New Norton Owner asks Questions

Hi Guys,
New Norton owner here. I've been lurking around the forum waiting to come up to speed to ask some questions without sounding too much like a newbie.
My machine is a 1972 Commando Roadster. I've got some new header pipes coming in, along with the associated exhaust nuts and locking washers. The last owner gave me his exhaust nut wrench and I hope to dive into it when the pipes come in. Any hints and tips on getting the old ones off easily and putting the new ones on properly. Hot/warm/cold? Lube, WD or what?

I also have been reading about the stiff clutch action. I will be inspecting the cable routing and actuator positioning. I want to get the recommended Venhill teflon lined cable and feel I should go with the longer (57") one as I haven't decided on either the UK bars or the US spec bars. Will the length matter? If that doesn't resolve it, onto the clutch plate height measurement and the adding of plates to get the proper height.

The former owner also passed along his clutch compression tool. But its just the X shaped main part, I'll need to get some specs on the bolt and nut action that goes thru the center to compress the spring plate.
You can see my 2 other machines here a '66 BSA and an '08 Bonneville:
http://www.napaliprop.com/66bsa.html Look for the Bonneville link at the bottom of that page.
Here is my '72 mocked up before she really done (do they ever get done?).

Joe surfdog Abramo
Hawaii

Welcome to the forum, Joe.

Surfdog said:

My machine is a 1972 Commando Roadster. I've got some new header pipes coming in, along with the associated exhaust nuts and locking washers. The last owner gave me his exhaust nut wrench and I hope to dive into it when the pipes come in. Any hints and tips on getting the old ones off easily and putting the new ones on properly. Hot/warm/cold? Lube, WD or what?

Click to expand...

The exhaust nuts may unscrew fairly easily cold, but if they don't, then start the bike up, and run it until the head is hot, and try again, they should then loosen off?
After fitting the new pipes, tighten the nuts, and get the head nice and hot again before giving the nuts a final tighten. I normally use "Graphogen" assembly paste on the nut threads when I refit them, but that may not be easily available where you live? http://www.graphogen.co.uk/

Surfdog said:

I also have been reading about the stiff clutch action. I will be inspecting the cable routing and actuator positioning. I want to get the recommended Venhill teflon lined cable and feel I should go with the longer (57") one as I haven't decided on either the UK bars or the US spec bars. Will the length matter?

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Correct routing and stack height adjustment is more important in my opinion, the longer cable shouldn't really make any difference.

Surfdog said:

The former owner also passed along his clutch compression tool. But its just the X shaped main part, I'll need to get some specs on the bolt and nut action that goes thru the center to compress the spring plate.

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The nut/bolt thread is 1/2" x 20 UNF, and if your compressor tool has roughly the same leg length as my own, then the bolt will need to be at least 2-1/2" long and fully threaded. Only one nut is required, but a second nut will stop the bolt from going missing!



Looking at your photo, the headlamp brackets are on the wrong fork legs, so they are actually upside down, which is apparent due to the headlamp adjustment slots being angled instead of horizontal, and the triangular bracket plates themselves are not symmetrical , however this is a reasonably common mistake made by some owners!

rev it to 4000 rpm while tightening .


And have a 10 ft Gorilla holding on to the bike (or the missus if no Gorilla available :shock: )

Looks like some Kenny Dreer stuff made its way onto your machine. The exhaust, front end treatment and bum-stop seat look like his handiwork. Speaking of which, why are you swapping pipes?

Hey Danno,
I'm bringing her back to a mostly stock look. The pipes on there now are custom made by the previous owner and not in bad shape. Chrome is still good and only have a slight straw color near the head. At first I liked the pipes but now I'm going for a more stock appearence, except for the bumstop seat. heh. It came with an old Corbin gunfighter that was ripped up. I'll probably get it recovered and see how that looks and feels eventually. Stay tuned those pipes may come up for sale soon.
Joe dog

..And have a 10 ft Gorilla holding on to the bike (or the missus if no Gorilla available )

The gorilla is for stopping the bike going walkabout on the centerstand its worse at 5K when strobbing and your heads next to the primary peering into the case.

