Norton Nemesis V8 Rebuild - Episode 3

In this video I continue with the engine strip and remove the cylinder heads
The Norton Nemeses is a pre production prototype that was made in the late 90's with claims of a 200+mph top speed from its 1500cc fuel injected V8 engine.
As far as I'm aware, this is the only bike that has survived but if any of you know of other bikes please leave a comment. This bike is owned by the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham UK has been on display as a non running exhibit for many years.
I have already worked on the bike last year getting the engine to run after a few rudimentary checks, new oil and batteries for series 12 of Henry Cole's "The Motorbike Show" where Henry rode it for a few miles up to around 50 mph, but it wasn't running very well and was leaking a lot of oil and coolant.
Episodes of "The Motorbike show" can be seen on itvx player on line and some shorter edits are available on Henrys KZbin channel.
Over the coming months I will be stripping the bike to sort out a few issues with the V8 engine and hopefully make it run and ride how it was intended 25 years ago.

[@Doug791]

I reckon the last video in this rebuild will be Allen saying "I decided that whole engine was a bit rubbish , so I built a whole new one. Here it is , and it's just perfect".

[@Turnipstalk]

I'm sure he would do a better job on that awful coolant system. Blocked passages already?

[@albertp205]

Norton Nemezis V12?

[@althejazzman]

​@@albertp205a V10 would be just perfect.

[@hoost3056]

Totally perfect response! Then goes out and sets a speed record with the Millyard Revised V8.

[@mpetersen6]

​@@albertp205 If this was built by Naiper & Sons or BRM it would be a V-16 or an H-16/24. I am of the opinion that BRM hired former Napier engine designers.

[@johnDukemaster]

16 minutes...already? No shitty music, no nonsense. Lovely! Thank you mr Millyard!

[@philleeson7835]

No,just that bl@@dy clock tic,tic,tic

[@robertanderson-yx8mo]

What the he'll was all that crap in the water gernals.? Looked like someone stuck one of your wife's cupcakes in the header tank.

[@AndrewNeilBaird]

No need for begging like and subscribe, we are watching because it's grown up stuff

[@AllenMillyard]

@@philleeson7835 Ive got a lot of clocks !

[@michielderuyter6011]

@@philleeson7835 I love the clock. Reminds me of my childhood. It makes me calm.

[@aggieengineer2635]

The unique thing about Allen's videos is that they are so relaxing to watch while, at the same time, commanding my full attention. It's rather like watching a fine watchmaker. I hope he never runs out of projects.

[@henrydorsetcase]

I watch a lot of watch making videos (shoutout to Wristwatch Revival) and you're absolutely right. Marshall has a not dissimilar delivery to Allen, too.

[@garymoore8969]

I'm a mechanic of over 42 years and with all my years as an apprentice and city and guilds I'm still just a mechanic.... Alan is a whole other level...He is a Wizard...an oracle...just bloody amazing.👍love the vids

[@rasmus1600]

Alright, new life goal. Walk into the National Motorcycle Museum and take parts off an exhibition piece.

[@graemecatty9921]

Yeah, i thought that myself. You and I would have been talking to the lads in blue down at the station.

[@scottcates]

Massive flex

[@michaeltaylor8835]

Mr M has. special permission

[@carnage77]

Absolute baller move

[@AllenMillyard]

@@michaeltaylor8835 That's James hewing the museum director stood next to me

[@MarkFox]

Great work Allen, you have the hands of a real working man! I would have loved to meet you in person someday but the cancer got me and I'm not going to be around much longer. You have many fans here in the USA.

[@andrewlorenz3139]

Despite my comments about the video, unboxing the Norton Commando, I am sorry to read your comments. Yes he is a great engineer and maybe like you I love how he makes everything look so easy. My best wishes to you from ' across the pond'.

[@drdoolittle5724]

Love from The Isle of Man!

