Stock paint has crooked emblem, clear coating over it, what to do?

[oldGSfan]

Hi Don - I know you from SOHC Honda land, hehe. I have gone whole hog and prepped 2 complete sets of bodywork for paint but got sidetracked a bit on a Norton - I need to build a paint booth. I have the right paint and decals and all the prep work done. I need to get going with the booth - a couple of hours' work and get to it! The weather is now cooperating.

 

[chuck hahn]

Get to painting already. Ive been waiting to see what that paint i got for you looks like.

 

[oldGSfan]

I know, I know. The thing is, I have taken on a project (nearly done) for a recent widow. I met her and her husband at a Norton show. He had big dreams of getting it sorted but sadly passed on. She wanted to sell the Norton for funeral expenses, but had no idea of how, or how much. It was nice but neglected. I offered to clean it up and have it looking really good. Like you did for me, I am just helping out. I got the front end spiffed up and did some polishing. I hope it makes a good price for her. I have treated and painted the rusty barrels, done up the front end with seals, rebuilt the carbs, put a bunch of new stuff on it, and done many other tasks. The tank, side covers, seat and pipes are very clean and new. The rest just dirty and rusty. It has 8K original miles and a blue CA plate with '71 registration sticker (Year of Manufacture status is obtained). Maybe a Vietnam casualty? Really odd but it is bona-fide original and never opened up.

 

[Rob S.]

Right side shift?

Electric start?

Tell us about it. Year? 'Compression release' lever on the handlebar? How's it run?

How about a (cold) start up video?

 

[oldGSfan]

f

Right side shift?

Electric start?

Tell us about it. Year? 'Compression release' lever on the handlebar? How's it run?

How about a (cold) start up video?

It's a '71. It's a right-side shift, kickstart like my N15. No electric start. No turn signals. I know second-hand that it runs. It shows 8K believable miles on the clock. The cheese head screws on the timing cover have never been turned. Many other signals show me that it's original. Look at the inside of the headlight wiring. It's 1971 in there.

In a few days, I'll fire it up, get the carbs synced and set up, and test the charging system. I have a lot of parts from other 'sources' that I acquired during my N15 build that fit this baby right up. Very satisfying.

I have done the cylinder barrels by using phosphoric acid then clean and paint with VHT brake and caliper paint. Same stuff that has stood the test of time on many of my bikes cylinders. This bike will look new except for the rims and fenders. Those are tricky and expensive so I am doing the best I can to make them look OK.

The frame had chips and rust so I hit it with my Dremel triangular sander and then painted with epoxy black. It looks good. If I can't sell it for a reasonable price, I will make an offer. I'm not in this to scam her, just trying to help.

 

[Rob S.]

Wow! You and your son showing up on vintage Nortons should earn the respect of any Hell's Angels types...if they had brains.

 

[Rob S.]

Four speeds (gears)?

 

[oldGSfan]

Almost done. Engine area came out great. It could use new rims, fenders, and tires. It's 4-Speed on right side, drum brakes, no signals. Simple times, '71. The only updates are the Boyer ignition and the Podtronics regulator/rectifier. I added the Podtronics, as I had one sitting in my spares that matched the single-phase alternator.

 

[oldGSfan]

Today I sorted out the Boyer ignition, it was way off, the rotor with the magnets was way out of whack, 30-50 degrees at a guess.. All it did was sputter. I moved it into the approximate place per the Boyer instructions, then used my phone to get a slo-mo of the timing hole at the primary drive cover vs the plug, dangling down next to it on some wire, which provided grounding too. Worked a treat, the next best thing to strobe for the at-idle timing at least.

The Boyer sensors need to operate at speed, adding complication vs points where timing can be set with a bulb or meter. I preferred to understand exactly where the spark was rather than approving of a static guess with typically loose gear throughout the engine that affects timing. I rotated the wheel while in 4th gear with ignition on, and the phone on its tripod focused on the plug and the timing opening in the primary case. I saw it spark at 40 degrees BTDC when static settings were indicating 31 (the target). I did some trial and error adjustments with the same verification method to get it closer, and fired it up. Bingo. It had been backfiring and kicking back on the leg starter - my knee and Achilles don't need that!

