The difference between the 600 and 650 is primarily the stroke, a late 600 crankcase like yours will take the 650 crank and rods, so the way to tell is measure the stroke, the 600 is 82mm and the 650 89mm. So it could actually be a 650.
Knowing Nortons mix and match policy to fit 650 crankshaft requires it to go into 650ss cr/cases that were modified with a bulge just in front of magneto .Early 600cc cr/cases fouled the rotation hence the need for bulge. Norton may have used the later cr/cases and given it a 600ss stamping.If any records exist it would verify this model.
its REVELATION not Revulution and considering you being around this bike for a few years you would know this '63 machine would have left the factory with Monobloc(s) not concentrics as you wrongly state and the if motor is "untouched " factory spec 99ss, it is a 600 cc.
The 99SS didn't have the downdraught head but a separate manifold iirc. You could buy these aftermarket too but the downdraught was the way to go. You may well have an SS frame etc. with a 600cc engine fitted but internals may well be 650SS. Check how the seat fits. It looks like at the back is the DZUS fastener and two pins at the front which is how the SS was. Great to see these old bikes running and in good condition. I loved mine but I was only 20 then, wow so long ago, several of my mates had Dommi's then, 650SS, Atlas, 500SS, 99'S, 88'S. Tritons, Gold Star in featherbed. AND the roads were smooth then!
Hi guys thanks for the comments, was the 650 rarer than the 600? Had fun fitting the new left hand foot rest last night which is wider than the old one, so now the brake pedal hits the nut.
now my bike was built way before this one back in december 7th 1960 and its a early 650 manxman built for export only and to date there are only 12 in this country thats come back a very rare machnie and a very nice looker
I'm sure some of the 99ss models were fitted with cams, barrels and pushrods as part of some optional extras at the time so it's possible it could well be a 650
hi guys ,, just come across your videos because I have just bought a 650ss and I thought I heard a little dissapointment when you thought it might be a 600 , don't be , I suggest joining the owners club and getting the history of the bike , there could be an interesting twist in its story They're great looking bikes and a joy to ride , whatever. 👌
Hi! Thanks for watching 😀 congratulations on buying your bike 👍 I think because Chris had grown up with it as a "650" it was just a bit of a "suprise" Chris is going to join the owners club now.
Hi guys, as you say that’s a 600 engine, though definitely an SS model. The engine number itself is on the left side of the crankcase, towards the front, just below the cylinders, followed by the model number (for a 99 model number is 14). The 650 model number is 18. The frame number is stamped vertically on the frame lug behind and below the battery case, but it can often be painted over, especially now that it doesn’t have to be checked for the MOT. It’s still a gorgeous bike! Btw, not sure but it looked in the video like there might be a little oil seeping out past the head gasket below the carbs, which are concentric amal mk 2s. After a rebuild, it’s a good idea to make sure the head nuts are tight to the correct torque settings, at 500 miles and again at intervals. These engines are like naughty kids, and need a firm hand!
the engine number is at the front side on the left 99ss engine number starts with 14 on the side in front of that will be your engine number 965xx a rare 99ss with concentric carberttors then not mono bloco
Look, the 650SS was basicly a 600SS with a longer stroke crank. If you want to know what it is, lift the head off measure the stroke. I suspect you could just drop a 650SS crank into a 600SS motor and you are good. Maby the factory did this, maby some guy like me in my garage. The carbs on your bike are Mk1 concentric not Monoblock. That tells you nothing. As Monoblock wore out you automaticly replaced them with Concentric which were easier to adjust. I run 2 nortons, a concours 650SS 1963 and A 1964 750 . Café racer production race tuned. The Norton motor is simple and it is easy to swap parts between models. Let me give you an example. I took a 1949 Model 7 500cc that was rusting in a garden, dropped in a 750 crank, 750 barrels, sphered and gas flowed the head out to 32mm carbs. Nobody could understand how a 1949 500cc bike could drag the lights against Japanese 4s
and its not a 1963 ether london reg 1962 the easy way of telling the model is the model number stamp on the side of the crank case now for 500cc featherbed you get 122 model 88 for model 99 is 14 for 650 its 18 or 18ss plumstaed built for all atlas 750 cc models its 20
The difference between the 600 and 650 is primarily the stroke, a late 600 crankcase like yours will take the 650 crank and rods, so the way to tell is measure the stroke, the 600 is 82mm and the 650 89mm. So it could actually be a 650.
