Rotary Owners' Club

Just spotted yours' is a Classic, know nothing about them either !
Been out today on mine, dry empty B roads in East Yorkshire, running fantastic after an issue with fuel pumps. The original died years ago and I put a cheap Chinese job in thinking for the low mileage I do, it would be OK. It packed ...

Yes, for a basic carb like the SU, it's hard to see what can go adrift, usually the rest of the system or electronics. I find the idle by-pass screws on my rotary make a bit of a setting problem because they are pretty well independant of the main jets. It's best to set them separately with vacuum ...

How far down did you set the jets ? MIne is happy at 3.5mm but the factory apparently started further down on first start up. A rich tickover seems to suit mine but of course with SU's it's essentially a full range effect. ( ignoring the idle by-pass screws ). I use an air/fuel ratio meter and set ...

Ah, but the problem might then be insufficient oil going to the roter and bearings first ?
Did'nt think of that........

The Norton rotaries appear to need 1 pint of oil per 450 miles. ( on average ). I tested mine years ago by checking oil consumption against petrol consumption, it did average close to 450.
After an expensive engine build it may be wise to run just on a known premix for a while and let the pump ...

A possibility is a company called Ignitec. Apparently they make an ignition module that is fully programmable. No new production required, just plug in and programme one to suit our 588 engines. What the required advance curves etc required is the question.
Boyer must know, Minimag must know, Wiz ...

I don't know who the members/owners of Wiz racing are, but I assume they have new ignition systems available to them ?

Can someone from Wiz Norton chip in here ?

Could be worth a ring to Boyer Bransden ? I believe they made the originals . Their workshop guy was very helpful with my old Honda Boyer, they might be able to test yours for faults at least.
Looks like anything 's worth a try these days.
Re Startright, Graham is rarely there now, ask to be put in ...

Nothing in the R.O.C mag or website, will there be any kind of meet up of Norton Rotaries ?, as I can see, nothing announced anywhere.

Finally fully up and running well. No more judder but does take up a bit sudden-ish, I believe some are known to do that.
Now MoT'd , no issues, had a ride about the B roads, excellent brakes and suspension, sorted !

Thanks Wayne, pretty well all back together now but have'nt yet got it to idle. Starts instantly, but only tried very short run ups though.
That little switch with 2 purple wires is open when cold and has 6.5 volts on each wire with the ignition on.
I'm not really sure about that side of things ...

Good morning all,

Can anyone post a couple of photo's please ?

of the R/H outer plate front and back views
and of the gearbox case R/H side view

Not sure how many such parts are on a bench anywhere ! - if any !

Regards all, Terry
East Yorks.

The lower tensioner appears assembled the same in both drawings. The upper plunger has the ally plug shown in the Commander dwg. It does seem as though it was a Commando tensioner used up on the Commanders. ( not familiar with either bike ).
I will be seeing a Commando expert on Wednesday, I will be ...

Just stripped and cleaned a spare primary chain tensioner ready for my clutch job.
On re-assembly, I looked at the Commander parts diagram. It's always seemed odd to me that the upper slipper has an ally plug under the nylon plunger and the lower slipper just a nylon plunger, visually the wrong way ...

Thanks Tony,
ATF it will be.
I don't have a Commander, I bought an engine/gearbox around 15 to 20 years ago to build a special but, as usual, too much got in the way. After being unused for years, Richard bought the engine to convert a Classic to water cooled. The gearbox bits were sold to someone ...

Thanks Tony,
A call to Andover resulted in the purchase of a new diaphragm , spacer and outer clip. Very reasonable price too.
The next day, when looking for the clutch special tools, there was a pile of Commander clutch parts I forgot I had !
Good diaphragm, starter ring, plates, basket etc. Oh ...

Having a look up about diaphragm type clutches, found loads on the Commando with references to diaphragm finger heights. Seem to be needing to be within .010" of each other, THAT will be a vital thing to check.
Not sure who has new parts for our rotary's these days..........

Thanks James,
Maybe the ball is not running true in the lift pin, worth a look at whilst it's apart. I'm wondering if the fingers of the diaphragm are not equal height so giving a bias to the pressure plate ?
Not familiar with diaphragm clutches, my other bikes are all normal springs.

My sport has been unused for several years as I got sick of the clutch judder. Richard Negus helped me replace the cush rubbers which made a big difference, but it still juddered an annoying amount when setting off. ( it was a favour so I did'nt like tell him it was'nt the full cure he expected ...

I've just seen that Micheal Dunlop will be riding the Wiz Norton ( at fast parade level ) and Trevor Nation also riding a Rotary.

Why are'nt I there !

Sorry, Shrewsbury Crematorium.

For those who distrust facebook stuff, a long time friend of Richards has had a call from Diane, Richards wife, to confirm he passed away at 0300 on the morning of Wednesday the 15th (January ), aged 81. She was at the bedside so hopefully, that kind support was some comfort for him .

Funeral ...

I can now advise club members with a very brief summary that Richard, in his early eighties, moved last year from Lincolnshire to the Shrewsbury area where he is in a residential care home following a couple of falls. Visited daily by his wife and daughter so in good hands although he does have some ...

For sure, but I think there is personal info on his health and other issues that it would not be correct to discuss openly with others. I spoke to someone late last year who knew about his situation and it's a dismal tale. Like him or not, the poor guy has suffered and it appears the club who looked ...

Just checked , his house is currently for sale, not going back from the nursing home then ?. Unknown where he is, I asked someone from Andover at Stafford last October and was given the Data protection/can't say anything routine.

Anyone know how Richard is ?

There has been some horrendous tales of his health over the last year or so (and other rather disturbing domestic issues). I believe he is in a nursing home , I rang again today but the landline number still seems cut off and I never arrived without prior agreement.

It ...

Mathewsons have an ex-Police Interpol 2 in their up-coming auction.

Its' done it again !. Why me .......
C O O L

The word somehow got replaced by a silly face. Can't see how to correct it.
Bloody computers !

At an event at Cadwell many years ago, I spoke to Bob Rowley about oil. He described the tests they did on various oils after which Rotella DD40 was selected as the most suitable in the Norton rotary.
As I remember, the tests he described was putting an exact amount of different oils on a tray and ...