[@AllenMillyard]

Sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis, I should have ep4 up next Saturday all being well

[@MarkFox]

@@AllenMillyard Thank you for replying and I'm looking forward to your next episode!

[@davidford2169]

Keep positive mark,all the very best 🙏🇬🇧

[@Sarin-Q]

It's always a good day when there's a new video from Allen!

[@pauldenniss5230]

Is there anything more relaxing than the calm voice and the gentle ticking of the clock?

[@295walk]

A bit of rain thrown in would be just perfect

[@doug8515]

...and a slice of homemade cherry cake and a cup of tea, just perfect.

[@daveoneshot5681]

Watching this man is like being in school with a really good teacher......

[@ogri48]

i met allen at the NEC and all i could stutter was was ‘ christ, allen, your my hero!’. he was as embarrassed as i was😂we got talking and when i told him i was a brickie, he said ‘ah, i built my extension!’ and i knew in that moment despite my fifty years building experience he would have built it more perfect than anything i’ve ever done myself 😂😂👍such a lovely bloke too, just as you would expect😊👍

[@keithfarrell3370]

Allen walks into a museum and asks for a few bits off an exhibit. 'Sure Allen,no probs' shows how highly Mr millyard is thought of.

[@fallingwater]

The Nemesis is the museum's own bike, he's rebuilding it for them. They'll be OK with some parts swapping to get it going.

[@peterharkness3547]

Saturday night at home on Lanzarote, drinking a Rusty Nail. Watching Allen strip an engine he's not seen before. What's not to love. Always nice to watch a craftsman at work. Love the videos, Charlie Weaver and cakes.

[@petercrisp2573]

So nice to not have a silly music background but to hear the clock ticking in the background is very therapeutic and not at all annoying. Love your channel Allen and this series is really interesting.

[@JohnHonda101]

Listening to Allen talking is like those relaxing voices you would hear on TV back in the 60's and 70's but with a far more interesting subject.

[@AA-69]

Great to see a bike that looks like it was made in a shed , Overhauled in a shed 😏👍😘🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@gregphillips.1312]

Proper Engineering. I love the Torque from Vee configuration. I worked for 9 years as a Quality Inspector, at that time the Firm I worked for Parent Metal Coated and Hot Honed V10 and V12 F1 Blocks, they had 95mm Bore and 30mm Stroke, hence Compressed Air Valves were needed because a Spring can't react at 95 times a second at 23000 RPM. When you Flexihone those Cylinders dwell more at the bottom than Top, that will allow the rings to relax at the bottom of the stroke, try for 30 degree cross hatch for best oil retention and least blow by.

[@tonysmith8397]

Brain box.

[@gregphillips.1312]

@@tonysmith8397 lol, everyday is school day even now at 52 😉

[@andrewlorenz3139]

I have just been watching some Americans unboxing a vintage, unused 1975 Norton Commando. A waste of my time and a waste of a bike! This popped up and I thought I would come here for quality informed content. You sir are an engineer par excellence and know what you are doing. I am not a mechanic but enjoy videos made by people who actually know what they are doing. My best wishes.

[@PatHaskell]

That’s because in America the best way to get views is by acting a clown in a circus act. They/we don’t really show anything it’s due respect. So glad to be back in Allen’s peaceful shop watching an expert doing what he loves.

[@andrewstoffel1170]

Americans love opening box’s, and if there’s a sticker in there they go crazy.

[@user-tt4cf7cw2t]

@@PatHaskellbeards and Bikes?

[@andystokes8702]

I've seen the video with the brand new Norton Commando still in the box. Bikes and Beards. The mechanic is actually pretty good and really entertaining, he has his own channel now, The bearded Mechanic where he tackles 'unfixable' bikes. The other guy is a total clown; I wouldn't trust him to hold a screwdriver the right way round.

[@frederickbowdler8169]

Probably been leaking coolant and somebody has used a raw egg to seal the pipes .!!!!!!!!

