My '73 850 rebuild..

KSUWildcatFan · Jan 24, 2011

bwolfie said:
No problem, that is why we are all here, to share the collected knowlege, then exaggerate it and complain about it!!

I'm glad I can be of assistance in that regard. LOL

bwolfie · Jan 24, 2011

Just pray that carbonfiber or 1up3down dosn't start in on your post's. I'm sure they would find something wrong with using cardboard boxes, or taking pictures thru a door!!

KSUWildcatFan · Jan 24, 2011

bwolfie said:
Just pray that carbonfiber or 1up3down dosn't start in on your post's. I'm sure they would find something wrong with using cardboard boxes, or taking pictures thru a door!!

Or with using an iPhone 4 to take said pictures?

-Jordan

bwolfie · Jan 24, 2011

love the picture, no matter what took it. It's cool because there is a norton, people working on a norton, and it was taken creativly. It would make a great calandar shot.

KSUWildcatFan · Jan 24, 2011

bwolfie said:
love the picture, no matter what took it. It's cool because there is a norton, people working on a norton, and it was taken creativly. It would make a great calandar shot.

Actually, that one single picture was taken by the wife, with her Canon T1i. Naturally, it's the best (by far) of any picture in this thread. I like that picture a lot, too. Very creative.

-Jordan

britbike220 · Jan 24, 2011

KSUWildcatFan said:
bwolfie said:

Just pray that carbonfiber or 1up3down dosn't start in on your post's. I'm sure they would find something wrong with using cardboard boxes, or taking pictures thru a door!!

Click to expand...

Or with using an iPhone 4 to take said pictures?

-Jordan

I'll third that motion and keep up the great report.

plj850 · Jan 24, 2011

KSUWildcatFan said:
Oh dear god..

The clutch basket was all wrong--hardly tight AT ALL. I'm glad we never took this thing up to highway speeds or the damn thing would have very likely blown apart, there was so much play in the basket..

Jeeeeesus. What the hell are some people thinking?!
-Jordan

That is downright stupid of the person who sold you the bike in such a dangerous condition someone could have taken the guys word for it ans had a very bad experience.

On the positive side most of what I have seen in the photo's looks good and when you have rebuilt the engine and gearbox you will know for sure its in good running order. Even a really great looking bike may not have been put togethor just right. Keep us up to date...

nomadwarmachine · Jan 24, 2011

What tool are you and your dad going to use to remove that sprocket nut? Looks to me like you would need an enormous deep socket. Asking out of some self-interest, as I am going to have to change my chain & sprocket soon. I am also going to finally take a look at my gearbox and see if it contains the dreaded Portugese layshaft bearing. Recommended to remove the clutch locking nut while the chain is still on the bike and the gearbox is in place -- much easier.

plj850 · Jan 24, 2011

Forgot to say that when you do the rebuid I reckon you should get a Stainless Steel battery tray.(There used to be a saying that Commando's were built starting with the battery tray...) :idea:

KSUWildcatFan · Jan 24, 2011

plj850 said:
KSUWildcatFan said:

Oh dear god..

The clutch basket was all wrong--hardly tight AT ALL. I'm glad we never took this thing up to highway speeds or the damn thing would have very likely blown apart, there was so much play in the basket..

Jeeeeesus. What the hell are some people thinking?!
-Jordan

Click to expand...

That is downright stupid of the person who sold you the bike in such a dangerous condition someone could have taken the guys word for it ans had a very bad experience.

On the positive side most of what I have seen in the photo's looks good and when you have rebuilt the engine and gearbox you will know for sure its in good running order. Even a really great looking bike may not have been put togethor just right. Keep us up to date...

In the PO's defense, he didn't have a clue. He didn't ride the bike much at all and he took it to a place that does shoddy work to have "repairs" done before he sold it. I think he tried to get it fixed, but he trusted the wrong shop and got screwed.

I'm not sure we'll end up doing much with the internals of the motor. It ran well when the bike was together. Ultimately, I'm trusting my dad's judgment on whether he thinks it really needs much work.

As for the transmission, we'll have it apart to replace the kickstart shaft but that may be it.

-Jordan

KSUWildcatFan · Jan 24, 2011

nomadwarmachine said:
What tool are you and your dad going to use to remove that sprocket nut? Looks to me like you would need an enormous deep socket. Asking out of some self-interest, as I am going to have to change my chain & sprocket soon. I am also going to finally take a look at my gearbox and see if it contains the dreaded Portugese layshaft bearing. Recommended to remove the clutch locking nut while the chain is still on the bike and the gearbox is in place -- much easier.

Looks like a 1.5x3-3.5" socket. In retrospect, we really wish we had kept the chain on to remove the sprocket.. ;/

-Jordan

KSUWildcatFan · Jan 24, 2011

plj850 said:
Forgot to say that when you do the rebuid I reckon you should get a Stainless Steel battery tray.(There used to be a saying that Commando's were built starting with the battery tray...) :idea:

Good suggestion. I'll see what I can find.

-Jordan

pete.v · Jan 24, 2011

nomadwarmachine said:
What tool are you and your dad going to use to remove that sprocket nut? Looks to me like you would need an enormous deep socket. Asking out of some self-interest, as I am going to have to change my chain & sprocket soon. I am also going to finally take a look at my gearbox and see if it contains the dreaded Portugese layshaft bearing. Recommended to remove the clutch locking nut while the chain is still on the bike and the gearbox is in place -- much easier.

