Carburation, the black art, indeed it is :D Lovely to see all those Nortons and listen to Kara's stories. I'm reminded of a jealous teenager in the late 70's watching and hearing a neighbour thundering past every morning in our quiet village on his way to work on his Norton Commando 850, another friend two doors down would do the same on his Triumph Bonneville T140E and there was me, wheeling out my CB200 feeling rather inadequate :)
Hepcat, almost identical story; in 1968 I had a Yamaha 350 Scrambler and in our small town there was a man who had a Triumph 650. I lusted for that beautiful purple tanked Bonneville with a chrome tank rack. I knew I could not afford a Triumph. They were about 1,500 or so dollars. My Yamaha was 715 in 1968. I would watch Then came Bronson on TV.
tks 4 the vids. had a '68 f/b with right side tach. drive; what a disaster. it took a year to sort out all the lousy problems and then had to sell when i moved to florida. thanks.
How very true, 'I wouldn't have learned anything if I bought a perfect bike'? Another 'gem' Kara is inspirational & just what motorcycling is all about. Thanks for sharing & visiting 'the cul-de-sac' guys. And here's me thinking things always went to plan, love the 'out take' ha ha, pleased the wind was in the right direction. atvb t ..
Thank you for the video Mike. Another great story. It sounds as though Kara might know that bike from stem to stern, so to speak. Absolutely fabulous. Cheers
That’s a great story and so true. No matter how good a bike looks you just don’t know what problems may lie beneath the covers. Many hands have touched these vintage bikes over the years. But that’s why we like ‘em.
Kara's engeneering knowledge and skills reminds me veguely of a very interessting historical character (a true adventurer who made a trip from london to Cape Town on a Panther 600 in 1934!) a british lady called Theresa Wallach. Her name and achievments are honoured on Brooklands, the holly speed soil on wich she started her fame by beeing the first woman to hit the ton. For those who never heard of her, I recomend, google her name, you won't be disapointed. Best regards from Brazil, cul de sac mornings got you a new subscriber!
Thank you very much Felipe! I really enjoyed reading your comments about legendary Theresa Wallach! What a remarkable "Gold Star" lady! Best wishes, Mike
The carb discussion takes me back to my teenage ownership of an Atlas 750. Ran strong at low rpm's stumbled in the mid-range then cleared it's throat to run strong to shifting gears. This before I had my current mechanical skills.
Many thanks Phil. Yes, we are very lucky to have such good friends with a shared passion for these old bikes. Hopefully there will be a few more visitors into the cul-de-sac 🙂 best wishes, Mike
What would Sunday mornings be without the "Cul-de-Sac". When my friends and I talk about the "Commandos" we no longer know if we're referring to the bikes, or are we referring to the group of experts you have collected?
Just love those revers cone silencers. Fitted a set to my New RE interceptor. Sound and look awesome. Envious of your weather over there. Being battered by storm Frances at the mo here in blighty. Very unseasonable.
But the commitment to that project ,the pain and consequences of it must take some fortitude. Hopefully Kara is happy with her new gearbox and I wish her all the best and a smooth journey ... the isolastics will help , I`m still on BSA A65 and am not happy deep down.
@@billycaspersghost7528 Yes I also definitely want to wish Kara all the best. It must have been a brave decision - far more than just a cosmetic retouch or a partial restoration.
Dear Mike, best greetings from Italy, Lake Como, village Tremezzo, other lakeside from Mandello, where we have some summer-hollidays. Best wishes to the Cul-de-Sac from Ulli, Allgäu/Germany
I have a 1975 MKIII and one of the best things I did for it was to replace the Mikuni with the Amal Premier carbs. Starts first kick and turns your hair white after three grand.
That was awesome, and the fastest ten minutes of my life - thanks so much for these! However, I'm sure you won't be surprised when I register my objection to poor Shep's ignominious treatment. ;)
Entertaining and informative ... I'm not sure im qualified enough to run a Norton now after watching all your Norton clever cloggs... i get flustered changing a spark plug :( .. great stuff !!
Hi mike I love your channel. There is one video that I really liked and would like to view it again but I can’t seem to find it. It was the one where the owner had flat bars on it and had shortened the finders. He also said he sent his brother to look at the bike when he first bought it. Do you know the bike I’m referring to and how I can view this video again
Hi Donald, thanks very much! Was it this one by any chance? Just let me know if not and I can keep looking. Cheers, Mike. th-cam.com/video/Cxrga5Ehgmw/w-d-xo.html
Love this series, Mike, and the first time I’ve watched one just as it’s posted! I find the cul-de-sac an oasis of calm. By the way, doesn’t everybody have a CNC machine? 😉
Hi, he states that he changed the float bowl with an old one ? The symptoms were cold exhaust pipe gases and fouled plug.? if the plug is wet/black this is likely due to electrical issue ? defective plug coil etc. sympotoms he described in my opinion are more indicative of an electrical issue ? I have experienced this problem. If my bike hasnt been running for about 3 weeks it fires up on one cylinder with the the opposite side with cold exhaust gas. i rev it up for a min or 2 and it clears. As long i start the engine daily the problem is resolved. i have new premium cabs.el. ignition. i agree with him that its the devil work .So how does changing the float bowl appears to send a spark to the plug ?is it electrical fault ? > Kind regards J
Another fine Cul de sac video and a very interesting lady. Particularly like the end bit, but Mike please, Shep the umbrella weight😮Poor thing. Mind you looks a bit more complete than the last time as I recall. Have you been tinkering?
