New Norton Owner - Cylinder head stuck.

Hi all,
As a new Norton Commando owner I need a lot of help. This bike is a restoration project that has been off the road since 1979. I'm trying to remove the cylinder head. It won't budge. Ive removed three bolts at the front and two each side, and the sneaky one under the carbs. It still wont move. Any tips? thanks. Geoff

ummm... did you get the one in the middle? Your manual clearly shows where you should expect it to be.



Its down there deep, and if you round off the head - you're in trouble. One of the few places on the bike where a proper-sized whitworth socket isn't a luxury, but rather a good idea.

I believe eight - 8 - fasteners attach the head to the block. Most people overlook that "sneaky" one. If you've removed them all, and it sounds like you have, then the head will come off, it's just stuck to the gasket. Try tapping on it with a hammer and a soft pine block; tap anywhere but the fins! It will pop right off.

Jason

Don't forget the one's under the exhaust ports.

You have two 3/8-26 bolts on either side of the spark plugs, one 3/8-26 stud in the head under each exhaust port with a long nut accessible from underneath, two 5/16-26 studs in the front cylinders with nuts accessible between the exhaust rockers, one 3/8-26 bolt near the "V" of the head, and the sneaky 3/8-26 stud in the head between the carbs with the nut beneath. That's a total of 10 bolts or studs.

Oops,

I forgot the two looooong nuts under the exhaust ports. Geof - these look like threaded sleeves with a small hex at one end.

Good catch Ron!

Jason

Cylinder head free! Supplementary questions.

Anonymous said:

Oops,
I forgot the two looooong nuts under the exhaust ports. Geof - these look like threaded sleeves with a small hex at one end.
Jason

Click to expand...

Ah yes, those two were the ones I didn't see. So once removed, the head came right off. Thanks chaps!

Supplementary question(s) linked: Anyone had any luck with mending broken fins?

I know it seems like I'm ham fisted but it's like this, I only got the bike yesterday and I couldn't wait to get started. I have manual on the way but....
See, I'm used to working on my Honda GL1000 and this is a completely different animal, I'm finding the hard way. I'll try to be patient in the future, especially with trying to free up the pistons which are stuck fast in the bores. (any tips?)
Cheers, Geoff

Next time you try to separate the head from the barrells......
Try using a block of wood on the top outer edge of both exhaust ports.
You can usualy free it up by gently tapping with a "rubber" mallet going from side to side.

Pistons:

Try pouring white vinegar into the cylinders & leave overnight. That should "eat" the crud away enough for you to push the kickstart lever.

Once you have undone all the nuts/bolts gently tap the barrells using the rubber mallet to free them up.

Good luck & take your time :!: