Norton N15CS Hybrid restoration

grandpaul · Sep 30, 2009

Aforementioned cylinder wall blemishes will clean up easily-

Cam followers (tappets) have slight flat spotting, pretty typical-

Nearly there; the crank was "wet sumped", so we'll have to have a good close look at the oil pump faces. Significant sludge; previous owner wasn't into oil changes-

Crank is in great shape, zero surface rust-

Cookie · Sep 30, 2009

I can smell the old oil from here.

grandpaul · Sep 30, 2009

Right side rod shells show some mild issues-

Left side looks similar-

Yep. They've been into the bottom end as well. The big end shells are .030 undersize-

Journals look great, zero scuffing. The shells did thier job-

grandpaul · Sep 30, 2009

Right side sludge trap almost totally clean, just a bit of scum on the outer edge-

Left side has a bit more crud, but not bad at all-

That's about it for the engine-

All in all, no suprises. Pretty nice when nothing is broken or badly bodged.

Cookie · Sep 30, 2009

That's not bad at all, from the looks of the outside of the bike I thought the engine would be toast.

grandpaul · Sep 30, 2009

Klink rode it when he bought it a couple of years ago, and he said it ran fairly well.

I think it was overhauled and sold to the previous owner who rode the poop out of it and never changed the oil.

Cookie · Sep 30, 2009

It looks like somebody was in there but it's not that bad. Sitting sure does that sludge.

grandpaul · Oct 1, 2009

Ludwig, how familiar are you with the Norton, Matchless & AJS Hybrids? I thought the head & pistons were the earliest of the Commando pre-production prototypes then in use on the late Atlas'...?

grandpaul · Oct 1, 2009

Very good suggestions; this one has a cush hub clutch???

I have a couple of Atlas heads, I intend to refurbish the best of the batch and use it.

grandpaul · Oct 1, 2009

Turns out I have ONE 25319 head, and it's in great rebuildable shape.

dave M · Oct 1, 2009

Paul, Ludwig is being modest by not drawing your attention to the photos of his wonderful bike on Page 2 of this section under the title "Commando engine into a P11 hybrid rolling chassis". He has done some astonishing and elegant re-engineering in keeping his baby on the road. He has also been enormously helpful to me with posting drawings and other relevant information for my own project.

grandpaul · Oct 2, 2009

Dave, I've followed ludwig's posts with great interest. I like custom bikes nearly as much as restorations, and some customs are just unbelievable in thier engineering and execution (such as ludwig's, jeandr's, and others).

I'm very thankful for the folks on this forum that freely offer excellent advice and resources, like Jean's set of carb manifolds for my FCRs!!! maybe he'll make us a set of engine mount plates if i wish hard enough...

klink · Oct 2, 2009

Paul, found this site and am now a member (thanks). Very knowledgeable folks here with some excellent tips etc. I am not against anything that would improve the N15 in anyway. Originality is one thing but if original didn't work and something better does that that's the way we go. Oil filter is one along with a host of others. I intend on coming here for the great comments, advice and suggestions.

grandpaul · Oct 2, 2009

Klink, I'm on at least three Norton forums besides this one, and this is definitely "where it's at" as far as Nortons go.

I'm thinking it would be pretty cool to meet at Barber's next year and hand ovcer the bike at the Vintage Festival weekend; I'll bring my Combat and we can do the open-to-the-public lap(s).

klink · Oct 2, 2009

What an idea...never been though I have been asked. I'll say it sounds good now.

grandpaul · Nov 4, 2009

Got to cleaning out the trany and ran across this-

Also pulled apart the forks, yukky watery sludge in there...

Parts ready to go off to polishing-

grandpaul · Nov 7, 2009

Goodies I - Transmission seals & bushings, primary chain, miscellaneous hardware-

Goodies II - Valves, more bushings, con rod bearing shells, more hardware-

Goodies III - One of 2 main bearings, one of several tranny bearings, gaskets, wheel bearings, o-rings, etc.-

BrianK · Nov 8, 2009

Holy schmidt. Guess I never realized how flippin' big those main bearings are!

grandpaul · Nov 9, 2009

I must've missed posting a couple of shots going in to the tranny (for what it's worth)...

Cover has a couple of scratches, should clean up nicely with first steps of polishing-

Typical goo & grunt in the outside cover, just a tad bit of rust-

Inner cover in similar shape, so far nothing amiss (I've seen much worse!)-

Surprisingly little water/moisture-

grandpaul · Nov 9, 2009

I just got real good news; Jeandr has agreed to fabricate T6 aluminum engine & tranny mount plates! I'll send him the originals, with the pattern changes to accommodate Commando tranny adjusters on BOTH sides for nice even primary chain tightening.

Cool; HUGE thanx. Klink will be quite pleased!