Heinz Kegler has passed on

Heinz died a few days ago, in his own home. He was in his mid seventies.

For those who may not know, Heinz was born in East Germany and came to work for Norton in England in the sixties.
His job then was as a test rider, to actually ride the bikes hard enough to try to make parts fail.
He later worked for the Norton East coast importer, Berliner. His main job there was to visit the dealers and keep them up to date on technical issues.

Heinz later moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where he worked as a mechanical engineer for Cummings Motor.

Heinz was very much a featherbed man, and would jokingly call Commandos "limping camels".

I met him 17 years ago when my wife and I moved to New Mexico. He and I became very close and I was fortunate that he tried out his Commando improvements on my bike first before offering them to the public.
His swing arm "rings" is his most important innovation, which added the safety of improved handling.
It was such a pleasure to hear him talk about his Norton experiences, he truly loved the brand!
He was at my side educating me as we worked on rebuilding my 850 into the magnificent machine it is today.

I miss him so much already, his kindness and patience, his civility and strong personal character.
Heinz Kegler was a wonderful man. This world was a better place with him in it.

Rest in everlasting peace my friend.

Amen. May we leave half the foot print Heinz did on this planet.
He's helped me and Peel a number of times and features. Swing arm to brake rotor. He was still riding to rallys last summer. Don't know any more.
I saved some his posts but lost last 3 years in a harddrive crash. Here's his level of involvement advising a rider on NOC list in '02.

Hi Maxx, Heinz here!

Re: compression plate CS 1

Maxx, I had a 1932 CS 1, solid bronze head, way back in 1954 in East Germany.
Very fast Bike.

The standart thickness is not important. What is very important, is the
Octane number of the Petrol available in your Area.
There is a Rule here in the USA, that says: 10% of the posted Octane number
on your pump should be the compr.-ratio of you engine, i.e. 90 Octane posted
your compr-ratio should be 9 : 1.
This rule works very well.

Here is how to calculate the thickness of the compr-plate:
Find out the Octane number from your pump.
Measure precisely the combustion chamber volume CVm in cubic centimeters.
CVn = comb. Volume needed.
CVm = comb. Volume measured.
SV = swept Volume by piston = 490 c.c.
CR = compr ratio
1 mm thick plate = 4.9cc.
Let's say your CVm = 50cc.
Octane = 90, 10% of it = 9

Formula:

CVn = (SV+CVm+1) divided by 1/10 of Octane number.

i.e. CVn=(490+50+1) divided by 9. Result is: 60.11 c.c.

It means, you need a CVm of 60.11 c.c. for a 9 : 1 compr-ratio, using 90
Octane.
You already have a CVm of 50cc, so you need 10.11cc more.
A 1mm thick base shim adds 4.9cc to the CVm.
So, 10.11 divided by 4.9 = 2.06, meaning, a 2mm thick compr-plate will do it.

To double check:
CR=(SV+CVm+1) divided by CVm

CR=(490+60.11+1) divided by 60.11 = 9.18 : 1

This is close enough. Hope this helps.
Cheers, Heinz in New Mexico, USA

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highdesert said:

Heinz died a few days ago, in his own home, and with proper pain management. He was in his mid seventies.

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Very sorry to hear that and my condolensces to his family and friends. I had email contact with him every few months and was very impressed by his skills and personality!


Tim

I never met the gent, but his reputation was stellar.

We should all be remembered as well as Heinz.

Comfort and treasured memories to his family and friends.

RIP Heinz.

I met him a couple of years ago at the Four Corners Rally. We were both staying at the same motel (I'm not into tent camping these days). He seemed like a nice enough fellow. He seemed dumbfounded by the idea of a woman who not only rides her own Norton, but works on it too! I guess women like me didn't exist back in his time. :wink:

Debby

I only spoke with Heinz once when I bought a pair of his swinging arm lock rings. He seemed to me to be the type of man who you would want to do business with and his workmanship is a credit to him.

Interesting to know that Heinz worked for Norton back in the day. Thank you for notifying us and giving us a brief biog of him.

