what engines fit featherbed frame

alan hodge said:
ok so i called the guy in texas his frame sold i am in touch with another bloke who has slimline frame "neck rake changed' he say that makes it better for cafe racer??? what that mean?
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Sounds like a bodge job, how can that make a Featherbed better, I am bias as I love Commando motors in Featherbed frames its right for that frame and if done and set up right you would have a great handling bike with a bit more grunt than a 650 or smaller motors that came with the Wideline frames, I built my HOT ROD 850 Commando/Featherbed Wideline back in 1980 and still riding it today, also have a 1960 Manxman project bike but its was a race bike for many years and has sat for over 25 years now, I am building it with the 650 Dommie motor that came with it (not original motor) with a hot cam and a few extras in it, it will be a cafe racer when finished as it hasn't any original Manxman parts and the best thing what I done with my Commando/Featherbed its all Norton and the 1960 will also be all Norton.
Any motor can be made to fit a Featherbed, but will it work, any mistakes can make a Featherbed frame handle like crap, it all boils down to where and how the motor sits in the frame, making the right engine mounts as well balance factor all plays a very important factor to how a Featherbed handles.
My mate who got me into Norton's and Featherbed frames back in 1976 at 17 years old he built his hot 750 Commando/Featherbed but after he sold me a 1957 Wideline Featherbed back in 1979 he went down the Triton way where I stuck with all Norton.
Just looks right to me.

Ashley
what engines fit featherbed frame
 
ashman said:
Sounds like a bodge job, how can that make a Featherbed better, I am bias as I love Commando motors in Featherbed frames its right for that frame and if done and set up right you would have a great handling bike with a bit more grunt than a 650 or smaller motors that came with the Wideline frames, I built my HOT ROD 850 Commando/Featherbed Wideline back in 1980 and still riding it today, also have a 1960 Manxman project bike but its was a race bike for many years and has sat for over 25 years now, I am building it with the 650 Dommie motor that came with it (not original motor) with a hot cam and a few extras in it, it will be a cafe racer when finished as it hasn't any original Manxman parts and the best thing what I done with my Commando/Featherbed its all Norton and the 1960 will also be all Norton.
Any motor can be made to fit a Featherbed, but will it work, any mistakes can make a Featherbed frame handle like crap, it all boils down to where and how the motor sits in the frame, making the right engine mounts as well balance factor all plays a very important factor to how a Featherbed handles.
My mate who got me into Norton's and Featherbed frames back in 1976 at 17 years old he built his hot 750 Commando/Featherbed but after he sold me a 1957 Wideline Featherbed back in 1979 he went down the Triton way where I stuck with all Norton.
Just looks right to me.

Ashley
View attachment 94464
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so are you willing to pass on your advice about engine positioning etc, as I have a frame that needs an engine at some point.....
 
jan nelder said:
so are you willing to pass on your advice about engine positioning etc, as I have a frame that needs an engine at some point.....
Click to expand...
I am always willing to help anyone, as for positioning my motor I got it as forward as I could in the frame on the right angle for the Commando motor and as low as I could sit then made the engine mounts to fit, 5mm steel plate for the engine mounts, if you use alloy will have to go up to 8mm thick but the thinner steel plates would not be much difference in weight well not by much to make much difference and the steel would be stronger in my eyes and easier to work with.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
I am always willing to help anyone, as for positioning my motor I got it as forward as I could in the frame on the right angle for the Commando motor and as low as I could sit then made the engine mounts to fit, 5mm steel plate for the engine mounts, if you use alloy will have to go up to 8mm thick but the thinner steel plates would not be much difference in weight well not by much to make much difference and the steel would be stronger in my eyes and easier to work with.

Ashley
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I did this once with a commando 750 motor in a wideline
I made the engine plates from 6mm stainless that I polished
BIG mistake
I could never keep the engine mounts tight
If I did it again I would use steel
 
I did it as Ashman says re: the location of the engine in the frame ie as forward and as low as possible which for instance will enable you to remove and put back the cylinder head (almost) easily and provide enough room behind the engine for the carb(s) air filter, battery tray etc... + very good front and rear weight distribution.
I used dural (an alloy a bit stronger than plain alloy) to cut the plates, 8 mm thick, a bit of over killing re: mechanical strength but convenient to drill and thread holes when needed (eg : center stand spring attachment, footrests etc.).
 
