Norton Commando Head disassembly

Рет қаралды 501

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 29

@576rl900 8 ай бұрын

The "bit that goes on the valve" is a lash cap. Typically these are not found on Nortons, but are sometimes used. The use of these will affect the geometry, sometimes necessitating shortening the pushrod. (Note: If buying new valves Commando valves have a longer stem than Atlas/P11/N15). I highly suggest washing the newly blasted head with Dawn dish liquid in enough hot water to totally immerse the head. I use spiral brushes to thoroughly clean the pushrod tunnels and a length of 'pipe cleaner' to scrub the oil drain holes. I like to do this twice, rinsing with clear water and compressed air after each wash. Most auto supply houses can supply the brushes.

@motohomeless9168 8 ай бұрын

Solid suggestions! I will find some brushes. I already ordered new valves, as I don’t want to deal with the unknown.

@576rl900 8 ай бұрын

Combat head ('72 750) and RH6 ('73 750) also used 32 X 32 mm inlet stubs and Amal 932 (32 mm) carburetors.

@motohomeless9168 8 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@brucebear1 Ай бұрын

Beautiful job. I especially like how you're careful when pulling the rocker spindles. I use a slide hammer to pull them -- there's no real difference between the slide hammer and your threaded puller except the slide hammer will not "over do" the spindle removal process. If you've tapped it a few times with the slide hammer (at Andover Norton website, search for part-no: 06.4298), and the spindle doesn't move, that means that probably you need to go back and apply a little more heat to the head at that area. Conversely, if the spindle isn't "ready" to come out easily without scoring the bore in the head, it's possible for a mechanic who isn't really familiar with the amount of pull needed to apply too much pulling force with the chance of damaging the head. So, the threaded puller is fine, but it must be used with care and skill. Valve spring compressors are difficult. There's very little room in a Commando head. The factory used compressors made by a company called "MCA Aston" (Aston is a division of the city of Birmingham). I got one of those compressors back in the day, but there's a story. I wanted to use the stock valves from my 750 when we built my 850 engine so I took the "perfect factory tool" and I couldn't get it to work. There just wasn't enough room in the cylindrical section that bears on the spring collars. So I went over to the engine assembly line -- those guys made it look like they'd done it a hundred times in the past week ( :) ). So I went over to the Experimental shop where I got my used 850 head and one of the engine builders looked at my compressor and said ""yeah, this should work". I tried again with no more success so I went back to the engine assembly line and asked what I was doing wrong -- one of the engine builders asked me if I was using the MCA Aston compressor. I said yes, like the one ones you're using here. He looked at me and the compressor I was holding and said "Oh, some of them don't have the windows cut deep enough - you might have to grind the tapered edges a bit." It's always something! A bit of a buzz on the edge and it worked fine and has for the past 52 years. A trick about it is that the lower and upper legs are on a screw thread so that adjustment is variable over a wide range For a photo, see the MCA Aston website and put part number P211 in the search block. Speaking of gaskets, have you tried Jim Schmidt's high-temp silicon gaskets? I've just re-assembled my 850 Production Racer engine using them and they are amazingly good. They take up the clamping pressure of the screws or bolts holding the parts together beautifully and they just feel right going together. Jim says that they are the perfect oil seal, too. I really like them. Also, do these bronze inlet valve guides have the cutaway and groove for the intake valve seals? If a motor is going to be in a Commando that's ridden hard (as they should be) it's a good idea for seals to be on the intake valve guides. I'm not sure if I would go to the trouble of changing them out over that but it's an issue. Great work. If you're coming to the AHRMA race at Kershaw in March, we'll probably be in the same place, near the kart track -- drop by and see us again.

@motohomeless9168 11 күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment! Sorry for the delay in response. Thanks for the heads up on the spring compressor, I’ll look for the MCA Aston one. I’ll check the guides to see if they are like you said. I will not be at the race this year. I moved to Southwest Virginia, so it would be a bit of a haul to get there.

@brucebear1 11 күн бұрын

@@motohomeless9168 I hope the move goes well for you. Unfortunately, a retailer supplier in the UK says that MCA Aston has been out of stock for the spring compressor for at least two years; bummer because it works well for Commandos, other Nortons, and most other English bikes. Simplicity can be a great benefit. Thanks for all the fun videos. You provide good information in a helpful way and that's important if we're going to make sure that owners can keep their British bikes on the road.

@motohomeless9168 11 күн бұрын

The Bonneville Shop sells an updated version of it. Part number 61-3341 if you are looking for one. I will be ordering shortly

@casmitherz 8 ай бұрын

^⁠_⁠^ You ain't homeless... You can sleep in the vapor blaster cabinet!! 😅 Spoiled! That's awesome... Wish I had one...

@motohomeless9168 8 ай бұрын

😂😂 nearly could! Thanks. I absolutely love having it

@casmitherz 8 ай бұрын

@@motohomeless9168 Thx for the inspiration to actually work on my own Commando :⁠-⁠D It's on the list! Work safe my man.

@motohomeless9168 8 ай бұрын

Absolutely! Where are you located?

@casmitherz 8 ай бұрын

@@motohomeless9168 San Luis Obispo CA. With the Commando- the bike I never thought I would own...

@motohomeless9168 8 ай бұрын

Nice! Other side of the country from me

@iosis99 3 ай бұрын

What is/was the media in the vapor blaster? Wouldn't a soapy pressure washer achieve basically the same result?

@motohomeless9168 3 ай бұрын

It’s a glass media for the abrasive. Soapy water would get it clean, but not as good of a finish. I haven’t been working on it lately. Have a lot of life things going on at the moment, but should be getting back to it soon!

@iosis99 3 ай бұрын

@@motohomeless9168 👍

@iosis99 3 ай бұрын

@@motohomeless9168 👍

@41jimmymac1 2 ай бұрын

What type of valve compressor are you using ??? As l found there is no room to get a normal compressor in l struggled so what are you using for removal of springs. ???

@motohomeless9168 2 ай бұрын

It was a normal spring compressor. It was difficult to get it on

@41jimmymac1 2 ай бұрын

I have 2 normal spring compressors and l found it V impossible to remove the springs properly !!!! I did manage to remove all valves but with great soft, As l found trying to get the fingers into the head and seated properly was a F nightmare Note I’ve never done a Norton before as I’m a Triumph man , l could of done 50 valve removal on a triumph head as against 4 F’n valves on a Dommi head what a nightmare, the engineers that thought out Norton head wants them shovn up there a+++’s not a brilliant piece of engineering, Norton must of had a completely different tool when inserting these in the factory !!!

@iosis99 3 ай бұрын

Did you get it running?

@motohomeless9168 3 ай бұрын

Not yet, I’ll be getting back on it soon

@iosis99 3 ай бұрын

@@motohomeless9168 👍