Norton on the mend.

I finally have all the necessary parts and pieces, with the exception of some bits I will have to make or scrounge up from some old beachcomber who is hoping to retire by hawking the miscellaneous motorcycle parts he has collected over the years to some unsuspecting addict…

The machine shop reamed the guides and cut the valve seats. I de-glazed the cylinders and installed new rings on still stock pistons. An initial adjustment of the tappets and now it’s on to the Amal dual concentrics and a bit of tidying up the Oil Bath.

The original valve springs with a substantial amount of metal fatigue are the shorter set. Even the material of the springs is of a much greater quality than was available forty-eight years ago.

The original valve springs with a substantial amount of metal fatigue are the shorter set. Even the material of the new springs is of a much greater quality than was available forty-eight years ago.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Pistons protruding above the cylinder at TDC. Compression equals horsepower.

Pistons protruding above the cylinder at TDC. Compression equals horsepower.

1966 Norton Atlas. Drive side.

1966 Norton Atlas.
Drive side.

1966 Norton Atlas. Timing side.

1966 Norton Atlas.
Timing side.

 

’66 Atlas

Finally getting to work on the Norton. Tore the bike to bits today so I can make a list of what it will take to make this sweet ride fly like the wind! Fresh top-end, new clutch, back to a dual carb set up, fettle a few niggling leaks and get the magneto jolting life into her again for starters!! Spring is just around the corner and the open road beckons, and someone will surely want his bike after this long, hard winter we are enduring!!

1966 Atlas crankcases and transmission.

1966 Atlas crankcases and transmission.

1966 Atlas clutch hub and primary chain.

1966 Atlas clutch hub and primary chain.

Magneto awaiting service.

Magneto awaiting service.

Birds of a Featherbed

Norton introduced the Featherbed frame in 1950, and further refined it into the Slimline Featherbed in 1960. This was the frame of choice for many bike builders to mount other power plants into for many, many years! The uncontested heavy weight champion of the motorcycle world for more than a decade, and still it endured well past it’s prime, due to the wonderful characteristics it possessed in stirring mind, body and soul when tearing up a road course or pottering along a narrow country lane. Poetry in motion for those of us infused with a passion and love for our two wheeled motivators.

This 1966 Atlas is surely the epitome of pre-Commando Norton’s. That lovely Norton line, as Roy Bacon dubs it, a powerful parallel twin with a wonderful and jovial resonating song and perfect ergonomics for my five foot eight frame all make for a splendid ride! After I do a bit of fettling on the old girl, of course.

1966 Norton Atlas 750

1966 Norton Atlas 750

1966 Norton Atlas 750

1966 Norton Atlas 750

1966 Norton Atlas 750

1966 Norton Atlas 750

1966 Norton Atlas 750

1966 Norton Atlas 750

1966 Norton Atlas 750

1966 Norton Atlas 750

1966 Norton Atlas 750

1966 Norton Atlas 750