Norton 961 Specialist / Mechanic ?

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Feb 17, 2022
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Hello All,

Does anyone know of a Norton 961 specialist (mechanic) in Eastern Canada? We are in Montreal and in desperate need of someone that can diagnose our 2013 961 engine issues. We would definitely be willing to ship the bike to Ontario or other neighboring provinces if necessary. I've called around the Montreal area and no one seems to be willing to touch these things, so any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all in advance, cheers!
 
Hello All,

Does anyone know of a Norton 961 specialist (mechanic) in Eastern Canada? We are in Montreal and in desperate need of someone that can diagnose our 2013 961 engine issues. We would definitely be willing to ship the bike to Ontario or other neighboring provinces if necessary. I've called around the Montreal area and no one seems to be willing to touch these things, so any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all in advance, cheers!
Out of interest, what are the issues?
 
Dave and Richard Coote richard@coote1.com
Yes email Richard Coote and he will find out if David is taking any more jobs. I pray he does and I am so happy that I got my service from him when I did ! As Bushman once said " he has his finger on the pulse of the 961 " .

If you were in the USA , City Garage in California would be my advice to you !
 
Out of interest, what are the issues?
In a nutshell:
- Bike always has a hard time starting. Sounds like something is snapping in and out of place as the bike is trying to turn over (hard to explain).
- When it gets warm, it does not idle lower than 2000rpm, so you can't downshift into first gear because there's no more engine braking
- When it gets warm, and you shut off the bike and want to start it again, you need to unplug the head temp sensor for it to start.
- We were able to read a few codes off the bike with an Autel scanner (for cars) and there was a code for Camshaft Position and Crank Shaft Position.
- We replaced the Camshaft Position Sensor, Crank Shaft Position Sensor and Head Temperature Sensor with Bosch units. The bike started up easier after these changes but still not perfect. Idle issue persisted.
- We had a Throttle Position Sensor on order for the idle issue, and in the meantime took the bike for a ride (didn't want to miss the annual Gentlemen's Ride), and the bike started misfiring from the minute we took off.
- Towards the end of the ride, bike got very hot (from being in traffic at the final destination point) and RPM shot up to 4000rpm. We shut off the bike at that point. It started once more after that but died shortly after, so we towed it back.
- Install the new TPS sensor on Tuesday, and the bike fired up (had to pull the Head Temp Sensor plug again, so it's probably fried) and it ran for about 20 seconds, puffed a lot of black smoke when we revved it, and then died out.
- The bike does not turn over at all anymore, you can just hear the starter spinning and spinning.

Do you guys know where Dave and Richard Coote are located?
 
Coote's are in the Niagara Falls , ONT. CN. area. The head temp sensor can be ohmed with dvm. It is NTC so resistance goes down when warmed up. I want to say 2K ohm at 25C deg. There is a chart on this site.

I found it :

T [°C] R [Ω]

-40 45313

-30 26114

-20 15462

-10 9397

0 5896

10 3792

20 2500

30 1707

40 1175

50 834

60 596

70 436

80 323

90 243

100 187

110 144

120 113

130 89
 
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In a nutshell:
- Bike always has a hard time starting. Sounds like something is snapping in and out of place as the bike is trying to turn over (hard to explain).
- When it gets warm, it does not idle lower than 2000rpm, so you can't downshift into first gear because there's no more engine braking
- When it gets warm, and you shut off the bike and want to start it again, you need to unplug the head temp sensor for it to start.
- We were able to read a few codes off the bike with an Autel scanner (for cars) and there was a code for Camshaft Position and Crank Shaft Position.
- We replaced the Camshaft Position Sensor, Crank Shaft Position Sensor and Head Temperature Sensor with Bosch units. The bike started up easier after these changes but still not perfect. Idle issue persisted.
- We had a Throttle Position Sensor on order for the idle issue, and in the meantime took the bike for a ride (didn't want to miss the annual Gentlemen's Ride), and the bike started misfiring from the minute we took off.
- Towards the end of the ride, bike got very hot (from being in traffic at the final destination point) and RPM shot up to 4000rpm. We shut off the bike at that point. It started once more after that but died shortly after, so we towed it back.
- Install the new TPS sensor on Tuesday, and the bike fired up (had to pull the Head Temp Sensor plug again, so it's probably fried) and it ran for about 20 seconds, puffed a lot of black smoke when we revved it, and then died out.
- The bike does not turn over at all anymore, you can just hear the starter spinning and spinning.

Do you guys know where Dave and Richard Coote are located?
Can you check what your exhaust pipe temp is on each side with digital thermostat?

Also what ECU do you have?

When cold will the bike idle correctly?
 
Can you check what your exhaust pipe temp is on each side with digital thermostat?

Also what ECU do you have?

When cold will the bike idle correctly?
The bike won't start anymore, so unfortunately I cannot check the exhaust pipe temps right now, nor the cold idle.

As for the ECU, how do I check which one I have?
 
If you ECU has a hard black platic cover it is an SC ecu . I think you said you had a 2013 model and I believe those had the SC , I think the SC was used 2013 through 2015.
 
Given the issues (and if it has the SCS ECU) I think it would be worth picking up one of the "dealer" 961 comm cables from scs-delta.co.uk

It should give you a better understanding of any sensors that may be reading incorrectly.

(but isn't likely to help with the starter motor etc)
 
If Autel communicated with it, then its fairly safe to assume an SC ecu.
Does this bike have the old steel liners? If unsure, post a picture of the engine.
 
What do you look for to determine this?
A quote from Stu in an earlier thread...

"Visually, the steel liner barrels have a machined area visible around the bottom of the barrel as you look at the engine (if that makes sense?). The later Niklasil plated barrels are just cast finished all over"
 
It took us a while to figure my problem without a blue print of the electronics. You need a print to have a conversation with members! After I got a print a hand full of members walked me thru (educated me). I had no spark! Replaced the cam sensor with Bosch, no spark, replaced the crank sensor with Bosch and it started. I also replaced all the relays under tank and under seat with Honda's. Good luck!
 
It took us a while to figure my problem without a blue print of the electronics. You need a print to have a conversation with members! After I got a print a hand full of members walked me thru (educated me). I had no spark! Replaced the cam sensor with Bosch, no spark, replaced the crank sensor with Bosch and it started. I also replaced all the relays under tank and under seat with Honda's. Good luck!
Wasn’t aware there was a Bosch part for the crank sensor. The number would be useful for the alternative parts list on here.
 
Wasn’t aware there was a Bosch part for the crank sensor. The number would be useful for the alternative parts list on here.
It may not be a Bosch. But it is a common part 500 ohm trigger coil. Cliffa found one at Ricks Motosports Electric in USA Also this is stocked at Electrex in UK .

Look at this thread for Cliffa's links :

 
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