StuartSF2015
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2015
- Messages
- 321
Make that two. With a side of klassischa Pommes frites please and a Heineken zero please.
Pictures of your Norton 961
- Thread starter TonyA
- Start date
Stephen_Spencer
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- May 31, 2017
- Messages
- 2,674
Quick follow up. Gaskets ordered from Ollie Thiele.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 111745View attachment 111746
- Very efficient, emails answered same day; parts dispatched the day of payment. Arrived to my door in Aus (via UPS courier) inside of a week.
- Express post is (very) expensive, so I ordered a full set.
- Quality looks very good. Better than OEM? Claimed so on the website.
- For the rocker cover gasket on the 961, Ollie recommends dry assembly - no sealant/glue. Not sure why.
Looks like failure in this spot is relatively common; worth ordering a spare. Snail mail from Ollie is pretty cheap. Worth planning ahead like I did(nt)!
Last edited:
StuartSF2015
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2015
- Messages
- 321
Oh, those shipping costs! I wonder if UPS use a Fujitsu computer system?
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
- Messages
- 5,862
High shipping cost ! Maybe should have bought 2 rocker cover gaskets ?Quick follow up. Gaskets ordered from Ollie Thiele.
- Very efficient, emails answered same day; parts dispatched the day of payment. Arrived to my door in Aus (via UPS courier) inside of a week.
- Express post is (very) expensive, so I ordered a full set.
- Quality looks very good. Better than OEM? Claimed so on the website.
- For the rocker cover gasket on the 961, Ollie recommends dry assembly - no sealant/glue. Not sure why.
Looks like failure in this spot is relatively common; worth ordering a spare. Snail mail from Ollie is pretty cheap. Worth planning ahead like I did(nt)!
View attachment 112162View attachment 112164
Stephen_Spencer
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- May 31, 2017
- Messages
- 2,674
Came to the same obvious conclusion just after placing the order. I was just about to pen an email increasing the order when I got notification it had been processed. Not often you curse a small business for being too efficient
!
Stephen_Spencer
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- May 31, 2017
- Messages
- 2,674
Well, you don‘t see that every day! Came across this ‘legend(?) at a far flung bikers spot whilst out killing bugs at the weekend! Should’ve parked the Norton next door!
Our hero pulled in wearing t-shirt and shorts, with Chinese safety boots - no gloves (of course). Bolted on the back, you’ll see a colour matched unicycle and mount! I mean, why wouldn’t ya!
Had a quick chat and he told me that you can now buy unicycles that have brakes! “Useful on the hills” he went on to explain. As you can see, he’s definitely got safety front of mind!!
Our hero pulled in wearing t-shirt and shorts, with Chinese safety boots - no gloves (of course). Bolted on the back, you’ll see a colour matched unicycle and mount! I mean, why wouldn’t ya!
Had a quick chat and he told me that you can now buy unicycles that have brakes! “Useful on the hills” he went on to explain. As you can see, he’s definitely got safety front of mind!!
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2023
- Messages
- 83
I like his style. And bike(s). His choice purely. The way it should be.
With the opposite way of thinking, it is only a matter of time before motorcycling as a pursuit will be questioned. Too many wrong things with it.
I had a unicycle once as a boy. Didn´t end well.
With the opposite way of thinking, it is only a matter of time before motorcycling as a pursuit will be questioned. Too many wrong things with it.
I had a unicycle once as a boy. Didn´t end well.
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
- Messages
- 5,862
I hope that day never comes .
lcrken
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2009
- Messages
- 5,038
I managed to survive my 82nd birthday ride today. Being an old guy, my first stop was the pharmacy to pick up some meds.
Then a ride down to the coast, to stop by my old place of employment at Pt. Mugu. When I first went to work there it was home to the Naval Air Station and the Naval Air Missile Test Center. It morphed through a couple of other names while I was there, and is now a part of the Naval Base Ventura County.
Couldn't resist a picture at the Missile Park.
From there, I rode South on Hwy 1, turning off on Decker Canyon Road to return home through a very twisty canyon with lots of elevation changes. It's work on a bike as heavy as the 961 with a long wheelbase, and today it still had wet spots and dirt and gravel in places from the recent rain, but it was still fun.
And the obligatory picture with the ocean, at Mugu Rock.
Back at the home shop.
A good day so far
Ken
Then a ride down to the coast, to stop by my old place of employment at Pt. Mugu. When I first went to work there it was home to the Naval Air Station and the Naval Air Missile Test Center. It morphed through a couple of other names while I was there, and is now a part of the Naval Base Ventura County.
Couldn't resist a picture at the Missile Park.
