Norton Nemesis V8 Rebuild - Episode 14
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- Опубліковано 23 вер 2024
- In this video I will be continuing with the rebuild, b briefly starting the engine on the bench for the first time then putting the engine back in the frame and getting it up on its wheels.
Note: All parts will be thoroughly cleaned before final assembly, so any debris , swarf dust of dirt seen under macro cinimatography in this video will be cleaned off before the final assembly..
The Norton Nemeses is a pre production prototype that was made in the late 90's with claims of a 200+mph top speed from its 1500cc fuel injected V8 engine.
As far as I'm aware, this is the only bike that has survived but if any of you know of other bikes please leave a comment. This bike is owned by the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham UK has been on display as a non running exhibit for many years.
I have already worked on the bike last year getting the engine to run after a few rudimentary checks, new oil and batteries for series 12 of Henry Cole's "The Motorbike Show" where Henry rode it for a few miles up to around 50 mph, but it wasn't running very well and was leaking a lot of oil and coolant.
Episodes of "The Motorbike show" can be seen on itvx player on line and some shorter edits are available on Henrys UA-cam channel.
Over the coming months I will be stripping the bike to sort out a few issues with the V8 engine and hopefully make it run and ride how it was intended 25 years ago.
For those that are complain about the slow release of this video... he is rebuilding a one of a kind engine (not to say the whole thing!), with a lot of best spoke part that, by the looks of it, wasn't really well put together when new and with no manual! Allen you are the MAN! Keep going!
Agree. Its easy to be critical until you try it yourself.
Wasn't he at the bike museum as well.
bespoke :)
I would happily wait a year.
Who here doesn’t already know this?
Nice, if only Norton had been so attentive to the important details.
I've said before, but this seems to me like it was fairly well designed and engineered to start with and then, someone said... "hey guys, we need this running for a show in 2 weeks" and they got it running in 2 weeks no matter what corners they had to cut.
Like the design of the front wheel assembly.
@@ChuckFickens1972 Some of the details also look like the engineers lost interest at the end and just called it quits. Like some of the very oddly placed bolts and brackets Allen pointed out. For some of them he even had to create special tools or cut down spanners to be able to reach them. It reminds me a bit of how Colin Chapman often called his projects done: he made brilliant engineering designs, that didn't always fit or even worked well. But by that time he had lost interest and moved on to the next project, leaving the fitting and solving what he would call "minor problems" like a properly working cooling system, to the factory personnel.
This Norton Nemesis seems to have been built pretty much the same way: solid engineering, but very sloppy and sometimes even careless work putting it all together, like the cooling system, the cobbled together brackets for the exhaust, the seemingly hastily cobbled up castle nuts for the rear swing arm mount and maybe the worst: the careless cuts and gauges into that beautiful frame just to make cramming in the engine and other parts somewhat easier.
Now I get that this was a single prototype and that some of those issues probably would have been solved when production was greenlighted, but then again look at how some brilliant British designs ultimately failed miserably due to simular careless lack of detail, like the infamous Triumph Stag's V8 for example, that self-destructed due to overheating because of a poorly designed cooling system. Or those weird chokes on the SU carburettors of the Jaguar inline-6's where over time fuel could leak onto the hot engine and catch on fire.
@@tjroelsma
But when the AEDs (automatic enrichment devices) (mini carbs) were fettled well...they worked!
Much better than the pathetic "bonded" pucks that were supposed to be the parking and emergency brake system...
True but looking at how much time he's put into this they'd have been about £150k each :-)
Motorcycles, nature and cup cakes...and watching a genius at work. What more could a man ask for to make his Sunday evening complete? Excellent, Allen. Can't wait for the next episode.
❤️ love this series, fascinating to watch the craftsmanship bringing the bike back to a much better machine than the original. Big thanks Allan for sharing this.
This is great work Allen! I really enjoy watching you work. You're the man!
Genius….not really. But certainly very talented.
@@hughjanus3378 He's a genius....a master of his craft.
@@hughjanus3378 Obviously, you don't kow genius when you see it. Look at the many custom machines he has built. Genius at motorcycles for sure!
Thanks again Allen. The motorcycling community owes you a debt of gratitude for the work you have done on this bike.
