help in Australia

[Casual]

I am new here, and need help with a problem that has arisen . I purchased an 850 head from a firm in england( no need to mention his name) the head is new ,But the right hand exhaust port has the first 2 threads missing sections at the bottom. The reason they are missing is because there is a void in the casting below those threads and as the head was tapped those threads collapsed. ( I must add ,that’s how the head came) I have been to a local engineer and his response was that possibly if the nut remained tight there would be no problem. ( on a norton )I asked if he could grind out the offending section and fill it using a tig then re tap them? He didn’t think that would work. I am south of Sydney and feel the best way I can deal with this is to find a norton specific engineer who can assess the issue and if he can’t repair ,give me a report I can use to get my money back,( a task I’m not looking forward to) So if anyone can help me please leave a message and hopefully I’ll learn how to find it. Casual

 

[Time Warp]

You would have as much accountability luck there as here no doubt.

If it is a good head otherwise (and not a regurgitated RH4) it would probably be fine as is as long as the existing threads are solid.
The rose nuts do not go anywhere near that location due to the exhaust flange and sealing ring or collets.

If you wanted to spend more money Alu/Bronze threaded inserts could be installed, I did read there is someone in Australia who does that but do not recall their name or location.

 

[Fast Eddie]

If you can post a picture you‘ll get a much more informed response.

The threads job is to apply clamping force to the sealing ring and keep the exhaust tight. It’s not a ‘sealing thread’ as such. From your description I’d say the thread will do its job. Failing that, inserts are the preferred repair these days.

 

[Casual]

Thanks for replying, i can appreciate it’s possible for the nut to do its job, the danger is if the nut comes loose and somehow loads up the very front of the exhaust port, then the game changes. I guess I’m still trying to settle down about it .just a bit of a shock to see. I’m not sure how to load photos but I will try. Thankyou for your reply Fast Eddie

 

[Casual]

If you can post a picture you‘ll get a much more informed response.

The threads job is to apply clamping force to the sealing ring and keep the exhaust tight. It’s not a ‘sealing thread’ as such. From your description I’d say the thread will do its job. Failing that, inserts are the preferred repair these days.

You would have as much accountability luck there as here no doubt.

If it is a good head otherwise (and not a regurgitated RH4) it would probably be fine as is as long as the existing threads are solid.
The rose nuts do not go anywhere near that location due to the exhaust flange and sealing ring or collets.

If you wanted to spend more money Alu/Bronze threaded inserts could be installed, I did read there is someone in Australia who does that but do not recall their name or location.

Ttme warp ,yea i have considered using bronze rosesthey can lock up better (so some say) and yep inserts are another option thats where i need a talk to someone local to get a steer. As far as is it a good head. Good question, answer unknown it only got here yesterday

 

[kommando]

If only some of the bottom 2 threads are missing then I would use it as is, the MK3 spherical seats mean it does not use the bottom 2 threads and that works so you will be using more thread engagement than a MK3. Pictures would be good as would naming the supplier, so others can avoid.

 

[Casual]

Thanks commando, i hear you about the threads. The real story here is i was trying to get my hands on a full auto, there is only 1 I'm aware of but that didnt work out. In frustration i woke one morning and spotted a head on the norvil site ,i paid for it. After , i was told that I'd better watch out as he was flogging abandoned heads from old stock and they would be porous. I contacted him and said i wanted to cancel the sale. He responded saying these heads were not old stock ,but heads he had made and were not porous.So like a fool i went ahead with the purchase. The thing that p*****s me off is ,when the engineer looked at it today he said, and i quote" that is a porous head". So all i know is it looks like I'm another victim of the notorious norvil boss Les Emery. It is my misfortune that i sold my 850 in 79 and was totally unaware of the infiltration of Les Emery into the norton scene. Since i spent my hard earned and recently aquired a new ride, i have bought a lot of parts off really nice,people chris cosantino, kenny at nyc, and the really helpfull Don Pender , and jim smidt has answered questions about a set of keihins which were on the bike i bought So i have been exposed to people who really care about what they do and how they relate to people. Now i have run into someone who doesnt give a flying f*** about what sort of product goes out his door! I am cross but i will try to get my money back simply on the fact he sent me an email saying this head wasnt porous when it obviously is. Sorry to burn your ears but you did ask and now ive had my dummie spit i feel a bit better

 

[Casual]

Ps i dont know how to load photos i am an analog guy in a digital world but i will try

 