Never had any problems with 5mm steel plates in 40 years till about 3 weeks ago had a oil leak under my motor, 3 engine mount bolts on the back plate/crank case bolts were loose, tighten up no more oil leak, first time since I did the conversion back in the 80s, the good thing about my set up I can lift my motor/gearbox/primary/bottom engine mounts, 8 engine mount bolts and all out in one piece, just remove carbs and head steady all in less than 30 minutes work and on the bench and just as easy putting back into the frame it just drops in and easy to line up the frame/engine mount bolts, great for doing major work, simple and easy.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
Never had any problems with 5mm steel plates in 40 years till about 3 weeks ago had a oil leak under my motor, 3 engine mount bolts on the back plate/crank case bolts were loose, tighten up no more oil leak, first time since I did the conversion back in the 80s, the good thing about my set up I can lift my motor/gearbox/primary/bottom engine mounts, 8 engine mount bolts and all out in one piece, just remove carbs and head steady all in less than 30 minutes work and on the bench and just as easy putting back into the frame it just drops in and easy to line up the frame/engine mount bolts, great for doing major work, simple and easy.

Ashley
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Hi Ashley , did you succeed to lift out the full engine/gearbox/primary , alone or did you need some help , I know you are a bit younger than me , but .....?
 
marinatlas said:
Hi Ashley , did you succeed to lift out the full engine/gearbox/primary , alone or did you need some help , I know you are a bit younger than me , but .....?
Click to expand...
I always do things on my own, its heavy but I can do it, I can't rely on my mates to come up at short notice to give me a hand to do things, so I don't ask, I just do it, it can be a bit hard lifting the whole lot up on the bench but the lift table help to get it closer to the top of the bench, but its a lot easier getting it off the bench to the frame, all down hill that way.
I always go out of my way to help the mates even at short notice but it don't seem to work for me, always got to wait when it suite them, one of the reasons I no longer ask, but always get the "why didn't you give me a call", but the funny thing they always seem to know when my beer fridge is full.
Not sure about the age but I am 63 young now, but then the motor/GB/Primary/engine plates aren't as heavy as lifting a Shovel Head motor up onto my bench or lifting it down to put it in the frame (a project build I was doing for my wife's uncle, 79 Super Glide) now that was a heavy motor, had to have a hand for that one.
My whole Norton is a light weight, the last rebuild I did on it, I built it on a solid work table on casters before I had my lift table, my mate and myself lifted the whole completed bike up while my wife rolled the table out from under it before putting it on the ground, that was just over 12 years ago, we both were 51 at the time, but it was a quick lift, roll out and down, all done in less than a minute.

Ashley
 
There is a story that circulated around about 30 years ago about a guy who moved into a NYC loft and for whatever reason began tearing the walls out. Almost like a tale from Edgar Alan Poe, inside one of the walls was a Featherbed Norton with an Indian Chief motor. I no longer remember what he said became of the bike. Would that be a proper bitsa? I have a hard time with the idea of a special being an 80 inch flathead Norton with a foot clutch and hand shift. Might be good in town, though. You could just leave it in second gear and forget about it. Sorta like an 80 inch Cushman that handles well.
 
Thomasa said:
There is a story that circulated around about 30 years ago about a guy who moved into a NYC loft and for whatever reason began tearing the walls out. Almost like a tale from Edgar Alan Poe, inside one of the walls was a Featherbed Norton with an Indian Chief motor. I no longer remember what he said became of the bike. Would that be a proper bitsa? I have a hard time with the idea of a special being an 80 inch flathead Norton with a foot clutch and hand shift. Might be good in town, though. You could just leave it in second gear and forget about it. Sorta like an 80 inch Cushman that handles well.
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The story about the Indian engine is accurate. That is the one in the picture I posted. The featherbed frame was not in the wall rather was an Atlas frame Alan put the Indian engine into.
Note in the photo it has an AMC gearbox, so normal clutch and shifter.
 
alan hodge said:
not sure which category to pose this question in but will start here...what engines will fit a featherbed frame? wheels are turning in my head for a new project
Click to expand...
Certamente il motore Commando, io possiedo una moto così assemblata - Tommaso
 
