Norton 880 long-term project

I've been using a tiny family shop in San Bruno that have done work that is now in the Honda museum. They are called Cantwell's and I believe they are on the third generation in that location.
It's quite an amusing place to see and I can't fault thier quality. You may end up in a discussion on world hunger or ways of solving the drought.
You've reminded me that I have to drop by soon to see if they can extend a kickstart for me.
 
As usual, Buchanan's did a fantasic job lacing up the drop-center 19" front rim to the Dreer VR880 dual disc front hub-

Norton 880 long-term project


I had a like-new 100/90 Metzler, so I popped it on there. Pair of Brembo full floating discs on the way from Kenny already. So, I should have the rolling chassis ready in a couple of weeks.

I intend to install a hollow mock-up engine in it so I can mount the carbs, pipes, starter & carbon fibre primary to work out any fitment bugs. Then I'll install the bodywork, controls & lighting to show it at the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation fundraiser bike show in April...
 
"Far more finished" ???

It's not even started!

...well, I guess the monoshock is installed with the swingarm in the frame; that's a start.
 
Now that made me laugh. I'm thrilled because I've worked out what I'm going to do to my kick start lever. It doesn't take much.....
Tune in tomorrow for the great kick start extension, actually with plating it will take a few weeks of bated breath.
 
I'm going to do a mock-up of the bike for prototyping the mounting of all the various components, then go ahead and take it to the PBTF
fundraiser bike show next weekend before disassembling it again. For now, the engine is empty inside.

Fitted up the forks and clip-on controls-

Norton 880 long-term project


Slip-fit the front wheel, custom bearings on order, Kenny is sending the Brembo rotors & spacers-

Norton 880 long-term project


Carbon fibre primary (very rare, 1 of 3)-

Norton 880 long-term project
 
Top end in place-

Norton 880 long-term project


Kehin FCR flat slide carbs in place (nice and cozy in there)-

Norton 880 long-term project


AT LAST! Sprint Special Blue bodywork in place (from the original 951 prototype) I'm going to need to fabricate steering stops so the forks don't bump the tank-

Norton 880 long-term project
 
"few details" like the crankshaft, belt drive conversion with ring gear for the starter, (and all the rest of the engine internals), footpeg controls, wxhaust system, rear wheel with custom built axle and spacers, and all the elecricals.

At least it's going to LOOK like a bike soon...
 
Just before I took off for a weekend retreat with a couple of friends on the ZRX, I snapped this shot-

Norton 880 long-term project


I need to work out the rear wheel spacing, and maybe an alternate disc brake mount for a newer stype caliper (not sure yet). Anyway, I love the serpentine pipes-

Norton 880 long-term project
 
That is a really nice bike, it is a shame you have to use such a bad camera though ;-)

Jean

Camera tip: Use a tripod, set on AV (aperture priority), close the lens as much as possible (high f stop number), use the self timer and let go of the camera so vibrations and movement are not blurring the picture, set ISO to the lowest value possible. Exposure times may be in the seconds range, this is why a tripod is necessary. And NO FLASH!
 
The camera is a nice little Sony, but this isn't the actual build, so I'm not concentrating on taking good pix; this is just a mock-up for fitment of components, and "snapshots" at approx. 800x600.

I have a tripod, and 5 MP settings, so the actual build shots will be much better, with good lighting as well.
 
It's starting to look like a motorcyle now.

I fabricated some cheap, quick mounting straps for the guages & headlight, then mounted a standard Lucas headlight shell and a set of borrowed chrome guages (Yamaha cruiser,
I think). Next, worked out some temporary fork stops to keep the forks from contacting the gas tank. Lastly, fabricated a brake caliper adapter to retrofit a Nissin 2-pot rear brake caliper to
the Norton mounting bracket, and mounted up the rear wheel using a one-piece axle all the way through instead of the stup axle and main axle setup; this is definitely temporary.

I need to have a machinist weld up an extended stub axle and thread it, then weld an extension on the main axle and thread it, too. This is due to the box section swingarm approximately
1-1/4" wide on each side instead of 3/8" thick axle location flat on the OEM swingarm.

Norton 880 long-term project
 

Similar threads

rightshiftrick
1975 MkIII Long-term Rebuild
Replies
9
Views
549
Schwany
Schwany
Hendo
Best Practise bike storage long term ?
Replies
19
Views
1,017
worntorn
W
MikeM
  • Locked
Long term wet sump
Replies
8
Views
1,847
Bernhard
B
nortriubuell
  • Locked
Long term swingarm needle bearings report
Replies
7
Views
2,030
seattle##gs
S
Burgs
Long Term Thident Cafe Racer Project Coming Up
2 3
Replies
49
Views
7,635
NeilD
N
Back
Top