[Casual]

And here is the biggest joke of all, Les Emery wanted to know who had told me his heads were porous and was aware of a PIRATE down in Australia making knock off heads which had 2kg less alluminium in them ( sorry ken) but I'm sure everyone will appr3ciate the joke

 

[baz]

And here is the biggest joke of all, Les Emery wanted to know who had told me his heads were porous and was aware of a PIRATE down in Australia making knock off heads which had 2kg less alluminium in them ( sorry ken) but I'm sure everyone will appr3ciate the joke

I'm sorry you have crossed the path of very worst in the Norton world
Hopefully you can get it sorted

 

[Rosey]

Thanks commando, i hear you about the threads. The real story here is i was trying to get my hands on a full auto, there is only 1 I'm aware of but that didnt work out. In frustration i woke one morning and spotted a head on the norvil site ,i paid for it. After , i was told that I'd better watch out as he was flogging abandoned heads from old stock and they would be porous. I contacted him and said i wanted to cancel the sale. He responded saying these heads were not old stock ,but heads he had made and were not porous.So like a fool i went ahead with the purchase. The thing that p*****s me off is ,when the engineer looked at it today he said, and i quote" that is a porous head". So all i know is it looks like I'm another victim of the notorious norvil boss Les Emery. It is my misfortune that i sold my 850 in 79 and was totally unaware of the infiltration of Les Emery into the norton scene. Since i spent my hard earned and recently aquired a new ride, i have bought a lot of parts off really nice,people chris cosantino, kenny at nyc, and the really helpfull Don Pender , and jim smidt has answered questions about a set of keihins which were on the bike i bought So i have been exposed to people who really care about what they do and how they relate to people. Now i have run into someone who doesnt give a flying f*** about what sort of product goes out his door! I am cross but i will try to get my money back simply on the fact he sent me an email saying this head wasnt porous when it obviously is. Sorry to burn your ears but you did ask and now ive had my dummie spit i feel a bit better

Casual
There was a good Norton repair man (even his house was called Norton) here in Sydney but he has retired which is a pity,he did a great job on my 850 head. A friend of mine had his 750 head fitted with bronze inserts in both exhaust ports by a place in Perth W.A .I can get you the details if no one else pipes up. They did a good job.
Sorry you have had to deal with the bearded scumbag BS artist.
Brett

 

[kommando]

I was 99.9% certain it was Les, pity you had to learn the hard way as a single request for info here would have warned you off.

 

[Fullauto]

Speak to Murray at Cyclecraft Engineering on 08 9361 4619.

 

[Fast Eddie]

How’s does your engineer know it’s porous?

All cast alloy has some porosity. When people say porous as in defective, they mean the porosity causes holes that will leak oil or gasses etc.

I‘d be interested to know how your man judged that from looking at it?

But if he‘s qualified, and prepared to put it in writing, perhaps you could use this to retrieve your money?

 

[kommando]

How’s does your engineer know it’s porous?

You weight it and then put in a water bath and measure the water displaced. Then use a bit of maths see if the volume measured together with the density of the alloy makes sense with the measured weight.

But if he‘s qualified, and prepared to put it in writing, perhaps you could use this to retrieve your money?

No way for that to work from Australia, you need to use the UK small claims and you need a UK address to raise the case. As an experienced shafter of consumers Les knows this and will ignore all attempts at getting a refund. I would not trust to sending it back as he again will use covid to not sign for it.

 

[baz]

How’s does your engineer know it’s porous?

All cast alloy has some porosity. When people say porous as in defective, they mean the porosity causes holes that will leak oil or gasses etc.

I‘d be interested to know how your man judged that from looking at it?

But if he‘s qualified, and prepared to put it in writing, perhaps you could use this to retrieve your money?

I can't imagine him giving the money back !!!!!

 

[Bernhard]

Put your exhust pipe into the damaged thread and tighten up the rose joint, if it can hold the pipe in place, all well and good, but use some form of locking device on it , whether lockwire or Norton's own system.

 

[baz]

Put your exhust pipe into the damaged thread and tighten up the rose joint, if it can hold the pipe in place, all well and good, but use some form of locking device on it , whether lockwire or Norton's own system.

Please DO NOT use Norton's own thread destroying exhaust lock tab washers

 

[Casual]

I'm sorry you have crossed the path of very worst in the Norton world
Hopefully you can get it sorted

Thanks baz

 

[kommando]

Here are 2 pic of Casual's head