I broke the sprag on my electric start,found out to engage the clutch,push down on kickstart,till the motor free spins,then push the start button,brm brmm.
Another interesting video to brighten my morning thanks. Any chance of a Commando Hi Rider appearing in the cul de sac, the one with the ape hangers and Raleigh Chopper seat?
Have you found a new use for Shep 😀 What’s happening with the manxman, have you done much to it, haven’t seen much of it lately? All the best Mike, enjoy your week and get back to work 😂
My Norton I had to fiddle with it constantly and it was a coin toss if I would have headlights on a given day but still loved it... but my next bike was a 1974 XLCH Sportster and I really miss it although it had iron head issues like a few drops of oil under it and if you didn't kick it with a proper procedure then you'd be wore out . If I had known anyone that had a Norton or if the internet existed I would have kept the Norton . Now that I'm 60 constantly working on my motorcycle has definitely lost its charm lol
Why was the original bowl not allowing the carb to work right? That's odd that just putting a different bowl on it made it work perfect. Can't figure that one out.
I don't think we will ever know Dave! Kara checked the float height and everything else seemed to be exactly the same on both bowls but the old one still ran much better. As Kara mentioned, it's more of an art than a science trying to figure some of these things out. Cheers, Mike
The Mk. III's nobody's favorite model of Commando, but the owner's really got that one sorted, huh? That interview was fascinating and could have been longer as far as I'm concerned. And what IS up with those newfangled Amal Premiers? I keep hearing weird things about them.
There are too many stories about new carbs having debris in them. So the first thing you do when you get Premiers is take them apart and clean them. Some people have issues with the newer Stay Up floats which might be what happened to Kara. I haven’t had any issues with mine. Once the get sorted the Premiers should be superior. Well, that’s the theory.
Hi Bryan, yes the MK3's from 1975 had the gear shift and rear brake pedals switched following Gov't regulations to standardize. They are the same as modern bikes today. Best wishes, Mike
I missed this one somehow, oh well, here now. Something seemed odd about this one, is it the brakes calipers and discs not stock for the year? I was trying to see on the others lined up. Just curious.
Hi Wooley, I believe it's a stock setup for the MK3 with the rear disc brake / rotor on the right and front rotor on the left. That horn might be changing the look 😉
![A really Cool Commando! [visit 28 of 31]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Cxrga5Ehgmw/mqdefault.jpg)
![A really Cool Commando! [visit 28 of 31]](/img/tr.png)
![Norton Commando Cafe Racer [visit 25 of 31]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KRHVjgrERpQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Fabulous bike. Kara is great.
Total respect Kara, tinker bell was the old Disney worker- bee! You are a Pro...Enjoy!
Carburation, the black art, indeed it is :D Lovely to see all those Nortons and listen to Kara's stories.
I'm reminded of a jealous teenager in the late 70's watching and hearing a neighbour thundering past every morning in our quiet village on his way to work on his Norton Commando 850, another friend two doors down would do the same on his Triumph Bonneville T140E and there was me, wheeling out my CB200 feeling rather inadequate :)
Hepcat, almost identical story; in 1968 I had a Yamaha 350 Scrambler and in our small town there was a man who had a Triumph 650. I lusted for that beautiful purple tanked Bonneville with a chrome tank rack.
I knew I could not afford a Triumph.
They were about 1,500 or so dollars.
My Yamaha was 715 in 1968.
I would watch Then came Bronson on TV.
Kara's story was great listening and her knowledge and skills are next level. So clever, yet so casually told. 👍
WOW! Kara .... VERY impressive mate!!! (from Australia)
tks 4 the vids. had a '68 f/b with right side tach. drive; what a disaster. it took a year to sort out all the lousy problems and then had to sell when i moved to florida. thanks.
"A goofy symphony of weird metal". Gotta love her artist's eye with that 100% accurate analysis.
What a woman! Someone who can clearly hold her own.
This is the most informative channel I've found on TH-cam. Thank you Mike, great job!
Many thanks Gene! I really appreciate your kind note. Glad you enjoy the videos and I hope to continue to make more. Best wishes, Mike.
