Pictures of your Norton 961

Stephen_Spencer · Dec 12, 2023

200km (round trip) ‘blat‘ into the big smoke today for the Norton‘s annual service. Hot, busy, road works as far as the eye can see, lots of tin boxes (with one person in each) - you know, the usual!! She didn’t miss a beat, less a reluctance to tick over a couple times in heavy traffic. No biggie!

Service done, fluids, filters, new plugs - no problems. Totally unremarkable until I got the invoice! By some inexplicable transmogrification, my Norton Commando had magically mutated into a Norton Atlas!!

Don’t really know how I feel about that! Looking on the bright side though, it may increase the bike’s resale value!

peebee · Dec 27, 2023

Rained day and night for five weeks, saw a window on the weather forecast and decide to go for it before I go stir crazy. Off to Glasson Dock just a thirty mile ride because I still didn't trust the Met office report , a bit misty but a lovely barmy 10 degrees so no gritters out today. WRONG . YOU. IDIOT.

What is wrong with these councils , are they totally stupid for Gods sake not a sign of frost anywhere. Ahh well I licked my finger and touched the fork legs and sure enough SALT

. Got home and after letting the new girl cool down spent the next few hours washing all the salt off , well I hope I got it all. The main thing is I got out for a ride and put a few more miles on Black Bess and restored some of my sanity at the same time.

TonyA · Dec 27, 2023

peebee said:
Rained day and night for five weeks, saw a window on the weather forecast and decide to go for it before I go stir crazy. Off to Glasson Dock just a thirty mile ride because I still didn't trust the Met office report , a bit misty but a lovely barmy 10 degrees so no gritters out today. WRONG . YOU. IDIOT. What is wrong with these councils , are they totally stupid for Gods sake not a sign of frost anywhere. Ahh well I licked my finger and touched the fork legs and sure enough SALT . Got home and after letting the new girl cool down spent the next few hours washing all the salt off , well I hope I got it all. The main thing is I got out for a ride and put a few more miles on Black Bess and restored some of my sanity at the same time.

Hello Peebee , We still want to hear your New vs old 961 comparo !

peebee · Dec 27, 2023

TonyA said:
Hello Peebee , We still want to hear your New vs old 961 comparo !

Just as soon as the weather improves and I get some miles up .

Stephen_Spencer · Dec 27, 2023

Never (ever) brag to your riding mate about how well your Norton’s running and how it’s well worth a A$200 labour bill each year to get a qualified mechanic to give it a ‘once over’!

Preached I wisely on its first run out today since the service, when we stopped for fat-boy breakfast (after about 80km) and he proceeded to point out that I had an oil leak to the right side of the bike! DOH!!

Sure enough, I had a light smattering of oil as far back as the hugger (little or none on the rear tyre). At first appearing to emanate from the RH spark plug recess, a better look revealed it was likely from the front right of the rocker gasket! Service coincidental (mechanic did’nt touch the rocker cover).

Got home no problem. Checked and ‘lo and behold‘ the front RH (2x) rocker cover bolts took about 1/8 of a turn to nip up. I’ll test ride again shortly but suspect I’ll still need a new gasket!

Of course my mate took pictures, claimed a breakdown and sent a message to our entire group

! To be expected of course - I’d have done exactly the same!! I’ve said it before………………. you really need to be an enthusiast to own a Norton 961!!

peebee · Dec 28, 2023

Stephen_Spencer said:
Never (ever) brag to your riding mate about how well your Norton’s running and how it’s well worth a A$200 labour bill each year to get a qualified mechanic to give it a ‘once over’!

Preached I wisely on its first run out today since the service, when we stopped for fat-boy breakfast (after about 80km) and he proceeded to point out that I had an oil leak to the right side of the bike! DOH!!

Sure enough, I had a light smattering of oil as far back as the hugger (little or none on the rear tyre). At first appearing to emanate from the RH spark plug recess, a better look revealed it was likely from the front right of the rocker gasket! Service coincidental (mechanic did’nt touch the rocker cover).

Got home no problem. Checked and ‘lo and behold‘ the front RH (2x) rocker cover bolts took about 1/8 of a turn to nip up. I’ll test ride again shortly but suspect I’ll still need a new gasket!