[@devonbikefilms]

What a great joy it is to watch someone who genuinely knows and loves what they’re doing. I look forward to watching the whole series and seeing the finished product running as it should for the first time.

[@Nicknofish]

I am at peace with the world after watching your videos, Allen. Cheers.

[@stephenrice4554]

Just so , I sit and watch Allen's demonstration and for a while I'm transported . No stress , no strain . Just perfect .

[@EnergyXyz]

Engines relaxes when they come into the tick tock garage

[@ironhorsehero1988]

I love how you make things sound as if anyone could do it, just saw this end off, weld the engine back together, make a tool for this, make a gauge for that. We’re all well aware that what you do isn’t for mere mortals, engineering gods only need apply.

[@Plasmo20]

I really like that your comments are factual and that there is no ego in the dialogue. appreciated.

[@dartmoormancave]

Hi Allen...great to watch wizard at work. Thanks for another great vid....can't wait for part 4!

[@robinbrowne5419]

I think this is the first time I have seen an engine teardown that is not Japanese. But it is always a pleasure to watch Allen work 👍

[@weatheranddarkness]

There's a good one of an Aprilia RSV4 engine on here

[@alanbond1269]

Allen Millyard you have so much knowledge your a artist of engineering. And you have such a relaxed peaceful manner. Keep the videos rolling Your go down in history as one of the greatest engineers

[@jeffoakley2331]

The difference between the front bank and back is huge. One side look brand new the other has clearly had some issues to cause the bore marks. I suspect you are right that the blocked waterways caused the over heating but what caused the crud in the rear and not the front. With the ticking clock in the background and your calm voice it is relaxing to watch this unfold

[@romanroad483]

I believe the front and rear cylinder banks had totally separate cooling systems. That is, two rads. two water pumps etc. So one bank could become contaminated and not the other.

[@jeffoakley2331]

@@romanroad483 that is probably true but still weird that one half clean as a whistle and the other badly clogged up with no signs of a problem with sealing etc. I am sure Alan will find out why

[@philipgrice1026]

@@jeffoakley2331 I wonder if the loose fitting rear bank exhaust contributed to some over richness in the rear cylinders. I have seen this in the past and suspect it is the result of poor cylinder scavenging during the exhaust stroke. The rear heads and pistons have quite a carbon build up considering the reported "little use". If the rear bank overheated excessively, it's also possible that some degree of ring seizure occurred, creating the light scoring in some of the rear bores. The water channels look bloody awful with that crud in them. I bet nobody bothered to put a suitable antifreeze in there to eliminate the aluminum oxidizing. The next episode should reveal all. Another interesting video, thank you, Allen.

[@fizzyridertoo]

My missus is obsessed with hedgehogs as she's never seen one in the wild (we live in Texas) so she always looks forward to your clips about them.

[@bananabrooks3836]

Did Texans eat them all?

[@fizzyridertoo]

@@bananabrooks3836 It wouldn't surprise me! it's just too darn hot for them I think, judging from the most common roadkill being armadillos rather than hedgehogs, as it is in the UK.

[@user-nt1xz6qn8x]

Do you like the Hogs?

[@TS50ER]

@@fizzyridertoo Is there a town called Armadillo in Texas?

[@fidelcatsro6948]

hahahahaha

[@WiltshireMan]

Allen, I could take that engine apart dead easy and make it so the engine would never wear out.....it would never run again :) Good to see the hedgehog back

[@fidelcatsro6948]

youre a natural genius!

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

Fact File: Allen keys were originally called Millyard Keys after their maker. Every Allen Key in existence was made by his hands out of whatever he could find nearby. He then hardened them, stamped them etc and sold them worldwide for a pittance. Legend has it he quit making them in the mid 70's so any "New" ones on sale today are simply refurbished old ones. Oh, and yes, he can claim them back as his property from anyone, at any time and we cannot refuse this under law!

