Slowly but surely

She's coming along...shootin' for a Spring '11 kickstart date:

Nice and sweet where ever ya look close, that don' happen by waiting shoe elves in middle of night, so a nod to getting er done. Oh I've tied to invite them, waiting many a night but never helped nothing but to hide stuff and let mice to piss on.

hobot

hobot said:

Nice and sweet where ever ya look close, that don' happen by waiting shoe elves in middle of night, so a nod to getting er done. Oh I've tied to invite them, waiting many a night but never helped nothing but to hide stuff and let mice to piss on.

hobot

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Don't they eat elves down in Arkansas? No wonder they don't show up. :mrgreen:

Yeah, eaten with dumplings in stead of squirrel. They feed outsiders to hogs.

hobot said:

Yeah, eaten with dumplings in stead of squirrel. They feed outsiders to hogs.

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The poor hogs. :mrgreen:

It really amazes me the patience everyone seems to have when restoring a bike? When I see this I appreciate it and envy the work, but it is so foreign to me.

britbike220 said:

It really amazes me the patience everyone seems to have when restoring a bike? When I see this I appreciate it and envy the work, but it is so foreign to me.

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You have to look at the end result, the opportunity to ride the greatest bike ever made. That's true motivation.

Re: Slowly but surely (Sept. 18th update)

Here's how she looked today rolling on two wheels:

That looks great! What handlebars do you have mounted? Are those the US spec bars? I am 6'-3", not exactly Norton proportions, but I would like to make mine as comfy as possible.

Looking forward to the finished product.

you painted the tank or have 2? Black at top, blue in 2nd pic. Blue looks good

ClutchOut said:

That looks great! What handlebars do you have mounted? Are those the US spec bars? I am 6'-3", not exactly Norton proportions, but I would like to make mine as comfy as possible.

Looking forward to the finished product.

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Thanks ClutchOut. They're European spec bars, part #065748. I'm only 5'10" but I've got long arms!

@Pelican: it's just the sun making it look blue (or maybe my shitty cell phone camera). Paint is black as sin.

oh, I see now it's the sky reflected :lol:
looking good man, like the gaiters

Britbike220 said:

It really amazes me the patience everyone seems to have when restoring a bike? When I see this I appreciate it and envy the work, but it is so foreign to me.

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I hope that was a pun. I miss the puns.

This is my first post, a common refrain I apologize for in advance - I hope this is the right thread. I BADLY need to ride my 1969 Commando S (title says 1970, but frame says Sept 1969, 134078) after not touching it since I laid it down in 1987 in college. Am not very mechanically minded but poor and determined to do it myself; bought a lift today and Haynes manual from Fred Eaton yesterday. Am shocked at what rebuilders charge. Have already downloaded over a half-dozen manuals and perused many sites and threads for advice during the last year.

What I badly need is a bottoms-up complete rebuild guide for idiots (that's me), with pictures, step-by-step clear instructions for what should I start with all the way to a logical finish, what is "good enough" and what is not (it ran great when I laid it down, bending forks, speedo, etc; steering collar in frame was already tweaked), what tools, the whole nine yards to tear her down and make her reliable. Toss the points and put in electronic ignition. Get the kits from OldBritts? Or Colorado Norton Works? Are there better bearings/parts than Andover (and are they worth the extra cost)?

Any help greatly appreciated. My 8-year old and I are raring to go but afraid of where and how to start, as I normally have to "fix" things 3 times to get anything to work...
Bob

Bob -

Welcome to the group. There are a number of people that have the same bike as you and are very familiar with S model minutiae. I'm glad you are getting back on the horse that threw you. Don't feel you have to get this kit or that kit right away. Take your time and survey what you have, a lot of which will just need a good cleaning and polishing.

It probably would be better to start your own thread in this case rather than tack on to this one. No big deal.

Russ

Bob,

I suggest too another thread just for your bike if you really want to do it. Search (upper right corner) for Phoenix and you will find my thread on my Apr 69 'S'. There is no correct order, you can strip it completely down and go from there or fix it up a bit at a time. The longer you spread it out the less the finances hurt. I've been working on mine since '03 and expect to have it going next week. The more work you do, the less it will cost. You can throw money at it and send things out and buy new parts. Your choice. I did most all of my own work in a bedroom and just hand tools and I have less than 5 grand in it. If you need info, just PM me, I will be glad to help get another Norton on the road.

Dave
69S

richardsonrl said:

Am shocked at what rebuilders charge.

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Bob, welcome. Everyone here is eager to offer advice (and admire Norton pics). Just to jab you about the rebuilders comment, I don't know of any rich mechanics. They charge what they charge to pay overhead and keep the Tax Man away!

Richard, I hate the mystery of unknowns I'm expected to deal with myself.
I bought the late Mr. Hudsons video tapes on engine and transmission tear down and build up. Its a treat to see how crudely this famous experts handles the tasks. Made me feel so much better about myself even not knowing nothing. Its an initiation right of passage for many new Commando mechanics. If you like I can send them for as long as you like. Hard to hear some of it over the loud roar of pump up gasoline blow torch needed so often. You do have that vital tool don't ya?
One over whelming question you will be pondering for much of the video is on the fire hazard with oily rags all over - just have to watch to find out.

I thank you all for your sage advice. And I don't know any rich mechanics either. I have been burying myself in this forum this past week and reading the Haynes manual that came today as kids and time permits. I am clearly the antithesis of RobsNorton who tears right in, I've never torn an engine down and need to understand how every bit works before I turn a wrench. The Snortin' used to run pretty well.

I can't find much on the 'S' model, is this identical to what Haynes calls the 'Fastback' but the U.S. variant with the upswept pipes?

Last question(s): Can anyone tell me how bad forks, yoke, and handlebars can be bent and still re-straightened? How do I determine this? Any recommended vendors for this? Do I sent it to them and wait for the verdict?

Per your advice, after I ingest many more relevant threads here, I'll start my own with listing questions I cannot find answers to.

Thanks, Bob

If you want to slog through my Phoenix thread, you can learn a lot about the 'S'. The original Commando was just called that, 750 Commando and is what we now call the Fastback. The factory started calling it that after they introduced the 'S' and the 'R' to differentiate the models.

Don't know about the forks.

Dave
69S