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debby
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 890
Location: Boulder, CO
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 Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:17 pm Post subject: Amal slides sticking? Try this! |
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I learned a new trick today and thought I'd pass it along. Warning: it's not for the squeamish.
I took my ailing amals down to Isles Motorcycles in Denver for a consultation. Greg Isles, the owner, said they're basically worn out and it's time to start saving up for new ones. But he showed me a trick to unstick the slides. He was able to squeeze on the carb bodies by hand and get the slides to drop freely. I did it too with a little practice. I have to say the things aren't the most robust parts I've ever seen.
Anyway the fix is to wrap a shop rag around the body near the top and give it a good squeeze with a large pair of channellocks. You squeeze perpendicular to the manifold face. Repeat as required until they don't stick. I just happened to have a suitable pair of pliers in the toolbox so I did it and it worked! I couldn't believe it. Now I can clean the things out and put them back on and see if the bike will run with the pilots cleared out.
The long term solution in my case will be either resleeving or new carbies. But I think this will work for a while.
Debby |
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Jason Curtiss
Joined: 14 Jun 2003
Posts: 661
Location: HOUSTON, TEXAS
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| Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Deb,
Thanks for sharing your "carb squeezing" experience with us; glad to know it really does free slides that are stuck in warped bodies!
Jason |
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illf8ed
Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Posts: 472
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 6:27 am Post subject: sticking slides |
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Hi Debbie,
I think you just defined warped carb body. Someone previously said this doesn't happen often to Commandos, but your case in point. I've heard the "carb sqeeze" technique from a few Norton mechanics over the years with variations on how to put the sqeeze on them. After getting the carb bodies to straighten out, there's a good chance you will warp them again if tightened too much when reinstalling.
You've been debating resleeving the Amals or moving on to a Mikuni. Have you made a decision?
My choice has been the Amals because I know how to keep them working and I like the stock air cleaner with large K&N filter. What I'm finding is the jet needles wear in about 5000 miles likely due to the fact that they're rigid mounted (not rubber mounted like the Mikuni) and that wears the heck out of the moving parts from the shaking, such as the slide and the needle.
I ride my Commando less than 3000 miles a year so the consumables don't bother me. Someone riding more will probably want to make changes that extend the life of these parts. |
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debby
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 890
Location: Boulder, CO
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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David,
I'm leaning towards resleeving the amals. It's the lowest cost option, should give better performance than the mikuni, and keeps the bike original. I'm hoping to finish out this season as is though.
One thing that concerns me about resleeving is the body will be thinner and thus even weaker, meaning more prone to warping. Have you had any problems with that? I guess if it happens I could get the pliers out again!
I don't expect to put a lot of miles on this bike either. Our riding season isn't that long and I have other bikes I can ride when the Norton gets cranky. So parts longevity isn't a huge issue for me.
Debby |
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illf8ed
Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Posts: 472
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 4:22 pm Post subject: Amals sticking |
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Hi Debbie,
I've got 6 years and 13,000 miles on the resleeved original 932 Amals. I don't apply a lot of torque when tightening the Amal to manifold junction and have not had a sticking slide problem at all. |
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illf8ed
Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Posts: 472
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 4:23 pm Post subject: Amals sticking |
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Hi Debbie,
I've got 6 years and 13,000 miles on the resleeved original 932 Amals. I don't apply a lot of torque when tightening the Amal to manifold junction and have not had a sticking slide problem at all. |
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Jason Curtiss
Joined: 14 Jun 2003
Posts: 661
Location: HOUSTON, TEXAS
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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Deb,
My carburetors have been bored over-size and I don't have any problems with bodies warping. I atribute this to having flange faces that are absolutely flat and using minimal torque during assembly of the carbs to the intake manifold.
In addition to boring the carb body, the flange face and o-ring groove were recut to true them up; AMR does this as a standard part of their carburetor repair procedure. The mating flange face on the intake manifold was trued with a flat file and checked for flatness against a glass plate. I did this simple operation in my garage over a Boddingtons Pub Ale.
When installing the carburetors to the intake manifold I was careful not to overtorque the fasteners. I used new spring-type lock washers and snugged the nuts up just a bit past hand tight. Since the o-ring does all the sealing and there is no gasket to compress, very little preload is required. For additonal security, a dab of blue Loctite could be added to the nuts prior to tightening.
You too should have warp-free carb bodies if you adhere to the above tips.
Jason |
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Norton Commando Forum by Corporate Pages Web hosting using phpbb
The Unapproachable Norton Commando
At the end of 1967 the Norton Commando was announced.
The Norton Commando was greeted with a certain amount of scepticism because on first sight the commando appeared to comprise of the old Norton Dominator twin cylinder engine mounted at an inclined angle in a set of new cylinder parts.
It was not realized that the new Norton Commando Isolastic method of engine suspension damped out all engine vibration and produced a machine which had uncanny smoothness for a vertical twin. In due course the critics were silenced and the Norton Commando had the distinction of being regarded as the first of todays so called superbikes. There can be little doubt that the original design concept of the Norton Commando has proved correct, since comparatively few modifications of any real consequence have been made since production commenced during 1968.
Now nearly 40 years later Norton Commando riders like us are a breed of our own, and as far as we are concerned its still more fun to go for a blat on the old Norton Commando, and fast. As a Norton Commando owner and enthusiast, my goal here is to promote and give credit to those who keep the Norton name going.
It is more deserving to give credit to the Commando itself, for after all these years it continues to be respected. The original Commando designers like John Favill are those who deserve the credit for developing this incredible motorcycle.
The Norton Commando Roadster and Interstate of the late seventies, never died. Although the Norton Villiers factory dispersed the tradition lived on. Today Kenny Dreer in the USA is developing the new 952 CC Norton. What a great looking bike this is, and its engineering is still based on the original layout. It will be interesting to see how the new 952CC Norton does in todays tough motorcycle market. One thing is for sure, I would own one if I could afford it.
