Making Headway

The first order of business on the Norton Model 7 was to replace the rocker oil feed line. The original had a a kink where the banjo fitting meets the oil tank union. My concern was that the kink restricted oil flow to the top end impacting its lubrication.

Original line with kink

I purchased a new line from Norvil. Norvil offers two varieties of rocker oil feed lines. There is a one piece version and a two piece. I chose the one piece thinking that the clear plastic tubing wired to the original feed line was a bodge like many other fixes on the bike. The more I thought about it I came to realize that it was a smart modification that did two things. First, the plastic tubing serves as a sort of shock absorber dampening vibrations that could damage the soldered joints. Second, the clear tube serves as a sort of sight glass allowing me to visually ensure that oil is going up the line. It doesn't guarantee lubrication but I figure that between the visual confirmation and the pressure gauge measuring oil pressure off the scavenging side I'll be pretty safe.

First, the tear down started easily until the removal of the oil tank. Stripping off a Model 7 oiltank requires the removal of a screw buried behind the battery carrier. The only problem is that the bolts for the battery carrier are behind the oil tank. Needless to say, a few contortions later and I got the tank off without having to take off the battery carrier.

I did a test run with a length of wire coat hanger and cut the feed line at approximately the point I wanted the clear tubing to be situated. The hacksaw is a british item that stabilizes the blade via a springloaded guided that minimizes wobble providing a nice clean cut. Get it at Garrett-Wade.

Considering that the tunbing is zinc coated copper, bending requires the use of  a tubing bender to avoid putting a kink in the line. The bends were compound ones requiring bends in multiple axes. The tubing bender is available at Eastwood Company here in the USA

After some deburring and polishing I ended with this.

The final product fits very well although the picture above is one step shy of completion. Thinking I was done, I am now taking the opportunity of easy access to the gearbox adjuster now that the oil tank is removed to do a much needed clutch/primary drive overhaul. Stay tuned for that adventure. 

Cool stuff

I don't really venture into the modern motorcycle world much but there are times when new innovations really interest me. I love adventures and I have thought about doing some long motorcycle trips a bit more complicated than the exodus to Sturgis. I'm talking about Ewan McGregor level work here. The key to making it nice for me is a nice place to sleep and even maintain my bike. Well, the solution is here....

The folks at NomadTent have come up with the perfect solution. Makes you want to get a Beemer and ride to Alaska straight away. Check out their site. Cool tent and awesome pics to inspire anybody to ride off into the sunset.

New Tool for the Tool Chest

As I gain mechanical experience, I have been wanting to venture into more technical aspects of restoration and maintenance. One thing I really want to conquer is timing the engine. Timing is as much art as it is mechanics. The principles are fairly straight forward but I suspect a novice like myself could take a good running engine and turn it into a disaster in short order. I have decided not to launch into this unprepared and have been studying several period books as well as my Norton manual. The manuals provide the settings but not much information about the process. Clearly, this lack of information harkens to an era in which it was assumed one knew how to tune one's bike or there was a specialist nearby to help. Definitely not the case for me deep in Texas. For the novice classic motorcyclist however this assumption is an anachronism that ironically is at the root of the fun of the hobby. Learning to be self-sufficient and  to develop mechanical skills is indispensable to one's enjoyment.

I recently acquired two items necessary for this technical adventure. First is the timing degree wheel. I purchased this reproduction Castrol wheel mostly out of nostalgia. It helps sometimes to look the part.

The other interesting tool I acquired is a modified timing chest cover. I don't like to see the destruction of classic motorcycle parts but in this case the ends justify the means. Turns out that the unsupported halftime pinion could be damaged during the timing process. The cutout timing cover allows support of that pinion while permitting access to the gears.

Now that I am equipped there's little excuse not to get on with it!

Now something practical......

It has been a bit since I have posted something related to bike restoration mostly since I am still in the midst of getting my shop squared away since the move to Houston. I collect parts for my Norton Model 7 but never really catalogued what I had. So I have taken the time to sort through everything and see what I have acquired and properly organize the parts for future use. Needless to say that it's quite a bit of stuff and some of it I think will end up getting sold.

In restoring my Norton, I have found that it's the little pieces like fasteners, special tools, etc. that are difficult to find. When I get ready to start a project, I always start out by sourcing everything first then seeing if they will work like I envision it. This is a bit backwards and some projects have sat around until all the little pieces have come together. With that type of strategy, one needs a supplier of tools and raw materials and here are a couple of spots I recommend.

The first is McMaster-Carr, the true industrial superstore, If they don't have it then it probably does not exist! McMaster-Carr has tools, hardware, raw materials all contained in a website that is easy to use. The prices are very reasonable as well.

Next is Graham Tool. Graham tool has some cool stuff in it. You could probably find it at McMaster-Carr but there are some hotrod and racing applications that might be difficult to find elsewhere. Not the cheapest prices though.

Gardner-Wescott is a fastener specialist that has the most expansive inventory of motorcycle specific fasteners imaginable. If you have a specific need for your restoration I would go there first.

This next site is for the tool fetishist. Garrett-Wade has a carpentry bent to it but there are definitely cool tools for every hobby including gardening. Some might find gardening inappropriate subject matter for a motorcycle site but think about this. Imagine I need some diamond files which aren't cheap so why not grease the skids with the wife with a handy set of japanese pruning shears all found at the same site and arriving in the same package. Win-win!

Best of luck on all of your projects!

Another New Addition

Just a short post while the shop area is getting sorted after the move. I got this home-made cylinder head spanner in the mail. I particularly love the bronze brazing reminiscent of some practical folk art. Simple and utilitarian demonstrating the resourcefulness of classic motorcyclists. While I purchased this one, these spanners are simple to make if only I had a welder. The socket portion is avalable from Melco Products in Sheffield, England. Just Google "Melco Box Spanner" and you will find plenty of sources.

These are particularly handy for the cylinder head bolts buried in the fins so to speak. Conventional socket wrenches are rarely slim enough to fit and still accomodate the head of the cylinder bolt.

Definitely a labor and more importantly fin saving device.