I'm an old git that remembers the teacher wheeling the school telly in so we could watch incomprehensible and incredibly boring programmes, usually when it was beautiful sunshine outside.
How we would have loved to see something like this series of engineering masterclasses. Allen, you were born too late. But we are the beneficiaries now. Keep up the good work sir!
*edit I should point out I was a country lad and we were all mad for machinery from an early age, so motorcycle programmes on the telly at school would have been bliss!😊
I remember those tellies: we only ever had black and white ones though, made by Decca if memory serves me.
@HowardLeVert saw the moon landing on it, we didn't have a telly at home.
One of many of my favourite things about Allen, is that he almost never uses power tools like these godawful electric impact wrenches that 99% of youtube "mechanics" use on literally every single bolt...
one of my other favourite things is his inclusion of all the wonderful curious critters in his lovely garden, just goes to show Allen appreciates the things that really matter! we could all learn something from this uniquely talented individual!
Just the lathe, buffer, food processor and oven
@@jbenn43457 It wouldn't be a proper Allen Millyard video without the oven and food processor. Or even the odd pilfered cup cake (or two) 😃😃
@@davidjowett8195 cup of tea, hedgehog....
Agree. Just spanners and sockets. No noise and perfect feel.
So rewarding to see the care, attention and patience in putting this motorcycle history together. That combined with our usual treat of internet cupcakes. Thank you so very much Allen Millyard, for taking on this magnificent task to make british motorcycle icon living agai - and at the same time sorting out the gremlings of the engine and erasing some of the welds from the Stevie Wonder School of Welding.
PS. We’re already spoiled as it is. Take your time and don’t let comments about the next video get to you. You’re an artist, a master of trades, and we have all the time in the world.
Thank you.
Such a shame that Allen wasn't around to work with the John Player Nortons with Peter Williams in the 1970's when they had the Cosworth twins to work with. A missed chance at the time mithinks.
It's quite amazing looking at this bike, the time, effort, engineering and materials that were invested in the split fork yokes and associated bearings and then compare that to the radiator mounting brackets it's difficult to imagine they belong to the same machine. The brackets look like something of an afterthought thrown together at 3.30 Friday afternoon by the unsupervised apprentice.
Quite agree.We are lucky that Alan goes to so much trouble to produce the videos.They are not only entertaining, but instructional as well.He also comes across as a nice bloke.What a man.
Allen; Dutch bloke here. Love the video’s. Your work is an absolute inspiration to me. I was making wee sketches of motorbikes when I was a kid, tried to get 2CV engines into Laverda frames. It was in paper only. I couldn’t afford a motorbike till I was 20. By then I was too busy in University and etc. Now you are just doing what I dreamt of 40 years ago and I enjoy it through your hands and eyes. Thank you so much.
Thank you for taking us along, with this rebuild.
I really like that he takes the time to address asthetic issues, such as the cap screws on the top yoke, machining them to look nice. Perfection.
then arcs the ground lead onto the aluminium castings where the scars will be highly visible...
I doubt there are few others with the creative talent and engineering know how as AM. This engine was a major challenge. And yet, as usual, Allen resolved each issue perfectly. Bravo.
"Well, there we go. I'm so pleased"
I'd be jumping up and down, fist pumping and screaming YES! YES! Then run and drag the missus into the garage and start it again. Several times. I'd make Dr Frankenstein look like he was at a funeral, I'd be so damn excited and proud. It's Alive!!!
Really pleased for you Allen.
To hear the clock ticking in background is calming and a reminder that time is something we can’t do anything about other than do the best of it.
They talk about “national treasures,” but Sir Alan, well it should be, really is.I recommended, to a friend that he should watch Alan’s videos, and a text came back, he couldn’t stop watching them as they were so good.
I love how you drilled the rain holes to drain the rainwater for if it's ever left out in the rain, as if it ever would be 😂
Mr. Millyard has more eye for detail than the whole design team that stood for the design of this bike.
After all those years the bike will become lovable ...
Nice!
Machining the screws. Makes a lot of difference. It's the little touches. 👌
Always a pleasure watching this one of a kind young man at work!! not to mention the wild life updates and cupcakes. Fantastic viewing Allen! "Thank You"
You are much appreciated. 👍
Young man???
Well now my Sunday is complete with a new Allen Millyard video. Thank you Allen!
