Search found 1060 matches

by Richard Negus
Tue Nov 12, 2019 10:11 am
Forum: General discussion (eveything else)
Topic: Number 101
Replies: 5
Views: 7009

Re: Number 101

Sorry about the delay! Officially there are, or were, 100 examples numbered LE001 to LE100. But the prototype Classic, numbered PP001, used for testing and brochure shots, still survives in a private museum in Germany. That bike is the one with a very thin seat and a slab-sided fuel tank. There were...
by Richard Negus
Sat Nov 09, 2019 1:55 pm
Forum: for sale and wanted
Topic: Ex-Police Commander
Replies: 17
Views: 23780

Re: Ex-Police Commander

I wish I had a better memory! This bike, #4230, passed final inspection at Shenstone on 30th November 1989 and, according to my records, was a twin seat Commander. As I don't have a copy of the sales records, I don't know to whom it was sold, nor whether it was still a twin seat when sold. It was fi...
by Richard Negus
Tue Oct 29, 2019 8:05 pm
Forum: for sale and wanted
Topic: Ex-Police Commander
Replies: 17
Views: 23780

Re: Ex-Police Commander

Yup, thought so!
Sold at Bonhams Stafford for £1,150. Photos show it with the side removed and black/yellow tape on the 'leg protector' bits.
by Richard Negus
Tue Oct 29, 2019 6:26 pm
Forum: for sale and wanted
Topic: Ex-Police Commander
Replies: 17
Views: 23780

Re: Ex-Police Commander

As you suggest, never a police bike. Originally a Norton demonstrator and then sold to TRRL (now TRL) and became a 'leg protector' demonstrator. It has a tubular structure inside the fairings to support the tin boxes that were supposed to deform in an accident, requiring much modification to the plu...
by Richard Negus
Thu Oct 17, 2019 9:32 am
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: IP2/Classic front wheel
Replies: 4
Views: 5589

Re: IP2/Classic front wheel

Mark, Very kind of you - but we couldn't really take all the credit for that. Wheels were supplied by Grimeca, fully machined, and the speedo drive bits also came from Italy, both items originally specified for the Morini 350 vee-twin. All we did was assemble them with a bit of grease to ease assemb...
by Richard Negus
Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:59 am
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: IP2/Classic front wheel
Replies: 4
Views: 5589

Re: IP2/Classic front wheel

Mark,
It's a press fit; just needs a couple of tyre levers to prise it off.
R.
by Richard Negus
Wed Sep 25, 2019 9:32 am
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: Hook
Replies: 4
Views: 5419

Re: Hook

Hi Jannes,
When you are removing the rear wheel, the brake caliper and plate must first be removed and moved out of the way. The hook is to support the caliper when doing this.
In my opinion, a bit over-kill and an unnecessary item.
R.
by Richard Negus
Sun Sep 22, 2019 12:21 pm
Forum: for sale and wanted
Topic: Classic on the bay
Replies: 4
Views: 5990

A very sad case

This machine was originally purchased by The Patrick Collection for display in their museum in Birmingham. The Museum had to close and the bike passed into private hands, although I'm not sure who the first 'private' owner was. It was eventually acquired (at Bonham's Auction perhaps?) by Graham of B...
by Richard Negus
Thu Sep 05, 2019 9:10 am
Forum: for sale and wanted
Topic: Commander rear brake disc
Replies: 10
Views: 12339

Re: Commander rear brake disc

You're unlikely to find a new genuine Yamaha vented disc now, but there are a few used ones on eBay, mostly listed as XJ900 pre-Diversion.
Lot's of replacement new solid discs though.
R.
by Richard Negus
Thu Aug 29, 2019 5:55 pm
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: Starting up procedure
Replies: 5
Views: 6414

Re: Starting up procedure

Hi Jannes, With the engine running, the only time the oil pump doesn't turn (IP2/Classic/Commander) is when the bike is stationary, gear engaged, and clutch lifted. That's because the pump is driven by the end of the gearbox input shaft. I don't believe any damage can occur during those brief moment...
by Richard Negus
Wed Aug 21, 2019 3:11 pm
Forum: for sale and wanted
Topic: Parts general
Replies: 7
Views: 8098

