If if doesn't fit make it fit
The nice thing about restoring a Norton Commando is, it's generally fairly easy to get parts. Most of them are still being manufactured and there's lots of parts dealers selling them.
The not-so-nice thing is, the parts never fit. Nothing ever just bolts on. You have to make the new part fit, and often that involves special tools and/or skills. That's fine if you're a professional machinist, but I'm not.
About a month ago I bought the new snap connectors that I need for repairing my wiring harness. I still haven't installed them however. The "sleeves", as the female connectors are called, are too tight to accept the male bullet connectors. Each one has to be gently-but-firmly expanded just the right amount so the bullet connector will snap into place and not fall out. It's a pain and I've been putting the task off for about a month now. But otherwise the chassis is done so I have to quit procrastinating and get it done.
Another annoying fitment problem was the new centerstand that I purchased as an upgrade. The stand originally fitted to my bike was a flimsy design that tends to twist and break. The 850 Commando featured a much-improved centerstand design and it "just bolts right on" to the older bikes like my 1971 750.
But it didn't just bolt right on. It didn't fit on the engine cradle and the spacing was so far off it wasn't a matter of filing off powdercoat or flexing the stand. I didn't know what to do with it, so I took it down to our club's recent Tech Day.
The solution involved brute force, in the form of a hydraulic frame spreader. Our Tech Day host used to do auto body work and he has a very well equipped shop. We used the frame spreader to spread the centerstand arms out. Then it bolted right on. That just left the spring to deal with. It's quite strong, and it has to be stretched out to approximately twice its length to install it. I couldn't do it, but our host could. Thanks Gary!
On to the engine assembly now...
The not-so-nice thing is, the parts never fit. Nothing ever just bolts on. You have to make the new part fit, and often that involves special tools and/or skills. That's fine if you're a professional machinist, but I'm not.
About a month ago I bought the new snap connectors that I need for repairing my wiring harness. I still haven't installed them however. The "sleeves", as the female connectors are called, are too tight to accept the male bullet connectors. Each one has to be gently-but-firmly expanded just the right amount so the bullet connector will snap into place and not fall out. It's a pain and I've been putting the task off for about a month now. But otherwise the chassis is done so I have to quit procrastinating and get it done.
Another annoying fitment problem was the new centerstand that I purchased as an upgrade. The stand originally fitted to my bike was a flimsy design that tends to twist and break. The 850 Commando featured a much-improved centerstand design and it "just bolts right on" to the older bikes like my 1971 750.
But it didn't just bolt right on. It didn't fit on the engine cradle and the spacing was so far off it wasn't a matter of filing off powdercoat or flexing the stand. I didn't know what to do with it, so I took it down to our club's recent Tech Day.
The solution involved brute force, in the form of a hydraulic frame spreader. Our Tech Day host used to do auto body work and he has a very well equipped shop. We used the frame spreader to spread the centerstand arms out. Then it bolted right on. That just left the spring to deal with. It's quite strong, and it has to be stretched out to approximately twice its length to install it. I couldn't do it, but our host could. Thanks Gary!
On to the engine assembly now...
posted by debby at 8:52 PM
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