Got to love the way that when a build gets to critical point Allen nips out for a cup-cake. What a guy 🙂
its a very good mindset to take.
theres no difference to taking a break half way through as a minute before completion... and those few idle moments may just wake you up to the fact you overlooked something critical. whereas pressing onwards to try and "get it done" before stopping invariably leads to failure...
"just another minute or two" is when the crucial bolt snaps, the thread strips, the hoseclamp fails, the crane collapses...
Lovely to see that Hagon shock upgrade. A fine-looking piece of engineering - perfectly suited to this rebuild.
I wondered about the huge amount of spring preload that was already dialled in to the new shock.....
a very fine ad!
Allen, I am enjoying this rebuild of a one of a kind Norton. I believe they selected the perfect person to take on the task. Your attention to detail simply makes me smile throughout the video. I’ve owned a 71 H1, a 71 Norton 750 Combat (never should have sold that) so I have appreciated your amazing builds over the years. I wish I had such a wonderful baker in my life, you’re a lucky man! Wishing you peace and happiness. J.W. Across the pond in Massachusetts.
Loved the two little retainers and their little screws locking the castle nut onto the steering stem.
Stunning that the tool made to fit the castellated nuts , has a better finish than the bike had . Beautiful attention to detail and as always amazing workmanship.
Hard to imagine what a production version would have cost. This was a real labor of love.
Fantastic! When that engine burst into life on the bench - what a well-earned reward to all your hard work.
As if this one off one of a kind prototype would ever be left out in the rain!. I love your attention to detail!
Don't listen to anyone complaining. Your work is marvelous and you do a wonderful job with the videos. I am looking forward to seeing this bike on the road
The final reveal has us all on the edge of our seats. This has been one of the most enjoyable series among the many you've published.
Who knows, at some time in the distant future, this machine may need to be overhauled again. For those undertaking the work, Allen's videos will be a wonderful record of what he did in 2024 and, indeed, of what it looked like beforehand. Here's hoping that those who work on this bike in the future treat it with the same respect and attention to detail as Allen has.
The fact that Allen makes good parts that you’re not going to be able to see when it’s finished, sets him apart from your average engineer. An absolute masterclass in engineering to make what was a shoddily put together prototype into a unique motorcycle.
Allen doing his magic again, he makes these things appear so straight forward, you wonder why anybody should not be able to learn just as well as him!
Your videos are helping me through a tougher time in life, Mr. Millyard. Sincerely, thank you so much.
Glad to see Tracey using those extra cherries, Allen - absoiutely my fave as well. Oh, nice engine by the way...
rebuilding my first bottom end!! thanks for everything -
I dont really have heros but Allen is the kind of man i strive to be. Quiet , to myself,and fix anything no matter if i must learn or not
Without having watched this yet I want to say how great these videos have been. I didn't think that I was looking forward to hearing it run but apparently I was fooling myself.
What I think is most astounding is Allen’s reluctance to call this bike out for what it is, a bloody bodged up lash up! Won’t be when Al’s done with it tho!
Yeah it's funny too because people call things like bandits "parts bin special" and then you have this monstrosity. Some idiot definitely wasn't paying attention, I bet an apprentice helped build this 😂
2:45 That reminds me of first life after I rebuilt my 1966 Norton 650SS, completing in 1998 in time for the Norton Centenary run from the National Motorcycle Museum to Bracebridge Street. I had a tiny plastic bottle into which I put a small amount of petrol, connected to the carbs (monoblocs - I'm Amal-retentive) and kicked the engine over. I was so surprised that it fired up first gentle kick that I closed the throttle rather than opened it. Needless to say the easy starting was helped by having replaced the magneto with electronic ignition.
As a kid I flew control-line model aircraft, and getting the compression engines to start was a pain, until a friend showed me how to do it: he squirted fuel unto the exhaust port while shouting "Cheat holes!" and flipping the prop. It is interesting to see cheat holes still being used by professionals.
Nothing less than brilliant yet again.. For the first time ever I have just realised that Charlies face turns from "yellow" to "red" when he has a tipple
And smoke comes out of his ears
Seeing the bike stripped down and rebuilt over this series of videos you can see some of the very different ideas used in the bikes design and the fact of some of the less clever ideas being replaced with ones that work like the rear exhaust manifold, well done Allen.
