EFI Norton walkaround

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comnoz

comnoz

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While Hobot's video was fine it was easier to just redo a video with commentary.
Here are some of the more obvious modifications on my bike.
One mistake, the exhaust collector diameter is closer to 1-1/2 inches than 1-1/8th inch. Jim

[video]https://youtu.be/cngN_-QA4H0[/video]
 
Thanks for posting that Jim. It's a truly fascinating Commando. What sort of mileage do you get from the rear belt, & have you ever had any cracking problems with the stainless exhaust?

Martyn.
 
Matchless said:
Thanks for posting that Jim. It's a truly fascinating Commando. What sort of mileage do you get from the rear belt, & have you ever had any cracking problems with the stainless exhaust?

Martyn.
Click to expand...

The rear belt that is on it now is at 9500 miles and still looks like new.

I have never worn out a belt but I damaged the last one when the guide plate on the outside of the pulley came loose and ended up under the belt -which cut it. The guide plate is now gone.

Before that I drove 5 miles through foot deep salt brine going to Bonneville and the pulley packed up with salt and broke the belt.

Since I mounted the headpipes to the bottom of the engine I have had no cracking problems with the headpipes. That has been like that for 15 years or so.

When I changed the exhaust from 2 separate pipes to 2 into 1 into 2 abut 10 years ago it cracked at the narrow part of the merge collector so I wrapped it with a second wall that is larger and fixed that.
 
You are such a clever man Jim...if only I had half of your smarts I would indeed be a happy man.
 
Danno said:
I noticed no shift rubber. How does that work, comfort-wise?
Click to expand...

The shift lever is actually grooved for o-rings but they tend to break up every couple years. With the wear pad on top of my boot I don't notice it. jim
 
Awesome work, Jim...

* I'm going to steal your idea and buy a larger fairing and cut it down to fit my bike since it seems that fairings only come in two sizes... rediculously small or gigantic...
 
1st i've seen as far as rear belt drive on a norton, is that a one of?
 
Thanks for posting a detailed video of your bike. I'm always amazed at the engineering you put into your Norton, not to mention the high quality of your work.

It's also a history lesson as you have used it as a sort of test bed for so many years.

So many things on this bike are of interest to many of us who are building bikes. I love the dash and having the fuel mix gauge tapped off the O2 sensor. You basically can see everything the engine is doing at a glance.

You have two oil coolers on the bike. In discussions here there are many that say you shouldn't put oil cooler(s) on Norton's because the oil stays too cold...that the oil needs to be hot.

Could you comment on that?
 
84ok said:
1st i've seen as far as rear belt drive on a norton, is that a one of?
Click to expand...

It's my own design/build. I plan on making a few available. Jim
 
dennisgb said:
Thanks for posting a detailed video of your bike. I'm always amazed at the engineering you put into your Norton, not to mention the high quality of your work.

It's also a history lesson as you have used it as a sort of test bed for so many years.

So many things on this bike are of interest to many of us who are building bikes. I love the dash and having the fuel mix gauge tapped off the O2 sensor. You basically can see everything the engine is doing at a glance.

You have two oil coolers on the bike. In discussions here there are many that say you shouldn't put oil cooler(s) on Norton's because the oil stays too cold...that the oil needs to be hot.

Could you comment on that?
Click to expand...

On a near standard motor then that is true -an oil cooler is not needed and if it's used it should have a thermostat to avoid keeping the oil below the boiling point of the water that gets in it.

If the motor is a high compression motor or is made larger then an oil cooler would be recommended.

I don't run a thermostat but I do have a big hot tuned motor and only the oil that is going to the head is run through the cooler, so the oil tank temp has been pretty consistently in the 220 to 250F range on the highway.

Last time I took a cold weather trip I stuffed a foam plug in the air inlet.
 
comnoz said:
dennisgb said:
Thanks for posting a detailed video of your bike. I'm always amazed at the engineering you put into your Norton, not to mention the high quality of your work.

It's also a history lesson as you have used it as a sort of test bed for so many years.

So many things on this bike are of interest to many of us who are building bikes. I love the dash and having the fuel mix gauge tapped off the O2 sensor. You basically can see everything the engine is doing at a glance.

You have two oil coolers on the bike. In discussions here there are many that say you shouldn't put oil cooler(s) on Norton's because the oil stays too cold...that the oil needs to be hot.

Could you comment on that?
Click to expand...

On a near standard motor then that is true -an oil cooler is not needed and if it's used it should have a thermostat to avoid keeping the oil below the boiling point of the water that gets in it.

If the motor is a high compression motor or is made larger then an oil cooler would be recommended.

I don't run a thermostat but I do have a big hot tuned motor and only the oil that is going to the head is run through the cooler, so the oil tank temp has been pretty consistently in the 220 to 250F range on the highway.

Last time I took a cold weather trip I stuffed a foam plug in the air inlet.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jim,

I was thinking that hotter running engine was the reason. I'll have to throw my oil cooler back in the parts box :D

Dennis
 
freefly103 said:
That bike is not a Norton anymore, it's a Comstock!
Click to expand...

I get to thinking that sometimes and then it will remind me with a good kickback on a hot restart -it is still a Norton.....
 
My question is:
Does a Comstock come stock with all of these features or is this a non stock Comstock?
And it is pretty cool.

Glen
 
worntorn said:
My question is:
Does a Comstock come stock with all of these features way or is this a non stock Comstock?
And it is pretty cool.

Glen
Click to expand...

Well, it is titled as a 1981 HMD. It is 100% stock....
 
Jim,

I think I've found the only stock parts left on your bike - the rear axle adjusters...

(That is unless you've remade them in titanium or something.)

-- David
 
napanorton said:
Jim,

I think I've found the only stock parts left on your bike - the rear axle adjusters...

(That is unless you've remade them in titanium or something.)

-- David
Click to expand...

No ti but they have been opened up for a larger axle and the bolts are stainless.

Of course they are getting beat up a bit and I do have some ti laying around....
 
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