John Player Special restoration project

grandpaul · May 10, 2016

Cockpit nice and tidy. I have to wire up the idiot lights and orient them (and the switch) properly.

The boot is quite spacious, but you can't stuff a sleeping bag in there. A tool bag and change of clothes, yes.

grandpaul · May 10, 2016

Just realized another tell-tale on a small JPN detail: The shifter is a custom fabrication with the arm welded on at a specific angle, NOT a standard shifter that is bent to the same angle. (For all of you rivet counters).

Robert_Norton · May 10, 2016

grandpaul said:
Just realized another tell-tale on a small JPN detail: The shifter is a custom fabrication with the arm welded on at a specific angle, NOT a standard shifter that is bent to the same angle. (For all of you rivet counters).

You're slipping Grandpaul; rivet counters have previously mentioned this detail at least twice since this thread started (Jeandr and myself), and Jeandr even posted photos.

I'm pretty sure JPN's shipped from the factory with the tach on the left and speedo on the right, too.

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grandpaul · May 10, 2016

Sorry, forgot about the shifter mentions previously, just never looked at mine up close.

As for the meters, they're not connected or properly mounted yet; I need to find the right clips. I always thought the tach cable came straight up to the tach, not crossed over?

Robert_Norton · May 10, 2016

grandpaul said:
Sorry, forgot about the shifter mentions previously, just never looked at mine up close.

As for the meters, they're not connected or properly mounted yet; I need to find the right clips. I always thought the tach cable came straight up to the tach, not crossed over?

Over the years I've noticed that the JPN's that seem to be most original have the speedometer on the right and tachometer on the left. Several recent sales and eBay auction bikes have been set up this way. The recent craigslist bike for $27K in California (I think you saw the advertisement) was set up with the speedo on the right.

The Cycle Test JPN bike in '74 also had the speedometer on the right, tachometer on the left.

Probably should do what works best, though.

I just noticed the JPN Parts Supplement lists a part number for a tachometer cable (perhaps longer?) and the drawing suggests the tachometer would be on the right-hand side. Maybe the longer JPN tachometer cable is a better fit if the tachometer is on the left side. You'll want to make sure you order the correct JPN cable if it's something you haven't already procured.

There was no offering for a speedometer cable in the JPN Parts Supplement.

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grandpaul · May 11, 2016

I have both longer cables. I'll look over all the photos again...

grandpaul · May 11, 2016

Another way to tell the genuine (or VERY GOOD copy) JPN gas tank is the long thumb indent in the tank, ahead of the gas tank flip release.

grandpaul · May 11, 2016

Finally started, just need to tune the low speed mix and set a stable idle; right side seems to come and go (must be the used spark plug).

Awfully little clearance between the handlebars and fairing!

Penultimate milestone surpassed...

swooshdave · May 11, 2016

Used spark plug?

grandpaul · May 11, 2016

swooshdave said:
Used spark plug?

Still waiting on a box of new Champion N7 plugs; used the NGKs from Alastair's 750 (were working fine on that bike).

Reggie · May 13, 2016

grandpaul wrote;

The boot is quite spacious, but you can't stuff a sleeping bag in there. A tool bag and change of clothes, yes.

When I used to run my JPN replica in the late 1980's, I used to use the bike regularly to go to work on, and I used the boot space to put my sandwiches in plus a pair of waterproofs, because as everybody knows, it nearly always rains in England. :lol:

grandpaul · May 13, 2016

Yes, it will absolutely fit a set of Frogg Toggs.

grandpaul · Oct 11, 2016

At last, the 1974 John Player Norton is street legal! My second choice for the vanity plate was "PLAYER"...

grandpaul · Nov 1, 2016

The finishing touch...

APRRSV · Nov 1, 2016

Hey Paul,
How do get a Vermont plate in Texas?

Ed

grandpaul · Nov 1, 2016

APRRSV said:
How do get a Vermont plate in Texas?

Online with VT DMV, not hard to do, very affordable, and quick.

MS850 · Nov 2, 2016

grandpaul said:
APRRSV said:

How do get a Vermont plate in Texas?

Click to expand...

Online with VT DMV, not hard to do, very affordable, and quick.

Is that a Vermont personalize plate?, Do you have a Vermont address.
Cool plate.
When I first glanced at the plate I was wondering why you had a Norton with a 74 Japan motorcycle plate,

im kind of slow with acronyms, hehehe

grandpaul · Nov 2, 2016

MS850 said:
Is that a Vermont personalize plate?, Do you have a Vermont address.

Yes, no.

You do not have to be a VT resident or even be in the state to avail yourself of VT's vehicle registration services. No middleman either, you are dealing direct with the DMV. It's all online, just google Vermont DMV.

jimbo · Oct 16, 2018

Heres some photos of the rig I set up to restore the fairing on my JPN. Its so big and bulky to work on it you need something secure.

grandpaul · Oct 18, 2018

Jimbo, it's about time you start a build thread and GET WITH IT! Spring time will be here before you know it...