Re: Parts general

Hi Jannes, The lenses, and possibly the bulb holders, were made by English company L E Perei; lenses had all the correct 'E' approvals. I don't know if they were made specifically for Norton. When I enquired a few years ago, they said they no longer had the mould tooling and couldn't make any more. ...
by Richard Negus
Wed Aug 21, 2019 1:08 pm
Forum: for sale and wanted
Topic: Parts general
Replies: 7
Views: 8098

Re: Parts general

There really is a connection between the Classic rear light and the Aston Martin Lagonda. Norton's own in-house designer, Mick Ofield, did the styling for the '1000'- series rotary, often referred to as the Aurora or Cooke Nielsen. which almost made it into series production. A car stylist, William ...
by Richard Negus
Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:21 am
Forum: General discussion (eveything else)
Topic: Registration-number
Replies: 6
Views: 7171

Re: Registration-number

Jannes, UK vehicle registration series have changed several times over the years. The oldest system was six, or less, characters such a LG9899, my first car and AUJ800, my first bike. Then to promote annual sales, the manufacturers requested a year code resulting in GWD607D, a 1966 T100, my first ne...
by Richard Negus
Sat Aug 17, 2019 5:23 pm
Forum: General discussion (eveything else)
Topic: Registration-number
Replies: 6
Views: 7171

Re: Registration-number

Jannes, In the UK, the original registration number is related to the year of first registration and the area where it was first registered. After that, the owner can ask for a different number which may mean something to him personally (such as JPS 588 for an F1) or, if following the year/area seri...
by Richard Negus
Sat Aug 17, 2019 8:55 am
Forum: for sale and wanted
Topic: Classic part
Replies: 18
Views: 30163

Re: Classic part

Jannes, I share your reservations about Boyer ignition units, but haven't seen many problems with the Power Box. The AN regulator is a typical Japanese/Chinese part where the only faults I've found have been in the wiring connections of the bike, particularly a bad earth connection. On the MK3 Comma...
by Richard Negus
Fri Aug 16, 2019 10:03 am
Forum: for sale and wanted
Topic: Classic part
Replies: 18
Views: 30163

Re: Classic part

Hi Jannes, Take care - the regulator pictured by Andover doesn't appear to have a cable for the charging light, only three yellow a/c wires, a red and a black. If you want to retain the charging light, Boyer still manufacture a version of the original Power Box. Search for PBOX00106 which is the neg...
by Richard Negus
Thu Aug 08, 2019 12:33 pm
Forum: for sale and wanted
Topic: Classic part
Replies: 18
Views: 30163

Re: Classic part

Hi Jannes, That decal hasn't been available for a long time, although it's possible someone may have one. If you do get the original Boyer ignition unit, throw it away and get a modern digital one from MiniMag - highly recommended. The original Boyer voltage regulator has a brown/white (I think) lea...
by Richard Negus
Wed Aug 07, 2019 7:23 pm
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: Handle Bar Switches
Replies: 6
Views: 7177

Re: Handle Bar Switches

Hi Jannes,
Original Classic's bars were made to a Norton design.
I had new bars for my Classic replica from a Yamaha RD250LC, available in black paint or chrome.
They were a little higher than the original, a little more comfortable for me.
3120-40-3.jpg
by Richard Negus
Tue Aug 06, 2019 12:54 pm
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: Handle Bar Switches
Replies: 6
Views: 7177

Re: Handle Bar Switches

John, It's from a Yamaha of the mid- late 70's; RD250, XS750, etc.. But if you want one with the Yamaha plug replaced with the correct one for a Classic, go to Andover Norton. 48-0261 Switch r/h, low bars £36.00 + + Used on standard IP2 and Classic 48-0267 Switch r/h, high bars £39.60 + + Used on MO...
by Richard Negus
Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:24 am
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: Starting up procedure
Replies: 5
Views: 6414

Re: Starting up procedure

Hi Assen, That's good plan BUT, before you do anything, take out the air filter elements and see whether they are perished from age and filter oil. If they are, it's possible to suck bits of plastic into the engine as you attempt to start it. Aerosol filter oils have an evaporating solvent, some of ...
by Richard Negus
Wed Jul 24, 2019 8:41 pm
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: Commander Hot rear brake
Replies: 7
Views: 8154

