New member intro

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1216bandit

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I'm 71 yrs old and been on 2 wheels since I started in the dirt in what feels like a life time ago! I have enjoyed every bike I've owned over the years but there are a few I should have never sold....like my 1962 Velocette, 1972 Ducati 750 GT, and I could kick myself in the arse for not keeping one of my Norton Commando's!
I recently picked up a 1974 Commando that is really in fine shape with only 19,000 miles on the clock. I have been lurking on the forum for a few weeks and am VERY impressed by the information to be found here. The bike has a bit of sumping but not enough to worry about, I am going to install a reed valve and am considering going with a single Mikuni carb.
Anyhow..glad to be a member here and nice too see a couple of other canucks on board!
 

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1216bandit said:
I'm 71 yrs old and been on 2 wheels since I started in the dirt in what feels like a life time ago! I have enjoyed every bike I've owned over the years but there are a few I should have never sold....like my 1962 Velocette, 1972 Ducati 750 GT, and I could kick myself in the arse for not keeping one of my Norton Commando's!
I recently picked up a 1974 Commando that is really in fine shape with only 19,000 miles on the clock. I have been lurking on the forum for a few weeks and am VERY impressed by the information to be found here. The bike has a bit of sumping but not enough to worry about, I am going to install a reed valve and am considering going with a single Mikuni carb.
Anyhow..glad to be a member here and nice too see a couple of other canucks on board!
Click to expand...
Welcome !! Yes, coincidentally I was just replying to another thread saying how I regretted selling my Venom.
 
1216bandit said:
I'm 71 yrs old and been on 2 wheels since I started in the dirt in what feels like a life time ago! I have enjoyed every bike I've owned over the years but there are a few I should have never sold....like my 1962 Velocette, 1972 Ducati 750 GT, and I could kick myself in the arse for not keeping one of my Norton Commando's!
I recently picked up a 1974 Commando that is really in fine shape with only 19,000 miles on the clock. I have been lurking on the forum for a few weeks and am VERY impressed by the information to be found here. The bike has a bit of sumping but not enough to worry about, I am going to install a reed valve and am considering going with a single Mikuni carb.
Anyhow..glad to be a member here and nice too see a couple of other canucks on board!
Click to expand...
Howdy!

I still have a couple of reed valves that are simple to install by drilling 2 or 3 holes in the back side of the rear of the timing chest. Simple & effective. $25 + $7 or 8 USPS

IMG_4172.JPG
 
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The Jim Comstock design, sold by NYC Norton, is the best for a ‘74. It locates in the sump which is the best place to breath from. But it also has a huge advantage of easily evacuating sumped oil back to the tank.

Yes, they’re expensive, but they are excellent and you’ll only buy it once.

nycnorton.com

Reed Breather Kit

The Norton twin cylinder engine creates a serious amount of pressure in the crankcase as the motor spins. Over the years the factory attempted several methods to reduce this pressure – from a timed breather off the end of the cam on earlier motors, to a crude straight pipe from the timing chest on
nycnorton.com nycnorton.com
 
Fast Eddie said:
The Jim Comstock design, sold by NYC Norton, is the best for a ‘74. It locates in the sump which is the best place to breath from. But it also has a huge advantage of easily evacuating sumped oil back to the tank.

Yes, they’re expensive, but they are excellent and you’ll only buy it once.

nycnorton.com

Reed Breather Kit

The Norton twin cylinder engine creates a serious amount of pressure in the crankcase as the motor spins. Over the years the factory attempted several methods to reduce this pressure – from a timed breather off the end of the cam on earlier motors, to a crude straight pipe from the timing chest on
nycnorton.com nycnorton.com
Click to expand...
I disagree that breathing from the bottom of the engine is a good thing. Reed valves are meant to flow air rather than oil. Let the oil pump do the job of evacuating the sump.
 
ILLF8ED said:
I disagree that breathing from the bottom of the engine is a good thing. Reed valves are meant to flow air rather than oil. Let the oil pump do the job of evacuating the sump.
Click to expand...
I think we may be talking at cross purposes…

I do not mean that the breather should replace the job of the scavenge pump. The breather tube protrudes up into the case to create the correct sump oil level, so it is not permanently sucking the sump dry, but it will rapidly empty excess oil from the crank case chamber in the event of being wet sumped.

The oil pumps job is to scavenge oil in normal use, it is not designed to rapidly empty a wet sumped engine, and it will take a while for it to do so.

By breathing directly from the crankcase chamber the breather is at the source of the pressure. This allows the pressure pulses to act on the reed valve more positively.

I run one on my 920 and 1007, they handle the breathing with ease even with the increased volume, and it’s a great peace of mind knowing that if I inadvertently start it with a sump full of oil (which I have indeed done!) I am much less likely to blow the seal.

However, there other options. You pays yer money and makes yer choice…
 
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Welcome Bandit from the G.T.A.
I'll be at the world's largest motorcycle show at Pearson's International center this Sunday , manning the Ontario Norton Owners booth in the Vintage hall . Within your driving range .
 
Torontonian said:
Welcome Bandit from the G.T.A.
I'll be at the world's largest motorcycle show at Pearson's International center this Sunday , manning the Ontario Norton Owners booth in the Vintage hall . Within your driving range .
Click to expand...
I dont think I will be able to make the show..but you will likely run into a friend of mine at your booth...Kevin Robinson, very active in the Ontario Norton owners club. Had breakfast with him this morning...Regards, Dan O'Rourke.
 
Hello from Vancouver Bandit and Welcome.
I have a Mikuni on mine and an anti sump manual oil line valve that connects to the ignition and thus no spark if the valve is not manually opened.
Dennis
 
1216bandit said:
I dont think I will be able to make the show..but you will likely run into a friend of mine at your booth...Kevin Robinson, very active in the Ontario Norton owners club. Had breakfast with him this morning...Regards, Dan O'Rourke.
Click to expand...
Yes Dan , I know Kevin and will likely see him Sunday .
 
grandpaul said:
Howdy!

I still have a couple of reed valves that are simple to install by drilling 2 or 3 holes in the back side of the rear of the timing chest. Simple & effective. $25 + $7 or 8 USPS

View attachment 123154
Click to expand...
I cheated a bit. Used one of these, drilled a hole in the lower crankcase, fitted a hose barb and ran a hose to the valve inlet. It's much more faffy (to use the New Word) to fit than Jim's lovely lump, but rather cheaper.
However, unlike the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, it does not have the words Do Not Panic in large, friendly letters on the front cover.

Sorry about the detour, now it's back to the usual program.....
:cool:
 

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