Engine assembly starting

Jwvert

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Bottom end together. RGM parts out for delivery to move on to barrels and cylinder head. Any hints or advice greatly appreciated.
Engine assembly starting
 
Check out my rebuild thread for other tips.
Progress today. First off I installed a circlip into the inner of my pistons, installed the rings and inserted into the cylinders, anti seized and installed my cylinder base studs, gooped up one side of the gasket and installed. Inserted deepwell sockets over the studs then positioned the cylinders on the sockets and raised the rods into the pistons. I then inserted the frozen wrist pins and circlips. After that I painted up the other side of the gasket, removed the sockets and carefully installed the cylinders to the base. Anti seized all stainless fasteners and torqued to specs. Whew! Kinda rough balancing all that with two hands but I got it done. I'm happy.

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  • 1975 Commando 850 restoration
 
“Any hints or advice” for engine assembly, is a bit like asking “any thoughts on religion or politics“ !

Honestly, I’m not being a curmudgeon, but you’re unlikely to receive useful input.

Gorts advice on the videos is your best bet, Mick Hemmings videos for engine and gearbox build are absolutely first class.

Norman Whites book on Commando restoration is also a valuable addition to the bookshelf.

Other than that, asking specific questions, ideally with accompanying photos, will usually elicit extremely helpful answers on here.
 
Appreciate the input. I did purchase Normans restoration book. Between it, the official Norton shop manual and YouTube, lots of great information out there.
 
Build continues to progress along with lots of help from the forum. Pistons in and barrels on. That is for the videos @mightygarage. On to the cylinder head.
Engine assembly starting
 
So the head that I sent away years ago and had redone just came out of the box like this. My fault for not checking it out. Any thoughts on who to send to for guides and cleaning.
Engine assembly starting
 
And the head is back, new valves, guides, springs, skimmed and cleaned. Thanks to Mike and Jenny @ engine dynamics Petaluma.
 

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Quick question, I am using a composite gasket , do I put any Wellseal or goop between head and cylinders.
 
Quick question, I am using a composite gasket , do I put any Wellseal or goop between head and cylinders.
Ask 10 Norton folk and you’ll get 11 answers !

IMO no.

Scrupulous cleanliness, and a tedious re-torqueing process, and a composite gasket is perfectly oil and gas tight.
 
One thing that is critical is to use the correct piston circlips.
Some of those supplied with new piston sets are loose once in their groove. The movement over time causes eventual cylinder damage.

Glen
 
The first time building a different engine can be a challenge, because you do not know what is important. however if you think about what you are doing, you cannot go far wrong. Do not rush anything, If you get into trouble, stop and walk away for a while.
I still have a problem with a gearbox. I had forgotten what I needed to do to get something to work. After a while I remembered. So I will go back to where I was. All of it is simple stuff but not obvious.
 
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