yet another question (re: temp this time)

hello all,

as you know, I have just purchased a 1974 850 Commando.

While I am waiting for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia to grant me my collector plates and insurance (a process which may take up to two months - crap) I have been starting her. I have been doing this both for practice and so she won't starve for oil. I am now down to one or two kicks!!

Tonight in the dark I noticed that the right exhaust glows a dull red when running. The other exhaust does too but is cooler.

I don't think that this is anything to worry about but thought it a good idea to bounce it off of you all for your experience in all things Norton.

thoughts?



ps

I have christened her Ethyl, mostly for the smell she makes in the garage.

Glowing exhaust usually means the ignition timing is slow or advance unit is stuck. Jim

As Jim says, timing, but that affects both cylinders with electronic ign. With points you could have a small contact gap on one cylinder retarding ign. Still on points? Also if you hold the revs high (>2000) for more than 5 mins in warm ambient the pipes will go cherry red.

Ha [quoteAlso if you hold the revs high (>2000) for more than 5 mins in warm ambient the pipes will go cherry red.][/quote]

Not up here they don't!

Timing out I'd say, fit electronic and forget!

And if you are running it for any length of time, put a window fan in front of the motor to slough of excess heat. An air-cooled motor tends to get very hot with no air flowing over the fins. If you are not running it for a decent length of time (long enough for the oil tank to warm up) you are doing the motor more harm than good.

I am not running the engine for extended periods of time and certainly not every day! Every few days I start the engine, let it warm up (to drive the condensate out of the oil) and to get the oil flowing around properly.

I only noticed the dull red pipes because it was pitch dark outside and I was not riding the bike. I am still waiting for the ICBC gods to give me my collector's plates and insurance.

Should I ride her up and down the alley next time I start her, just for airflow/cooling? Or should I let her sit for the 2 months of waiting?

As for the pipes, they are a dull red in the pitch dark for about 4-5" past the cooling fins. (One pipe is only 2-3" of the dull red colour.)

roqueweiler said:

Should I ride her up and down the alley next time I start her, just for airflow/cooling? Or should I let her sit for the 2 months of waiting?

Click to expand...

As someone with a personal test track (aka back alley) I vote for that.