To build or to ride

Hi everyone,

I asked a few months ago about the value of a commando i was able to buy locally. The tips i got here, the research and a good feeling about the sale convinced me and the seller on a fair(ly low for here) price. The seller knew he could make more from it and i knew i could get it for less if i negotiated hard (he got it real real cheap as a package deal). But we live in the same village and are both enthousiasts.

Since last week, the bike is at my garage and i got to look at it better. Italian frame, so other number than engine and gearbox. Those last two match. Head was repaired at the left exhaust thread. It did not leak a drop of oil. Not even sweating, so i assumed it was stored dry when it was imported from the us 6 years ago. It did have nice compression and no strange noises when kicking over.
So yesterday, i checked the primary... correct oil level. Hmmm. Drained the engine and poored back in the tank. Correct(ish) level (did not drain to completely empty or measured accurately afterwards). Hooked up a battery and checked for spark: very bright (pazon). Removed the stock fuel taps and replaced with a new set of BAP taps (part of the package).
I did not bother to clean the carb. Even though it did not run for at least 6 years, the carb did not leak when i opened the tap. Did the normal starting procedure, and it started at second kick. I was surprised! After only seconds of running rough, it smoothed out. Turned the choke off and it went to a steady 1100-1200 rpm idle. I let it idle for a few minutes. Good oil return, no strange noises apart from loose parts. Only thing was that the left exhaust smoked a bit (not really harder than my other 850, but my other one stabilizes to zero smoke within a minute or so).

I was going to tear it apart for a complete rebuild. But now i think it might be a better idea to get it sorted and drive it for a while first to see what to expect. That way i can have an idea of the clutch, tuning and gearbox. If all is operating perfect, it might be wise to just leave it alone apart from maintenance.

What do you guys think? Better to give it a go, or just open it up and see what the internals are like?
Also, It has a RH4 head. I have read the stories of them cracking. Should i search for other symptoms than smoke? And what would be considered as normal smoke? Is it possible it takes longer than a few minutes to stop smoking? Or can i assume already something is wrong with the head? Are most of them cracking? Or 'enough to be considered a real issue'?

Dimitri

If it ain't broke.......... it don't need fixin'.
Ride it!

I believe it's the RH10 head that cracks at the valve guide inside the intake.

I would ride it and fix things as they pop up. When something happens that can't be easily repaired and the engine has to come apart, that is a much better time to take it down to nuts and bolts and bring it back to as new. If you set about doing it now, things will crop up after it's all cleaned up that may not have been apparent previously.

are you in the northern hemisphere? if so, it's summer. ride it now and get to know it, and listen to it, and get a feel for what it might need, and when.

when winter comes decide then whether you need to take it down.

According to most posts here it is the RH4, with 32mm ports that crack.

It is summer over here, and i am enjoying my other commando very much.

This one will need some attention before i can drive it. Stuck master cylinder, lack of head steady and some electrical things to sort. If i decide to drive it first, i will need to invest in some parts first. It won't be for the summer. But we can drive most part of the year. Never did that on a kickstart bike though.

But things i do now are definitely not waisted. So i guess it would be the logical approach to ride it first.

Apart from smoking i assume the cracks don't do any harm if they are there?

Ride it. You just saved yourself a couple thousand dollars and probably a few months of your time.
Post some pictures of this beauty.

I always run a bike a bit before tear down, that way you get a handle for all that needs repaired.

You might check iso's and swingarm pivots and lube accordingly. flush brakes etc. Normal maintenance items. but sounds like you should just run it the rest of the season and tear into during the winter.

Hi

If its been left on the sidestand for any length of time it will smoke. Run it for the summer & you may find you dont touch it

Chris

I was thinking my 850 needed an engine rebuild when I bought it in 2003. Turned out it just needed a head gasket and a couple of helicoils in the head. Sounds like yours doesn't even need that.
I have been riding this 850 for twelve years now with very little mechanical work other than standard maintenance. It just seems to get better and better. On a 1200 mile mountain ride last month it required just 10 ounces of oil to top it off at home.
On a ride last night I made a couple of stops and had the compression on kick over stop my weight (230 lbs) both times, requiring a little more effort to get a result.
I'm saying these bikes can run and run, you might not need to rebuild it for many years.

Glen

Chris said:

Hi

If its been left on the sidestand for any length of time it will smoke. Run it for the summer & you may find you dont touch it

Chris

Click to expand...

It was on the sidestand for at least 5 years. And the sidestand pivot is pretty worn, so it tilted more than usual. Could be part of the problem.

Allright! i'm going to do some maintenance, sort it out to drive safely, and just go!

My Trixie Combat ran perfect 2 kick start and idle to 450 rpm on point ign. getting it home form New Orleans after more than decade just sitting. Lasted 3 wk then deer mangled everything but engine and tranny, 2 yr later had going and taking it easy but in 3 wk unknown Alu gasket intruding on oil comma pistons let go about coasting at 50 mph on level looking at field of flowers same yelllow as Trixie to get a photo in. Who knows what your experience will be but hope nothing but wasted pensiveness for a 1000 miles or so to be sure.

Do what you have to do to it, then ride it and ride it, you be surprised that it will proberly keep going and going without any problems at all, do you know of any reason why it was laided up in the first place, anyway flush everything out and put all new fluids in, then you proberly fine it will be a very reliable Norton, if it was me I would also change the tyres if it has sat for that long, once tyres go hard they never grip the same again so for safety sake might be a good idea to replace them.

Good luck with it and enjoy.

Ashley

If it seems safe and sound otherwise, get some enjoyment out of it first.
I havery run mine for about 16 months, in that time I have identified issues I would like to deal with that I would not otherwise have considered.
Mine is an Interstate
Seat - I slide back ever time I open the throttle, didn't have that issue on my last one 25 years ago.
Single carb - was a priority to change, not now, though will probable do it some time later.
Brakes - what brakes? Now a priority.
Breather - was going to change as previous owner has made his own mod with venting at the head, result no oil leaks except chain oiler

Result, enjoyment and a revised plan for the future!

Hi Guys,

I am definitely going to enjoy it at first! Maybe even this summer. But a new question comes up.

I am doing my homework about some parts that are missing to get it running. The bike is going to be transformed into a racer-inspired commando afterwards. Not trying to make a perfect production racer replica, but starting out with the tank/seat/fairing for looks. I just don't like all the pieces from different models it has now and many of the aesthetic parts i have already. A Norvil tank, seat, fairing, side panels and rear fender. A few parts of that kit are missing (fairing support pieces and front fender), so i need to place an order with Norvil anyway.

I have read quite some bad posts about Norvil service, and also about quality of parts. But in this case, it is by far the fastest and cheapest option to choose to get my bike roadworthy and not having to spend my money twice.

My order would consist of fairing mounts, front mudguard, Norvil rear sets and isolastic headsteady (and some bolts/small parts). The head steady is not my favorite design, but might be a good choice for now.
Is it safe to say i can expect decent quality from these parts? I would even prefer minor fitting issues over ordering at different places in this case. But i do want the parts to be useful from the moment they are on the bike.

You shouldn't have a problem, have just received two orders, there are other options for the head steady, something I am considering at the moment.
I know Norvil gets some negatives but they have been going for a long time now and are still in business unlike many.