Newbie...Intro and request for info

Hey guys, I'm new here, obviously, and am hoping that I can get into riding a bit more again. I've got a '66 Atlas 750, and it's restoration is pretty close to complete. Actually, it should be complete, but I don't trust the work of the original mechanic at this point. After going entirely through the bike, on the first ride the head gasket blew. It's been replaced, but I'm hugely concerned that it'll fail again. You know how you get those feelings of scepticism after something like that happens.

Enough with the pessimism. The bike is truly beautiful to me, and I can't wait to get it out on the open road and enjoy the ride. Just in the back of the pickup it drew lots of attention, but who wants to just look at it? I wanna ride! Any questions, just ask.

Now for the question. Does anyone know of a good mechanic in or around the Oklahoma City area that they might recommend? Again, I just want someone to give it a good once over so I can get back out there.

And here's a pic for good measure :mrgreen:

Jimmy,

Welcome to the forum!

Why and where did it blow the headgasket and what was done to fix it? There lies the answers to your reliability concerns.

Mike

The gasket blew within the first mile of a ride around the block after I brought the bike home. There were literally 3 miles on the odometer, the bike was started and ridden around the parking lot at the shop when I picked it up. There was no undue stress put on the bike, but the subsequent mechanic who replaced the gasket suggested that the proper torque procedures weren't followed, and that's what caused the failure. Now, the subsequent mechanic wasn't a dedicated british motorcycle mechanic, but he seemed to understand what was going on, and did repair the bike to the point that it would start and run. Unfortunately I relocated from Northern VA to OK before I could get it out and really ride it. Now here I am. Maybe I should just give it a go, but I don't want to put it through any more pain in case the subsequent guy didn't get it right either.

It's a sticker shock thing, I think. I paid for a reputable guy to do something, and I didn't go on the cheap. It didn't pan out, and he didn't want to take responsibility for the gasket blowing. The next guy didn't charge all that much, but appeared to know what he was talking about. After laying out the cash, the last thing I want to do is destroy the investment, but at the same time I really need to get on with it. Decisions, decisions. :mrgreen:

Welcome.

Ride it. Have fun.

...or sell it.

Thanks! No selling it. It belonged to my dad before me, so it's going to stick with us for a while. What's the worst that can happen? I'll need to rebuild it myself? That's it. Gonna get'er going, and enjoy some pavement pounding.

As it's a fresh overhaul, you do want to run it through a tank of gas at a modest pace, varying your speed every few minutes, no lugging at low RPM in higher gears. Don't sit idling for any longer than a tedious traffic light.

Do a walk-around before and after every ride to keep any possible loose fasteners and oil dribbles in check.

G'day Jimmy, welcome aboard.
Yes get on it and have a go, not too far from home untill you gain some confidence.
Read up on it here, re wet sumping etc., When you start her up check that it's pumping oil back into the tank and don't over fill it.
There are plenty of things to learn, and you'r in the right place.
Great to here you'r keeping it in the family.
Have fun.
AC.

I had the same problem on a 750 Commando. Turned out that the cylinder head was fine but the cylinder face was not flat.

Jimmy, just ride it and enjoy it, if it blows another gasket then investigate further, I personally prefer the new style composite head gaskets than the old copper ones, but in any case replacing a head gasket is an easy job well within the capabilities of most people with a modest mechanical aptitude and some common sense.

An observation on the psychology of mechanics, they all think that they are the only one who knows how to do things properly and everyone else in the world is a dickhead. Almost no mechanic will ever praise the work of another guy - I know this because I myself am a mechanic.

dave M said:

An observation on the psychology of mechanics, they all think that they are the only one who knows how to do things properly and everyone else in the world is a ####. Almost no mechanic will ever praise the work of another guy - I know this because I myself am a mechanic.

Click to expand...

I don't fit in that mold. I've seen PLENTY of good mechanic's work and remark accordingly. When I see bad work, I point out the flaws strictly on the basis of the technical merits / demerits. Why apply an unneccessary attitude? Similar to some people's comments about art bikes - I like some, I don't like others; i don't chop the builder to bits just becasue I don't agree with his "vision".

Great insight guys. I was a mechanic at one point, but that seems like a lifetime ago. I still do some work, but it seems as though my confidence level has dropped as technology and everything advances. Waiting on the new title / plates, and I'll be back on the road.

