Norton Atlas Cafe Racer

This shows a cylinder head strip and repair. Followed by a road test. The bike is now sold.

[@philmuskett265]

Looks -- and sounds -- like a job well done, mate!!

[@chrislaunders8283]

I have seen pushrods miss the ball end of the rocker arm and still lift the valves, I always visually check them now looking up through the exhaust rocker cover holes with a bright light.

[@peterashley6257]

You are right, Chris! I had that happen on a Triumph 500 Daytona. It ran pretty well for about 100 miles, but let go after a gave it a bigger handful! I find you can usually feel a good position if the pushrods will spin true and freely.

[@davidatkinson3887]

Shame the owner opts for single carb / distributor ignition ? with the cafe racer parts .

[@np1663]

Pure noob here. If I bought a good condition Atlas then add a sprint style tank and Manx seat would it look similar to yours? Or is there much more involved? Thank you.

[@peter2ym8]

You need to get hold of a petrol tank oil tank seat to match your frame. Wideline or Slimline. Atlasses came in Slimline, but this one is in Wideline. Then clip on handlebars, rear set foot pegs. That’s basics. The list goes on…..!

[@np1663]

@@peter2ym8 Thank you for the reply. The list going on sounds very involved haha. But not impossible for my near zero skills.The engine work is what I’m most keen to learn.

[@davidatkinson3887]

If thats not an old distributor for ignition what is it ? ,I thought all 750 Atlas and ss models reverted to magneto .

[@peterashley6257]

Yes, it is a dizzy! It’s also a Wideline. No Atlas left the factory like this. It’s also a phased crank and the Dizzy is modified accordingly.

[@peterashley6257]

The single carb was standard on some of them, and that is how the engine arrived from USA. If it were still mine the next move would be twin carbs. The engine is interesting... lightened valve gear, and a phased crank. Consequently off-the-shelf electronic ignition not possible. I overhauled the Dizzy...shaft bearings, bob weight springs, a/r range. It runs well like this.