Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it!

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Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please

That looks like a great starting point for a restoration. Very nice find.

-jordan
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please

Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it!


SWEET!!!!
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it

Nice!! Well done. Don't restore it - nothing wrong cosmetically. Just do what is necessary to get it roadworthy and ride it.
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please

KSUWildcatFan said:
That looks like a great starting point for a restoration. Very nice find.

-jordan
Click to expand...

I'd clean the tank, new tires and ride the shit out of that.
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it

I'd change all fluids - engine oil and filter (plus screens in oil tank and sump), primary lube, gearbox lube, fork oil, and brake fluid (don't worry about the rear brake :twisted: ), clean and lube the chain, pump a little lube into the swingarm bushings if you can, and take her out for a spin. Stick some simple/cheap fuel filters in the fuel lines between the petcocks and the carbs, for now. You can check/line the gastank later if need be.

Before long, search for "layshaft bearing" threads and get ready to replace that unless you're SURE it has been done.

Bike looks GREAT! Nice score.
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it

Thanks for the congrats. I have just been looking at it as I throw back a few Bass Ales (I thought it was appropriate). The short term goal is to get it running. The tank is NASTY but I expected that. The plan is as follows:

1. Get the tank off and clean out the varnish. - Anything different I need to do with these tanks as opposed to Honda's? If rusty, I have used electrolysis before and have been very happy with the results.
2. Remove and clean the carbs. - recommended gasket and bits kits? I can make my own gaskets. Fuel lines need to be replaced also.
3. Front brake rebuilt. - again any recommended kits for caliper and M/C? The rotor has rust on it. I figured I would give a good cleaning and see how it is.
4. Change the oil. - What kind should I use?....just kidding. First fill or two will be cheap and run for a few miles a drained and examined.
5. Oil tank. - new to me. Never had a bike with one. What needs to be done here besides drained and cleaned? Is there a preferred method?
6. Motor mounts and Isolastics. How are they checked except for obvious cracking?
7. Front fork seals. I got a set with the bike. Probabaly on the shelf for 2 decades.
8. Rear shocks. Can they be rebuilt?
9. Replace throttle, clutch and brake cables.
10. Replace Battery
11. After she starts and seems safe to ride, tires.

What am I missing? Anything obvious or anything specific to this bikes?

Who put the shifter on the wrong side? :D

I will be looking for support as I dig in. My MO is to read, read, read and then ask questions, then do.
I downloaded the factory manual and the previous owner supplied a Haynes and a Clymers. I like to have at least two to reference. Some have better descriptions and others have better pictures. I like pictures.

By they way, when I picked it up, I brought a 12 pack of Bass and a framed 8x10 picture (the one earlier in the thread) to give to the previous owner. He really appreciated it and was very helpful getting the bike loaded on the truck. He said was far enough removed from riding the bike that he was comfortable letting her go. Had to be bittersweet. I assured him that no cutting and bobbing will be going on with this specimen....not that there is anything wrong with that.

jon
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it

drones76 said:
1. Get the tank off and clean out the varnish. - Anything different I need to do with these tanks as opposed to Honda's? If rusty, I have used electrolysis before and have been very happy with the results.
2. Remove and clean the carbs. - recommended gasket and bits kits? I can make my own gaskets. Fuel lines need to be replaced also.
3. Front brake rebuilt. - again any recommended kits for caliper and M/C? The rotor has rust on it. I figured I would give a good cleaning and see how it is.
4. Change the oil. - What kind should I use?....just kidding. First fill or two will be cheap and run for a few miles a drained and examined.
5. Oil tank. - new to me. Never had a bike with one. What needs to be done here besides drained and cleaned? Is there a preferred method?
6. Motor mounts and Isolastics. How are they checked except for obvious cracking?
7. Front fork seals. I got a set with the bike. Probabaly on the shelf for 2 decades.
8. Rear shocks. Can they be rebuilt?
9. Replace throttle, clutch and brake cables.
10. Replace Battery
11. After she starts and seems safe to ride, tires.

Who put the shifter on the wrong side? :D
jon
Click to expand...

Buy rebuild kit directly from Amal. Cheaper than making the gaskets yourself.
Get brake disk ground. Plenty of info in the forum on this. Go to DBR.

