Norton Head

I used to loosten all the head bolts and ride the bike up the street,if that did not work a lump of 2x2 under the exhaust ports and a hammer.

You had better find the other 4 before you start hitting it with a hammer!

Have a look in the workshop manual. All the bolts are there in graphic detail. And...... DO NOT use a *******hammer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Indeed, the golden tip is to get a manual...the Norton head is quite a fiddly thing.

There are three nuts from underneath (two front, one rear) four bolts at the side and three fittings front top.

If the centre front bolt (right between the rocker boxes) is undone last, valve spring pressure will usually lift the head.

I have never had to give a twin head more than a tap with the palm of my hand.

Colin

The are quite a few websites out there with pdf versions of the Commando Workshop manuals and parts lists.

2 for a start:

i) Les Howard posted this link in May

http://pdfmotomanual.com/index.php?r=site/page&view=manuales&order=t&key=N&make=1964&lang=ENG

ii) Also

http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Repair/70up_Commando/70upCommando.pdf

Good luck with the work. It will be an experience!

Andy

In days of yore a block of wood and a belt from a hammer WAS the recommended way. The preferred alternative of many was a large screwdriver between the fins. This had the happy but unintended benefit that the lightly worn damaged (but repairable ) barrel found its way to the part hungry restorers. Now even this has long gone.

I have seen it done by feeding a large quantity of string through the plug hole with piston at mid stroke then with a socket turning the crank with a socket to bring the piston towards TDC, popped the head of with no risk of harm. I don't think the type of string matters.

I have worked on modern engines where steel through studs have been so corroded to heads that you could hang the motor from the head and still got nowhere. The Norton design is easy to work on in comparison ,string would not have worked on my Atlas !.