Advice on refitting the motor

Ok, ready to get my motor in. I now have adjustable ISO's and my main question is, should i bolt the front mount to either the motor or the frame BEFORE putting the motor into the frame? or is it best to get it in there, bolt up the rear cradle, then work the front mount in, bolt it to the motor, then fix it to the frame? any other suggestions from seasoned vets is more than welcome!

What I did a few times: Front mount on motor. Trans cradle on frame, then motor/ front mount attached to cradle, then front iso bolt. If that makes sense.

This is all assuming you put the horn in first :shock:

bwolfie said:

What I did a few times: Front mount on motor. Trans cradle on frame, then motor/ front mount attached to cradle, then front iso bolt. If that makes sense.

This is all assuming you put the horn in first :shock:

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i think that makes sense. I have the trans in the cradle, and cradle in the bike. Your saying you've done it by bolting up the mount to the motor first, then rear mounts, then slip the front ISO bolt through. Horn has been relocated to inside the battery box :wink:

I found having both iso's in the frame was easier than trying to fight the iso's from coming apart upon putting the motor in the frame.
I had my 16 yo daughter put in one rear bolt while I held the motor up and then the front bolt. I was able to get the rest in by myself.
She helps me alot in the shop with my VW and Norton.
My 19 yo boy can't be bothered.

I think it's important for kids to learn the basics of mechanics as well as general knowledge of how to fix things themselves. My 3yo daughter also helps me in the garage with basic tasks and really seems to love motorcycles. She "fixes" her bike while I work on mine, my 6yo son would rather ride his bike then help right now, I hope this changes soon, I have learned the Norton will not fix itself and I need all the help I can get.

Yeah like most of ya report, I almost always put cradle on for a handle with crank-cases already mounted and nipped up tighter than listed, then slip in rear iso bolt then begin the bargaining process of mallets and levers to ease the front mount into tabs till bolt slips though. On Combat's though with just engine troubles or just tranny troubles I undo engine bolts with cradle in frame to lift out or put back engine. Peel was square enough with custom correct constructed un crashed Al cradle so easy to fit no problemo, but Trixie crashed some before my time and then my deer bone collecting was a bugger that needed Iso mounts machined down some and still a bitch to fit front iso mount between the tabs but then bolt slipped in by hand push. Trixie is proof to me the only thing that matters in frame alignment is purely assemble ease as she is a rather sweet handler for un-linked Cdo and smooths out around 2000-ish rpm for all day smooth operator. If you have new paint to protect, one or two layer of heavy tape, ain't enough to protect if an edge presses or scatches against it so best to have helper to ease the process. Many will lay frame on side for this but I've never done it that way.

Gearbox out, then engine in.

swooshdave said:

Gearbox out, then engine in.

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i thought the gearbox doesn't fit into the cradle with the engine in?

That's my understanding too Kevbo. Unless of course you've done the CNW swing arm/ engine cradle modification.

it's in there. I left the trans and cradle in, bolted the front mount to the motor and put it in that way with little to no problems. did it by myself with a floor jack and it took all of 15 minutes. Only problem i had was i couldn't get the lower rear bolt in with the frame up on the cycle jack, so i threw the wheels on got on it's own two feet again! Was gonna put handle bars on and roll it outside for photos but it started pouring rain