Of course my mate took pictures, claimed a breakdown and sent a message to our entire group! To be expected of course - I’d have done exactly the same!! I’ve said it before………………. you really need to be an enthusiast to own a Norton 961!!

View attachment 111728 View attachment 111729

TonyA · Dec 28, 2023

Stephen_Spencer said:
Never (ever) brag to your riding mate about how well your Norton’s running and how it’s well worth a A$200 labour bill each year to get a qualified mechanic to give it a ‘once over’!

Preached I wisely on its first run out today since the service, when we stopped for fat-boy breakfast (after about 80km) and he proceeded to point out that I had an oil leak to the right side of the bike! DOH!!

Sure enough, I had a light smattering of oil as far back as the hugger (little or none on the rear tyre). At first appearing to emanate from the RH spark plug recess, a better look revealed it was likely from the front right of the rocker gasket! Service coincidental (mechanic did’nt touch the rocker cover).

Got home no problem. Checked and ‘lo and behold‘ the front RH (2x) rocker cover bolts took about 1/8 of a turn to nip up. I’ll test ride again shortly but suspect I’ll still need a new gasket!

Of course my mate took pictures, claimed a breakdown and sent a message to our entire group! To be expected of course - I’d have done exactly the same!! I’ve said it before………………. you really need to be an enthusiast to own a Norton 961!!

View attachment 111728 View attachment 111729

TonyA · Dec 28, 2023

Hello Stephen , Is the rocker cover gasket of a rubber type material ? It looks like from the photo and I have never seen this before . Usually a paper/fiber material gray color or biege color .

Stephen_Spencer · Dec 28, 2023

TonyA said:
Hello Stephen , Is the rocker cover gasket of a rubber type material ? It looks like from the photo and I have never seen this before . Usually a paper/fiber material gray color or biege color .

Hey Tony,

Yes, I thought the same but it is not rubberised but a really stiff hard fibrous gasket. Or it has hardened significantly through heat transfer/ageing.

A closer look when cooled and my failure is exactly (by way of type and location) as that shown in this thread by P-Roger’s last year. Split to the RH side of the rocker cover - a second breach forming just in front - forward edge seems displaced outward of the Rocker Cover (although I don’t think it is - more likely a manufacturing/fitting irregularity).

I’ll order a new gasket from Norton and maybe a spare one from Ollie - fit whichever one arrives first. I’ll let you know who wins the delivery/price comparrison! Lots of good info in the attached thread - gotta love this forum!

Off the road until then

! No big deal - this is why we have other bikes right?

Thread '2018 961 rocker gasket repair? advice?'
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/2018-961-rocker-gasket-repair-advice.35622/

TonyA · Dec 28, 2023

Stephen_Spencer said:
Hey Tony,

Yes, I thought the same but it is not rubberised but a really stiff hard fibrous gasket. Or it has hardened significantly through heat transfer/ageing.

A closer look when cooled and my failure is exactly (by way of type and location) as that shown in this thread by P-Roger’s last year. Split to the RH side of the rocker cover - a second breach forming just in front - forward edge seems displaced outward of the Rocker Cover (although I don’t think it is - more likely a manufacturing/fitting irregularity).

I’ll order a new gasket from Norton and maybe a spare one from Ollie - fit whichever one arrives first. I’ll let you know who wins the delivery/price comparrison! Lots of good info in the attached thread - gotta love this forum!

Off the road until then! No big deal - this is why we have other bikes right?

Thread '2018 961 rocker gasket repair? advice?'
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/2018-961-rocker-gasket-repair-advice.35622/

View attachment 111745 View attachment 111746

Good , You found the problem .

cliffa · Dec 29, 2023

TonyA said:
Good , You found the problem .

Member Jim Schmidt (@jseng1) sells re-useable re-enforced silicone gaskets for classic Commando's. I wonder if he could get some made for 961's?

Fiberglass reinforced high temp silicone gaskets - the ultimate gasket solution

32″ thick reusable fiberglass reinforced silicone gaskets. You can tighten them down the same as paper gaskets and they won’t squish out like regular silicone. Available for rocker covers…

jsmotorsport.com

Stephen_Spencer · Dec 29, 2023

cliffa said:
Member Jim Schmidt (@jseng1) sells re-useable re-enforced silicone gaskets for classic Commando's. I wonder if he could get some made for 961's?