Oh, I've been looking forward to this one!
Hats off to you. Alan! Rebuilding a. One-of-a-kind mechanical piece Will never come with a manual. Maybe some notes. Your attention to detail is above reproach. Cleaning up and facing off the bolts that are right in your face is a must to show you care deeply about your work. ❤️
Thank you, Allen. To hear the engine run at least for a bit on the bench is amazing. Can't wait to see the bike complete.
It amazes me to see in these videos just how badly this thing was built in the first place, but it's also amazing to see you undoing all the shoddy work and turning it into something worth showing (that a team of people seemingly couldn't be arsed to do in the first place)
Great work as always!
Totally agree.... but then you look at the effort that went in to the design of the yokes and steerer tube bearing setup, admittedly it's overdone, but compared to the utter crap that was thrown at the rest of the bike (cooling system, exhaust, etc) it's actually nicely machined and well fitting. I get the feeling that this was a prototype that was sent out to "bob" to do that bit, when it came back it was then shipped over to "fred" to do that other bit there, and then given to the apprentice lads to weld up the last bits and pieces. It's so inconsistent!
When Alan Millyard spends so much time on the smallest details to make this "Just Right" it is no wonder these videos are taking time to produce! I take my hat off to him for this level of detail. which makes him the genius he is!
De burring and tidying up the Frame with a 320 on a grinder 👍 now that’s someone who really cares and is thinking of everything.
How many of us would of even thought of doing that.
It took like four revs to burst into life? Who could ever doubt Allens genius...
Allen makes this all look so easy. The true sign of a professional and an amazing engineer 👍👍
Could watch this man all day long his attention to detail is amazing . Thank for the videos Allen
Allen, you are the man. You never disappoint with your methodology . I feel honoured to actually watch you rebuilding this and making a silk purse from the "sows ear". Looking forward to the next episode.
Dear Allen,
That's just a WOW. Thank you for your work. Fantastic watch start to finish. Every episode a joy.
The title of this series is misleading, it’s absolutely NOT a rebuild. Allen is finishing the development of a badly neglected factory project. It’s a joy to watch a master craftsman at work.
Aa you address all the many built-in issues, you’re adding a huge amount of value to this odd bike Allen. Thank you for sharing. Really looking forward to seeing it finally run properly.
Peace 🏴
I'm in awe of your skill set Allen. Thank you for bringing us along for the ride
Thank Allen. Sat in ny Vdub camper Sunday night by the side of Ulswater Water watching this. Just Perfect...👍
There’s nothing like watching the Master at work 👍👍.
Great video! I could listen to this man all day....along with the methodical ticking grandfather clock....very relaxing!
Love the wildlife touches too!
I always enjoy watching your videos. This time I was as excited as you were when the engine finally came to life. It really is a beast of a racing machine. As always, I am amazed at your careful and meticulous restoration work. Even though it is a prototype, the manifolds and pipes that distribute the coolant to the engine were very rough. I think it is wonderful that you found all these problems one by one and corrected them all in your rebuild. I am sure the people who hired you to do the job are very pleased with your meticulous work. I am looking forward to the next episode.
Loved every second of it, amazing work Al
Best Sunday ever watching a genius put this Norton back the way it should be,well done AM
pure brilliance from Alan again
I can only try to imagine how much work this project has taken in addition to the added task of filming it for us armchair viewers.
Bravo to you for doing so. I have learned so much from watching this and other projects you have undertaken. Thank goodness your wife keeps you fueled up with delicious cup cakes!
Nice build . Like to see Norton come back with a modern twin as well . Miss the good old days buying broken down old English bikes and putting them together again . Thanks for your videos Alan
AWESOME SOUP . GLAD TO HAVE A NEW UPDATE ,THANKS AL
coming together really well .Really enjoying watching an expert technician at work
This motorcycle is so peculiar, i've never seen something similar. Excellent unique piece!
Just a great relaxing, Sunday night treat.
Thanks for sharing.
Ride safe 👍
Brilliant Allen .. worth the wait and me and hubby loved it.. many thanks ..
A pleasure to follow this story and those cupcakes look SO good!
