Engine Plates for an 88 Special

hello Jon yes if there is No elongated holes in them I make alloy engine plate, or Stainless steel ones cut by lazer and polished to a high shine, nice yours Anna J Keep Carm and Ride a Norton !

Yes. My Atlas currently uses 99 engine plates. These plateshave been modified so that the rearengine bolt hole is now a slot to make it possible to remove the engine without removing the gearbox. Despite dire warnings from some quarters, it's a useful modification and does not cause problems. Well, not in the last 25 years.

What ignition is the 88 using? . The 88 can be a nice ride if set up well. The Atlas can be a rough dog if not set up well.Don't be surprised to find yourself going in circles in a year or two.

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

Yes. My Atlas currently uses 99 engine plates. These plateshave been modified so that the rearengine bolt hole is now a slot to make it possible to remove the engine without removing the gearbox. Despite dire warnings from some quarters, it's a useful modification and does not cause problems. Well, not in the last 25 years.

Hello Gordon, I always cut a vertical slot on the bottom, most forward stud hole of the rear plates. It takes the long 5/16 inch stud. Another mod always worth doing is to fit the modified bottom gearbox mounting. This permits removal of the gearbox whilst the engine and plates remain in situ. Most of the racing fraternity have always done this mod and it used to be an expensive kit. However Will Horgan at Stainless Classics is making an excellent version at a very reasonable price. Regards, Howard

Previously Jonathan Soons wrote:

Previously robert_tuck wrote:

What ignition is the 88 using? . The 88 can be a nice ride if set up well. The Atlas can be a rough dog if not set up well.Don't be surprised to find yourself going in circles in a year or two.

I'm pretty sure the 88 has magneto ignition and was working ok. The guy wants to install a Triumph motor. Who am I to judge. In any case I don't mind having an extra Norton motor lying around. I will have all the time in the world to tinker with the Atlas and get it right. I ended up with the Atlas because parts are so cheap and available in the US. I think 80% of all Atlases must be over here (and a good percentage of all Commandos as well). Anna probably knows the actual figures.

Hello well since the 750 atlas was made for the USA from day one there be around some 50,000 of them including commandos Matchless/AJS G15 /G33 / N15 and so on ! has the Commando's engine is a Atlas any way, and too be fair Not may engine builders have had a real go at Sorting out the Vibration issues On this beast of a engine its all down to the right balance factors , and not just slapping a engine together and hoping for the best out of it, And the Atlas Engine Has So much power It just wants to rip the Clutch of the End of the Main Shaft , and has even known to bend the main shaft , now that take some doing that's how much power its engine has and Peter Williams Knew this that why he run and run with this engine Archaic or Not , it had the power, and can be made reliable has well these engines were never really developed in the way the Japaneses engine were, Norton Just did not have the Cash to put into R&D sad really that could so much better , and still can with the right development team and a good cash backing , just like Ford and Perkins they made the best diesel engines ever in there day, yours Anna J

It's just an overbored 650 and as standard does not produce any more power then the 650. I don't think you need to lose any sleep worrying about the engine ripping the rest of the bike apart.

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

It's just an overbored 650 and as standard does not produce any more power then the 650. I don't think you need to lose any sleep worrying about the engine ripping the rest of the bike apart.

No your dead wrong mate for one there where Never a over bored cylinders , they had there own Barrel sets made fresh , and the Cylinder head was too ,has was its pistons , and they have more power low down in the rev range I can see you not a Norton enthusiast then like the rest of us , just buy any old just to ride and take not real interest , Yours anna J

It is just an overbored 650 with suitable modifications to suit. Is that better? Max power of the Atlas was never intended to exceed that of a 650SS - hence the dished pistons and thelower compression ratio. The power and torque curves will differ inevitably but again the peak power for both engines is the same. And yes, I prefer riding them to talking about them (just back from 60 cold, wet, dark miles on my BSA, owned for a mere 38 years, sacrilege!).