Re: Commander Hot rear brake

Odd how the Brembo master cylinders of the IP2 and Classic never seemed to suffer the same blockage, but the Yamaha ones do.
Maybe the feed hole in the Yamaha items is smaller than the Brembo.
R.
by Richard Negus
Tue Jul 23, 2019 5:56 pm
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: Commander Hot rear brake
Replies: 7
Views: 8154

Re: Commander Hot rear brake

It's always the master cylinder's fault! Or, more correctly, the owner's fault for not changing the brake fluid frequently enough. Old fluid congeals to a sort of wax in the bottom of the reservoir or, in the case of the rear brake, in the black plastic elbow connecting the cylinder to the reservoir...
by Richard Negus
Sun Jul 21, 2019 9:51 am
Forum: login and say hello!
Topic: Back to normal
Replies: 9
Views: 15732

Re: Back to normal

Hi Rob, Just to reassure you, I didn't part with F750 because I didn't like it, more that as various illnesses happened, I became too feeble to handle its bulk. I am pleased that the current owner is using it for the purpose I intended - long distance touring. I replaced F750 with an Interpol-based ...
by Richard Negus
Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:47 am
Forum: login and say hello!
Topic: Back to normal
Replies: 9
Views: 15732

Re: Back to normal

Assen wrote: Wed Jul 17, 2019 3:18 pm This should please Richard N. i think?
Hi Jannes,
What a relief!
It makes me VERY happy that a Norton enthusiast has become the owner of 044.
On behalf of all the people who engineered and manufactured 044, I look forward to seeing it as we intended.
Regards,
Richard
by Richard Negus
Fri Jul 05, 2019 10:51 pm
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: Charging issue - high revs equal low volts??
Replies: 14
Views: 13932

Re: Charging issue - high revs equal low volts??

Mark,
If you've got a Sparkrite ignition unit with a single yellow wire not connected to anything, or a MiniMag ignition, and a deep pocket, Andover have stock of the later Motometer, part no. 55.0569.
If you haven't got either of those ignitions, you're stuck with the old Veglia.
R.
by Richard Negus
Fri Jul 05, 2019 6:27 pm
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: Charging issue - high revs equal low volts??
Replies: 14
Views: 13932

Re: Charging issue - high revs equal low volts??

Hi Mark, Tacho wired into the alternator means it's either a Veglia (says 'Made in France' on the face), or the Motometer replacement ('Made in Germany'). Early examples of the latter, with a round terminal block on the back, were prone to the sort of needle flutter you're seeing. Later ones have a ...
by Richard Negus
Thu Jun 27, 2019 8:44 am
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: Charging issue - high revs equal low volts??
Replies: 14
Views: 13932

Re: Charging issue - high revs equal low volts??

The standard (I assume) Kokusan alternator is on my IP2, along with the XJ Yamaha/Commander regulator/rectifier, fitted at the front of the bike in the open air to help cooling. Mark, As JB has mentioned, more often than not it's a fault in the earth wiring that causes charging problems. When you r...
by Richard Negus
Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:53 pm
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: Boyer ignition
Replies: 19
Views: 22668

Re: Boyer ignition

The Boyer has all it's gubbins potted in a polyurethane compound, making access very difficult.
Paddy Ryan at Norton found a solvent for it and could see what was in there, but as far as I can remember, didn't manage to repair one.
Have you asked Boyer if they can repair them?
R.
by Richard Negus
Sat Jun 01, 2019 8:52 am
Forum: technical interest and new ideas
Topic: SU carb float needles
Replies: 5
Views: 5749

Re: SU carb float needles

Hi Mark, It sounds like you have two, possibly three, problems. .the fuel tap should stop fuel supply to the carbs when the engine stops. There are overhaul kits available but my experience says replace the complete tap as the seating surface in the tap body may be corroded, something a new diaphrag...
by Richard Negus
Mon May 27, 2019 4:38 pm
Forum: for sale and wanted
Topic: Commander end plates, moly'd
Replies: 0
Views: 4921

Commander end plates, moly'd

I have a very good pair of Commander end plates which I had moly'd some three years ago and haven't had a job that needed them. The molying was their first re-grind from original and all the joint faces and threads are excellent. I don't, unfortunately, have a centre plate to make a full set. RH pla...