[@allareasindex7984]

Nah, Donald Trump invented them. He said so himself.

[@ianwaters9445]

Another Masterclass,I could watch Allen all day and never be bored👍🏻👍🏻

[@richardt.4224]

Another great video Allen, as always appreciated. As an Expat I haven't been to the NEC Motorcycle museum since I was last back in the UK in 1998. It was sad news when I heard it had been in a fire; So many bike destroyed. I only used to live a few miles down the road, just opposite the old Triumph service centre on the A45. Looking forward to Episode 4 Allen. I'd like see your name put forward for your work with motorcycles for the honors list in the not too distant future! Keep up the good work 🙂 and THANX.

[@redleadervfr-v4906]

Very enjoyable to watch you talking down the V8 Alan thank you for the video and I look forward to the next one 👍

[@julianpritchard2558]

The legend that is Mr Millyard .

[@stevelee5724]

This guys clever, aint he !

[@chipperkeithmgb]

Yes he is

[@liamjackson6930]

NO, he's a f**cking genius

[@garywheeley5108]

Just a bit😅😅

[@springford9511]

Wait until he gets the hacksaw out and makes the two engines into a 2250cc V12. Norton V8 pah! 😇

[@erik_dk842]

@@springford9511 Why wouldn't he use all the cylinders and make it a V16?

[@drdoolittle5724]

Thank you Allen, yet again totally enjoying your work and wildlife - although, no Tracy, no cake, an empty sack cannot stand on its own!

[@johnpartridge7623]

I've never seen the insides of a Pre-production Bike & Engine before & it's interesting to see the faults & mistakes that went into making the Nemesis also what a shame this Bike never got any furthur than this Stage in it's development. You are doing a great job Allen 👍

[@MidEngineering]

Some interesting stickers on the wall. "Itchiban Moto" - another motorcycling genius!

[@henrydorsetcase]

I noticed that too. :)

[@TheDaf95xf]

Evening Allen 😊 love how methodical you’re in taking things to bits 👍🏻

[@barrypowell5108]

I always enjoy watching your videos. It reminds me of my younger days rebuilding engine's with my grandad. He was a engineer on the flying boats during war world 3. He was an amazing man. Please keep your videos coming and thank you

[@packhams4]

Im happy to see that time travel is still alive. Were people driving DeLoreans in WW3?

[@Fintoman]

The clock ticking in the background compliments Allen's style and presentation perfectly.

[@blueninja900zxr]

just a perfect day just finished with my tea and Sir Allen Millyard watching the latest video of the v8 pure genius may you continue

[@hydorah]

Amazing prototype engineering very cool and in lovely nick. What a beast. Clearly someone has rebuilt if before and made some somewhat hacky changes - Sawing up a magnesium air box? Ditching an alternator? Leaving bolts loose or not even fitted? Throttle linkage clocked in such a way it jams the throttle! If that bike could talk... It's lucky it didn't grenade itself being run that poorly assembled. Couldn't be in better hands now though. Love the video style just the content. The engineering is the star feature and you can even hear a cool old clock tick!

[@shane6115]

All you can hear in the background is the clock ticking, love it. How this channel hasn’t got 10 million subscribers is a mystery to me.

[@ThomasMoore.1]

Thank you Mr Millyard, for yet another great installment in the restoration of this special piece. 👍

[@od1r73]

What no cup cakes!!! Come on Allen that’s just not jolly hockey sticks.

[@ronnieboucherthecrystalcraftsm]

v8 jewellery - spankingly nice cut pistons and wow top shelf race engine = Thank you Allen .

[@twentyrothmans7308]

Thank you for taking the time to share your amazing work and patience. I find TDC by showing a dirty screwdriver down the spark plug hole and wiggling things around, but you improvise a precision instrument!

