Before you say"get arigid",has anyoneexperience of improving theNortonplunger rearsuspension? I have an issue with therear being totally incompatible with the front suspension causing apogoeffect when braking orcornering. Themachineis a '48 framed '37Inter MS (30M). Itoyed with theidea of lighter springsbutfeel I may loosecontrol of the wheelsangle to the frameasthe two units work independently. Then Iconsidered elastomer blocks as in modern day cycle forkstoreplace thesprings all together. My question is doesanythingimprove the situation?Thesprings areok, themovementsmooth, but when its cranked over it feelslikeyougot aflat...The front I can deal with (asDan isdoing with commandinserts etc) . AlternativelyIcango back to a Girder forksolution as itmaybe more compatiblewith the waywardrearend.My previous'35CS1(Rigid / Girder) wasfar superior in the handling department. Anyadvisegreatly appreciated.
Cheers
Jon
Don't know if this will h…
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Hi Jon Have you done anyth…
Hi Jon
Have you done anything to the front yet? Stopping the forks from pogoing (is that even a word?) up and down will make a huge difference. My '51 ES2 has damping in the front but the plungers are just standard. It's not quite as 'planted' as my rigid/girder Inter but it does handle very well and I get none of the problems I have heard about from other people. It's also a lot more comfortable over longer distances!
My advice would be to get the forks sorted first and then see if you still feel the need to do something to the plungers.
Andy
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I am awaiting new spring d…
I am awaiting new spring delivery for the front end. I am watching Dan's experience with upgrade to fully damped solution, but my problem lays with the difference between front and rear end reaction. If it ends up stiffer at the front with the damped solution I would probably go heavier on rear springs to keep the wheel tracking a more steerable front end. Thanks all for your insight. I will let you know the outcome. If I've not gone chasing myself a BSA! ð?ðð
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Previously jonathan_newton…
Previously jonathan_newton wrote:
Before you say"get arigid",has anyoneexperience of improving theNortonplunger rearsuspension? I have an issue with therear being totally incompatible with the front suspension causing apogoeffect when braking orcornering. Themachineis a '48 framed '37Inter MS (30M). Itoyed with theidea of lighter springsbutfeel I may loosecontrol of the wheelsangle to the frameasthe two units work independently. Then Iconsidered elastomer blocks as in modern day cycle forkstoreplace thesprings all together. My question is doesanythingimprove the situation?Thesprings areok, themovementsmooth, but when its cranked over it feelslikeyougot aflat...The front I can deal with (asDan isdoing with commandinserts etc) . AlternativelyIcango back to a Girder forksolution as itmaybe more compatiblewith the waywardrearend.My previous'35CS1(Rigid / Girder) wasfar superior in the handling department. Anyadvisegreatly appreciated.
Cheers
Jon
I totally agree with Gordon. I grease my rear plungers on my 1951 ES-2 regularly and ensure that I can see the grease. I find the handling excellent (though not quite as good as my featherbed bikes!!)
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Another word of praise for…
Another word of praise for plungers - my 1951 Model 7 handles very well. I guess having done only 5000 miles from new (half of them in my ownership) it should. The bad reputation that plungers have is down to wear and lack of maintenance, they were fine when new - Norton. BSA et al. weren't stupid!
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Previously brian_petheram…
Previously brian_petheram wrote:
Another word of praise for plungers - my 1951 Model 7 handles very well. I guess having done only 5000 miles from new (half of them in my ownership) it should. The bad reputation that plungers have is down to wear and lack of maintenance, they were fine when new - Norton. BSA et al. weren't stupid!
My Thoughtsexactly. If Harold Daniel could pedal one around the island at record pace unbeaten in 12 years then it couldn't have been bad. Just surprisedothers are nothaving issueswiththem and thereforeoffer remedies. Needless to say mine arefree andgreased andall the thingsthe gentsabove describe. Just ill handling that stems fromimbalancebetweenfront andrear. I'mpersevering(back to short springs andhelperson thefront(new) tosteady thenose. Await delivery ofnew springsforrear.... ...staytuned..
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Previously jonathan_newton…
Previously jonathan_newton wrote:
Attachments p4210009-jpgPreviously brian_petheram wrote:
Another word of praise for plungers - my 1951 Model 7 handles very well. I guess having done only 5000 miles from new (half of them in my ownership) it should. The bad reputation that plungers have is down to wear and lack of maintenance, they were fine when new - Norton. BSA et al. weren't stupid!
My Thoughtsexactly. If Harold Daniel could pedal one around the island at record pace unbeaten in 12 years then it couldn't have been bad. Just surprisedothers are nothaving issueswiththem and thereforeoffer remedies. Needless to say mine arefree andgreased andall the thingsthe gentsabove describe. Just ill handling that stems fromimbalancebetweenfront andrear. I'mpersevering(back to short springs andhelperson thefront(new) tosteady thenose. Await delivery ofnew springsforrear.... ...staytuned..
Seemslike others had issuesaswell... Thisis a 38Inter MS raced on the continent...
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Previously jonathan_newton…
Previously jonathan_newton wrote:
Previously jonathan_newton wrote:
Previously brian_petheram wrote:
Another word of praise for plungers - my 1951 Model 7 handles very well. I guess having done only 5000 miles from new (half of them in my ownership) it should. The bad reputation that plungers have is down to wear and lack of maintenance, they were fine when new - Norton. BSA et al. weren't stupid!
My Thoughtsexactly. If Harold Daniel could pedal one around the island at record pace unbeaten in 12 years then it couldn't have been bad. Just surprisedothers are nothaving issueswiththem and thereforeoffer remedies. Needless to say mine arefree andgreased andall the thingsthe gentsabove describe. Just ill handling that stems fromimbalancebetweenfront andrear. I'mpersevering(back to short springs andhelperson thefront(new) tosteady thenose. Await delivery ofnew springsforrear.... ...staytuned..
Seemslike others had issuesaswell... Thisis a 38Inter MS raced on the continent...
Ok so now its starting to work. The front springs have been replacedwith the standard 8.5" externals.Theshort helperswere keptas theyhad thesamepoundageasnew ones. Rearsstripped, cleanedoutthegrease andgungeand removed5mmof pre-load shims thatwaspreviously installed... now the balance is there and thefitting ofSafteclinings tothe brakesgives a much more progressive feel. Rode to CRMCC Festival Sunday;suspension/brakes stuff isputto bed. Nowhow toget that carb singing....
Cheers
Jon
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Good news! My forks are to…
Good news! My forks are together and ready to go ..... Unfortunately they are just a couple of weeks ahead of the engine ( month if the mag needs a rebuild! )
dan
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Previously Dan Field wrote…
Previously Dan Field wrote:
Good news! My forks are together and ready to go ..... Unfortunately they are just a couple of weeks ahead of the engine ( month if the mag needs a rebuild! )
dan
It will Dan,they always do.... Whilst thefrontend of mineis now staying up, thedamping situation remains. Iminterestedto know howyou get on,and whetheryou think theoutcome adds up.
Cheers Dan
Jon
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Don't know if this will help. With BSA plungers, it's vital that you grease them to the point that grease oozes out when you have been for a decent ride. The grease provides an element of damping as well as lubricating the plungers and springs and reducing wear. Problems arise whenplungers are under-greased or worse never greased. My Plunger A7 handles remarkably well so thay ain't all bad.