Ten years as the Artful Bodger

Well, as "Dictator for Life " of the TCNOC/ First Thursday gatherings, it seemed fitting for me to speak about what has happened in the last 10 years…..

It seems like only yesterday that Harvey was discussing motherly occupations with the proprietor of Culla's bar. If you don't know, this precipitated our exodus out of the promised land of the west bank into the wilderness which is Lake and Lyndale. About this time, the area was developing its own kind of "funk" which I think, over the last decade, we have definitely contributed to. From our list of regulars, we began the first newsletter to let everyone know where to go next month. Thru the very able writing of a few (especially Raoul and Steve G) we have published something definitely worth waiting for, for a decade! What lasts that long and doesn't leak?

Of course there have been others who have helped either by contributions of money, time, articles or advice (and perhaps unknowingly, copying supplies….) and most of you know who you are! The club has swollen like a beached carp to encompass 3 blocks of streetside parking, and has drawn T.V. stations, newspaper columnests, nationally known glitz photographers, the Iron Butt, and cycle magazines. We have expanded to include splinter groups who have abley put on cool events like Pease and the Art of the Motorcycle foray to Chicago. We've seen the official retirement of the Lizard (but not forgotten) and the rise of the Ho Chi Minh dash. We've continued the tradition of winter garage parties, and created the Concourse D'Elegans to fulfill the voyouristic needs of club members. A relatively recent development, our web-page (http://www.motorbyte.com/Norton) is a window into the workings of the club. We have served to preserve the delicate balance of pure indulgence and anal retentiveness by serving as the alter ego of the Antique Club. The International Norton Owners Club definitely knows about us! When voted best chapter a few years ago, we "Re-Awarded" the trophy to the Chicago chapter who we felt were more deserving! Our reputation as being among the loudest and latest at the national rallies is legendary…. We have come up with our share of rider and bike awards at the events as well. Personally, it has allowed me to meet some really worthwhile people, and benefit from the guidence of guys like Al Burke, Jerry Stageberg, Jack Schally and more. The crowd is overwhelming, but I know that there are some younger bikers in there seeing and HEARING our Dunstall equipped Commandos for the first time and grooving on it. Who knows where the next 10 years will take us?

Now it makes sense!

Putting the Dunstall Atlas together, I was checking the wiring system by powering it up with the battery charger. The ammeter kept needling over to the + side! Never noticed this since under power it jumps around so much. Thought it must be wrong…Right?

Wrong! It is positive ground, and DISCHARGE should be to the + side…..

Things go better….

Use DIET Coke to clean battery connectors and remove minor rust …it's not so sticky.

Mandrel the magician

Maybe I mentioned this before, but you can get some great mandrel sharp bends for fabricating exhausts by cannibalizing Honda 450 street scramblers. Alternativelly, there are huge piles of unused chopper pipes for older shakebutsus in the backs of virtually every bike shop which can be had almost for the asking. Lots of great exhaust pieces!

Fuse and refuse

It's getting harder to find typical SFE type Littlefuses out on the road. Think about replacing the inline fuse holder with the blade type. These are easier to get and are easier to get into to troubleshoot or hotwire.

Which way are you headed

An oldie but goodie….. Make your headlight leads about 5 feet long. You may need the extra wire for a repair, and can take off your headlight to use as a trouble light .

Propanity

With a little ingenuity, those Bernz-a Matic hand-held torch gas bottles can be made to hold compressed air….

The Rickmystery

Bought a seized Rickman-Zundapp at the Sportwheels auction for a song. 437 miles! Looked like new! Pulled the head thinking the piston had seized. Nope. Pulled the barrel. Rocked the bike. No movement, piston ok. Pulled the side cover….. Bike had water in there (just from condensation) which had rusted with the "water level" at about a 30 degree angle (bike had no kickstand and was undoubtedly leaning against a wall). Rust had "locked" magneto flywheel against close side casting. OK, got it loose and got a spark, lets bolt her up… Maybe a new gasket between the case and barrel? What's this!

Old gasket flipped over (at Zundapp factory) so that most of the transfer ports extending off at an angle to each side were covered by the wrong side of the gasket obscuring them by about 60%!!!! No wonder it had only 437 miles on it. Someone must have really been pissed at paying $1100 for a 125cc race bike in 71' which just wouldn't go……….

Till next-time

Greg M.

Still bodging