How very true, 'I wouldn't have learned anything if I bought a perfect bike'?
Another 'gem' Kara is inspirational & just what motorcycling is all about.
Thanks for sharing & visiting 'the cul-de-sac' guys.
And here's me thinking things always went to plan, love the 'out take' ha ha, pleased the wind was in the right direction.
atvb t ..
Thank you for the video Mike. Another great story. It sounds as though Kara might know that bike from stem to stern, so to speak. Absolutely fabulous.
Cheers
That’s a great story and so true. No matter how good a bike looks you just don’t know what problems may lie beneath the covers. Many hands have touched these vintage bikes over the years. But that’s why we like ‘em.
Kara's engeneering knowledge and skills reminds me veguely of a very interessting historical character (a true adventurer who made a trip from london to Cape Town on a Panther 600 in 1934!) a british lady called Theresa Wallach. Her name and achievments are honoured on Brooklands, the holly speed soil on wich she started her fame by beeing the first woman to hit the ton.
For those who never heard of her, I recomend, google her name, you won't be disapointed.
Best regards from Brazil, cul de sac mornings got you a new subscriber!
Thank you very much Felipe! I really enjoyed reading your comments about legendary Theresa Wallach! What a remarkable "Gold Star" lady!
Best wishes, Mike
@@TheMightyGarage
A "Gold Star" lady, indeed!
That was a nice one!
Cheers from Brazil.
Shep to the rescue ,,,hilarious! Another fantastic video,,,,,wonderful bikes, great guests!
“ A Norton is built around the horn” 😂🤣😂🤣👍😁
The carb discussion takes me back to my teenage ownership of an Atlas 750. Ran strong at low rpm's stumbled in the mid-range then cleared it's throat to run strong to shifting gears. This before I had my current mechanical skills.
Thanks for the video Mike. You are lucky to have found such an interesting group of friends with character and good stories to tell. Keep em coming.
Many thanks Phil. Yes, we are very lucky to have such good friends with a shared passion for these old bikes. Hopefully there will be a few more visitors into the cul-de-sac 🙂 best wishes, Mike
You bring a new dimension to photograph😎
Hi Mike, awesome video with an amazing woman, she’s a great tonic, and a font of information. And man....those bikes were beautiful. 😎👍👍👍🇬🇧🏍
Every day is a school day with a Norton Mike !
Just love special tools. Need a friend with an engineering background and a cnc machine.
awesome, I watch it for the 3rd time. I'd like to have such a professional in my gang :D
What would Sunday mornings be without the "Cul-de-Sac". When my friends and I talk about the "Commandos" we no longer know if we're referring to the bikes, or are we referring to the group of experts you have collected?
Well said👍
Just love those revers cone silencers. Fitted a set to my New RE interceptor. Sound and look awesome. Envious of your weather over there. Being battered by storm Frances at the mo here in blighty. Very unseasonable.
Kara would put most engineers into the shade, most people don't even have the right tools never mind a CNC machine, and the knowledge.
Great video lovely bike and history stay safe looking forward to next one 🇬🇧👍🏻
"You've just gone through a major gearbox replacement..." I'll bet said with a wonderful straight face.
But the commitment to that project ,the pain and consequences of it must take some fortitude.
Hopefully Kara is happy with her new gearbox and I wish her all the best and a smooth journey ... the isolastics will help , I`m still on BSA A65 and am not happy deep down.
@@billycaspersghost7528 Yes I also definitely want to wish Kara all the best. It must have been a brave decision - far more than just a cosmetic retouch or a partial restoration.
Great video, thanks!
Dear Mike,
best greetings from Italy, Lake Como, village Tremezzo, other lakeside from Mandello, where we have some summer-hollidays.
Best wishes to the Cul-de-Sac from Ulli, Allgäu/Germany
I have a 1975 MKIII and one of the best things I did for it was to replace the Mikuni with the Amal Premier carbs. Starts first kick and turns your hair white after three grand.
A smart move. No comparison.
Alfas too. She is a major dude.
magic.
That was awesome, and the fastest ten minutes of my life - thanks so much for these! However, I'm sure you won't be surprised when I register my objection to poor Shep's ignominious treatment. ;)
Haha! Objection noted Brendan.. and I'm sorry 😉. One of these days... one of these days 😉
Entertaining and informative ... I'm not sure im qualified enough to run a Norton now after watching all your Norton clever cloggs... i get flustered changing a spark plug :( .. great stuff !!
