: There's absolutely nothing wrong with this bike (house, boat, car, etc.) that a helluva lot of money won't fix.
I'd say well done. H.
 
Best eBay purchase ever..

Look what I picked up - 66 Norton Atlas

Look what I picked up - 66 Norton Atlas


Commando disc front hub, Dunlop WM2 (mint condition), stainless spokes, good bearings....

$150. Very happy!!!
 
Well, here she is today... It's been a lot of fun and it's slowly coming together but it's going to be a great bike!!!

Look what I picked up - 66 Norton Atlas
 
Johnny she is looking great, bet you can't wait to ride it, its a simlar way I am building my 1960 Manxman but with upswept mufflers but with the original drum frontend, it has all alloy wheels, just got to pull my fingers out and get started back on it, if it looks anything like yours I be very happy, you done a great job with it.

Ashley
 

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