Once in the ballpark, I got the timing light out and set it perfectly at 31 BTDC and saw the advance was on target. The aux tank hanging from the rafters is put away, tank is on, chain, brakes, oil, etc are adjusted, and I'm riding in the morning. Very eager to see how it goes, it was a lot of work. Seems healthy, no big clouds of smoke or weird noises. We'll see.

Next I can get back to this topic and get to painting my GS stuff!

 

[Rob S.]

Next I can get back to this topic and get to painting my GS stuff!

No hurry. This is a lot more interesting than some GS decal.

 

[oldGSfan]

Almost done with the Yellow Peril, will get to the GS stuff soon after.

Ketchup and Mustard, makes me want a McDouble!

 

[Rob S.]

Man those bikes are cool. If any fool tries to put a trunk or a fairing on either one, you kill 'em and I'll take the rap.

 

[oldGSfan]

I have put the bike up for sale for $7,900. I hope it fetches something close to that, but you never know. BringATrailer will only accept it with no reserve, and I'm not much of a gambler.

The last two issues were a slipping clutch and a bad miss at 1/4-1/2 throttle. It has the original Amal Concentric carburetors. Slides and needles wear quickly on those, as does the carb bore. I didn't want to have the widow sink $700+ into new Amal Premiers, which are admittedly vast improvement with all those bits hardened, but a big outlay, so I carefully inspected the carb bores (and gave them a polish), and determined that they may be OK with new slides and slide needles.

An Amal carb guide that I found showed me how to inspect the slides, and importantly pinpointed the exact issue with a worn slide needle causing the 1/4 to 1/2 miss. I had swapped the plug leads (they fire same time, 'wasted' spark as they alternate their ignition timing - no change. So it was the carbs. I got reproduction sllides/needles for both sides, even though the left was the bad missing one. It was about $60. Well, it worked.

Now it starts as easily as my N15, 1 or two kicks for the well-tuned Norton leg, idles at 1K, and pulls strongly through the range with no hiccup. The clutch had been modified incorrectly. It turns out I could put the plates in differently (putting a metal one first against the clutch hub, and removing one friction plate) and reduce the stack height, therefore strengthening the grip from the diaphragm spring. Bingo! Sorry to make your eyes water with such details, but I'm proud of myself.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/d/mission-viejo-1971-norton-commando-750/7851613144.html

There's a whiff of smoke out the left pipe on the overrun as you can see in the video.

It sat a long time. The compression is 187 on each side now, after 100 miles or so, and the smoke has diminished to negligible - but they all smoke a bit. These bikes didn't come with rubber valve seals, but they can be fitted. Maybe they are on this one, I threw some STP in there, and it stopped, so I think so, LOL. My N15CS only has cast iron guides, and there's no smoke at all. I think they are 10K bikes before a refresh.

Not sure why the video never shows a thumbnail, I select 'video' from the toolbar. I'm a feeb.

Now that it's done and running perfectly, I can get back to the Suzuki's blue bodywork, painting, and emblems, remember them? Finally! I'm the worst thread derailer, sorry for the diversion.

 

[oldGSfan]

OK last word on the Norton. I know people like videos.

 

[Rob S.]

I know Trevor always wins "Best Garage," but Honorable Mention to you. What a stable!

Both the Yellow Peril and the Red (?) are so cool I could picture Michael Parks on them.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Rob S asked me to post this up here. Not sure if you can zoom in to read the copy. Will post the highest res I can.

From November 1971 Cycle World

 

[Rob S.]

Ever since I bought my first Cycle World in November of 1971, I wanted that Norton - IF it came with that girl!

Seriously, I really wanted two other bikes they previewed in that issue. The new Kawasaki 750 H2 Mach IV two stroke triple and the newly enlarged to 1000cc Sportster, complete with 4 gears, right side shift and drum brakes front and rear. :acne:

 

[oldGSfan]

The tank on that Hi-Rider looks suspiciously like the Matchless/Norton N15/G15 tank, without the mounts protruding down in the front.

 

[chuck hahn]

When do we get to see some blue parts? i love those Nortons too. Yellow looks good on it.

 

[oldGSfan]

When do we get to see some blue parts? i love those Nortons too. Yellow looks good on it.

Well, soon I hope. I sold the Norton today. Took $1K deposit and the guy is coming out from Texas to pick it up in a week. Got the price I was asking.