Will it run? can we make a 1963 Norton SS 650 start after a complete a rebuild?

We try and get the 1963 Norton SS 650 running after a complete a rebuild and restoration. The only thing missing is a fuel tank, we make up a makeshift fuel system and hope for the best..

[@abbasalimirza3512]

BEAUTIFUL NORTON 650SS👍🙏

[@frankharradence5546]

When I was 16 in 1963 we were based at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. Friends with older RAF guys one of whom had a 650ss. Loved it, but my own biking started with a Yamaha yds3 and wonderful Triumphs a new 1968 T100T followed by new Tridents, T150 and later a T160….VFRs CBR 1000 and last bike back to Triumph with a Hinkley Trident 😃Happy Days.

[@rarebreed9208]

I love to see these old machines brought back to life. 👍👍👍

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

Thank you for watching, glad you liked it👍

[@twinphill900]

That bike is so beautiful 👍

[@MothershipVideos]

They are a beautiful looking bike in my opinion...have always dreamed of owning one. Thanks for the post.

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

Thanks for the comments. It’s an iconic shape which set the benchmark for many that followed.

[@frogandspanner]

My 1966 650SS (owned since '71) started first kick after a rebuild/restoration completed in 1998. I never tickle the carb and just use the choke. I am still using the original monoblocs, not concentrics like yours - I am _completely_ Amal retentive. Unlike you I got rid of the magneto and have a Boyer Bransden. Even after a winter in storage it has always started first kick. When I used to use the magneto it would take a couple of kicks, and required technique: just after compression, swing to suck in some mixture; then just on compression, leap in the air and land on the kickstart with full weight. I had 11:1 compression (5 star petrol), and missing the kickstart on the downstroke was a painful experience. I am now back to original compression, which is just as well as I can no longer vault as high as when I was 19. All cork gaskets need time to swell after switching the fuel on after a winter, resulting in a pool of fuel on the ground, so I do the first start after letting the dripping stop.

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

Hi, thanks for the comment, and watching! We're hoping to do more with the bikes this year, Chris has a few things he wants to get done. 👍

[@douglasraymond6883]

I had one of these purchased it in 1963 from Commerfords, came from Canada as the SS was a export model when it first came out loved the bike looks just the same as mine

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

They are a good looking bike, thanks for watching, stay tuned, we have another look at the Norton out now! 👍

[@warrensykes193]

Well done mate.

[@stevef9530]

Good result, guys. Like a couple of the other commenters, I’ve got electronic ignition on my 650ss, and it just always starts first or second kick. Also, I found the longer kickstart lever you can get from RGM makes life easier. But yours sounds good!

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

Thanks for commenting, yes it may be worth looking into, I like the idea of a longer kick start, simple yet effective 👍

[@krrrazy]

Could I know where did you buy the electronic ignition for your 650

[@stevef9530]

@@krrrazy I got a second hand Lucas Rita from a guy who helped me get the bike running. They’re not available new any more, but plenty of systems are, I suppose Boyer is best known. You can get them in magneto housing if you want to look more original. Look online, Norvil, Andover Norton, RGM etc.

[@Headwind-1]

awesome machine

[@marvinl.herren811]

Very good video. I love the sound of a Norton. Im going to lok at and maybe buy a blue 1972 with under 2000 miles on it. It has been completely overhauled. Good video guys. Take care.

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

Thank you for your kind words, good luck with the one your looking at. We have another video out now looking at the smoke on start up including a teaser of things to come, may be worth checking out👍

[@walkerhjk]

I had a 1955 650cc Ariel Huntmaster in the 1950s, when I parked it up, for security I would swap the plug leads round so they fired at the wrong time if someone tried to steal the bike. Happened once, whoever took it pushed it for about 100 metres trying to start the engine which of course wouldn't run. It gave me a bit of a scare because I was at work all day and the bike had gone when I finished work but it was just along the road . Whoever had taken the bike had obviously had the plugs out and found a nice fat spark but hadn't twigged that the plug leads were reversed

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

Good tip on the Sercurity, but with my memory, I probably forget I change them around haha.

[@abbasalimirza3512]

PLEASE OPEN BOTH SPARK PLUGS PUT 5 TO.12 DROPS OF FUEL IN BOTH CYLINDERS FIT BOTH SPARK PLUGS IN ONE KICK IT WILL START.

[@freemenofengland2880]

Congratulations! But what about the excessive smoke??? Either a sticking valve, sticking rings or some kind of oil sump issue. What did you find? If it was a sump issue it might well have gone away after the first couple of rides, to return if the bike is left standing for any length of time.

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

Wet sumping issue I think, may need to upgrade the pump.

[@peterturnham5134]

I have a 63 650SS and a 64 Atlas. From what I could see you have A Lucas K2F magneto so you don't need a battery to start. You have Amal concentric Carburetors, not standard for 63 but they work very well on my 64 Atlas. Set the airscrew at 1 and a half turns, play with the slider height, play with the choke slider. I don't actualy use a choke slider in the concentric, but that is on a race tuned engine. Probably your biggest problem is that Norton Twins Wet Sump. If left for more than a week oil drains from the Oil tank through the rotary oild pump and fills up the crankcase with oil. Then, when you try to kicfkstart you are fighting against oil. Crank turns slowly, magneto turns slowly, poor spark, knackered leg. If not used recently drain the crankcase via the BIG drain plug at the bottom of the case. The bike will start easier, believe me. Either ride it once a week or drain the sump.