A patient genius at work, the complete opposite to myself in my shed… loving the journey thanks Allen.
The people at Norton must be watching these videos and asking 'why didn't we hire this guy '!!!!
Great video Allen
Great vid as per usual.
And I really love the sound of the clock in the background. Really soothing. Cheers. 🍻🥰
I firmly believe that this bike would have sold in limited numbers if Norton had put it into production, and as far as I'm concerned, Allen, you are the only man worthy of rebuilding this one-off masterpiece.
Your attention to detail keep astonishing me, anybody else would just get new screws or polish them a bit, but you actually put them in the lathe and give them a new chamfer. What I would've given to have you as a teacher when I was younger...
Brilliant work Allen. I'm sure it was a lot more time consuming than we saw in the video - your attention to detail is an example to us all. I always learn from every video. Thanks for passing on your knowledge.
Like a lot of others, can’t wait to hear this beast run properly for the first time 👌🏻😎 as a Norton fan, thank you Allen for taking on this project 🙏🏻
Another satisfying video from the National treasure that is Allen,and it is his attention to detail that draws the viewer in,as always looking forward to the next instalment.
It's good to see the bike is being rebuilt again, and the finishing details will really make the bike look great.
Mrs. M nicked your stainless spoke, brilliant.
It's been a few weeks since the previous episode but we all know the Nemesis is in good re-birthing hands! Can't wait to see fully assembled and started. I hope the Museum lets you ride it back to them!
Your attention to detail is phenomenal and a true credit to yourself 🎉
Restauration at its best. Meticulous attention to detail. This rebuild will be better than the original, thanks to the upgraded coolant system and a number of other upgrades. This Norton Nemesis rebuild is very entertaining to watch. Thank you.
Nearly there, this has been a fascinating re-build.
I own 2 early 70’s Triumphs and am always struck by how complicated British design solutions can be for relatively simple engineering problems. This bike looks to have taken that to a new level! Seeing some of the poor quality manufacturing also reminds me not only that this is a pre production bike, it’s also an example of why the British bike industry failed, with brilliant ideas spoiled by poor workmanship fuelled by industrial strife and the use of aging parts resulting from a lack of investment. It’s a treat to see you retaining these old parts and bringing them up to modern engineering standards.
This bike will be exactly what the designer intended it to be, something of a rarity for British bikes back in the day. I’d so love to ride it!
as if there was any doubt that it wasn't going to start first time! Brilliant !
You are "the real Master" of building absolut Bikes!! Amacing!! You know what you do.
That was absolutely worth the wait! I loved glimpsing the engine work with a test fire. Be fantastic to see the finished bike when it's done, knowing all the clever touches and solutions Allen has put in to bring it to life.
Thank you for taking us along😀
Was watching Matt Armstrong, until I got this notification 😂 I prefer to chilaxe with our man Allen✌️🇬🇧edit; always do enjoy it mate 👍
Favourite tea and a new Allen video, what more could anyone want, indoors anyway. 😊
Love the brief spring into life on that engine, sounded great. Such attention to detail and skill level. Brilliant. ❤
Getting excited now. Can’t wait to see this thing been ridden. I have no doubt it will be substantially better than before it was ‘Alanised’!!!
And again I am utterly flabbergasted by what you are capable of, thanks for bringing the Nemesis Back to life and for sharing it with us. I Love to watch.
Wow, she's really coming along now Allen, top drawer job as always! 😊
What a beautiful bike, getting some beautiful work done by an amazing engineer! It's a shame no one actually produced a bike like this in quantity, it could have been a real legend.
Thanks for the latest update Allen. Your attention to detail is second to none - those machined and tapered studs look superb!
Apart from the poor finish of the frame, I also found it ugly, but have to say that after having the cutouts cleaned up and then a good polish, it does now look the part.
Thank you Allen, for your work and this video! But please, don`t let us wait too long for the next one!
Another clinical intro into Allan's genius! Loved the video. Can't wait for the lst drive! Thanks, John.
Great Burt Munro will be watching and smiling. Will never forget Racing my Suzuki 500 on Invercargill beach. I guess you and him are treasures of the motorcycle world. Cheers.
Always the most exciting part of a rebuild, kicking the engine over for the first time,and it's a "goer".
Well done again Allen, thank you for taking us along on the job.