After previously owning a '75 Commando, I bought a '65 Electra project in October that had been sitting for 25 years and had not started before that for an unknown period. The electrical wiring and components were a mess or missing so I started there by installing a new loom, voltage regulator, modern rectifier, solenoid, coils, ignition wires, battery and a Pazon electronic ignition.
After going through the carburetor I found it badly pitted and replaced it as well. Next came a new handle bar dimmer/horn switch and a starter button (the replacement Wipac switches don't have a starter function). Then it was time to set the timing and adjust the valve clearance.
The starter was frozen up so I took it apart cleaned up the insides including removing rust from the armature, made sure the brushes were still useable, put it all back together and reinstalled it on the bike.
I thought I was ready for a start-up, so I hung a temporary gas source from the handlebar, turned on the ignition, and pushed my new bright red starter button. i immediately got smoking wires and shut everything off.
After studying the wiring diagram again I found that I had not done a proper job of running a ground wire from the voltage regulator to the frame and fried the small ground wire from the harness to the battery. I was supposed to add a heavier cable for that connection and one for the ground wire from the battery that did not come with my new harness. So I replaced those crossed my fingers and gave the 50+ year old starter another bit of fire and VOILA (or however you spell it) it fired up and ran.
Man what a feeling. I've started it several times since and just love the way it sounds. So we have another story of an old(er) man's patience/perseverance that ends in success. Now it's on to insuring I have four gears, replacing the tires, refurbing the brakes, greasing the wheel hubs, etc. etc. etc.
Sorry if this is a bit long but I just had to tell somebody who cared.
Jack
I'm sure.....
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Brilliant achievement Jack,…
Brilliant achievement Jack, and so worth while - the Norton lightweights have their issues but with a lot of TLC and understanding they are great bikes! It took me 6 months of fettling to get my unrestored late Navigator running the way I wanted it but it is a joy to ride round our Somerset A and B roads. I am very envious of your Electra - trying to find a good, original one for sensible money has defeated me so far but I will keep hunting! Good luck with the rest of the project and let us know if we can help - there is very little that someone hasn't come across before! Why not post a photo of the Electra - its always good to see other people's bikes!
Cheers
Nick
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Great work Jack
That sounds a worthwhile project and it great that you have the bike up and running, love to see some photos.
I am working on a Navigator and the help given by the members of the club is fantastic; looking forward to seeing the photo's
Steve
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What a sense of achievement
Great work Jack and I feel your sense of achievement; your story brought a tear to my eye.
I had a similar sense of achievement when I took a pile of bits in boxes and brought a Jubilee back to life. Now I have a tear in my eye every time it springs a new oil leak!
Dennis
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Well done!
Congratulations on your success! Still fettling my 650SS after 2 years!
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Thanks
Thanks for all the supportive comments. I have a number of steps to go before my Electra is road-worthy including clearing 25+ years of rust from the petrol tank. But it was bought as a project and I'm not cutting corners to get in on the road. The end result is meant to be a rideable bike with patina - not a full restoration.
A current picture of the Electra would just show a partially assembled bike on a portable lift. So I've attached one of what it looked like when I bought it. As always pictures can be quite deceiving and in the case of this one my heart sank when I got the bike and began to take it apart. But I'm so pumped up now that I'm considering the remaining tasks as enjoyable rather than daunting.
Jack
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great news
Hi i,m also a Holgate that owns an electra be glad when i get the gearbox sorted on mine
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Great picture Jack, the bike…
Great picture Jack, the bike looks as though it is in good original condition with only the colour (I think the original Electra colour was silver) silencers and handlebars not original and the handle bar end indicators missing - all readily available if you want to get it back to original spec! Is it a US model or one of the few which stayed in the UK? It looks like you have got a great starting point for a sympathetic restoration - very envious! My Navigator was in a similar condition with reasonably good original paint so I have retained that patina and concentrated on doing long overdue deep maintenance. As always there was masses of cleaning, then new tyres, front rim and spokes, fork stanchions, bushes & seals, brake shoes, wheel bearings clutch, chains, carb, cables, wiring harness etc etc!!!) curing the oil leaks (it can be done.....although that is a constant battle!) and getting it running as well as I can. I shudder to think of the cost! The only things I have changed from original are fitting Pazon electronic ignition. I can highly recommended this - it has completely transformed the engine and bike which is now quick and easy to time accurately, ticks over like a swiss watch and runs cooler, more smoothly, and more powerfully which vastly improves the riding and owning experience! I have also converted it to 12v electrics (you already have that!) and changed the original cheap and cheerful handlebars and levers for Norton flat bars and good quality levers. It is now a very practical, reliable and enjoyable bike to ride with superb handling and is remarkably nippy for a 350 although I try to treat it sympathetically! Good luck with yours and keep us posted with progress and any problems we can help with - there is plenty of experience out there to draw on! Nick
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... we all care. It's always great to hear of another Norton up and running. Here's hoping you have many happy miles on the Electra.