[@jimbo2629]

I like the wire holding the exhaust pipe retainer. Mine always came undone on my Triumph 350. That was 50;odd years ago . I subsequently bought a Norton 650 non runner until I changed the carburettor back to the original. It wasn’t in as good condition as yours, but then it only cost £90!

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

I love little details, like the wire on the exhaust. Keep watching, more videos to follow.

[@ebutuoyebutouy]

A Norton and a MB 124/201? U got class.

[@alansivkoff282]

Bring it up to tic then swing through. Do not keep trying to kick it through. If it doesn’t fire after the first 2 attempts, re prime the carb

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

Thanks for the tip, work a treat.

[@tristangallagher2035]

Happy to see you two gifted amateurs succeed. I have one just like it so I know what you have gone thru. By the way the reason for all the blue smoke is that it, like all Norton dominators will, has drooled oil down into the sump for as long as there has been oil in the oil tank. This is called wet sumping and is a shortcoming of the breed. You will find it much more satisfying, easier to start and less smoky if you drain the sump of all that oil and pour it back into the oil tank. There are ways to prevent this, like running it once a week, or buying an in line shut off valve that toggles to the ignition so you dont forget to open it and blow up your motor. They are incredible bikes to ride but definitely a love hate relationship because they require constant fettling. But when you are out on the twisties with it running right, all is forgiven. Best of luck.

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

Thanks Tristan for the advice, it’s a job for the winter I guess and it probably goes with the oil leak which has now appeared. Like you said, a love hate relationships. Keep safe and again thank you for your comments.

[@tristangallagher2035]

@@anotherpieceofskrap27 A pleasure- I love it when people get a classic Norton back on the road, especially a featherbed 650. The oil leak might be the bloody awful system for keeping the primary cover on. ( Seriously, WHAT were they thinking...?) Probably the single stupidest design flaw on the marque. Get on the Norton Owners Club website and read all the helpful suggestions on how to keep the oil in the primary. Or buy yourself a belt drive and improve further one of the greatest motorcycles ever made! And while you are at, it- buy yourself on of the Anti Wet- sumping devices I mentioned- Kingpin components has em- they're only 45 Quid. shop.kingpincomponents.co.uk/oil-tap-with-cutout-switch

[@vinparaffin6082]

Owned a 650ss in the late 60s, HPE 658C, wonder what happened to it!

[@mattbritton6222]

I’m not a bike guy, but a feel like there needs to be a “leg-replacer”. Something like a car starter on a 4ft plank, that can be mated to the kick pedal mounting. Remove the peg, mount the starter, apply current. Rm-rm-rm-roooommmm!

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

Hi Matt, what’s on there know replaced the 4ft plank.😀🇬🇧

[@VintageRVAdventures]

Yay ... it runs 😃

[@horspiste]

You do realise that with a magneto ignition you didn't need to connect the battery? Nice to see you have extended ticklers on those concentrics 😁

[@NigelGotts]

Looks like you should have drained the sump before trying to start the norton..

[@alistairbernard9574]

Hi, obviously you have to get a couple of things sorted out as you have just finished work on the 650SS. But Wow what an Absolutely Gorgeous Machine you've got. It Sounds Great too and Superbly well finished. The 650SS was known as a fine Roadburner back in the day that could give a run to any Machine then isn't it. 👌

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

Hi Alistair, thanks for your comments, when my dad bought the bike, he had it restored and then park it in his shed for many years so I had a very up together bike to work on. I believe it’s has slimline' featherbed frame which was the biz in the day and quick for a 650.

[@alistairbernard9574]

@@anotherpieceofskrap27 Super. Yes your bike was fitted with the 'Slimline Featherbed' Frame which was introduced in 1961. 👍

[@brucebear1]

@@anotherpieceofskrap27 Very nice looking condition and it's good that you're dialing in the mechanics. And an "A" plate from Bristol -- that must be a rarity ( *B* HW 249 A would seem to indicate it's about 1250 into the new scheme, still there are not a lot of "A" plates around now!). I love these Featherbed Nortons.

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

@brucebear1 Hi, thanks for watching, had no idea it's from Bristol, nice to think it's local. Chris is making good progress now, alongside his newly acquired Yamaha and of course the Goldwing. 😃👍

[@rodmclaren9339]

The Norton 650SS had twn amal carbs. What has happened to the other carb on this bike?

[@anotherpieceofskrap27]

Can’t answer that sorry, that’s what it came with when we got it.

[@terranceprice7006]

It had two Amal concentrics on it, the balance pipe linking the two inlets can be seen also in the garage he tickled the right carb and outside he tickled the left carb just before it started. I had a 1964 650SS, with the Amal Monobloc on the left and a chopped [floatbowl] on the right.

[@velocettektt]

Looks like most of the oil had drained into the sump.

[@walkerhjk]

If you have the correct fuel/air mixture from the carburettor, the spark at the correct time, the engine MUST run

[@jumpfortyfour9965]

norton 2 stroke pistons and rings needed asap

[@Cobra427Veight]

Looks like trouble , tickling carbs over the magneto !

[@timmee6420]

Nice old Bike...Seems Like an Amateur Hour tho, year Old Fuel.???...Bike is Smokin' HEAVILY....I suspect this Bike needs some serious Refurb and Not Just amateur Hour techniques...

[@andrewdace1314]

Burning way to much oil

[@terranceprice7006]

Probably wet sumping, common with these engines after standing a length of time.