Norton 650ss oil feed modification

[baz]

I took a look at a Norton project today
It's a 650 ss engine with a commando type oil feed to the side of the head
I've not seen this modification before
The engine is an ex racing motor running on Castrol r40

 

[Fast Eddie]

I took a look at a Norton project today
It's a 650 ss engine with a commando type oil feed to the side of the head
I've not seen this modification before
The engine is an ex racing motor running on Castrol r40

Coz… you need another project… like, obviously…

 

[baz]

Coz… you need another project… like, obviously…

No I decided not to buy it
It appears to be a Manx Norton frame it had the clearance on the top tube for the head and it was very light
It had flangeless akronts a rickman style alloy tank that'd been cut open from underneath and baffle plates fitted
New duralumin engine plates standard gearbox standard forks and a fibreglass oil tank
The engine was complete with carbs and mag but would need a complete strip down get all that R out of it

 

[Fast Eddie]

No I decided not to buy it
It appears to be a Manx Norton frame it had the clearance on the top tube for the head and it was very light
It had flangeless akronts a rickman style alloy tank that'd been cut open from underneath and baffle plates fitted
New duralumin engine plates standard gearbox standard forks and a fibreglass oil tank
The engine was complete with carbs and mag but would need a complete strip down get all that R out of it

Looking at the prices that decent 650ss and Atlases are going for at present, something like that would have to be seriously cheap…

 

[baz]

Looking at the prices that decent 650ss and Atlases are going for at present, something like that would have to be seriously cheap…

Exactly

 

[triumph2]

Possibly a Mercury engine. They were essentially a 650SS with a Commando cylinder head machined to suit.

 

[baz]

Possibly a Mercury engine. They were essentially a 650SS with a Commando cylinder head machined to suit.

Ah I never knew that

 

[hybridracer]

All downdraught Norton cylinder heads are 650ss heads with minor modifications, even the 750 short stroke head.

 

[possm]

t's a 650 ss engine with a commando type oil feed to the side of the head
I've not seen this modification before

A friend has a Mercury, I believe the rocker feed is still to the top, I suspect it has a Commando head etc.

 

[baz]

I should have taken a photo
The oil feed to the side of the head was a modification
I just wondered why?
And if anyone had seen it done before

 

[t ingermanson]

Possibly a Mercury engine. They were essentially a 650SS with a Commando cylinder head machined to suit.

The Mercury motor is functionally identical to the late model 650SS. Some motors seem to have the Commando casting for a side oiling cylinder head, while some seem to have more of the "picket fence", but both have the top oiling function. My Mercury motor has all the internals of the 650, including rockers, push rods, etc., but I don't know all the differences between the 650 vs early 750 valve gear though, so not much help there. I also don't know what it would take to turn a side oiling casting into a functioning side oiler, but it looks like there's the meat to do it with.

Seems like the Mercury was a grab bag of parts (spray bombed blue) to get them out the door.

 

[baz]

The head had this type casting between the rocker spindles
It was spot faced machines in the centre like a commando fitting

 

[t ingermanson]

The head had this type casting between the rocker spindles
It was spot faced machines in the centre like a commando fitting

My Mercury has more of that "picket fence" as well, that was indicative of a standard top oiling head.

@dynodave's Atlantic Green website postulates that the side oiling castings with top oiling function were maybe for warranty replacements, subbed in to build Mercurys. Seems reasonable to me.

 

[Seeley920]

I've seen it done before. I raced an Atlas in the 80s that had been done, originally for a different frame/head steady. I put it in a featherbed using the orignal steady and just put a blanking bolt in the 2 origiala outer holes