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A few years ago after buying the 1960 Slimline Manxman project bike I was thinking about building it with a HD 1200 Evo Sportster motor but after measuring and checking out motors and all you would have to cut the frame and do mods to the frame to make it fit, so that was put off, no way would I cut up an original Featherbed frame, yes could buy a non-original frame that has been built for the extra height of the Evo motor but then I am not a fan of non-original Featherbed frames.
I soon put that idea out of my head, just not right putting anything else into a Featherbed frame other than all Norton and will be going the full 650 Dommie set up, but it will be full cafe racer with a full exposed belt drive (already have) without any primary case, run a Commando full clutch (already have with the conversation spline), not sure about the front or rear end yet as a single front drum is not my cup of tea for stopping power, I have an old ex race bike Honda CBR250 that I have stripped down for parting and it has a well set up front end with Grimcia race disc brakes and mag wheels (17" wheels) to suite and looking at the triple trees would not take much to fit the Featherbed and the rear wheel will fit with some work with Grimica disc rear.
This 1960 Manxman was a full race bike for a well-known racer back in the days, so original Manxman set up is just not there, the motor has been mod with high compression oversize pistons, crank has been balanced and has twin side bowl carbs, but I got the bike without the head, took me some time to get a head for it with new valves but in the parts I got with the bike had 2 set of rockers and everything that goes with them , 2 sets of valve springs, I have also bought a new 2S cam for it, when I rebuilt my old Koni shocks for my other Norton I also bought new Ikon shocks the Slimline frame, it also has a new alloy tank that came with the bike (hasn't been used yet) and a big central alloy oil tank as well full alloy 18" wheels, I got this project bike over 12 years ago now rebuilt the original front end and new paint job but it's been on hold for 10 years now time to think about it again as I have been made a good offer for it as it is.
So far the whole project bike and parts I have brought for it has cost me just under $2k and have been offered $6.5K, one part of me wants to keep going and start back on it but the other part keeps saying the money would be great as well, I have put my price on it as is so just waiting now to see if the offer will stand, I been retired now for coming up to 9 years and a self-funded pensioner so the one part the money would be great, but the other part is I would regret it if I did sell it, but money is tight as I still have 3 1/2 years before I can get the old age pension, although I been retired for 9 years I still haven't found the time to restart this rebuild, to busy enjoying life and so many other things on the go as well how much money is needed to be spent making this another hot rod Norton as I already have a hot rod 850 Wideline Featherbed and a 1200 Triumph Thruxton both on the road, do I really need another, I was building this project for my youngest daughter but she now has a late model Triumph triple (660 I think) but she will end up with my bikes when it's time to leave this earth.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
A few years ago after buying the 1960 Slimline Manxman project bike I was thinking about building it with a HD 1200 Evo Sportster motor but after measuring and checking out motors and all you would have to cut the frame and do mods to the frame to make it fit, so that was put off, no way would I cut up an original Featherbed frame, yes could buy a non-original frame that has been built for the extra height of the Evo motor but then I am not a fan of non-original Featherbed frames.
I soon put that idea out of my head, just not right putting anything else into a Featherbed frame other than all Norton and will be going the full 650 Dommie set up, but it will be full cafe racer with a full exposed belt drive (already have) without any primary case, run a Commando full clutch (already have with the conversation spline), not sure about the front or rear end yet as a single front drum is not my cup of tea for stopping power, I have an old ex race bike Honda CBR250 that I have stripped down for parting and it has a well set up front end with Grimcia race disc brakes and mag wheels (17" wheels) to suite and looking at the triple trees would not take much to fit the Featherbed and the rear wheel will fit with some work with Grimica disc rear.
This 1960 Manxman was a full race bike for a well-known racer back in the days, so original Manxman set up is just not there, the motor has been mod with high compression oversize pistons, crank has been balanced and has twin side bowl carbs, but I got the bike without the head, took me some time to get a head for it with new valves but in the parts I got with the bike had 2 set of rockers and everything that goes with them , 2 sets of valve springs, I have also bought a new 2S cam for it, when I rebuilt my old Koni shocks for my other Norton I also bought new Ikon shocks the Slimline frame, it also has a new alloy tank that came with the bike (hasn't been used yet) and a big central alloy oil tank as well full alloy 18" wheels, I got this project bike over 12 years ago now rebuilt the original front end and new paint job but it's been on hold for 10 years now time to think about it again as I have been made a good offer for it as it is.
So far the whole project bike and parts I have brought for it has cost me just under $2k and have been offered $6.5K, one part of me wants to keep going and start back on it but the other part keeps saying the money would be great as well, I have put my price on it as is so just waiting now to see if the offer will stand, I been retired now for coming up to 9 years and a self-funded pensioner so the one part the money would be great, but the other part is I would regret it if I did sell it, but money is tight as I still have 3 1/2 years before I can get the old age pension, although I been retired for 9 years I still haven't found the time to restart this rebuild, to busy enjoying life and so many other things on the go as well how much money is needed to be spent making this another hot rod Norton as I already have a hot rod 850 Wideline Featherbed and a 1200 Triumph Thruxton both on the road, do I really need another, I was building this project for my youngest daughter but she now has a late model Triumph triple (660 I think) but she will end up with my bikes when it's time to leave this earth.

Ashley
Click to expand...
Yep you definitely need another one Ash
It'd be great to return a Manxman to the road, original or not
 
alan hodge said:
not sure which category to pose this question in but will start here...what engines will fit a featherbed frame? wheels are turning in my head for a new project
Click to expand...
il motore Norton Commando e' perfetto. Io possiedo un Dominacer del 1965 con motore Commando è stupendo.
Tommaso
 
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