Norton 961 Commando a keeper?

BritTwit · May 7, 2020

Bluey72e said:
To be honest I was looking at a .25 bar cracking inline not a complete tap so to speak. Your post though answers a question that I had pondered, in that where in the scheme of things is the check valve as I had noticed that the "feed" was or seemed to be elsewhere.

Started it today with a clear tube, no oil puked at startup, however, went for a 10 min ride up the road and after stopping I actually heard a gurgle from the R6 plastic separator and hay presto opened my air-box drain tap and filled the bottle.

Soooooo..... maybe its the pump after all, but why after a 10 min ride, couple of 2nd 3rd,4th 6.5/7k rpm blaps does it do this, too much oil in the crank would suggest weak scavenge no ?

Interesting that you could hear a gurgle from the separator, but are you sure that was when the oil reached the airbox?

I would again suggest that you drain the oil bottle, take the airbox plug out, and just start the bike and run it for 15-30 seconds while keeping an eye on your overflow bottle. See if you're getting out of the airbox at startup. That would suggest one of two issues - oil accumulating in the sump after shutdown, or excessive blowby from the piston rings. Since my problem was accumulation of oil in the sump, I know this can be an issue, it would be my main suspect.

If the oil is only entering the airbox while riding the bike, then I think you may be correct, the scavenge circuit of the pump may not be working properly. The crank is forcing the excessive oil from the sump into the breather and up into the airbox.

Bluey72e · May 7, 2020

BritTwit said:
Interesting that you could hear a gurgle from the separator, but are you sure that was when the oil reached the airbox?

I would again suggest that you drain the oil bottle, take the airbox plug out, and just start the bike and run it for 15-30 seconds while keeping an eye on your overflow bottle. See if you're getting out of the airbox at startup. That would suggest one of two issues - oil accumulating in the sump after shutdown, or excessive blowby from the piston rings. Since my problem was accumulation of oil in the sump, I know this can be an issue, it would be my main suspect.

If the oil is only entering the airbox while riding the bike, then I think you may be correct, the scavenge circuit of the pump may not be working properly. The crank is forcing the excessive oil from the sump into the breather and up into the airbox.

Yeah did this, and to think on it I have tested a few times now with a clear plastic crank breather and on NO occasion did I ever see a glut of oil pumped out at start up, I see small oil movement within the clear vent pipe as air moves back and forth.

I have a crank breather (non return) that would stop the back and forth movement of gasses and only allow blow by gasses out, cant see that this would stop excess crank oil coming out though. ??

Al's#5 · May 13, 2020

Being one of the latest 961's mine seems to have all the updates and runs like a dream luckily. Just returned from a near 100 mile blast over the North Yorkshire Moors and can't get the smile off my face. Even through a 10 minute wintry downpour, it never missed a beat. Can't fault it, gearing, throttle response, handling, tickover hot and cold, comfort, a gem. Even tickles your bits as you proceed briskly through the gears.

BritTwit · May 13, 2020

Al's#5 said:
Being one of the latest 961's mine seems to have all the updates and runs like a dream luckily. Just returned from a near 100 mile blast over the North Yorkshire Moors and can't get the smile off my face. Even through a 10 minute wintry downpour, it never missed a beat. Can't fault it, gearing, throttle response, handling, tickover hot and cold, comfort, a gem. Even tickles your bits as you proceed briskly through the gears.

It doesn't get much better than that.
Cheers.

TonyA · May 13, 2020

BritTwit said:
It doesn't get much better than that.
Cheers.

Sounds like a match made in heaven .

TonyA · May 13, 2020

Al's#5 said:
Being one of the latest 961's mine seems to have all the updates and runs like a dream luckily. Just returned from a near 100 mile blast over the North Yorkshire Moors and can't get the smile off my face. Even through a 10 minute wintry downpour, it never missed a beat. Can't fault it, gearing, throttle response, handling, tickover hot and cold, comfort, a gem. Even tickles your bits as you proceed briskly through the gears.

Sounds like a match made in heaven .

