Do you have 1,000miles YET?

richard-7 · Sep 5, 2016

Just a reminder --- Don't forget to TORQUE your head and Adjust valves once you get to 1,000 miles. It's not hard to do yourself. Read my manual and get to it!!!

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR LONG TERM OWNERSHIP -- and 961 happiness. :mrgreen:

I know most people on this forum for at least a year know this -- but there are new people with new bikes that may not.... so now you know too.. :mrgreen:

And while I'm at it, upgrade your happiness with an ignition upgrade: Plugs, Wires and a Bosch Coil. And upgrade your 961 Transmission's happiness with a TRANSMISSION VENT.

After that, it's all happy riding days.

More manuals to come -- been too busy riding! Winter time in Canada there is more time to sit at a computer.

Voodooo · Sep 5, 2016

I was told by SBN the lifters were hydraulic? I'm a car mechanic and hydraulic lifters/cams do not need adjusting.

richard-7 · Sep 6, 2016

Thats true, but its best to make sure they were set correct in the first place and the nuts were tight. Not that there is any reason for alarm. But human error does happen. And you need to have the valve cover off to torque head so might as well do it.

contours · May 18, 2017

I finally made time to perform this task. Struggled a bit with the minor things - disassembly on the way to taking a torque wrench to the various bolts followed by reassembly of everything I took apart to get to the head. As silly as it may seem after I took things apart I remembered nothing about the routing of the throttle cables, the ignition wires or the arrangement of that rubber insulator that sits between the fuel tank and the valve cover. Old age issues? Thankfully, Richard's photos in the manual was a huge help in reconstructing the sequence.

But then there was the new Shorai battery with the all too short terminal screws. Stupid stuff like that dragged the procedure out to more than a few hours. But it's done! All I need to do now is reinstall the fuel tank and go for a test ride.

I noticed one curious thing about the head bolts. The ones under the valve cover hardly required tightening. But the outer 4 crown nuts required several quarter turns. I was not able to find a reference to the pattern I was supposed to use. So I used my imagination. :roll:

Lesson learned? Take photos of each significant step instead of relying on my fleeting memory.

richard-7 · May 19, 2017

The only reason I don't post the pattern or the torque is not to step on Norton's toes. and AVOID lawsuits. but on a forum I could tell you, off memory, (

) the four outside of the cover nuts and the two centers under the cover are torqued to 40ft/lb, the other three (front of the engine) 2 under the cover one outside of the cover are only 18ft/lbs. Typical pattern, start in the middle and work your way outside. But do it in two steps, half the torque, then again full torque. Refer to the OEM Norton Book for more details.

contours · May 19, 2017

richard-7 said:
The only reason I don't post the pattern or the torque is not to step on Norton's toes. and AVOID lawsuits. but on a forum I could tell you, off memory, ( ) the four outside of the cover nuts and the two centers under the cover are torqued to 40ft/lb, the other three (front of the engine) 2 under the cover one outside of the cover are only 18ft/lbs. Typical pattern, start in the middle and work your way outside. But do it in two steps, half the torque, then again full torque. Refer to the OEM Norton Book for more details.

Ahhh - I was somewhat close on the pattern. The last time I did this sort of thing was in 1974 on a Honda 450. :roll: For this go 'round I did all the bolts under the cover first and then the 4 outside. The workshop manual I downloaded states 60 and 25 nm which translates to 44.25 and 18.44 foot-pounds respectively. It was easier to set my torque wrench to 58 nm so I guess I was closer to your 40 for those. In any case, I think it'll be fine.

richard-7 · May 19, 2017

I wouldn't worry. I WOULD worry if you passed on torquing at 1,000 miles and figured it would be fine.

contours · May 19, 2017

richard-7 said:
I wouldn't worry. I WOULD worry if you passed on torquing at 1,000 miles and figured it would be fine.

Never gave a thought to skipping this task. Heck, I've been hesitant to ride at all until I got it done. :wink:

gchoppin · Nov 9, 2017

richard-7 said:
Just a reminder --- Don't forget to TORQUE your head and Adjust valves once you get to 1,000 miles. It's not hard to do yourself. Read my manual and get to it!!!

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR LONG TERM OWNERSHIP -- and 961 happiness. :mrgreen:

I know most people on this forum for at least a year know this -- but there are new people with new bikes that may not.... so now you know too.. :mrgreen:

And while I'm at it, upgrade your happiness with an ignition upgrade: Plugs, Wires and a Bosch Coil. And upgrade your 961 Transmission's happiness with a TRANSMISSION VENT.

After that, it's all happy riding days.

More manuals to come -- been too busy riding! Winter time in Canada there is more time to sit at a computer.[/QUOTE

gchoppin · Nov 9, 2017

OK I have several scooters but just purchased my first Norton. 2014 according to the title. Built in 12/14 sold new in Dallas in 02/15. Bought in in September with 259 miles on the "clock". I'd think that to be '15 but it matters not. Owner's manual calls for head torque and valve adjustment at 6000 mile. Why do you think it's needed at 1000. Never done that any other machine I've ever owned ( six currently). By the way just got my tranny vent and battery mat in today. And thanks for all the info on line. Like I said my first Norton.

TonyA · Nov 10, 2017

Norton Factory UK advised it .

richard-7 · Nov 10, 2017

Just do it and then be worry free.

Do you have 1,000miles YET?

richard-7

Voodooo

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contours

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richard-7

contours

gchoppin

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TonyA

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