I learned the hard way in that regard, Don't have it on the centerstand but have the gorilla sit on the bike and do the twisting of the grip watching the tach. Have it on the tires only, Don't ask how I learned this. The wife thought I was crazy doing it on the centerstand, I didn't know. LOL LOL. The bike wanted to walk out the garage door.

Joe Dog,
First off very nice 72.
I have a yellow one see avatar.
The header pipes should be used without the retainers they are known to cause thread damage
by allowing the nut to loosen and chatter thus damaging head threads.
Use copper crush gasket inside head,pipes and nuts only.
On a properly adjusted clutch a nylon lined cable is nice.
I have a 57" venhill on mine the extra 3" allows for a nice relaxed loop off the bars at the first turn.
If the cable is ran right and relaxed it is easier to pull.
Again an added bonus if the clutch is properly adjusted.
I have the US bars.
If you go stock a nice new roadster seat can be had from these dealers: Old Britts or Klempfs.
They are nice representatives of the orig.'s. The seat trim is black not the orig.
chrome but no one knows except the judges.
Any othe rquestions ask away that's what I did. There is some good minds on the forum
Marshal

Hey Dog, welcome to the club! not to many nortons on kauai... yours is probably the only one. On the big island, I know of three, well make it four, including mine. good luck with your work, aloha, Don

Thanks Don,
Yeah, hey I do know of one other. Right here on the north shore. Its a 74 Interstate. Pretty clean, but the guy never rides it.
I've heard about a couple more but haven't seen em yet.
My wife and I were just on the Big island for a short 4 day Vacation over valentines day weekend.'
Our first time back there in about 12 years.
Heh, that was just before I jumped on this Norton at the end of Feb. I got it from Oahu.
I got a ways to go on it yet. But I'm riding her when ever its dry out.
The clutch may get shimmed this week. My left hand is killing me. haha.
I got the full set of shims from Old Brits.
And some new swingarm bushings and the collars for the fix to go in before early May.
Then its disassemble for paint on the 5 pieces of bodywork, tank, fenders and side covers.
She goes pretty good, starts easy, and feels great with new Avon rubber that got put on last week.

In other news, titled: Hollywood comes to Kauai.
Hey they were filming today in Hanalei. The George Clooney movie "The Descendants".
Right down the street from my office at the Tahiti Nui. Traffic was snarled all day.
On friday theres a casting call for Pirates for the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie set to shoot this summer here.

Ever get to over Kauai?
Give me a shout if you do.
I got several bikes yeah!
J.dog

Surfdog said:

Hey Danno,
I'm bringing her back to a mostly stock look. The pipes on there now are custom made by the previous owner and not in bad shape. Chrome is still good and only have a slight straw color near the head. At first I liked the pipes but now I'm going for a more stock appearence, except for the bumstop seat. heh. It came with an old Corbin gunfighter that was ripped up. I'll probably get it recovered and see how that looks and feels eventually. Stay tuned those pipes may come up for sale soon.
Joe dog

Click to expand...

Hmm those header pipes I like

^^ yeah, me 2. Those pipes are awesome

Now Now Boys,
No bickering.
The pipes were made up by the PO and were made to look like a version of Kenny Dreer's early Norton conversions.
They are also similar to siamese versions of Dunstall's 2 into 2 pipes.
These don't join together, they just run along side of each other underneath the bike.
However, I have purchased new stock pipes and these should come up for sale sometime in early May.
I will have additional pictures of them.
They have not blued. But they are a light straw color near the head.
Let the bidding begin. They are still on the bike for now.
Until I get the last of the niggles settled and break her down for paint.
Clutch scheduled to be shimmed this week and swingarm bushed and collared by the end of April.
Thanks
J.dog

Surfdog said:

