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@kommando

If cutting and welding in a new port is no option then raising the roof around the short side turn and making the short side turn wider and straight across is a good recipe for finding some semi hidden flow.
While (under) cutting the longside radius before the valve seat correction angles helps somewhat to force the flow to not escape straight outta the exhaust port during overlap

Kind regards and season greetings
Christian

Ps: gas speed is very important in a port (particular intake) but it also depends where in the port and how much ;)
 
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In my case Mr. Barlow's port work is for a straight up Norton motor. I know this is a Commando forum. I keep thinking my engine is basically the same other than the intake downdraft being steeper on a Commando mounted Norton motor. Somewhere along the line I started thinking a motor is a motor and the same rules apply to all old pushrod motors that the common man can get his hands on.

If I had the balls to take that FBS head off my motor, it could be looked at closer. Last time I had it off, I had to put inserts in it for studs because the studs were pulling out. That head is getting fragile like and old man's skin on the top of the hands gets. If I take it off one thing is going to lead to another, and before I know it, I'll be $4K US deeper upside down on that bike. If I manage to stay healthy, it'll come off next year. I'd like to take some more weight off the rotating and reciprocating mass while I can still ride. I don't mind losing a little torque to improve how quick a motor spins up. Old school thinking?
I too have a Fred Barlow head on my bike. It's been converted to an 850 by Steve Maney, who also commented that the porting looked very good. As far as I could see, it was the bowl area that had been deepened out. I don't have any before and after figures to compare with, but it does seem to work well.
I rather wish I had tried to take a cast of the ports before fitting it, that would have been very interesting to compare to Jim's port shapes. Next time I have the head off perhaps.
 
So long that he can't remember. But he keeps talking about it.
I'm guessing with Al that racing is so far in his blood he can't help it ?
Al if you are reading this set up a go fund me page
I'll chip in a few bucks to help you get out on the track


You have to promise not to hurt yourself though!!!!
 
So long that he can't remember. But he keeps talking about it.
Halfway through the last decade. But since then thec historic race class has not changed. The same guys are still there with their 1100cc methanol-fuelled CB750 Hondas. Their motors turn out about 100 BHP. I rode straight under them at turn two when they were all out on the ripple strip at full lean, and was a long way ahead, when I had the problem. I will probably never race again. But I have demonstrated they can be beaten. My 850 motor probably does not even develop 70 BHP.
If you worry about other guys having more powerful motors, you are beaten before you start.
 
I believe what I have found with my Seeley 850 is important. It gives a real advantage and it would not work so well with most other bikes. Early next year I will be trying to organise a ride day at Winton and do some on-board video to show the effect. The way of getting that effect is worth knowing. So I will start another topic detailing what I did and what happens. When I rode under all those guys at Winton and my motor stopped, they would have needed 140 BHP to catch me before the end of the long straights. It was not the rider, it was the bike. And it does not have more than 70 BHP.
I know I have talked long and often about this, but I will put my thinking in one post and you can try to pull it apart. If Commandos start winning more races, that would be great.
 
I believe what I have found with my Seeley 850 is important. It gives a real advantage and it would not work so well with most other bikes. Early next year I will be trying to organise a ride day at Winton and do some on-board video to show the effect. The way of getting that effect is worth knowing. So I will start another topic detailing what I did and what happens. When I rode under all those guys at Winton and my motor stopped, they would have needed 140 BHP to catch me before the end of the long straights. It was not the rider, it was the bike. And it does not have more than 70 BHP.
I know I have talked long and often about this, but I will put my thinking in one post and you can try to pull it apart. If Commandos start winning more races, that would be great.
Cool that you’ve actually started a separate race bike thread.

Hope it doesn’t get hijacked by road bike riders talking about road bikes !!
 
here's what britcycle say via email

"British Cycle Supply is expecting the first batch from the new manufacturer end of January 2022! But this first order has already been sold out to fulfill our oldest backorders.

There is a limited supply of these, so if you want in on the next batch, expected late February, contact us now to reserve a spot in the queue.

We're currently taking deposits on that batch, balance due when ready to ship."
 
Called and put my $500 deposit down on the next batch.

Don't have any immediate projects for this yet but figure it's worth the investment, not sure how long they will be available. BC mentioned the new heads have timeserts installed, and the alloy is a different than the originals.

Fingers crossed
 
Called and put my $500 deposit down on the next batch.

Don't have any immediate projects for this yet but figure it's worth the investment, not sure how long they will be available. BC mentioned the new heads have timeserts installed, and the alloy is a different than the originals.

Fingers crossed
Was the final cost announced yet ? I didn't see it listed at britcycle.
 
If the price is the same it is quite a deal because the original head will need to be upgraded and that isn't cheap.
 
Hey all,

Listing for the new head is up on the cNw web site as well. Description and price. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

As with British Cycle, my first short batch is spoken for. That said, I spoke to John this morning and he is ready to put a PO in for a large amount of castings. We are looking at a few months out but once this batch is in place, knowing John, these will always be available moving forward. In other words, this will not be a limited production once these first short runs are done

Link to web site. Still more info to come: https://coloradonortonworks.net/sts-fullauto-head.html

Looking forward to bringing this to market. It is nice to offer product that you feel really good about.

You can definitely contact cNw to reserve a head from these first production runs. They will be delivered first come first. No deposit required. Get a hold of me at coloradonortonworks@fone.net

Also, I hope that everyone has a really great Christmas Holiday and Happy New Year. It will be the best one yet for Commandos ..........

Matt
 
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