RGM head/barrel stainless kit

Anyone with experience with their kit 050468? I seem to remember that the later 750's had some UNF parts in the head somewhere? Can someone fill me in on the 69/70 issues? Not a bad price at £38.

Dave
69S

DogT said:

Anyone with experience with their kit 050468? I seem to remember that the later 750's had some UNF parts in the head somewhere? Can someone fill me in on the 69/70 issues? Not a bad price at £38.

Click to expand...

This one ? "EVERY NUT, BOLT AND WASHER TO FIT BARREL TO CRANKCASE AND HEAD TO BARREL. NOT INCLUDING STUDS. ALL DOMMIE/ATLAS/COMMANDO PRE 850 (35 ITEMS)"

Can't be that way, the later 750s had UNF nuts for the barrel etc. On the head I'm not sure but have a look at the ANIL web site. Scanning quickly though the bolts reveals mostly part which have a reference to the old numbering system which I'd read as them being from the pre-UNx-era.

Their claim can't really be valid unless they have different kits under the same no and want to know the year of the machine upon ordering.


Tim

I got my set from rocky point. I think it's a little cheaper, but I can't remember

Tim, yes, I sent them an email asking them about the older BSW vs the UNF issue.

Pellican, I was going to check out Rocky Point too.

For some reason the nickel plating I did on the head and barrel nuts/bolts didn't last and is rusting as we speak. It might be the plating solution got too old, they were some of the last things I did.

Dave
69S

I just looked at Rocky Point, seems like everything is pretty much ala carte and would add up to well over $100. Got a message back from Roger at RGM this AM,

"..all the head fittings are the same thread throughout, the threads for the base studs into the crankcase are all BSW the thread for the nut on the base stud changed from BSC to UNF, we can supply the kit with either the BSC or UNF nuts, you are close to the change over time so you would really have to tell us which base nut you have."

So it seems like he is aware of the issue, it's just not laid out in the catalogue. BSC is same as CEI as I can tell. Seems like my base nuts are BSC, not UNF.

Think I'll try him out, I need a few other little things as well.

Dave
69S

Not to rain on your parade but I thought that the Norton Guru's were advising against using stainless in places like the barrel and head bolts etc etc.? Something about them stretching? Tensil strength not being up to snuff? I sure wish the guy I got my bike from had used new bolts when he did the new top end but although he is known as a very good Norton guy he is just not concerned with "looks" so he reused the funky bolts. I hate to do it but I think I will paint a few on the bike.

DogT said:

I just looked at Rocky Point, seems like everything is pretty much ala carte and would add up to well over $100. Got a message back from Roger at RGM this AM,

"..all the head fittings are the same thread throughout, the threads for the base studs into the crankcase are all BSW the thread for the nut on the base stud changed from BSC to UNF, we can supply the kit with either the BSC or UNF nuts, you are close to the change over time so you would really have to tell us which base nut you have."

So it seems like he is aware of the issue, it's just not laid out in the catalogue. BSC is same as CEI as I can tell. Seems like my base nuts are BSC, not UNF.

Think I'll try him out, I need a few other little things as well.
Dave
69S

Click to expand...

Dealt with RGM for 20 years they do know their Commandos... :wink:

I'm not replacing the crank to barrel studs, just the nuts, and the head nuts and bolts. I'm looking into the 4 nuts that hold the crank cases together too. Looks like they are BSC/CEI too. I reckon RGM is a reputable supplier, they've been around for a while.

Dave
69S

Dave,
I just ordered my barrel base nuts from RGM as well as a whole pile of other bits.
The quality of the nuts is excellent and the threads perfect.
I ordered them last Friday, Roger shipped them that day, and I had them in my hand Monday afternoon.
Amazing when you consider I live across the other side of the planet!
Dave

UNF 24?

I just got RGMs base nuts in the mail last week.. great quality and price, even half way around the planet.

So, I got the barrels over the pistons, everything in place, and one of the 3/8 studs won't take the nut. It looks ok, I'm using lock-tite anti seize, but it won't take, I'll need to take it all apart and try to re-thread the stud. on the 72, is the UNF 24?

Past Ms Peel had SS from Rocky Point as on top of the strength vs shine grade of SS. But the pretty SS only lasted a yr or so then heat darkened and stained brownish but not rust nor weakening. Main caution of SS in Norton is when used in shear loads such as engine cradle. Should be fine to retain steel suds with SS nuts.

Curious if anyone else has had SS engine fasteners turn dark. I know SS headers turn yellowish.

Don, You may want to check the thread on that 3/8 stud. Roger told me that the threads in the crank are BSW and the nut end is either BSC or UNF depending on year. BSC would be 26 and UNF would be 24. It could be possible you have a mix of BSC and UNF? You could check that 3/8 nut on the stud that joins the top of the crank cases on the rear of the cases. I think that one is a 3/8 BSC. I'm sure you have a 3/8 UNF to try that nut on somewhere, like the Z plate bolts or the brake cams if you have the drum brakes.

Dave
69S

thanks Dave, good advice... UNF24 it is.
a little foreplay with a small file is all it needed to get those threads cleaned and started, and the good part of a sunday to get barrels installed and torqued.
I hope they didn't miss me at church.....
cheers,
Don

Rocky Point is under new management and the owner is a habitue of our little coven. Why not give him a call/email/PM and ask your questions? He's a straight shooter; if he can't meet your needs for your price I'm sure he'll tell you so. FWIW/YMMV!

It's not that I have questions, it's the fact that at R-P, Head bolts $75; head nuts $35; Cyl long nuts $26; cyl base nuts $24; total $160. RGM complete kit £38 = $61. Shipping will not make up $100. I'm sure the R-P nuts and bolts are fine, as are the RGM. It's just that I'm a cheapskate.

Dave
69S

Follow up for this thread. Got the parts today, took about 2 weeks, I guess 'die innere Sicherheit Abteilung' (DHS) is doing their job. At any rate, the head/cyl kit looks real good. Here's the head kit.



Here's the cylinder kit.



The washers are nice and thick, have a bevel on one side. The nuts are flat on one end and beveled on the other. The centre front cylinder nut has a 'built in' washer on it. These are all BSC (CEI) nuts and bolts for the early models.

I got a few other things, black neoprene washers for the rocker covers and gearbox (seems a bit thick).



Return spring for the rear brake pedal, SS pins and circlips for the brake parts, SS washer for the primary cover. In the picture is the new one and my old one that I tried plating, but the plating didn't hold up to the nut. A bit dissapointed that it is not as large as the original, I put a standard SAE on it, which is about what the one I got from RGM looks like. Also got a kickstart pawl and a few other SS nuts for the engine studs. In general I'm happy with it all, but one of the BSC nuts for the engine stud was wrong, £88 - $140 including shipping.

Does anyone know where I can get the flat style clips in stainless that fit on the pins for the brake parts instead of those circlips?

Dave
69S

Finished installing all the SS nuts/bolts/washers on the '69 today, just need to re-install the headers, and head steady. Believe it or not all the nuts and bolts went in perfectly. No issues with wrong threads. Only thing different was instead of the very long 1/4W nuts below the exhaust headers, it used a long round nut with a 3/16W spanner or a 7/16" spanner on the end fit on it pretty good too. I'm happy.

Dave
69S