OMG!!! I need Benadryl!!!

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prmurat

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Just had lunch with a good pal of mine... he is a real gearhead with many bikes/cars and a great wrench too.... while discussing of our beloved Nortons he dropped "nonchalandtly (is that a word?)" that he had a couple of Drouin kits!!! I never really thought of this performance kit but now it is in my mind and I know I will have to do something about it!! Should I do someting to calm the itch??? :roll:
Philippe
 
prmurat said:
Just had lunch with a good pal of mine... he is a real gearhead with many bikes/cars and a great wrench too.... while discussing of our beloved Nortons he dropped "nonchalandtly (is that a word?)" that he had a couple of Drouin kits!!! I never really thought of this performance kit but now it is in my mind and I know I will have to do something about it!! Should I do someting to calm the itch??? :roll:
Philippe
Click to expand...

Yes, get me a kit. :)
 
I would also like one, I've been trying for years to obtain one, but always loose out.
 
These Drouins came in a few evolving versions. All can be made to work.
The main issue, besides the sticking open 'Lake Injector' was belt tension w/o an adjuster and the wimpy heat expansion bind bearing support of impeller with 7:! ratio so can spin into 50K rpm range. The very first versions were a two belt jack shaft affair, but it worked a treat and belts mostly exposed. Bruce McGregor is the expert on rebuilding upgrading for routine daily use for years now with wheelie get go by just roll on in 4th.

Here's Capt. Norton site early Drouin on 850.
http://home.clara.net/captain.norton/pic9.html#pic9.top

OMG!!! I need Benadryl!!!


Here's last version [4th generation?]
OMG!!! I need Benadryl!!!
 
Personally, I don't think they look good and that is one good reason NOT to put one on a Norton unless it is turned into a beast for a special go fast purpose. If you really want to go fast, get a Hayabusa and put a turbo on it, some make as much as 600 HP and go way past 300Kph, make mincemeat out of anything on the road, why destroy a beautiful Norton to gain a few HP :?: not worth it in my book.

Jean
 
Jeandr said:
Personally, I don't think they look good and that is one good reason NOT to put one on a Norton unless it is turned into a beast for a special go fast purpose. If you really want to go fast, get a Hayabusa and put a turbo on it, some make as much as 600 HP and go way past 300Kph, make mincemeat out of anything on the road, why destroy a beautiful Norton to gain a few HP :?: not worth it in my book.

Jean
Click to expand...

It would probably be used to display the uniqueness, not who has the most powerful Norton. Unless you're name is hobot in which you would immediately bump the boost and blow the motor sky high!
 
When the Drouin first came out, I was working for a fella who had designed superchargers for diesel trucks in a previous life. He told me that superchargers consume 50% of the power they create, in heat. "Don't put a supercharger on that beautiful motorcycle, you'll destroy it".

I suppose that with the availability of high performance cranks, rods, and pistons that we now have for Commandos, a blower might be feasible.. but on a stock motor you'd be asking for trouble.
 
With all the negetive surrounding the little horse power bump in the combat and the destructive results, how long will a Commando engine last with a huge power increase not to mention the gearbox that was intended for up to 30hp and 500cc engine? Clutch slip, frame flex, skinny tires, under performing brakes? Not just one next weak link. :(
 
illf8ed said:
With all the negetive surrounding the little horse power bump in the combat and the destructive results, how long will a Commando engine last with a huge power increase not to mention the gearbox that was intended for up to 30hp and 500cc engine? Clutch slip, frame flex, skinny tires, under performing brakes? Not just one next weak link. :(
Click to expand...

Don't forget the Combats didn't come with Superblends, at least not until after many were fragged and scrapped. On cut-down, hotrodded hi-comp flattrack motors, the cases would fail when letting off the throttle approaching the corner. Also, adding the extra outboard mainshaft carrier bearing kept gearbox shells from exploding. The whole problem has to do with pumping over 75 bhp from a motor originally designed for less than 50. By the time you've compensated for the inherent weaknesses, you've got a completely different animal. I think this is what drove Kenny Drer to design a whole new motor; he probably got tired of trying to make the old one into something it just wasn't.
 