When we ride together , my son and I , we swap bikes back and forth, 99 and Atlas. I always enjoy the pull of the Atlas but am relieved to get back on the 99 and cruise at least 10mph faster. I am sure that the same would happen if it were 99 and 88. An 80 mph cruise was no problem on the 88. Capacity does not always mean more.If I destroy the motor I will most likely replace with a carefully ballanced,low comp ,geared up 750. At least its reliable.

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

It is just an overbored 650 with suitable modifications to suit. Is that better? Max power of the Atlas was never intended to exceed that of a 650SS - hence the dished pistons and thelower compression ratio. The power and torque curves will differ inevitably but again the peak power for both engines is the same. And yes, I prefer riding them to talking about them (just back from 60 cold, wet, dark miles on my BSA, owned for a mere 38 years, sacrilege!).

Hello THE Atlas WAS Never a Over Bored any thing It Has Its Own set of Barrels witch are a bit different to a 650 . And I hate anyone saying Atlas is just a over bored engine witch its defiantly Not the Case , Norton did not just bore out a set of 650 barrels some 5 millimeters over size It cannot be done you have too start with a new set of barrels so you can have oversize re-bores and believe me its has some real pulling power , Yours Anna J

Note the phrase suitable modifications to suit. I almost said bodges but would not wish to upset any genuine bodgers. I ride an Atlas-engined 99 and have done for about 25 years and am well aware of its characteristics, even down to its desaxe barrels - an engineering bodge, or compromise if ever there was one. It's a grand engine just the same and replacing the 99 engine with the Atlas one was the best thing I have done to the bike in 46v years of ownership. But what do I know, I'm not a Norton enthusiast like you, dear lady.

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

Note the phrase suitable modifications to suit. I almost said bodges but would not wish to upset any genuine bodgers. I ride an Atlas-engined 99 and have done for about 25 years and am well aware of its characteristics, even down to its desaxe barrels - an engineering bodge, or compromise if ever there was one. It's a grand engine just the same and replacing the 99 engine with the Atlas one was the best thing I have done to the bike in 46v years of ownership. But what do I know, I'm not a Norton enthusiast like you, dear lady.

Here a big difference in power out put for a Atlas Compered to a model 99 that only kicks out 35 BHP where has the atlas kick our a good 50 Bhp And I have owned Norton's 46 year Too many of them and raced Solo and Sidecar too , and seen many miles over the years too, rain shine or snow Just like you may of done, Have Fun Yours Anna J

Enjoy the 88. A well set up one will zip along at 80 mph with little vibration.An Atlas is harder to set up to do this. 60 on our one is wearing .I'm going to have to work on it.

Perhaps I am just lucky. The Atlas engine in my 99 is actually very pleasant. Yes, it vibrates, no, it's not intrusive. Plenty of go if you need it. Normal cruise is 75mph, plenty moreon tap. It's a bike I can and have put 600 miles on in a day and have still been able to use my fingers at the end of it. It has a single carb and Commando pistons, otherwise untouched.

Previously Jonathan Soons wrote:

Previously robert_tuck wrote:

Enjoy the 88. A well set up one will zip along at 80 mph with little vibration.An Atlas is harder to set up to do this. 60 on our one is wearing .I'm going to have to work on it.

From what I've read, on this forum and elsewhere, the smooth spot can be moved up or down by varying the balance factor. If the smooth spot can be put at 4000 rpm and the gearbox sprocket be set for 60 or 70 mph at 4000 rpm, that would give a pleasant cruising motorcycle.

EDIT: Let's assume the Atlas has a smooth spot. Dream on! ,Ours is dead smooth when parked up for the admiring throngs at meets,otherwise its not.

I have a single carb 750 Commando motor in a 57 f/bed. Up to 70mph its fine not as nice as my old 650ss though. It's also very tall geared so 70mph is about 3600 rpm.

A 600 or 650 motor will be better in real life riding. I just put in what I had at the time.