[@tumshiewhacker4498]

Just fantastic! Absolutely loving this series

[@seanthomas2906]

The best telly ever mate thank you. That Norton is one of the most bonkers bikes ever. Just wow mate👍

[@Blahshog]

It's fantastic to listen to someone who clearly loves what they're doing. Nice one Mr Millyard.

[@TheDorsoduroMan]

Love the sound of your clock

[@rivertees]

Thank you Mr Millyard, I have heard it said that an expert makes the task look easy, and you do just that. The calmness is a lesson to everyone.

[@bruceburns1672]

Developing this motor would have been enough to send Norton Bankrupt.

[@michaeltaylor8835]

they did go bankrupt

[@erik_dk842]

Maybe that was its main purpose?

[@Turnipstalk]

Wasn't it what they spent on the TT that actually did bankrupt them?

[@howardosborne8647]

@@michaeltaylor8835 On more than one occasion. Several times over,in fact.

[@stevehill4615]

@@howardosborne8647 Don't talk about the pension scheme

[@twintech100]

I just always love your approach and your amazing patience. ❤

[@GT380man]

I used to stick my cylinder hold down bolts into a piece of cardboard, on which I’d drawn a cartoon diagram to show where each fastener came from. Why? As the saying goes: because there’s a designed order of tightening them to spec. 16:23

[@joshuaanothereraseddad]

The coolant lines and passages looked like somebody mixed Dex-cool with the standard green stuff. Quite frankly, for such an incredible piece of machinery it looks as though there was a bit of hodge-podgery going on. Thankfully it's in the right hands now, because when this is finished it'll be "just perfect". Thanks for sharing captain!

[@WEAREDERBY1884]

My thoughts exactly mate definitely a hodge podge job went on

[@stevemarshall5197]

Cometh the hour cometh the man 👍🏍️

[@julianpritchard2558]

Never better put. He’s truly a legend.

[@jhmonthetube6339]

Love watching your videos Alan. I am a shade tree mechanic who can do a lot of maintenance/rebuild work but… definitely not the ability to design/redesign engines. Your calm, easy demeanor is a joy to watch !

[@davidgilmour5555]

What an utterly refreshing video,absolutely brilliant…thank you Alan..

[@888jackflash]

Love it. I wait in anticipation for the next Episode like it was "Yellowstone" or something

[@boostaholic7116]

Seeing all crap in the water jacket holes reminds me I have got to get the ear candles out tonight to unclog my ears! 🤢 Great work as always can't wait to see this beast running will be awesome! 👍🔥🔥

[@user-hl4jy5zm4m]

New video from Mr Millyard, and a lovely dinner and a glass of wine while i watch it, lovely.

[@DarrenNoonan-to8ut]

I am loving this series on the Norton V8 Allen , can't wait to see the next episode one word AWESOME.

[@richardfife8192]

This channel dosent need hyping up. Its pure class. Thank you Allen!

[@metalworker007]

Looks like the results of mixing differant anti-freeze.

[@scottcates]

Damn

[@EnduroUK.]

I was wondering

[@295walk]

You can learn something everyday. What makes that happen mixing AF products ?

[@philiphigginbotham3775]

I was thinking it looked like a vast excess of radweld

[@franktaylor7617]

There may be a different in coolant flow . They may have flowed a higher volume of coolant to the rear cycle bank to off set the heat. Higher volume would mean lower velocity allowing crud to settle in pockets. Just guessing. I have a Honda vtr1000. The tune is so different from front to rear cylinder. The carbs are actually different sizes.

[@minisla]

Has to be the most enjoyable channel on KZbin... I hope you are getting compensated well for all the time you are spending on the rebuild. Couldn't ask for a better person. Imagine Norton with you at the helm of the design process...

[@jamescormack2216]

Allen , you’re an absolute legend !

[@Scoodee17]

Can’t wait to see this fire up after your magic work your doing 👍

[@newagetemplar6100]

Allen , your clock’s rather hypnotic and sending me to sleep .. 😵‍💫

[@Shane_Marsh]

What an Epic video series, thanks for sharing Allen 👍

[@robertandersson8171]

Cheers from sweden! I ***** adore your work!

