650SS Rebuild

The color of the fuel tank is interesting. I had the impression that all the 650SS models had a black tank. I've only seen red (if that's what yours orignally was) on the Atlas.
 
Frank- That has been a discussion point for some time, this bike spent the first 1-2 years with our Traffic Enforcement [cops] and 2 years ago at a local bike show i got into a conversation with an old gentleman about a 650SS he owned which had come from the cop force he was able to quote the rego number which sounded familiar so i noted this persons contact and went home and checked yes he was the first civillian owner of this bike, yes he stated it was a red colour when he owned it though due to the fact it would have had a radio mounted to the tank it was proberbly repainted by the force.
 
Will it stay red possm, or, I have a feeling you like purple.
Ah the red Atlas, My first boss' son had one in 1969, It 's what got me interested.
 
All my referance books state that 650SS were silver so I think silver will be it. Over the years i have owned two Atlas a '65 which i restored 20+ years ago and that one was candy red, due to a young family that got sold and later i got a project 67-68 Atlas that was factory matalic green but that also got sold.
 
650SS Rebuild

650SS Rebuild

After having my rims replated, hubs polished,spokes zinked and the nipples nickled i had an old gentleman Len Renolds relace my rims, len first rebuilt a wheel for me in the 70's and he was an old man then, though he would be one of the best at this black art i whish he would pass his knowledge on to someone.
650SS Rebuild

I have also had the matched set of monobloc 376/317 and 376/318 carbs bored and the slides fitted with brass sleeves by Terry a retired engineer who specializes in this.
you will note that there is only one floatbowl for the twincarbs as i don't beleive that the 376 came as a right and left version, as this set up could starve for fuel these have a floatbowl extension fitted.
Al
 
Do you have the sleeves that press into the intake ports on the 88ss/650ss bikes that used these small monoblocs so that the port matches the carb size?
 
Thanks Beng no i do not looks like p/n 23874. are they available?.
 
Re sleeve 23874 would anybody have a photo - dimensions? as it is not a p/n that comes up on Norvil RGM or British spares web site.
thanks Al
 
Thanks Beng we should be able to make the sleves with the help of your info.
Al
 
you will note that there is only one floatbowl for the twincarbs as i don't beleive that the 376 came as a right and left version, as this set up could starve for fuel these have a floatbowl extension fitted.
Al

MAKE SURE you fit the bigger fuel valve to the LH float chamber! The fuel valve for monoblocs was available with a bigger bore for running alky - thats the one you want - the big float chamber will not help for long as it will be sucked dry in a couple 100 yards if the tap and fuel valve cannot supply enough gas on WOT!!!
 
I remeber the various Dominator models all having silver tanks, but I'm sure my works hack 650SS was black. Maybe someone at the factory had repainted it. It had sufferd quite a bit by the time I used it (over 135,000 miles on the clock!)
 
Just got the freshly ground crank back but still waiting for my engineer to try and hone the rust pits out of the barrells once i have this info i will be ordering crank shells crank bolt kit etc plus either rings or a new set of pistons at the next overbore, I am Also waiting for my freind Sherk [yes he is a slack pr-k] to finish the paint work, he is slow but the finished results are worth the wait- note the metalflake paint on my 850 and "S".
Al
 
Norton tested these bikes a lot and hard. I had an all stock 650 with the original 376 chopped carb setup and it never starved for fuel as supplied from the factory. I ran it WOT at 100mph for miles and drag raced it etc.. The sure would not have sold a bike that ran out of fuel in a hundred yards......

If you want a nice streetbike the stock setup will be fine with no fancy parts. I would not worry about upgrading anything unless I was going to race.
 
I concur on the adequacy of the stock fuel system--I ran a 650SS in West Africa in the '60's. That bike would hit 110mph five thousand feet high in the tropics and drone along for hours at an indicated 80 mph in the savanna and desert. I hardly ever had to touch the carburetors in five years of severe service conditions.


Tim Kraakevik
kraakevik@voyager.net
 
Thanks for the Repleys the old girl has lasted this long and i have no plans to turn her into a race bike.
 
I am in the waiting stages at the moment, waiting for my painter to complete the frame and pieces, new stauntions have arived as have pistons, shells crankkit etc from England, i am due to come to the US on holiday in a weeks time so when i return hopefully everything will be ready for assembly.
Al
 
If you will be near eastern Pennsylvania stop in for a cold one.

Russ
 
possm said:
i am due to come to the US on holiday in a weeks time so when i return hopefully everything will be ready for assembly.
Al

Wish I could go for a holiday and "when i return hopefully everything will be ready for assembly.'" !! Do you have any spare elves ?
 
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