Fiberglass reinforced high temp silicone gaskets - the ultimate gasket solution

32″ thick reusable fiberglass reinforced silicone gaskets. You can tighten them down the same as paper gaskets and they won’t squish out like regular silicone. Available for rocker covers…

jsmotorsport.com

Thanks Cliffa, I’ll send him a message and post his reply.

Stephen_Spencer · Dec 29, 2023

Stephen_Spencer said:
Thanks Cliffa, I’ll send him a message and post his reply.

No go Cliffa. Worth a try though, his stuff looks great quality.

cliffa · Dec 30, 2023

Stephen_Spencer said:
No go Cliffa. Worth a try though, his stuff looks great quality.

View attachment 111773

Oh well, worth a try. When you get your new gasket, I think it would be a good idea to glue it to the rocker cover, as it’s a know weakness due to the long run without a screw. I think pliobond make a gasket glue.

Stephen_Spencer · Dec 30, 2023

cliffa said:
Oh well, worth a try. When you get your new gasket, I think it would be a good idea to glue it to the rocker cover, as it’s a know weakness due to the long run without a screw. I think pliobond make a gasket glue.

OK, that answers the obvious question Cliffa - why we have multiple gasket failures in the same spot. Makes sense. Thanks for the tip ref Pilobond.

I have an admission - from memory, I think I might have noticed the start of a defect at that spot. No leak though, so using my ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ approach I left it. A mistake in hindsight cos now I’m off the road until I source a replacement.

The point of the anecdote - this may be another to add to those ‘things to check before we ride’. If your rocker cover gasket is gonna fail it is likely gonna be at that spot, and you may well get notice. Worth a check.

TonyA · Dec 30, 2023

Stephen_Spencer said:
OK, that answers the obvious question Cliffa - why we have multiple gasket failures in the same spot. Makes sense. Thanks for the tip ref Pilobond.

I have an admission - from memory, I think I might have noticed the start of a defect at that spot. No leak though, so using my ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ approach I left it. A mistake in hindsight cos now I’m off the road until I source a replacement.

The point of the anecdote - this may be another to add to those ‘things to check before we ride’. If your rocker cover gasket is gonna fail it is likely gonna be at that spot, and you may well get notice. Worth a check.

Get the Ollie Thiel gaskets , he is having them made and appear to be good quality. I have some of his gaskets and this is nothing to worry about . Replace it with one of his gaskets , a small amount of gasket sealer , torque to specs and you won't have any more problems with it.

Stephen_Spencer · Dec 30, 2023

TonyA said:
Get the Ollie Thiel gaskets , he is having them made and appear to be good quality. I have some of his gaskets and this is nothing to worry about . Replace it with one of his gaskets , a small amount of gasket sealer , torque to specs and you won't have any more problems with it.

Yep, that‘s the plan thanks Tony. The job is simple enough. Would’ve been smarter to order one as soon as I spotted the irregularity though

!

Stephen_Spencer · Jan 8, 2024

So, fettling, because I just can’t stop; wonder if there’s any medical treatment for the affliction. Pills, or maybe psychotherapy!? Am I repeating myself - is it just age or am I creeping toward madness?!

The Rizomafication of the CR is complete (I think) - reservoirs, grips, mirrors, indicators. Expensive but worth it; a once only purchase for a keeper. Yet to change anything that I can’t easily return to standard. Seat next. Thruxton fairing moving further towards the back-burner.

Anybody out there ridin’ or fettlin’? If so, remember rule No 1 - it never happened unless you post a pic!

BLIGHTYBRIT/SF · Jan 16, 2024

it’s at this time of year I frequent Lanzarote ,best island in the canaries IMHO, & a full year on that i published this restaurant menu sporting this Norton 961 ,appears they’ve still escaped the legal department of Norton HQ for blatant disregard of paying a royalty when they’ve obviously benefited on an industrial scale financially,TVS take note

Clive · Jan 17, 2024

I'll have a a Burguer with a portion of chips fried in Castrol please!

Pictures of your Norton 961

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