[@andrewbalfour9373]

As usual Allan , amazing.. Sitting with a glass of wine and enjoying the simple things.. Great stuff.. Thanks.

[@PRD500]

Great videos Allen, fascinating and a joy to watch

[@louisgara8754]

I'm glad to see the hedgehogs are back in fine shape. This was a short video with lots of work done, so I understand why there was no Charley Weaver mixing cocktails or Ms. Millyard's baking. Maybe next time. Thank you, Allen. I look forward to watching this series of videos on the Norton Nemesis.

[@jabbalechat7910]

Thanks for another interesting video. That waterway crud is surprising and disturbing, in a normal running bike that would've resulted in expensive engine damage...

[@vonryansexpress]

Very interesting - I'm really enjoying each of these videos - this is a fascinating project . . .

[@mikehunt8968]

First again...😉 Interesting that they used a mixture of Metric and UNC threads.... A feature that Daystate, the airgun manufacturer, did on some models, weird..🙃

[@weatheranddarkness]

I wonder how much of that was due to being still a development prototype. They may have harmonized by production had it ever gotten there.

[@springford9511]

Possibly different bits made in different factories. Must have been during the metric transition.

[@howardosborne8647]

@@springford9511 The mid 1990s when this was designed is a long time after the ISO metric thread system had been broadly adopted as the main/preferred thread system.

[@claywebb8199]

Harley Davison still do that today!

[@charlesm127]

My 1973 Ford Cortina had both - engine metric, everything else imperial

[@seamuspurcell5065]

never knew such a bike existed , looking forward to seeing it finished and hearing it run 😊

[@gonegliding2966]

just magic. love the quiet workshop and the ticking clock. Nice ST, I have one the same!

[@gavh888]

thanks for sharing I could watch this all day

[@windyworm]

Love the ticking clock in the background.

[@philcorymusic]

Enjoying the progress on this very much 👍

[@stuartessenhigh2793]

Another amazing video. Thank you Allen. You must be very busy, so extra credit for putting this video together😊

[@jackking5567]

This is fantastic seeing the insides of the engine.

[@gamingforlife4830]

thanks again Allen !:. love watching this :)

[@wokeybrokey8006]

I had my ears syringed the other week and what came out looked very similar to the crud in the water ways 😂

[@jj80251]

Amazing as always. What a great cycle to be able to work on.

[@bigc7t]

Awesome stuff Allen, thank you so much for the videos. Your just a incredible master bike builder. I also find it amazing how you just use simple tools. Awesome stuff again thank you.

[@eddddd123]

Very enjoyable watch. I'm looking forward to the next episode

[@garrethayes4083]

Thank you for your time and for sharing your skills Allen.

[@simonbowen6653]

So therapeutic to watch Alan at work.

[@malcellison8831]

Excellent work, Allen. I’m intrigued by this series of videos. What a privilege it is to watch you work 😊

[@michaelbrett3749]

As usual the video quality and commentary are superb. Watching the genious at work is a delight.

[@michaelmann6685]

Great job as always allen!

[@brunY741]

Thank you for sharing those quite lessons Maestro Allen.

[@BahnstormerUK]

Keep these coming Alan. Great stuff !

[@Garffey]

Thanks again Allen....could watch you all day mate, you just make things seem easy! 👍👍

[@jossmaxwell00]

Just brillent watch as you would expect of Allen at his best, doing what he does best.

[@paulprescott7913]

Thank you Allen calm and methodical and the lovely sound of your 8 day clock. I would suggest that the engine has never run right from day one. Its in good hands now though.

[@royheap5178]

Excellent and interesting video Allen, looking forward to episode 4. You amaze me with your skills!

[@ragnarironspear1791]

Been looking forward to this video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇬🇧