For Shits N Giggles....

This is where my Norton project started about 1 1/2 years ago. The bike, a 72 Commando, sat outside in the elements unprotected for 20 years. Naturally the engine was stuck,but in the TDC position. This is what we found when we finally got the head off....It's ok to laugh!

http://s136.photobucket.com/user/philly ... 7.mp4.html

That's actually a common sight to old engine restorers and you lucked out its not real shit and urine form insect or mouse nests till mud dubbers chase em out and plug with brick like mud cement. A boil in hydrogen peroxide turns piston char to grey soft dust to wipe off and tends to anodize piston surface. Also lucked out pistons at TDC to protect the bores from serious pitting. Lucked out pistons not blocked with bent valve stuck through too. Also lucked out head not fused to barrels some run into.

Swarfage supreme.

Since I know what the bike looks like now, I am impressed at the work done by Skip. Skip, why don't you show a before and after for all the Norton enthusiasts.

George (Baldy)

We needed a roofers propane torch with a rosebud tip to heat the jug repeatedly to get the pistons to free up.We used an old machinists trick of using candle wax melted around the circumference of each piston crown to aid the process. Took a while to do but we got it.

Baldy, I will post up some pics. Thanks,Skip

This little video clip was taken the very first day the bike was rolled out of the van after sitting for twenty years. The fellows in the photo are my pals Armand Ensanian from NY and "Cafe Bill" Becker of Philly,both Norton owners and great guys. The bike was loosely assembled with most of the parts accounted for......so I thought! I'll post the most recent pics of the bike when I get back to Philly tomorrow.....Skip

http://s136.photobucket.com/user/philly ... 6.mp4.html