1963 650SS Australia

You could wait and try the longer push rod,
Q; are your steel clutch plates square at the bottom or in a small V shape?-people have been known to get the two mixed up. In addition, the groves in the clutch drum need to be free from wear “notches” or the plates will free willingly when you pull the clutch in.
 
you are on the right track, its the pushrod , too short. The gearbox lever has to be close to the outer cover ,the closer the better otherwise you lose leverage. I have to use a screwdriver to force mine in enough to fit the cable. To check the spring gauge you will need a micrometer to measure the wire thickness ,its that critical.
 
Hi Bernard
New clutch drum, as the old one was too far gone, checked before for any hang ups with tangs and basket, same for the new centre and the friction plates, they are all nice and free, springs I am going to get a new set as the free length seems a bit short at 41mm my notes (RGM) say the free length of a new spring is 45.2mm and the springs do look tied.

Bob
Thought something was wrong as the Commando needs a bit help with a screw driver, I also remember the 1958 99 Dominator was also a bit hard, used the box out of it in three different applications, first was Triton, second was in the Manx as it had a kick starter and better gearing for the road, and third in a TQ (Three quarter Midget) behind a two valve Jawa Speedway engine, and I still have it, some 50 years later, pity I didn't have the whole bike to go with it.

Ordered new springs, spring cups and a couple of other parts.
Burgs
 
Hi
Fitted new longer clutch pushrod and clutch is now good, so one problem solved.

Next is the richness, looked through my old main jets to try a size down but thought better of it, they would all be 50 years plus old and heavens know what torture they have been through, so have now got two sets coming 250 and 260 to start with.
Information I have read is after fitting an air filter and the engine is running rich is to try the main jet first (ref Amal/John Healy)

Tried strobing the ignition timing with a new strobe and it doesn't work, so will return it today and try another brand.
1963 650SS Australia

Burgs
 
That cable looks a little dry. The carb needle jet is usually the main suspect as they wear fast and go oval . I have the same issue ,time for a new one,
 
It does, might try something a bit heavier than the silicon spray I used.

Just checking the timing and out of three timing lights none are working, I don't think the induction side is picking up correctly, I can move the sensor around on the spark plug lead and get a few flashes out of each but I haven't got enough arms.

Right forgot about the little arrow pointing to the spark plug.

Burgs
 
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I stopped playing that game years ago, I now adjust the timing so that it can give an ocasional very feeble kickback on starting. That usually works fine. If it seems a little too aggressive or the opposite ,no snarly snap on pickup,I fine tune the timing by opening or closing the points gap a couple of thou. Works on my Ducati too.
 
Hi
Checked everything over refitted primary cover, checked timing, checked valve clearances, all good.
Ordered the wrong main jets, so decided to drop the needles one notch.
Went for a short 10 mile run, miss is gone and accelerating a lot better, still feels over jetted though, a couple of blasts up to 70 mph felt good.
Engine seems to be running smother, as well.
Handling feels featherbed solid as well :).

Burgs
 
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Not sure about "solid" handling. Out Atlas feels that way, but also a little cumbersome on sharp turns, The 99 is very different and "dances " like a ballerina ,even with 50 lb of panniers on the back. A puzzle I will someday work out. I think I will take the Panniers off and go out in the wet /diesel and annoy a few 100+ HP crotch rocket owners tomorrow.
 
Hi Bob
Well I guess I mean it feels good with all new components in the suspension areas, steers well, front forks feel good with just modest updates, they feel like I could use a slightly lighter viscosity oil, but I will put more miles on her before I make any changes.

Now I have to make a decision on what I rebuild next, Trident special, Daytona, 1951 TR5 Triumph, or a 1974 Suzuki GT750.
Might go with the Trident special and then do the two slower bikes.

I have a couple of Kawasaki's to get rid of in the meantime, ZX10 (with ZZR1100 Engine) and a ZZR1100, they both out grew me.