This is a great place. I'll post a trip report (no matter how short) once I hit the road. :mrgreen:

Jimmy_P said:

...I still do some work, but it seems as though my confidence level has dropped as technology and everything advances...

Click to expand...

Thank God for old Nortons, eh?

touche :mrgreen:

Looks more like a Snortin to me. Mean Machine .

Theres two kinds of wrenches, Gorillas and . . um . well .

The former it will probly stay on , but might not come off.

:mrgreen:

The dreaded Retourque is likely the problem .

Us cautious delicate types fire up , observe , cool off .
being pedantic its a 10 sec, cool
30 sec. cool
1 min. cool
2 min. cool

For first runs , this is as when Noah was a boy they carved them out with an Adze , and there were a few rough edges and high spots. Theory is NO metal to metal contact . which picks up / galls and self distructs .SO NO chance to HEAT these on
first start up from reco .

THEN theres the heat cycle . ! :shock:
This is where it can go pop. ( gasket ).

A paranoid neurotic would retourque and reset at this stage , But were getting it readty for the Road. So we Heat Cycle it.

A 5 minute run , on or off road , ons maybe better . But youre keeping the pressures DOWN . Going for a trickle as it were.

Now , the 1903 Whizzer hasnt overheated at this stage. We draw breath , regain a firm hold on our entusiasim , and give
it another 5 / 10 minute spin. The IDEA being to get some temperature in it.
Having previously carressed and fondelled it after shut down to see theres not Red Hot metal about to eject.or similar .

NOW ; after this heat cycle buissness all the fittings and fixings have gone up and down through thermal expansion .
As have all the mateing faces . Thats why theres Oil Everywher :shock: ( this is 1903 Remember )


Seeing wever moved on , :roll: We'll RETOURQUE all the FASTENINGS, and RESET THE CLEARANCES includeing the IGNITION

Seeing you have a real motorcycle , itll probly have a MAGNETO , not this new fangled coil ignition.So youre ahead.
But it takes 3/4 Hr to set EXACTLY . Not Even An IOTA Out .


Seeing its fairfully modern , it was built AFTER the war , the machinings probably a bit better .
So you can Go Out and pull a Wheelie , Carve up a few Hondas in the tight corners , but keep it around UNDER 1/4 throttle for the First 200 miles.

The paranoid neurotic repeats serviceing proceedure, incudeing oil. on ANY Pre- 1960 machine , in its day .
As we want it to run properly so no upstarts can embarrress us on those recycled forign contraptions .
SERVICE oil changes were 2.000 miles , in those days. for automobiles.In olde Blighty.

Now if youre intending to blw of the Gilera's ( you dont see too many on the street with lights) Reapeat at 500
having kept it below 1/2 throttle .

Again at 1.000 , if youre fully dissiplined the Throttle WONT have tapped the stop as yet, at all. Not more than once or twice
AND youll be FEELING GUILTY
Running here through to one or two thousand , if youre not in a hurry, without going past 3/4 throttle , or having held it on the stop, and were ready to get serious.
Another Damn Retourque & service , and were ready for action .Youre probly so damn goaded at this stage youre a bit selective about who you blow off , and only pick the things were theyd actually think theres IS faster ( if there under 20
they think anything there on is faster, so you either dont bother, or get out well cleare of them. As there liable to fall of and could take you with them , or have an accident you could be implicated in.

The more pretty poloished and expensive the thing is , the better it is to blow off .

Must keep up the Traditions , What Ho . 8)

Welcome to the forum Jimmy,

I think (as others have mentioned) the head retorque was your problem, the other that many people overlook is to anneal the copper gasket before fitting. I believe that in the era of these old tarts (before my time) this was done when the gasket was manufactured, these days we have to do it ourselves, it's only a matter of heating the gasket till its red hot with a blowtorch, then you can quench it in cold water or let it cool down on it's own.

Enjoy your new toy

Webby

Thanks, guys! I ordered the new throttle (don't know what caused the old one to fall apart), once it's in I'll go through the re-torque and then just enjoy it. I'm a firm believer in driving/riding my toys, and this will be no exception.

On the 750's, including the Atlas, and to a lesser extent on the 650SS also, head gaskets were a weak spot. Even my Norton works hack 650SS blew two head gaskets in the 18 months I used it as a ride-to-work. I suspect that the increase in bore after the 600 Domi left too little material round the edge of the gasket. It probably still had the same p/n as the 500!