From there, I rode South on Hwy 1, turning off on Decker Canyon Road to return home through a very twisty canyon with lots of elevation changes. It's work on a bike as heavy as the 961 with a long wheelbase, and today it still had wet spots and dirt and gravel in places from the recent rain, but it was still fun.
And the obligatory picture with the ocean, at Mugu Rock.
Back at the home shop.
A good day so far
Ken
BritTwit
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
- Messages
- 4,035
Beautiful.I managed to survive my 82nd birthday ride today. Being an old guy, my first stop was the pharmacy to pick up some meds.
View attachment 112273
Then a ride down to the coast, to stop by my old place of employment at Pt. Mugu. When I first went to work there it was home to the Naval Air Station and the Naval Air Missile Test Center. It morphed through a couple of other names while I was there, and is now a part of the Naval Base Ventura County.
View attachment 112274
Couldn't resist a picture at the Missile Park.
View attachment 112275
From there, I rode South on Hwy 1, turning off on Decker Canyon Road to return home through a very twisty canyon with lots of elevation changes. It's work on a bike as heavy as the 961 with a long wheelbase, and today it still had wet spots and dirt and gravel in places from the recent rain, but it was still fun.
And the obligatory picture with the ocean, at Mugu Rock.
View attachment 112276
Back at the home shop.
View attachment 112277
A good day so far
Ken
I hope I'll have an 82nd B'day ride like that someday.
Cheers Ken.
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2023
- Messages
- 83
Excellent. Congratulations! You have good medication (red and norton-y). How long was the trip?
Did the base know you were coming?
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
- Messages
- 5,862
Hi Ken , Great pics and story. If the 961 was truckish on that canyon road , a bagger must be horrifying !I managed to survive my 82nd birthday ride today. Being an old guy, my first stop was the pharmacy to pick up some meds.
View attachment 112273
Then a ride down to the coast, to stop by my old place of employment at Pt. Mugu. When I first went to work there it was home to the Naval Air Station and the Naval Air Missile Test Center. It morphed through a couple of other names while I was there, and is now a part of the Naval Base Ventura County.
View attachment 112274
Couldn't resist a picture at the Missile Park.
View attachment 112275
From there, I rode South on Hwy 1, turning off on Decker Canyon Road to return home through a very twisty canyon with lots of elevation changes. It's work on a bike as heavy as the 961 with a long wheelbase, and today it still had wet spots and dirt and gravel in places from the recent rain, but it was still fun.
And the obligatory picture with the ocean, at Mugu Rock.
View attachment 112276
Back at the home shop.
View attachment 112277
A good day so far
Ken
lcrken
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2009
- Messages
- 5,038
But great for serious sport bikes. I encountered one group of them coming the other direction who were serious knee draggers., going waaay faster than me.
Ken
Nope. The area where I took the picture by the building was pretty deserted. It used to be the main security entrance, where new employees got their badges, and visitors got temporary permits, but that was moved later to what is now the main gate. I was able to reach it via frontage roads where there was almost no traffic. The base does have some restrictions about taking pictures of the facilities, but I don't think I violated any of them. My last day working there was 3 January 1996. I took an early retirement then, and worked as a government contractor with SAIC until my final retirement in December 2004. It's been fun and games ever since.
Ken
StuartSF2015
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2015
- Messages
- 321
Ah, retirement and freedom, I can’t wait. I think I’ll start acting like it now.
StuartSF2015
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2015
- Messages
- 321
Ambulance arrived today.
Time for the old girl to get some NHS (Norton Health Service) Motorvated and Briteworx love.
Time for the old girl to get some NHS (Norton Health Service) Motorvated and Briteworx love.
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2021
- Messages
- 118
Happy birthdayI managed to survive my 82nd birthday ride today. Being an old guy, my first stop was the pharmacy to pick up some meds.
View attachment 112273
Then a ride down to the coast, to stop by my old place of employment at Pt. Mugu. When I first went to work there it was home to the Naval Air Station and the Naval Air Missile Test Center. It morphed through a couple of other names while I was there, and is now a part of the Naval Base Ventura County.
View attachment 112274
Couldn't resist a picture at the Missile Park.
View attachment 112275
From there, I rode South on Hwy 1, turning off on Decker Canyon Road to return home through a very twisty canyon with lots of elevation changes. It's work on a bike as heavy as the 961 with a long wheelbase, and today it still had wet spots and dirt and gravel in places from the recent rain, but it was still fun.
And the obligatory picture with the ocean, at Mugu Rock.
View attachment 112276
Back at the home shop.
View attachment 112277
A good day so far
Ken
Do you ever make it down to Neptunes Net near Leo Carillo beach, Mulholland area?
My father was an E.E. and tested missiles around Mugu in WW11.
I've always loved rides on highway 1.
