1972 Dodge Colt

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I was going to T&T last Sunday but the winds came up, +20 gusts, so we canned that idea.
I was going tonight but they are having the Mid West Drag Race Series tonight and Saturday.
So with any luck we are going Sunday for a T&T.

So I kept moving stuff to the Garage.
Got the Norton in the sun for the first time since the restoration.
There is a local club meeting on Sunday just down the street so I am going to take it down there.
Brings back a lot of memories.
Man I wish I still my hair!
1975
Norton_1_75 s.JPG

Today
Restored 2023 10 (2).jpg


Restored 2023 10 (21).JPG
 
I was going to T&T last Sunday but the winds came up, +20 gusts, so we canned that idea.
I was going tonight but they are having the Mid West Drag Race Series tonight and Saturday.
So with any luck we are going Sunday for a T&T.

So I kept moving stuff to the Garage.
Got the Norton in the sun for the first time since the restoration.
There is a local club meeting on Sunday just down the street so I am going to take it down there.
Brings back a lot of memories.
Man I wish I still my hair!
1975
View attachment 1716156078
Today
View attachment 1716156079

View attachment 1716156080
Cool bike! I guess that falls under the "cafe bike" category. I "ALMOST" got a Honda 350-Four back about 1984 or so. Almost.
 
Awesome bike:thumbsup:

English bikes of that era have beautiful styling.
Luv it!

I’ve had the opportunity to ride a few different ones(Triumphs & BSA’s) when they weren’t that old, but I don’t recall ever riding a Norton.
The only older English bike I ever owned was a 71 BSA 250 Victor. That was in the mid-70’s.
 
Cool bike! I guess that falls under the "cafe bike" category. I "ALMOST" got a Honda 350-Four back about 1984 or so. Almost.
What is a cafe style bike?


Originally cafe racers were based primarily on British motorcycle marques. They were lean, stripped-back bikes built to go fast. Owners would remove any unnecessary components, fit parts designed for the race track and even swap engines and frames in the hunt for more power and improved performance.

Rusty, other than the Dustall style exhaust pipes, my Norton is 100% stock.
Between the stainless, chrome and polished aluminum, it's just as it was.
 
What is a cafe style bike?


Originally cafe racers were based primarily on British motorcycle marques. They were lean, stripped-back bikes built to go fast. Owners would remove any unnecessary components, fit parts designed for the race track and even swap engines and frames in the hunt for more power and improved performance.

Rusty, other than the Dustall style exhaust pipes, my Norton is 100% stock.
Between the stainless, chrome and polished aluminum, it's just as it was.
Well it sure is purdy. .......and bein an 850 I bet it'll get it.
 
Test and Tune tonight at Xtreme.
Did not go as expected.
I do think it launched better, 3500 clutch drop.
I saw the shift light in first, 6500.
But in second it got to 4000 and fell on it's face.
Then the trans or throwout bearing started screaming.
Not sure what it was, but coasted thru and then the engine died.
I looked down and the gas pedal was on the floor.
Throttle shaft had slipped around yet again.
I took the hood off at the top end and pushed the lever back to get the pedal back.
Started right up, but going back to the trailer started hearing those weird noises in 3rd.
So I need to get it up in the air and see what I can figure out.
Might be it for this year.
 
Test and Tune tonight at Xtreme.
Did not go as expected.
I do think it launched better, 3500 clutch drop.
I saw the shift light in first, 6500.
But in second it got to 4000 and fell on it's face.
Then the trans or throwout bearing started screaming.
Not sure what it was, but coasted thru and then the engine died.
I looked down and the gas pedal was on the floor.
Throttle shaft had slipped around yet again.
I took the hood off at the top end and pushed the lever back to get the pedal back.
Started right up, but going back to the trailer started hearing those weird noises in 3rd.
So I need to get it up in the air and see what I can figure out.
Might be it for this year.
Well poop Stan, that sux, the throttle no biggie but trans noises.....not welcome news..
 
Yes, agreed.
Thinking about it now, I am thinking it's the throwout bearing.
New master cylinder, new trans retainer, and it was a weird sound, never heard before.
That is the first place I am going to check.
Maybe not enough clearance.

Throttle linkage is pissing me off, but may have saved my bacon last night.
 
You got lots of dough in that transmission. Warranty work?
 
Trans out because I had no throwout bearing clearance.
I checked the other transmission and I can't measure any difference.
So I hung the bearing on the trans and worked the pedal.
The bearing does not want to retract.
So it's the new master cylinder, the new linkage, or a combination of stuff.

I really wish I could have engineered a mechanical system.
Still might.
The MOPAR Missile used a fork lift cable on a bell crank and they made it work.

Resized_20231102_130546.jpeg
 
I DETEST hydraulic clutch systems for this very reason. Sometimes they work great and sometimes not so much. You'll get it, Stan!
 
Dumb question, can you mount a slave cylinder on the scatter shield to work a clutch fork, like the early Dodge pickups?
 
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