Now Now Boys,
No bickering.
The pipes were made up by the PO and were made to look like a version of Kenny Dreer's early Norton conversions.
They are also similar to siamese versions of Dunstall's 2 into 2 pipes.
These don't join together, they just run along side of each other underneath the bike.
However, I have purchased new stock pipes and these should come up for sale sometime in early May.
I will have additional pictures of them.
They have not blued. But they are a light straw color near the head.
Let the bidding begin. They are still on the bike for now.
Until I get the last of the niggles settled and break her down for paint.
Clutch scheduled to be shimmed this week and swingarm bushed and collared by the end of April.
Thanks
J.dog

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There will be no bickering but is bribery and or flatterry OK also don't you think they would look great on my Commando (See log in pic....)

mahalo for the invite jdog. wife and I love kauai, though it's been 7 or 8 years since we were there last, even with in-laws, it was still lotsa fun. the thunderbolt sounds good, I don't do too well with that left foot shifter...hehe If (and hopefully when) bidness improves, I may take you up on that, meanwhile, keep the rubber on the ground. aloha, Don

DonOR said:

mahalo for the invite jdog. wife and I love kauai, though it's been 7 or 8 years since we were there last, even with in-laws, it was still lotsa fun. the thunderbolt sounds good, I don't do too well with that left foot shifter...hehe If (and hopefully when) bidness improves, I may take you up on that, meanwhile, keep the rubber on the ground. aloha, Don

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Just how far is it from Kauai to Hilo? You make it sound like it would be worse that swimming from California to India...

Well, Swooshbaby,
Its only 300 miles as the Albatross flies, but there are several island between us.
Kauai is at one end of the chain and Hilo Hawaii is at the other.
To get to the Big Island here's what has to take place for me.
First drive on a 2 lane blacktop with one lane bridges 32 miles to the dynamic Lihue International airport.
Takes about 45 minutes if you don't run into tourist traffic or detour delays.
Hop on a flight to Honolulu on Oahu, takes about 20 minutes in the air.
Switch planes and hop on a flight to Hilo. Takes about 35 - 45 minutes, I'm assuming cuz I've only ever landed at Kona side.
There is some waiting for the flights and the cost involved is over $100 each way.
Then you need a car, cuz the Big Island is a BIG ISLAND! Its like 4 massive volcanos!
One or 2 have been constantly erupting since Jan. 1983 (the year and month of my arrival to this state of HI).
The first day there we drove around the whole island (where there are roads) in about 8.5 hours for a total of almost 300 miles.
If you stretched that mileage out it would go from the BI to kauai. too bad, there are no bridges.
Each major island is separated by channels of 90-100 miles of ocean.
There was gonna be a SuperFerry but protesters mostly from Kauai put an end to that enviromentally speaking.
Too bad about that Ferry though, cuz I woulda loved to take my bikes or Falcon over and ride or drive on different and varied roads.
My bit of paradise is rather small.
Ah well its the price you pay for your own private idaho i s'pose

J.Dog

Surfdog said:

Well, Swooshbaby,
Its only 300 miles as the Albatross flies, but there are several island between us.
Ah well its the price you pay for your own private idaho i s'pose

J.Dog

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7-8 years to go 300 miles. Things really do move slow on the islands... :mrgreen:

Yeah Dog, you hit the coconut right on the mango there. Wifey and I go to honolulu once a year or so, we went just last month; she shops, I look at ducatis at south seas... if only I didn't have a kid in college. I did surf waikiki though, hear some jazz and have good food and wine.

Once I get my 750 back up and running (my machinist is modifying a benelli tank to replace my leaking fiberglass one) I'll post some photos of a Hilo to Kona sprint. btw, back in '80-'81, I used to surf kalapana aka drainpipe, before pele took it. those were the good ol daze.

Sounds like you won't have any trouble getting rid of the pipes, Joe. Me, I just traded my 2-into-1 for some SS pipes and I'm looking for mufflers If you decide to sell the peashooters, let me know, but don't dawdle. I'm gonna pull the trigger on something before long.