New owner asking for some help

Hi Marcus, First step, get yourself a workshop manual ( try www.mercianmanuals.co.uk). Your questions would take a couple of pages to answer. Briefly, your carburettor needs adjusting, the engine should "tick over" with the throttle closed. Likewise, you have a clutch problem, it should not be that heavy. If you are lucky, the cable may only need oiling. Remove it from the bike & hang up vertically. Make a small cup, using plastercine, or something similar, round the outer cable at the top end. Fill this with oil & let it soak through (preferably overnight). If no oil has seeped out, at the bottom, you need a new cable (oil this before fitting, don't rely on it having bee pre greased). If there is one near your home, join your local N.O.C. branch you will learn far more than on these pages.

I hope you get your bike sorted soon, and really enjoy riding it.

All the best, John.

The clutch should be light,suggest you oil cable,look for kinks, breakages in jacket, rust,wear etc,if so replace cable with new.Also check for mismatched parts.Maybe the clutch springs are wound up too tight,youll have to take off the chaincase to check. The motor should idle steadily at around 500 revs,if not your carby[s] are worn out. This is common. For parts I suggest RGM Motors, Andover Norton, etc, late twin parts are easy to find,easiest British classic bike for parts.Theyre a good beginners bike, you dont get discouraged looking for parts. Regards John.

Previously wrote:

Hi i just purchased a Norton 500 1963 model and i was wondering if someone could help me with some tips if you have some time.

1. Wondering where is the best place/site to get parts? Like new speedo, rubbers.

2. Is it just my bike or is the clutch usually something you have to have the arms of a pro wrestler to hold; after i get off riding i feel

like i have just lifted weights for the last 4 hrs.

3. Sorry last question......if i sit at the lights should it idle by itself or are my revs to low if it konks out. Not sure if a Norton works that way

& needs high revs all the time.

Thanks to anyone whom can help, i'm only new at this but hope to pass on some advice to someone else later on where i become more knowledgable.

Marcus

Hi Marcus & welcome! I agree fully with the previous posts & would add, the second most important purchase is a parts book. This will make ordering parts faster & easier for you, & will make your parts supplier very happy (and you want that!). I would also add Norvil to the list of suppliers

http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/

Skip Brolund

Previously wrote:

Hi i just purchased a Norton 500 1963 model and i was wondering if someone could help me with some tips if you have some time.

1. Wondering where is the best place/site to get parts? Like new speedo, rubbers.

2. Is it just my bike or is the clutch usually something you have to have the arms of a pro wrestler to hold; after i get off riding i feel

like i have just lifted weights for the last 4 hrs.

3. Sorry last question......if i sit at the lights should it idle by itself or are my revs to low if it konks out. Not sure if a Norton works that way

& needs high revs all the time.

Thanks to anyone whom can help, i'm only new at this but hope to pass on some advice to someone else later on where i become more knowledgable.

Marcus

Hi Marcus, The most common cause of heavy clutch is that someone has fitted the wrong levers, the commonly availiable type have the wrong leverage ratio---the distance between pivot and nipple centers. The distance should be 7/8 ths of an inch,,---1 inch is no use at all. Do not be deceived by levers made for 7/8th bars , this means something different and yes you need this measurement too.My clutch can be worked with one finger.

Hi Marcus

Yes a new cable is a good start the best oneI have found is a feather light cable from Venhill well worth the extra cost you can find them on the net. Another important factor is to check thatthe lever the cable connects toin the gearbox is set at exactly the right angle to give a straight pull. You need the outter gearbox cover removed to do this. Do not assume that this has been set up properly by some one elce they do tend to turn as you tighten the ring nut.

Regards

Nick

Previously wrote:

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