Yee Haaa! She runs

Davo · Apr 26, 2015

Ladies and gentlemen of the forum.
Had it not been for this most treasured wealth of information I don't believe I would have got this far. I have felt like rolling this bike off a cliff sometimes. No previous motorcycle has tested me so much as this one.
So here it is, the first fire up. It was a complete wreck when I bought it and should really have been taken to a scrap yard, but I felt sorry for it.
I couldn't wait until the tank is painted, I just had to hear the old girl running.
A heart felt thanks to you all for the knowledge I have gained from this forum. It's quite strange knowing so much about Commandos yet I still haven't ridden one! That of course changes tomorrow.

(Yes, I have dropped the idle.)
[video]http://youtu.be/3qNJXV7UlDY[/video]

Chili · Apr 26, 2015

Hi Davo,
Congratulations, sounds good, now get her out on the roads!
Peter

grandpaul · Apr 26, 2015

Well done.

Don't leave it sit and idle too much without getting cooling through the engine by riding it.

tomspro · Apr 26, 2015

Well done mate - she looks and sounds good.
Enjoy your first ride...
:mrgreen:

edgefinder · Apr 26, 2015

Davo said:
A heart felt thanks to you all for the knowledge I have gained from this forum. It's quite strange knowing so much about Commandos yet I still haven't ridden one!

I'm one of the many here who can relate to this. Can't wait till my first ride. Your bikes beautiful!

Roadrash · Apr 26, 2015

I know that's gotta feel good

. She started up nicely, and I can see she only needs paint to be a looker. well done. How was the first ride?

Hobot · Apr 26, 2015

Encouraging to see, hear, feel, smell - as seemed to seat new rings instantly as no smoke interval at all. Hope it give pleasure another few decades before some newbie takes up the hobby after us.

ashman · Apr 26, 2015

Good to see another one back on the road, now once you get use to kicking it, it will be a one kick starter for sure, learn to give it one big swing on the kicker, its not a Jap bike or a Triumph, but you will get there, now enjoy your new ride.

Ashley

travelerjerry · Apr 26, 2015

Well done Davo. Another Norton survivor. Thanks for sharing the video.

Supaflee · Apr 26, 2015

You're sure gonna enjoy that bike .
Have you managed to balance the carbs a little more , and get a slower idle ?
Good onya for not biffing it over a bank somewhere , thats a display of tenacity of a real Norton owner coming through !!

Love to see another vid of her running more evenly and slower.
regards Supaflee

Davo · Apr 27, 2015

I'll pop another video up soon. The idling bit was easy. One of the throttle cables had popped out of the adjuster in the carb top, hence its rather rough re-awakening.
The left hand pipe blued up in that short time so I need to get onto that. The left hand rubber manifold between the carb and the air filter housing is cracked. Would this be enough to induce a lean condition?
Boy am I getting excited.

gatsby · Apr 27, 2015

I love Norton "Wake Up" videos! Well Done!
Gatsby

swooshdave · Apr 27, 2015

Davo said:
The left hand rubber manifold between the carb and the air filter housing is cracked. Would this be enough to induce a lean condition?

Yes.

Robert_Norton · Apr 27, 2015

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At approximately 59 seconds into the video it appears that a nut falls from the bike to the ground.

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kerinorton · Apr 27, 2015

Ive got my hearing aids in. Can I hear a loose chain??
Dereck

Ps I saw that at 59 seconds as well

rx7171 · Apr 27, 2015

Robert_Norton said:
ื

At approximately 59 seconds into the video it appears that a nut falls from the bike to the ground.

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I see that too and this happened as the side stand slipped off the wood block and there was some smoke at the same time which soon dissipated.
Two mysteries.

rx7171 · Apr 27, 2015

Robert_Norton said:
ื

At approximately 59 seconds into the video it appears that a nut falls from the bike to the ground.

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At 1:10 it looks like maybe a bolt drops off onto the ground in front of the left hand cylinder.
Not sure if it related to what looked like a nut that fell away from the right side cover area of the gearbox at :59.

Davo · Apr 28, 2015

My you lot are particular!
The eagle eyed amongst you did in fact spot both a bolt and a nut fall to the ground.
I have fabricated a rod end head steady with a MK3 spring. I've yet to devise a method of attaching the bolt to my custom bracket on the head. The bolt and nut were sitting loosely in the spring and shook off.
I assume the puff of smoke was a little excess oil dripping off the exhaust rocker cover. I hope.

kerinorton · Apr 28, 2015

Was there a noise like a loose chain? Or was that something to do with the bolt coming off, or an exhaust leak????.
Keen to know, for your sake.
Dereck

DogT · Apr 30, 2015

I missed the nut falling off, but I did hear some knocking of some sort, but good to see another one back running. You'll sort it if you've gotten this far.