So sorry to hear about Heinz passing. :cry:
I was not aware either of his colorful Norton days.
He had some very cool improvements that's for sure.
I never met him but did read of his postings and he seemed like the man I'd want as a friend.
Sorry for his loss to his family and friends.
I guess my lord will be riding a Norton shortly.
And Debby you are right, he was my fathers age and I was trying to picture my mom(June Clever) riding a Norton in the day?
NAH!!! Gotta get that picture out of my head
Thank goodnes the 60's took place. :wink:
Marshal

highdesert said:

His swing arm "rings" is his most important innovation, which added the safety of improved handling.

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Another as much important innovation was his "Servo Clutch". It would be a great tribute to his remembrance if someone is going to take this in production
(Comnoz / CNW ??).

Godspeed Heinz
Your willingness to always lend a helping hand & pass on your immense pool of knowledge will not be forgotten - i know many, including myself, will miss you

m

Thank you, Nortonspeed, for showing that telling picture and letter that Heinz wrote regarding his "servo" clutch for Commandos.

Although this is the first time I have seen that letter of Heinz's, it brought back the memories of him discussing his idea with me many years ago. He told me that he machined that hub and sent it off to Alan to be tested, but that he did not hear back other than to thank him for the idea. He was disappointed as he had put a lot of thought and work into it.

About six years ago during a lunch with him, Heinz showed me a non hardened steel Commando clutch hub that he had modified. He asked me to "let" him put in my Commando as a trial. I was only too happy to agree, and put some 8000 miles on that hub, with him periodically taking it out and examining for wear on both the splines and the driven side of the friction plates.

This July, Heinz and I installed a brand new motor in my bike. At this time, he asked me if he could weld a steel washer onto the hub in order to eliminate the large circlip and be able to fully tighten down the hub. Because by this time his modified non hardened experimental hub needed replacement, I ordered in a new one and Heinz went right to work on that one in his shop, making me up the first, and only, true Commando servo hub of his design.
The action is marvelously smooth. I now wish I had taken some good picture prior to installation. Maybe next time I take the plates out for cleaning.

Thanks for bring this to our attention. With all the emotion of his passing, I had completely forgotten about his clutch innovations.
John

Sorry for retaking this sad tread.

I've contacted Karen, Heinz's widow and she's told me to send a 100 USD to her to get a set of the famous lockrings.
The problem is that it's against the Law to send money into an envelope abroad from Spain and they X ray the envelopes... (my mother in law works for the post office).
She wouldn't accept a bank money order or any other payment way (Western Union or similar), so I can't get the lockrings.

I've searching through the old threads but haven't found any information about real alternatives to Heinz's lockrings or if they sell them somewhere else than straight from him (now from his wife)

Thanks for the help!

sparkplug, I thought there was someone on this forum that offered an alternative to Heinz swing arm modification, but can't remember for sure if I read it here or elsewhere. If it comes to it you could have someone order them from the US and ship them to you. Payment could be done through paypal.

emailed you on this.

I can ask Karen if it is ok for you to paypal me and I will then give her the cash, I live just a few miles from her.

britbike220 said:

sparkplug, I thought there was someone on this forum that offered an alternative to Heinz swing arm modification, but can't remember for sure if I read it here or elsewhere. If it comes to it you could have someone order them from the US and ship them to you. Payment could be done through paypal.

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Another method, which I think was originally suggested in the INOA Tech Digest is to drill 2 holes in the cradle's swing arm tube and then weld two nuts to the tube. You can then use set screws in these threaded holes to keep the spindle from rocking in the cradle. I had this done by Phil Radford at Fair Spares many years ago. I think the set screws used in mine are 5/16".

-Eric

Cradle metal is rather thin, welded nuts are a distorting prone scab on, better than nothing but not in same league as Heinz's collars. Others offer them, just don't know who. Part of Commando sport and social life it tracking down good items.
They are not that complex a device to have made up. Heinz figured out a great solution. IIRC his were blued steel and plain steel bolts, tends to rust up if not clear coated or otherwise protected.

Ms Peel's special alloy cradle has big bosses welded on for 3/8" allen trap bolts on flats I had milled in over size spindle, lubed by real stick around grease via zerks.

What a gift to have someone who worked for Norton and knew the brand so intimately help you rebuild your 850.

no kidding, something most us missed out. Godspeed.

sparkplug

PM sent about collars.

Wow, so sorry to hear the news of Heinz passing.

I only corresponded with him when I bought his collars. I cannot imagine knowing and spending time with someone with that much history and knowledge with motorcycles.