Bernhard · May 13, 2020

MxMartin said:
She started fine at the weekend, same petrol. All I did was park her up and put on trickle charge. Battery is back on charge, I will try again later but I have a feeling it will be tank and seat cowl off then hours of unplugging and checking, hours scrolling through this forum to locate common/frequent issues, lots of hair pulling, ordering unnecessary spare relays and other sensors 'just in case', only to find that my ecu has given up the ghost. I'm even more miffed 'cos today I put road tax on her for 6mth!

Oooh! - the cost of a new ECU doesn't bear thinking about.

Al's#5 · May 17, 2020

Bernhard said:
Oooh! - the cost of a new ECU doesn't bear thinking about.

Some people can't handle change but for those that can, just 19 miles to go before my 961 is run in , out this morning over the Moors and running like a dream. 781 miles, no probs. 3 to 4mm of oil carry over to the little bottle. Back brake's a bit useless but who needs them . Here's to the summer .

TonyA · May 17, 2020

TonyA said:
Sounds like a match made in heaven .

The newer 961 's were getting better . If there was good quality control and consistent supply all 961's could have been good bikes. Keep an eye on the bottle level especially when the sustained speeds pick up (more than 70MPH sustained) . There is room for a 4 oz bottle there with no mods , if you need or want more reserve capacity .

I had another look and the Euro 4 has a purge control valve using the space I used for a larger bottle . The 4 oz bottle may still work you have to try it and see.

MxMartin · Jul 11, 2020

Welshrugby said:
FE is like the devil Mark, trying to tempt you away from the white/aly beast, resist at all costs

I just couldn't resist!

Fast Eddie · Jul 11, 2020

Posh !!

Stephen_Spencer · Jul 12, 2020

Looks to me like you have plenty of room for another!

He who dies with the most toys wins!

BLIGHTYBRIT/SF · Jul 12, 2020

Stephen_Spencer said:
Looks to me like you have plenty of room for another!

He who dies with the most toys wins!

Well I’m a one bike guy atm , still devoted atm & hoping to remain contented

TonyA · Jul 12, 2020

If Norton manage to stay in business and the 961 continues to live on , then I see no reason not to give it a go.

Welshrugby · Jul 12, 2020

MxMartin said:
I just couldn't resist!

OMG, I am guessing what the middle one is ? actually I have no idea. I am thrown by the new tyre and wondering if it is a brand new bike or some custom Duke. I have to say that the 961 looks a fine machine from the back, despite that humongous reg plate and the white tank looks good even though the ally tank is a work of art. Big tread on that Indian rear, those roads in Lincs must be shite?

BritTwit · Jul 12, 2020

Welshrugby said:
OMG, I am guessing what the middle one is ? actually I have no idea. I am thrown by the new tyre and wondering if it is a brand new bike or some custom Duke. I have to say that the 961 looks a fine machine from the back, despite that humongous reg plate and the white tank looks good even though the ally tank is a work of art. Big tread on that Indian rear, those roads in Lincs must be shite?

Definitely a special Duke - 2002 MH900e
Listed below photo.

Fast Eddie · Jul 13, 2020

Yup. Posh Duc !

Britfan60 · Jul 14, 2020

Considering it lasted longer than I thought, its a keeper. If it ever gets beyond repair due to lack of parts, I'll sell it cheap.

MxMartin · Jul 14, 2020

Welshrugby said:
I have to say that the 961 looks a fine machine from the back, despite that humongous reg plate ...

Yeah, Lincs Police had nothing better to do during lock down but pull bikes to the side and ask who/why/where. They were also out in force with NPR cameras and I didn't want to get bombarded with fines for illegal plates..... small plates will make a return now roads are a lot busier. Ally tank is off 'cos I was peeved at trying to keep it clean, still thinking about a paint job for it.

Stephen_Spencer · Jul 14, 2020

BLIGHTYBRIT/SF said:
Well I’m a one bike guy atm , still devoted atm & hoping to remain contented

I prefer polygamy (where my bikes are concerned of course). Australia is a BIG place and my 961 CR/ screwed back combination has a SMALL range. IMHO all bikers should have a large capacity Adventure bike in the garage; the most versatile bikes ever made. Not to everybody’s taste by way of looks of course; a kind (unnamed) forum member once called mine the ‘ugliest grasshopper in history.’ It’s taken me some time to recover!

Norton 961 Commando a keeper?

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