Regards
Burgs
 
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Hi
Well did a rally with 650SS over the week end, only lost one nut, it was off the swing arm axle :(.
Still having problems with over fuelling but smaller jets (240S) and lowering the needle got me through the weekend.
I believe I have the culprit now, I ordered two different foams to try in the air filter, I put the finer one of the two in and I reckon it is too fine, so during the week I will remove the fine one and fit the coarser one of the two and redo the tuning from there. Defiantly needed the air filter though, as there was a dust storm on the way home from the rally :(.

The other problem was the clutch and brake levers moving on the handle bars, glued the clutch lever in place with a flexible superglue and it worked just fine, so will now do the brake lever.

The clutch action is now smooth and very light, so all good in that department.

I used my petrol cap off the 99, leaks so will need to cut a new gasket or buy a new cap.
Also won the 1960s class of the rally so that was a good feeling :).

1963 650SS Australia

Morning tea stop Eugowra NSW the 650SS and my cousins 500 Goldstar.

Burgs
 
norton bob said:
Not sure about "solid" handling. Out Atlas feels that way, but also a little cumbersome on sharp turns, The 99 is very different and "dances " like a ballerina ,even with 50 lb of panniers on the back. A puzzle I will someday work out. I think I will take the Panniers off and go out in the wet /diesel and annoy a few 100+ HP crotch rocket owners tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Re; " The 99 is very different and "dances " like a ballerina" Swing arm brushes worn/dry. rear shock springs too hard?
 
Nope!. According to my 45 year old son, the 99 steers and turns in as well as any of the new bikes he has had, MT 07,09, BMW 1200 etc. The silentblock swinging arm bearing is perfect (59 years old) and the Hagon rear units matched to my weight.And it rides on those old hat Avon speedmaster and SM tyres!. My other current ride is a Honda VTR 1000 Superhawk ,and the Norton is preferred for slippery going.
 
Re; " "dances " like a ballerina"

I didn’t realise you meant that as a compliment !
 
Hi Bernhard, If you think that a ballerina's moves are bad ,please send a video of your "dad" dancing routine so we can judge.:):)
 
Burgs said:
Well this year is the year I finally got to work on my 63 650SS, which I found in Bathurst a few years back April 2013.
The plan is to complete the bike this year, time permitting.
Bike had been stripped down in the seventies after are spending time on the race tracks around Sydney, so the previous owner said.
The engine was in an old trunk stripped down to just about the last nut and bolt.
There was a busted conrod and evidence marks in the timing side case of the conrod making heavy contact.
In the box of engine bits there were two Commando rods and a set of well worn 99 pistons.
Bores were out to 0.020" oversize.
The head was fully assembled, the original Monoblock carburettors were intact except for the slides and Caps/nuts.
The frame was a roller with gearbox still in place, clutch was complete.
Most of the panel work seemed to be there and in reasonable condition, missing at the time of inspection was the exhaust pipes and front mudguard, the previous owner found these prior to delivery, he delivered for free.

1963 650SS Australia

Best regards
Burgs
Click to expand...
Hey burgs. Do you have a spare engine for sale. I am located in canberra
 
That SS looks a cracker, and I like those sensible bars , just one of the reasons you have a good clutch.
 
Rajenesh
No spares at all unfortunately.
Norton Bob the bars made routing the cables much easier, and is a good riding position now also.

Have developed a leak in the tacho drive, been reading through the various posts and have few things to check out, otherwise bike is running reasonably well
Still running a bit rich so a bit of work to do still with the carbies, to fine of a air filter didn't help.

Burgs
 
Beautiful work Burgs.
Nice to see something that far gone rebuilt to such a high level.

My 650ss was also in tough shape before it's restoration, with one conrod poking out thru a broken crankcase half. Fortunately it wasn't the half with the number.
Apparently in the 90s the bike was sold to a 17 year old. He stored it outside under a tarp all winter then fired it up in the spring. Everything was corroded and one slide stuck wide open. The revs went to the moon for some time, then the rod let go.
The Ontario Vintage club restored the bike very nicely.
They are lovely bikes, nimble and fast.


Did you have the crank dynamically balanced?

Glen
 
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