she lives!

swooshdave said:

Please don't wrap or powdercoat. Pipes aren't that expensive.

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noted-it was just a thought. wrapping id think would look tacky, powder coating would have been more likely. but without seeing how different colors looked, id probably try it, and end up buying new anyway.

alexhobo said:

swooshdave said:

Please don't wrap or powdercoat. Pipes aren't that expensive.

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noted-it was just a thought. wrapping id think would look tacky, powder coating would have been more likely. but without seeing how different colors looked, id probably try it, and end up buying new anyway.

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I don't think powdercoat will withstand the heat, you'd have to go ceramic. I think the headers get hotter than 400˚.

swooshdave said:

I don't think powdercoat will withstand the heat, you'd have to go ceramic. I think the headers get hotter than 400˚.

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there are high temp powders that can be used that are supposed to hold up to about 1000 degrees. I've never seen anyone mess with them though, only the 'normal' low temp ones. Not sure if there's really a difference in how they're applied other than i assume they'd have to be baked at a much higher temperature

About only thing that will cover and stay on headers is the ceramic coats Al chair like finish or dull black, grey and some others now. Its best to coat inside new pipes of course. Stuff like Gukote might be able to take it. Exht temps can reach 1300-1400 in hot tune power use.

Well done Alex,
I did my first Commando when I was 19 & just finished my second, an 850MK2 at age 50.
One thing I found with the Boyer is that it is very easy to static time which gave me the odd kickback on starting.
When I strobed it, it was way advanced. I had to move the rotor on the cam it was that far out!!!
Here is a link from the Norton Owners Club of NSW here in Australia that gives you the timing settings at different revs rather than having to get to 5 grand to set the timing.
I followed this guide and now have a Commando that starts 1st kick with no kickback.. http://www.nocnsw.org.au/igntntmng.html

The other thing I wanted to tell you was, I know a great bike mechanic who is doing lots of rebuilds on air cooled engines that people decided to heat wrap the pipes.
His view is that the wrap is causing the temps to rise internally rather than escaping from the outside of the pipe & has caused these bikes to hole pistons.

Enjoy your youth & the Combat..

Sweenz

I don't buy that insulating the header would back heat up to melt/hole pistons. I can buy the extra heat in headers would allow faster heat exit speed and flow that might draw more air thru carb so leaness may occur which is famous piston hurter. We know if ya remove the 850 sound baffling back pressuring caps they need to be re-jetted richer. I'm going to wrap Ms Peels 2-1 header d/t less engine heat/detonation and when those rot out from accelerated heat/rust I'll install ceramic coated pipes I may also wrap on top of that for less heat retained inside. Correct me if I'm mis-guided on this please. I was quite pleased with the pleasantness of wrapped headers on Ms Peel prior and ran over red line a whole bunch testing how corner crippled and acceleration limited wheelie prone sports bikes are w/o a chamber issue so some evidence wrapping is only bad for the thin headers.

Sweenz said:

Well done Alex,
I did my first Commando when I was 19 & just finished my second, an 850MK2 at age 50.
One thing I found with the Boyer is that it is very easy to static time which gave me the odd kickback on starting.
When I strobed it, it was way advanced. I had to move the rotor on the cam it was that far out!!!

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thats what i have to do now. the plate had already been moved as retarded as she'll go and the pinging and breakdown under WOT continued, though not as bad. It'll give me something to do since snow's on the ground after i finish up some things on another project. thanks for the link

When I first got my 750 up and running the carbs and the timing where less than satisfactory and I turned my right hand pipe purple at the first bend. I went ahead and road it and both pipes are now blue to straw and have evened out in color. So unless you are really freaked out by the color I would just ride it like you stole it.

Russ