John
Stephen_Spencer
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- May 31, 2017
- Messages
- 2,674
Fantastic ride today - 190 Km of great bikin’ roads in perfect weather. The Norton did’nt miss a beat as usual! Racking up that mileage.
Odd bedfellows indeed these two! From absolute opposites of the technology spectrum and it doesn’t matter a damn - bikin‘s bikin‘, whatever your preference! Of course I give him shit about his ‘plastic fantastic’ V my ‘British steel’, but then you‘d expect that right. “…..might wanna park that in the shade mate, don’t wannit ta melt!” - you know, the usual!
He had the last laugh of course. The Norton and its shiny tank had been getting a lot of attention, but not all of it good! Got back to the bikes after fat-boy-breakfast to find some bird had taken a big dump in the middle of my pristine tank!! Oh how he laughed!
Not a word of a lie - bird‘s still sat in the tree above the bike eyeballing me! Seems everyone has an opinion on the Norton 961 (whether they’ve ridden it or not)! The ‘beak’ of it!!
Odd bedfellows indeed these two! From absolute opposites of the technology spectrum and it doesn’t matter a damn - bikin‘s bikin‘, whatever your preference! Of course I give him shit about his ‘plastic fantastic’ V my ‘British steel’, but then you‘d expect that right. “…..might wanna park that in the shade mate, don’t wannit ta melt!” - you know, the usual!
He had the last laugh of course. The Norton and its shiny tank had been getting a lot of attention, but not all of it good! Got back to the bikes after fat-boy-breakfast to find some bird had taken a big dump in the middle of my pristine tank!! Oh how he laughed!
Not a word of a lie - bird‘s still sat in the tree above the bike eyeballing me! Seems everyone has an opinion on the Norton 961 (whether they’ve ridden it or not)!
The ‘beak’ of it!!
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
- Messages
- 5,862
Hi Steve , You have got your bike looking real nice .Fantastic ride today - 190 Km of great bikin’ roads in perfect weather. The Norton did’nt miss a beat as usual! Racking up that mileage.
Odd bedfellows indeed these two! From absolute opposites of the technology spectrum and it doesn’t matter a damn - bikin‘s bikin‘, whatever your preference! Of course I give him shit about his ‘plastic fantastic’ V my ‘British steel’, but then you‘d expect that right. “…..might wanna park that in the shade mate, don’t wannit ta melt!” - you know, the usual!
He had the last laugh of course. The Norton and its shiny tank had been getting a lot of attention, but not all of it good! Got back to the bikes after fat-boy-breakfast to find some bird had taken a big dump in the middle of my pristine tank!! Oh how he laughed!
Not a word of a lie - bird‘s still sat in the tree above the bike eyeballing me! Seems everyone has an opinion on the Norton 961 (whether they’ve ridden it or not)!
View attachment 112464View attachment 112465
View attachment 112463
Last edited:
lcrken
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2009
- Messages
- 5,038
Hi John,
I've been to Neptune's Net many times. We used to run down there for lunch a few times a year, back when I worked at Pt. Mugu. Although I retired from Pt. Mugu in 1996, and worked as a government contractor until 2004, I did stop in at the Net now and then during that period, but not very often. Since my final retirement in 2004, I've continued to stop in for lunch now and then, usually when riding with friends in the nearby canyons. I quit for a while, when they started charging for parking, but eventually came back. I think their parking fees only apply on the weekends, and maybe only in Summer. They don't mention them on their website any more, so I'm not sure what their policy is. I only go there on weekdays anyhow. They get pretty crowded on the weekends. The food is ok, but nothing special, and a bit pricey, but the view of the ocean is great.
Ken
Stephen_Spencer
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- May 31, 2017
- Messages
- 2,674
Not my bike, but Stu’s (parts) being polished by Harry Overton in the UK. Beautiful job as ever!
Interesting approach to painting the Norton logos in black - for anyone interested in doing this, as I am. Appears to be: tape off as close as possible; spray; remove paint from unwanted areas using a cotton bud (soaked in a solvent of some kind).
Not looking to remove engine casing to do this myself, so I may need to adopt the artists paintbrush approach - AKA the awkward angle technique!
I remember Richard7 had a technique to age the logos once painted, that gave a great vintage appearance. Can’t find it, ‘‘twas a long time ago - if anybody remembers that would be great.
Interesting approach to painting the Norton logos in black - for anyone interested in doing this, as I am. Appears to be: tape off as close as possible; spray; remove paint from unwanted areas using a cotton bud (soaked in a solvent of some kind).
Not looking to remove engine casing to do this myself, so I may need to adopt the artists paintbrush approach - AKA the awkward angle technique!
I remember Richard7 had a technique to age the logos once painted, that gave a great vintage appearance. Can’t find it, ‘‘twas a long time ago - if anybody remembers that would be great.
Similar threads