If I had an irresistible urge to farkle up I'd get Jim's EFI with nitrous on the side. It would run better than stock 95% of the time. The other 5% it would be way better.
 
I too kinda detest the blob hanging off the side but Nortons just can't rev to make horse power so only way they can survive is to pump up the torque side of power equation. I've interviewed a hand full of Drouin users and to a man they all said it became easier to start and much smoother running. Drouin's are centrifugal blowers not positive displacement compressors so its apples to oranges to compare heat or engine loads or configurations between these two types. Most also lower CR and install no over lap short duration cam to take more boost to get max power but Peel is doing it opposite by raising CR and long duration over lap cam to make moderate power down low and not need much boost at top. Heat dispersal is definitely an issue that may do Peel in but not the rpm or torque loads, ignoring the drive train of course. Only one tri linked Commando so far so of course only one who wants more corner power and lifting of bike to clear blower in LH leans.

If Peel added nitro methane or Nitrous oxide ahead of the impeller then 200 hp might be on top before 7000 rpm. But centrifugal blowers don't pump up PSI unless engine can be loaded, if tire spins or bike just leaps forward loads drop and so does the power-fuel being burnt. If fast enough air resistance was a bother then boost would rise to match that.

Besides you can run bike with Drouin looks only by removing the belt or move the belt engagement lever to Mad Max power off position : )
 
Jeez Louise...All this "positive" comments make me desire a Drouin even more!!!
Philippe
 
Here's the Aug. cover photo site, cant grab image as unsubcribed.
http://issuu.com/pjamiol/docs/motorcycl ... ugust_2010

Most the Drouin tales I got have a sad ending of divorces and bankrupcy or killing the pilot, daddy of current rider d/t stuck throttle. So its tempting fate to take one on both to keep it working and pilot like and bike too. I have heard tales or made contact with about 6 other Drouin users. Only Bruce is known to me today though another bought a runner a few years ago and just took off never to be heard of again. Ken Canaga related a salt lake stock 850 with Drouin a few years ago taking a record but then in a joy ride hit rough surface and died there.

If boost is mild, 10-12 lb and not over rev'd either the engine or impeller then it can actually lower loads and wear on engine. The centrifugal type mostly just freewheels until throttle opened fast, so its can give same or even better mileage than w/o it. Its not the drag of rotor or vane or screw type compressors. It delivers soft power increase not the hit of compressor or Nitrous dump.

Its the only way I can see to more than keep up with the elite sport bikes sold and created nowadays at least to 160 without much delay, hopefully before the newbies can, then the turns start again so game over.

Here's DynoDave and Rod Raybourn and Bruce McGreor site on Drouin.
Dyno has moved but some day will post my collection to the section.
http://atlanticgreen.com/ndsc.htm

OMG!!! I need Benadryl!!!
 
Print screen button works...

OMG!!! I need Benadryl!!!


While this is a really nice looking Norton, IMOHO the Drouin takes away the classic look of the left side, it does set it appart from the others that is for sure.

Jean
 
I agree, its an excess blob hanging off otherwise slim Commando, but its worth it to some for the double takes by strangers viewing and sports pilots catching back up at rest stops. Drouin ads say the kit can work with up too 11:1 CR but then advises not to use 2S cam. But I've private report of young whipper snapper putting Drouin on his 11CR 4S cam Combat and loving to whip lash his neck with it. These kits were sold to Sportsters, Honda 750's and others in era.

He did relate a funny event at a rally at night with whole crowd watching/listening, one kick start, one RIP throttle blip then eased out clutch on wet grass to spun right in place onto its side : )

The almost last version had a over heavy impeller that could be felt as gyroscopic resistance to turning/leaning. The last version impeller was about half the mass but still crude casting that left it bad out of balance. LIndskogs can balance for ~$150 and hot shots have milled it thinner and taking most the webing out between the vanes.


OMG!!! I need Benadryl!!!


OMG!!! I need Benadryl!!!
 
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=693BzcgyKZ0[/video]


sorry, I was being lazy 8)
 
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