New Member - 1961 CS

Information relating to the Matchless G80 or AJS Model 18 500cc Heavyweight.
Scout63
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 06, 2020 3:58 am
Location: Massachusetts, USA

Re: New Member - 1961 CS

Post by Scout63 »

Spriddler - thanks for the great information. I will change the oils this weekend. I ended up ordering Duro trials tires. Inexpensive but available in the unusual 19” rim sizes. I'll watch them carefully and put away the Dunlop tires for shows.
Ben Zehnder - Orleans, MA USA
1961 Matchless G80CS
1971 BMW R75/5
1972 Norton Commando Combat Interstate
1978 Yamaha SR500
1979 Moto Guzzi V1000G5 - current project
Scout63
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 06, 2020 3:58 am
Location: Massachusetts, USA

Re: New Member - 1961 CS

Post by Scout63 »

And thanks everyone for the kind words. Always appreciated. I look forward to seeing and reading about bikes and projects. Bringing one of my classics to Europe is a dream that I hope I realize some day.
Ben Zehnder - Orleans, MA USA
1961 Matchless G80CS
1971 BMW R75/5
1972 Norton Commando Combat Interstate
1978 Yamaha SR500
1979 Moto Guzzi V1000G5 - current project
Scout63
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 06, 2020 3:58 am
Location: Massachusetts, USA

Re: New Member - 1961 CS

Post by Scout63 »

Silly question but I'm stumped. How do I shut off the CS once it is running? Pull the decompression lever? I don't see a magneto ground button. Thanks
Ben Zehnder - Orleans, MA USA
1961 Matchless G80CS
1971 BMW R75/5
1972 Norton Commando Combat Interstate
1978 Yamaha SR500
1979 Moto Guzzi V1000G5 - current project
Mick D
Posts: 2886
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 5:44 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: New Member - 1961 CS

Post by Mick D »

Scout63 wrote:How do I shut off the CS once it is running? Pull the decompression lever?
Yep

If your magneto has a ground terminal it easy enough to incorporate a kill button should you prefer one.

Regards Mick
Scout63
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 06, 2020 3:58 am
Location: Massachusetts, USA

Re: New Member - 1961 CS

Post by Scout63 »

Thanks Mick.
Ben Zehnder - Orleans, MA USA
1961 Matchless G80CS
1971 BMW R75/5
1972 Norton Commando Combat Interstate
1978 Yamaha SR500
1979 Moto Guzzi V1000G5 - current project
User avatar
Cjay59_LAPSED
Posts: 520
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2012 3:43 pm
Location: Cork, Ireland
Contact:

Re: New Member - 1961 CS

Post by Cjay59_LAPSED »

Hi Ben, welcome to the club, you may know this, you may not, the Commando shares its frame design with the AJS Stormer, both NV machines, here is a link to the story, if you have time for a read,

https://ajsstormer.wordpress.com
AJS Stormer 1976.jpg
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Scout63
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 06, 2020 3:58 am
Location: Massachusetts, USA

Re: New Member - 1961 CS

Post by Scout63 »

Thanks Cjay. Great article and very well researched. Ben
Ben Zehnder - Orleans, MA USA
1961 Matchless G80CS
1971 BMW R75/5
1972 Norton Commando Combat Interstate
1978 Yamaha SR500
1979 Moto Guzzi V1000G5 - current project
Scout63
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 06, 2020 3:58 am
Location: Massachusetts, USA

Re: New Member - 1961 CS

Post by Scout63 »

I checked the points and cam in the magneto today. They really needed a good cleaning. Set the point gap and checked timing. Spark is there but not strong enough. I'll check the HT lead tomorrow. If that is not the problem then the mag will go off for rebuilding.
Ben Zehnder - Orleans, MA USA
1961 Matchless G80CS
1971 BMW R75/5
1972 Norton Commando Combat Interstate
1978 Yamaha SR500
1979 Moto Guzzi V1000G5 - current project
Mick D
Posts: 2886
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 5:44 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: New Member - 1961 CS

Post by Mick D »

Scout63 wrote:I'll check the HT lead tomorrow. If that is not the problem then the mag will go off for rebuilding.
Hi

Before you send the mag away be sure to confirm your plug cap is a non surpressed type, multimeter on Ohms across it should read around 0 ;)

Regards Mick
Scout63
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 06, 2020 3:58 am
Location: Massachusetts, USA

Re: New Member - 1961 CS

Post by Scout63 »

Thanks Mick. The plug cap is a vintage KLG. The magneto looks pretty old inside so I am going to drop it off tomorrow for a rebuild. Here it is off the bike:
Image
Image

Since it is going to be a rider I want to feel as if it is as fettled as possible. I dropped the crank and tank oil today. Both looked very clean. I really can't wait to start the bike but it looks like it will be 3-6 weeks. Ben
Ben Zehnder - Orleans, MA USA
1961 Matchless G80CS
1971 BMW R75/5
1972 Norton Commando Combat Interstate
1978 Yamaha SR500
1979 Moto Guzzi V1000G5 - current project
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