Weak links

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forgot the tach drive mod

prime links

Fair Spares America, Inc
http://www.fairsparesamerica.com/services.asp
Front Master Cylinder Resleeving
Exhaust Port Repair
Cylinder Stud Repair
Tach Drive Modification
Gearbox Outer Cover Modification
Isolastic Upgrade

Welcome To The Norton Motorcycle Machine Shop
http://www.nortonmachineshop.com/

oldbritts Technical Articles
https://www.oldbritts.com/ob_tech.html

just gonna ad stuff for now that i run across, original iso mod should be prominent due to critical settings & major labor involved vs the verniers

an a to z alphabetical index list could be handy


84ok said:
dunno about weaker but frame neck angle change for 850, yokes not compatible wth prior,
early frames 'widowmakers' & stll see them, but most are fixed,
rear frame loop weak, bends

early sidestands changed modified,
center stand itself upgraded (stronger) visually different, also went from frame to cradle mount,
- my 74 original still broke (weld) tho

3 type swingarm welded cross member supports near the pivot end i'm aware of,
early is tubular, then beefed up twice for 850,
next is rectangular with a pronounced v shape facing aft,
final 75 on, rectangular

early no cush, later wheel cush problematic, new for 75 way better but not an easy fix for prior

original left footbrake lever if the cable breaks,
original front brake master cylinder bore/piston size

primary cover oil seal, running oil also results in clutch slippage,
gearbox cover seals (o-rings mod fix),

proper oil filter introduced at some point

cylinder head exhaust pipe threads strip


afaik ^
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is their a virus affecting the RH4 head after the 40 + years in use in nearly all cases. Suddenly this is the hottest gossip on this forum. Never used to hear a peep on this subject even Norman White said he is not aware of a problem. Is it due to ham fisted owners bashing in valve guides cold . Or are they reaching middle age or just deciding to crack up like many of their owners
 
Mine's just fine, rh4ing away same as always. Got an RH10 in the drawer just in case tho..

Glen
 
mine too . lets hope it stays in that happy condition and you never need to use the 10 and i dont have to sell my home wife and kid to afford a Fullauto
 
E index - engine, subsection c - cases

info for now

750 - 850 Cases Comparison or 850 Barrels in 750 Cases
https://www.accessnorton.com/Norton...-or-850-barrels-in-750-cases.5322/#post-56838

Engine cases : are the halves matched ?.
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/engine-cases-are-the-halves-matched.7065/

Weak early 850 cases
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/weak-early-850-cases.7262/

Best Treatment For Head and Engine Cases?
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/best-treatment-for-head-and-engine-cases.6238/


84ok said:
forgot the tach drive mod

prime links

Fair Spares America, Inc
http://www.fairsparesamerica.com/services.asp
Front Master Cylinder Resleeving
Exhaust Port Repair
Cylinder Stud Repair
Tach Drive Modification
Gearbox Outer Cover Modification
Isolastic Upgrade

Welcome To The Norton Motorcycle Machine Shop
http://www.nortonmachineshop.com/

oldbritts Technical Articles
https://www.oldbritts.com/ob_tech.html

just gonna ad stuff for now that i run across, original iso mod should be prominent due to critical settings & major labor involved vs the verniers

an a to z alphabetical index list could be handy
Click to expand...
 
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After owning my Norton since new on 43 years I never had much problems with it but then I converted mine to a Featherbed frame back in 82 but the last 10 years I have been modenizing it to make it even better, I still have orginal valves and spring but the head has been ported for my hot cam over the time of conversion to the Featherbed as well crank being balance at 72%, moden carbies, better brakes up front, Lannsdowns in the front end, Koni shockes since 79, lighter wheels the list goes on but isn't that what owning a Norton is all about, making them better than when they come out of the factory, after 43 years on the road there is always something to do, like Glen said lets see if our moden bikes will be around in all that time, I replace or fix thing when needed it like all machinery things do wear out, things break its all part of owning old bikes, but there is also a lot of junk parts around you just got to do your homework before you decide whats best and I wouldn't have it any other way, I love my Norton.

Ashley
 
https://www.accessnorton.com/Norton...s-in-featherbed-frames-or-other-frames.15786/
ashman said:
After owning my Norton since new on 43 years I never had much problems with it but then I converted mine to a Featherbed frame back in 82 but the last 10 years I have been modenizing it to make it even better, I still have orginal valves and spring but the head has been ported for my hot cam over the time of conversion to the Featherbed as well crank being balance at 72%, moden carbies, better brakes up front, Lannsdowns in the front end, Koni shockes since 79, lighter wheels the list goes on but isn't that what owning a Norton is all about, making them better than when they come out of the factory, after 43 years on the road there is always something to do, like Glen said lets see if our moden bikes will be around in all that time, I replace or fix thing when needed it like all machinery things do wear out, things break its all part of owning old bikes, but there is also a lot of junk parts around you just got to do your homework before you decide whats best and I wouldn't have it any other way, I love my Norton.

Ashley
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Rub it in hehe but how many other teams does it but as as a Aussie I have been off the the cricket for a long time because of all the crap and sledging its got out of hand, its not sportsmanship.

Ashley
 
Early head steady - the only intact ones I've seen have been welded back together already!
Basic operating principle is also poor - everything happening at the head steady gets amplified at the back wheel.
 
Depressing is finding out a loved one has become afflicted.
Owing/working on a Commando means you relish a challenge!

Now, what to do if you find your ownership has become an affliction instead of a challenge? That cd be depressing, I reckon...
 
Best part of owning any bike whether new or old is to find out their faults, upgrades to fix any faults you find and just enjoy the fun you will have, I been doing it for 43 years on my Norton and have enjoyed every minute of it and now doing the same with my New 1200 Thruxton not so much finding faults just improving it and I did the same with my 2013 Thruxton no faults just improved it.
Its the best way to get to know every part of your bike inside and out every nut and bolt.

Ashley
 
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Ashley , going into my 11 ownership year with my Ducati ST3s and I can honestly say I have had no failures of any type I have only done regular services/ maintenance, tires, sprockets and a chain , 60000kms ... don’t really want to add up the cost on first 11 years of ownership of the Commando, not all of it failures, but still way more troubles than the modern..... still extremely attached to the old bike though !
 
Craig my Norton was a every day ride for over 35 years and has never let me down in all that time, maintenance is very important I only had to trailer it home once when it threw a chain link and spun the chain around the front sprocket but was not far from home, another time one coil had broken and was only the top left rode the bike home on one cylinder I was about 60 miles from home not bad for 43 years of owning it, it has never leaked oil in that time had a few little seps here and there but were easy fixes, just in the last 10 years that I have really spent lots of money on it with some very good upgrades, JH maggie, PWK carbies, Lansdown inturnals, full Grimca front brake system, its proberly the most I spent on my Norton in all the years I owned it, its only had 2 major rebuilds and one rebuild to replace crank cases so motor has only been pulled down 3 times and now has well over 150,000 miles on it, but now owning my Thruxtons its semi retired but its alway starts on first kick when I do take it out but since owning my new 1200 Thruxton my other bikes have been neglected, its so good and feels like my Featherbed Norton when riding it, what ever Triumph did they have the balanced the bike perfect.

Ashley
 
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