Wow your friends sure know there stuff Mike 😜👍
Hi mike I love your channel. There is one video that I really liked and would like to view it again but I can’t seem to find it. It was the one where the owner had flat bars on it and had shortened the finders. He also said he sent his brother to look at the bike when he first bought it. Do you know the bike I’m referring to and how I can view this video again
Hi Donald, thanks very much! Was it this one by any chance? Just let me know if not and I can keep looking. Cheers, Mike. th-cam.com/video/Cxrga5Ehgmw/w-d-xo.html
I bought a 74 brand new from Ian Kennedy's in London, Ontario. I think it was around 1900 dollars. Wish I still had it
Love this series, Mike, and the first time I’ve watched one just as it’s posted! I find the cul-de-sac an oasis of calm. By the way, doesn’t everybody have a CNC machine? 😉
I`ve got one. My employers claim it`s theirs ,but since they have no idea how to use it or what I`m doing on it , I take the opposite view.
BillyCaspersGhost 😂🤣😂🤣
nice!
Yea it’s kind of funny mentioning the CNC as I have been thinking of buying one to build tools myself. 🤓
So I guess this should be banked as "If all's you got is a CNC machine, every problem becomes a bearing press job?" x-]
Hi, he states that he changed the float bowl with an old one ? The symptoms were cold exhaust pipe gases and fouled plug.? if the plug is wet/black this is likely due to electrical issue ? defective plug coil etc. sympotoms he described in my opinion are more indicative of an electrical issue ?
I have experienced this problem. If my bike hasnt been running for about 3 weeks it fires up on one cylinder with the the opposite side with cold exhaust gas. i rev it up for a min or 2 and it clears. As long i start the engine daily the problem is resolved. i have new premium cabs.el. ignition. i agree with him that its the devil work .So how does changing the float bowl appears to send a spark to the plug ?is it electrical fault ? > Kind regards J
Oregon...
If
The Truman Show
featured Nortons...
Another fine Cul de sac video and a very interesting lady. Particularly like the end bit, but Mike please, Shep the umbrella weight😮Poor thing. Mind you looks a bit more complete than the last time as I recall. Have you been tinkering?
I broke the sprag on my electric start,found out to engage the clutch,push down on kickstart,till the motor free spins,then push the start button,brm brmm.
Riding 👍🏼👍🏼🏍
Another interesting video to brighten my morning thanks.
Any chance of a Commando Hi Rider appearing in the cul de sac, the one with the ape hangers and Raleigh Chopper seat?
There is always a good chance of a Hi Rider showing up.
I have a friend in Henderson KY that has had a Hi Rider since 1974. Probably a bit too far for the cul-de-sac.
George Martin Well, if they ride it then it would probably take 800 gas stops with that tiny tank. 😜
Have you found a new use for Shep 😀
What’s happening with the manxman, have you done much to it, haven’t seen much of it lately?
All the best Mike, enjoy your week and get back to work 😂
My Norton I had to fiddle with it constantly and it was a coin toss if I would have headlights on a given day but still loved it...
but my next bike was a 1974 XLCH Sportster and I really miss it
although it had iron head issues like a few drops of oil under it and if you didn't kick it with a proper procedure then you'd be wore out .
If I had known anyone that had a Norton or if the internet existed I would have kept the Norton .
Now that I'm 60 constantly working on my motorcycle has definitely lost its charm lol
Why was the original bowl not allowing the carb to work right? That's odd that just putting a different bowl on it made it work perfect. Can't figure that one out.
I don't think we will ever know Dave! Kara checked the float height and everything else seemed to be exactly the same on both bowls but the old one still ran much better. As Kara mentioned, it's more of an art than a science trying to figure some of these things out. Cheers, Mike
Bellissime 😍
The Mk. III's nobody's favorite model of Commando, but the owner's really got that one sorted, huh? That interview was fascinating and could have been longer as far as I'm concerned. And what IS up with those newfangled Amal Premiers? I keep hearing weird things about them.
There are too many stories about new carbs having debris in them. So the first thing you do when you get Premiers is take them apart and clean them. Some people have issues with the newer Stay Up floats which might be what happened to Kara. I haven’t had any issues with mine. Once the get sorted the Premiers should be superior. Well, that’s the theory.
It sounds like she got a lemon 😮
Wow! She's akin to an engineer.
kara bike left side gear change ?
Hi Bryan, yes the MK3's from 1975 had the gear shift and rear brake pedals switched following Gov't regulations to standardize. They are the same as modern bikes today. Best wishes, Mike
I missed this one somehow, oh well, here now.
Something seemed odd about this one, is it the brakes calipers and discs not stock for the year? I was trying to see on the others lined up. Just curious.
Hi Wooley, I believe it's a stock setup for the MK3 with the rear disc brake / rotor on the right and front rotor on the left. That horn might be changing the look 😉
@@TheMightyGarage Thanks, could be. That would help with straight line braking. It is a very nice looking machine though.
Great Mk 3! But, the horn should be red.
I have a couple of Moto Guzzi's and live in Camas am retired, love Alfa's and need to know a lady with a CNC machine that knows how to use it.
Hehe, thanks Gregory. Kara also lives in Vancouver... just saying 😉😉