Topic: So you think a sohc is 'fun' to work on......

[nickjtc]

.....this is what you have to get to, to replace the isolastic mountings on a Norton Commando. And I'm not there yet! The good news is that it all comes apart really nicely. The bad news is the eclectic collection of wrenches you need for the different kinds of nuts and bolts holding everything together!

[nickjtc]

The good news is that having the old girl stripped down to her undies means that I can do all of the other finicky jobs that need to be done, like replacing the bodged wiring, and putting on the later model spin-on oil filter kit.

Thank goodness Sophie is on the road so I can get some riding in between bouts of fettling!

[mrbreeze]

I really think I would "KILL" to have that as a project Nick!!!! I truely love the Norton and would totally dig the hell out of building one up! Man....you think people come up and start reminising about their old Hondas? Pull up on an old Norton or something as cool and you will be talking for hours!!!!

[nickjtc]

Man....you think people come up and start reminising about their old Hondas? Pull up on an old Norton or something as cool and you will be talking for hours!!!!

After I got her I rode for a couple of hundred miles, just to get a taste. Whenever I went out I had to allow twice the usual time to get to where I was going (no snickers, please, it had nothing to do with reliability) because every time I stopped someone would walk up (usually a GHOF like me) and start reminiscing.

But having said that I do get a lot of flattering comments about Sophie too, including a "Nice bike!!" from a little chickie enjoying an iced coffee beverage at a local Starbucks, as I rode by. Good job I had the full face helmet on, otherwise the comment might have been less favourable!

[mrbreeze]

So......who spelt remiscing right ........you.....or me?? I think you did!!!! (I was having trouble with that word!!!!)........Old age!!!...ya know??

[nickjtc]

Old age!!!...ya know??

As I have noted before, you're only as old as the woman you feel.

[crazypj]

You don't change them, you hit them with a huge wooden mallet to adjust them ( just like the race team did)
PJ

[Tim.]

Man I feel dumb - what on earth are isolastic mountings anyhow?  Sounds like something off the space shuttle.

[bryanj]

Why do you think the name in most workshops got changed to Notrun Catastrophy!
Isolastics is Nortons way of isolating the engine vibration from the rider by mounting it in rubber--the later veryneer adjuster types were better, only took 1/2 a day to adjust!

Think of this:-
Take 1 well handling chassis ( featherbed)

Cut into sections

Bolt swing arm to engine

Tie back together using elastic bands

Convince everybody its an engieering marvel, cures all ills (including cancer) AND OF COURSE IT HANDLES YOU MUST BE DOING IT WRONG

Or am I being cynical?

[WJL75]

A Norton Commando is still my dream bike.  Despite the warnings from PO's, I still feel the need to own the bike that first made me want to ride a motorcycle.  A classic design with flawed gaskets...what more could one want?

[SteveD CB500F]

Great as a Sunday rider.

I wouldn't want to have to ride one to work every day though.  (I didn't in the 70's either which is why I ended up with a 500/4...  the rest is history.)

[SteveD CB500F]

the eclectic collection of wrenches you need for the different kinds of nuts and bolts holding everything together!

Sorry to come to this thread late but...

you mean British Standard Whitworth (a great loss to the world of engineering)

[CrisPDuk]

You think you've got it bad Nick, try changing the engine mounts on a '73 BMC Mini (my stepson's), whilst keeping the skin on your knuckles intact

It only takes an hour or two of working no some old British piece of sh!t (sorry, engineering marvel) to realise why our motorcycle and automobile industries died off


Having said all that though, nothing gets the pulse going like the sight and sound of a nicely fettled British Twin being used in the correct manner and I'd quite happily accept your current woes if the pay-off was having that beauty occupying garage space