Autozone or Advance Auto sell a 1 1/2" deep socket for $9.99. But they are not deep enough. I bought 2 and cut them with a chop saw to make 1 superdooper deep socket. Ground them to as square as needed and put a big chamfer to fill with weld. The $89(sale price) 120v Flux wire welder from Harbor Freight is just enough for motorcycle stuff.

Getting the countershaft sprocket nut off is do-able in many ways. Torquing it to spec on the other hand is a differant question. This remedied both on and off issue. A real bonus is an electric impact.

KSUWildcatFan · Jan 24, 2011

pvisseriii said:
nomadwarmachine said:

What tool are you and your dad going to use to remove that sprocket nut? Looks to me like you would need an enormous deep socket. Asking out of some self-interest, as I am going to have to change my chain & sprocket soon. I am also going to finally take a look at my gearbox and see if it contains the dreaded Portugese layshaft bearing. Recommended to remove the clutch locking nut while the chain is still on the bike and the gearbox is in place -- much easier.

Click to expand...

Autozone or Advance Auto sell a 1 1/2" deep sockets for $9.99. But there are not deep enough. I bought 2 and cut them with a chop saw to make 1 superdooper deep socket. Getting the countershaft sprocket nut off is do-able many way. Torquing it to spec on the other hand is a differant question. This remedied both on and off issue. A real bonus is an electric impact.

Holy crap! Nice work.

-Jordan

KSUWildcatFan · Jan 27, 2011

I guess dad got a workable socket at the local scum shop (that's what I call it, anyway) for $10, so we're good to go.

Some new items arrived today, but other than that I've not made any progress since my last post (damn!):

Hopefully the kickstart shaft works. I waited over a month for it to get here from England.

-Jordan

KSUWildcatFan · Jan 30, 2011

Well, we didn't get a whole lot done today like I had hoped, but we did some things, anyway..

We removed the transmission and took it apart; going to clean it up tomorrow. We were going to pull the oil bag but couldn't quite get it done today. I can't remember what dad was saying was keeping us from getting it out..

We got the center stand removed (talk about a grease-covered pig, although almost this entire bike is covered in grease) and put in the box of things which will receive a nice bath.

Dad said he needed to build a stand so we can remove the rear section of the bike--the cradle, swingarm, etc--for cleanup and putting back together.

My new taillight is on its way and I won a new chain oiler (since mine was..gone) on eBay for $28. I'm probably going to remove my stock Lucas headlight (replacing it with a halogen that will actually have some brightness to it) and the taillight ass'y/signals and sell those on eBay to recoup some costs. Hopefully someone out there is looking for that stuff!

I've also got a ~$150 order with OldBritts ready to go. That should get me close to finishing out the parts that I'm going to need to finish the build.

-Jordan

britbike220 · Jan 30, 2011

I just took the second stock oiler off my new bike last night. Would have given it to you had you mentioned it

KSUWildcatFan · Jan 30, 2011

britbike220 said:
I just took the second stock oiler off my new bike last night. Would have given it to you had you mentioned it

lmao

D'OH. Oh well, it's only $28 spent, right?

BTW, you had mentioned interest in knowing the name of the place that worked on my bike before I got it? S&L Cycles in Wauconda, IL. Needless to say, I'm not impressed all with their quality of work..

-Jordan

britbike220 · Jan 30, 2011

Never heard of them, but here is a description of them from google, and I quote: :lol:

About S & L Cycles

CHI TOWN CHOPPERS IS DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE AND RESTORATION OF VINTAGE MOTORCYCLES.WE BUILD OLD SCHOOL VINTAGE 70'S STYLE CHOPPERS.AND WE PROVIDE QUALITY USED VINTAGE PARTS.OUR SHOP OPERATES AS S&L CYCLES OUT OF WAUCONDA ILLINOIS.IF YOU NEED ANY SERVICE WORK ,CUSTOM WORK OR ARE INTERESTED IN A 70'S STYLE BOBBER OR RAT CALL US AT 847-487-9462 M-S 10AM TO 5PM.WE SERVICE ALL MAKES MODELS AND YEARS BUT WE SPECIALIZE IN 70'S HONDA'S.CHECK OUT OUR EBAY STORE HERE FOR QUALITY USED PARTS.IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE PART YOU NEED FEEL FREE TO CALL.

KSUWildcatFan · Jan 30, 2011

britbike220 said:
Never heard of them, but here is a description of them from google, and I quote: :lol:

About S & L Cycles

CHI TOWN CHOPPERS IS DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE AND RESTORATION OF VINTAGE MOTORCYCLES.WE BUILD OLD SCHOOL VINTAGE 70'S STYLE CHOPPERS.AND WE PROVIDE QUALITY USED VINTAGE PARTS.OUR SHOP OPERATES AS S&L CYCLES OUT OF WAUCONDA ILLINOIS.IF YOU NEED ANY SERVICE WORK ,CUSTOM WORK OR ARE INTERESTED IN A 70'S STYLE BOBBER OR RAT CALL US AT 847-487-9462 M-S 10AM TO 5PM.WE SERVICE ALL MAKES MODELS AND YEARS BUT WE SPECIALIZE IN 70'S HONDA'S.CHECK OUT OUR EBAY STORE HERE FOR QUALITY USED PARTS.IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE PART YOU NEED FEEL FREE TO CALL.

/barf