Oil filter addition

It goes in the return line and the return side of the pump has double the capacity of the feed side, in case it does create back pressure fit it between the engine and any rocker feed. I have only ever seen one oil filter installation cause a problem, the oil pump was so badly worn the engine wet sumped during running. A refurb of the pump and the problem went away.

My recent 99 restoration has one fitted in the return line and using the original pump which had no lateral movement in the gears so appeared OK.

Before the first start, I ensured that all the lines were backfilled with oil using an oil can and then blew through a little to ensure the froth tower was not blocked. When all connected up, turning the engine on the kick start with no plugs showed a healthy return of oil. I was therefore reasonably confident that I could start the engine for the first time in over thirty five years. 

All went well and my assumption about the oil pump was largely correct in that it only lets less than 200ml through to the sump in a week of standing, so I am fairly chuffed with that and my small magnetic sump drain plug, should it stand for a little longer and require draining.

Give it a go. Any improvement in oil filtration is a good thing.

I have an external filter fitted on the return line. The filter is the type fitted to the commando. I can take photos for you tomorrow if it helps.

Remember that when you come to change the oil and filter, it takes a very long time for oil to start to reappear into the tank...

It's a plumber's nightmare. Like a Vincent.

Pipe to the filter is slightly in the way of the gearbox adjuster, but it's not a major issue.

My Atlas has a Commando cam, and a Commando cover with a boyer. The cover has the Norton logo ground off. This left me with a space where the distributor once lived. I sourced a filter mount off a diesel utility and a friend did the oil lines.

It is dead easy to change the oil filter. The purists aren't impressed, I had one " expert " convinced the filter was a starter motor !

Andrew......that is most impressive and saves crawling under the bike to remove and replace the old and probably filthy filter. You should go into business and sell this kit to other Norton owners.

The other smart move is the Commando cover and camshaft.  On all my Atlas bikes I fitted a Commando cylinder head, Commando 8.9 to 1 pistons, 932 Concentric single carb and electronic ignition.  This combination bumped up the BHP and Torque which in turn allowed each bike to take higher gearing. This, in turn, drops the 70 mph cruising revs to below that irritating teeth destroying vibration point near 5000rpm.

is a bit tight.  I made a strap to go between the upper and lower right rear engine plate bolts, and mounted the filter to that. The filter plate is vertical and the filter points backwards towards the wheel.  This was primarily to give a good pipe run over the gearbox, between the engine plates.  I would have preferred the filter to be vertical, so that it could be filled with oil before installation.  So far I have not worked out a practical way to achieve this.