Now that's a good point, maybe that's been done in the past, hence it's been known as a 650 cracking idea, thanks for that😃👍
Knowing Nortons mix and match policy to fit 650 crankshaft requires it to go into 650ss cr/cases that were modified with a bulge just in front of magneto .Early 600cc cr/cases fouled the rotation hence the need for bulge. Norton may have used the later cr/cases and given it a 600ss stamping.If any records exist it would verify this model.
its REVELATION not Revulution and considering you being around this bike for a few years you would know this '63 machine would have left the factory with Monobloc(s) not concentrics as you wrongly state and the if motor is "untouched " factory spec 99ss, it is a 600 cc.
As several other commenters have pointed out the carbs are Amal Concentric. They are Mk1 though, definitely not Mk2.
The 99SS didn't have the downdraught head but a separate manifold iirc. You could buy these aftermarket too but the downdraught was the way to go.
You may well have an SS frame etc. with a 600cc engine fitted but internals may well be 650SS.
Check how the seat fits. It looks like at the back is the DZUS fastener and two pins at the front which is how the SS was.
Great to see these old bikes running and in good condition.
I loved mine but I was only 20 then, wow so long ago, several of my mates had Dommi's then, 650SS, Atlas, 500SS, 99'S, 88'S. Tritons, Gold Star in featherbed. AND the roads were smooth then!
We miss the smooth roads too, and the lack of traffic..
Hi guys thanks for the comments, was the 650 rarer than the 600? Had fun fitting the new left hand foot rest last night which is wider than the old one, so now the brake pedal hits the nut.
now my bike was built way before this one back in december 7th 1960 and its a early 650 manxman built for export only and to date there are only 12 in this country thats come back a very rare machnie and a very nice looker
I'm sure some of the 99ss models were fitted with cams, barrels and pushrods as part of some optional extras at the time so it's possible it could well be a 650
Now that's a good thought, we'll look into that, thanks for watching and commenting😀👍
hi guys ,, just come across your videos because I have just bought a 650ss and I thought I heard a little dissapointment when you thought it might be a 600 , don't be , I suggest joining the owners club and getting the history of the bike , there could be an interesting twist in its story
They're great looking bikes and a joy to ride , whatever. 👌
Hi! Thanks for watching 😀 congratulations on buying your bike 👍 I think because Chris had grown up with it as a "650" it was just a bit of a "suprise" Chris is going to join the owners club now.
Hi guys, as you say that’s a 600 engine, though definitely an SS model. The engine number itself is on the left side of the crankcase, towards the front, just below the cylinders, followed by the model number (for a 99 model number is 14). The 650 model number is 18. The frame number is stamped vertically on the frame lug behind and below the battery case, but it can often be painted over, especially now that it doesn’t have to be checked for the MOT.
It’s still a gorgeous bike!
Btw, not sure but it looked in the video like there might be a little oil seeping out past the head gasket below the carbs, which are concentric amal mk 2s. After a rebuild, it’s a good idea to make sure the head nuts are tight to the correct torque settings, at 500 miles and again at intervals. These engines are like naughty kids, and need a firm hand!
Thanks for commenting, your right there are a couple of small oil weeps, seems to be a right of passage on all our stuff! Thank you for watching 👍
the engine number is at the front side on the left 99ss engine number starts with 14 on the side in front of that will be your engine number 965xx a rare 99ss with concentric carberttors then not mono bloco
Those carbs are Concentrics, not Monoblocs. I don't think they would have been the original carbs.
Look, the 650SS was basicly a 600SS with a longer stroke crank. If you want to know what it is, lift the head off measure the stroke. I suspect you could just drop a 650SS crank into a 600SS motor and you are good. Maby the factory did this, maby some guy like me in my garage. The carbs on your bike are Mk1 concentric not Monoblock. That tells you nothing. As Monoblock wore out you automaticly replaced them with Concentric which were easier to adjust. I run 2 nortons, a concours 650SS 1963 and A 1964 750 . Café racer production race tuned. The Norton motor is simple and it is easy to swap parts between models. Let me give you an example. I took a 1949 Model 7 500cc that was rusting in a garden, dropped in a 750 crank, 750 barrels, sphered and gas flowed the head out to 32mm carbs. Nobody could understand how a 1949 500cc bike could drag the lights against Japanese 4s
99 is a 600cc
Yes it so is a 600cc
Could be a 650 top end
and its not a 1963 ether london reg 1962 the easy way of telling the model is the model number stamp on the side of the crank case now for 500cc featherbed you get 122 model 88 for model 99 is 14 for 650 its 18 or 18ss plumstaed built for all atlas 750 cc models its 20
600’s are faster. Tongue in cheek.