Shifter is on the correct side, all your other bikes have been wrong. :mrgreen:
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it

I could go either way. My bike didn't "look" like it needed restoration, but if I had trusted it as-is and just ridden it, it probably would have shredded itself with as backward/poorly as everything was set up! Looks can be deceiving sometimes. If it all seems to be in pretty good shape, then I agree--ride the hell out of it! Otherwise, restore. Either way is acceptable and fun. :>

-Jordan
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it

When you drain the oil take off the oil tank and check the bottom bolt hole, the bottom of the tanks are bad about fracturing since it is the only solid mount on the tank. For about $140 you can send to CNW and get the modification which I had done and very worth it! I put stainlss fuel lines and head oiler lines on mine. I just rebuilt my MC, new pistons and seals and a stainless brake line for the front. You will need a caliper tool which you can find on Flea Bay pretty cheap or buy the one from Old Britts the comes with the wheel bearing removal tool in the other end. May also need to get a exhaust nut tool to check them for tightness once you get it running. You can get rubber line to replace all the oil lines at your local auto parts dealers, just put them on correctly. Diagrams for this is on the forum. For my tank I just got a couple of pounds of small sharp rocks and filled it with dishwashing detergent an water and shook the heck out of it. Replaced the water about five times and then rinsed out, dried and then put a good amount of WD-40 and sloshes around. Worked pretty good. For the paint clean it up and any heavy dirt get a clay bar to really get clean the wax like hell. Are you replacing the tires? If so make sure to clean out any rust in the inside of the wheels and then wax heavily. Good luck and I will be watching this bike to see it running!
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it

When you go through the disk brake you will have read lots of comments on this board that rated the stock setup from lousy to OK but not strong.
Steveyacht mentioned he had gotten very good results using some AP Racing pads he had got from Commando Specialties.
They are a bit spendy but I thought it could be a cheaper and simpler solution than sleaving original or using other brand of master cylinder.

Put them on a week or so ago and I'm very impressed.
Much better than the cheapo Emgos.
I haven't tried but I feel I could lock the wheel if I had to.
I used an orbital sander on the disk to rough it up just a little.

Bob
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it

rx7171 said:
When you go through the disk brake you will have read lots of comments on this board that rated the stock setup from lousy to OK but not strong.
Steveyacht mentioned he had gotten very good results using some AP Racing pads he had got from Commando Specialties.
They are a bit spendy but I thought it could be a cheaper and simpler solution than sleaving original or using other brand of master cylinder.

Put them on a week or so ago and I'm very impressed.
Much better than the cheapo Emgos.
I haven't tried but I feel I could lock the wheel if I had to.
I used an orbital sander on the disk to rough it up just a little.

Bob
Click to expand...


Yes, you can lock up the front wheel with those pads. Did a "brakie" the other day avoiding a stray touron!!!!
No other modifications to front brakes other than sanding disc and putting on the AP Pads. No sense counting pennies when it comes to stopping power.
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it

My 1st brakie was on pure factory Lockheed 1st few days on Combat '99, a sharp 30 mph city street 2 lane turn, had a truck stopping to make a turn ahead of me so I easy served w/o power around him to find its bulk had hidden a car also stopped to make a turn from outside land and shear adrenalin about wiped out the front tire while leaned a bit, so straightened up to continue a tire squealing locked stop - barely.

The rusted disc had self cleared itself prior but the pads were still half coated so it did take a serious grip - hardly felt in a panic. This particular brake has rusted piston and calipers that leaked on to paint before it got re sleeved d/t m/c bore pitting from the rust.

My current ride Trixie '72 has pure factory front brake that sat for 3 yr and was impossible to lock up on tarmac and barely so on THE Gravel until I brushed and sanded the disc and pads, now still hard to lock up below 25 mph but it makes tire squeal and slows effectively for thrilling down hill turn slowing though its not confidence inspiring to wait too long to get on it.

The rebuilt- modified 1st Combat brake is the one I'll use on Ms Peel just with a 1" bigger OD rotor, but with iron platter rotor I tired for months to get a stoppie but only learned C'do's can not stoppie because they sit so low so either throws me over the bars no matter how hard I brace or sit way back or just slides locked front I creep up on trying not to lock it below 20 mph.
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it

Yes indeed, it shifts on the correct side,so who decided to legislate the change and why ? It is fun to get a new old project to tinker-play with. Treat it as such and yell "SUGAR !" when the wrench slips and hand hits something. Get into the habit of wearing disposable plastic workgloves around oils and greasy areas as new research has shown prolonged exposure to petroleum products = higher big C incidence. Mechanic schools teach this now. Good luck.
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it

Torontonian said:
Yes indeed, it shifts on the correct side,so who decided to legislate the change and why ?
Click to expand...

U.S. gov't ne'er-do-wells thought it would be in mankind's ultimate interest to legislate that change.
 
Re: Looking at a 1974 Norton 850- opinions please - I got it

Speaking of "brakies," I was all set to pop for a set of Ferodo Platinum pads when I heard about these AP Lockheeds. Can anyone offer a comparison?
 
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