Got a parcel today with these little beauties in it





These Mk1 Premiers look really well made, every bit as good as the originals, (probably a lot better!) and delivered as promised in about 3 weeks. Good to see Amal / Burlen fuel systems still making original fitment carbs.

Time to crack on with the rebuild

Didn't those premiere carbys come with anodized slides?

Dave
69S

Yes they do come with anodised slides, they just don't show up too good in the pics. I've not had chance to rip them apart yet, but the slides do look like they will take a lot of wear, although in reality I can't see me ever wearing them out

Single spigot banjos?

L.A.B. wrote:Single spigot banjos?

At least they are milled for the Commando.

Bloody hell, didn't notice the banjos!!! thanks LAB this is what makes this site so good. Just been out to a freezing cold garage to check the old banjos .... couldn't find them... damn! I don't know if they needed the banjo to be specified at the ordering stage and it would be a shame to put on some shabby old tat, so I'll give Amal a call tomorrow and sort out some new ones or get a fuel line made up.

Good news on the banjos, Amal called me on Monday to say they will put a pair of double 180deg banjos in the post (I called them last Friday but their computers were down). I got them in the post today free of charge, excellent service and it was their mistake, they knew the MK3 needed double banjos and cocked up in the build stage.
Oh and an added bonus they are made in the UK

Some good news and bad news and good news:

Good news: Managed to get the forks rebuilt
This before photo shows a lot of wear on the chrome stanchion where its rubbed on the top bush and flaking chrome. And the rebuild kit from Norvil, and look, the stanchions are 'Genuine Commando' parts woohoo!! Springs weren't too bad but I thought I may as well replace them after 37 years!


Used a BSA oil seal holder tool as a slide drift to insert the oil seals. Bit of packing tape to protect the chrome and using the old top bush to bash them in, jobs a goodun!


My trusty and rusty strap wrench came in handy at last for screwing in the top collars


All done and looking good with the USA style dust covers. The new stanchions are much better quality than the ones which were originally on it. Final polish to the sliders when they are back on the bike and they will look like new.


Bad news!!!
Thought I'd whip off the head to have a look inside and found some score marks and scuffing on the bore don't think I can hone those out! Time for a rebore.


Good news
Even though the paint wasn't too bad I decided to treat the bike to a makeover, mainly due to a bad match with the side panels and yokes. So the tank, side panels and yokes are at the local paint shop. Went down yesterday to have look at the progress and all looks good, down to bare metal, little dings repaired and zinc primed, smooth as a smooth thing and ready for the top coat, pin striping, decals and lacquer. Will be done next week.....photos to follow

Cheshire bloke wrote:And the rebuild kit from Norvil, and look, the stanchions are 'Genuine Commando' parts woohoo!!

I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings-but "Genuine Commando Factory Parts" mean they are genuine Norvil knock-offs and not genuine Andover Norton parts which have "Genuine Norton Factory Parts" on the label.

Hi LAB I know all about the debate over 'Genuine' parts. I got these in good faith from Norvil and my comment was a bit tongue in cheek, and anyway Norvil say they are made in the UK so what could possibly go wrong?

Cheshire bloke wrote:Hi LAB I know all about the debate over 'Genuine' parts. I got these in good faith from Norvil and my comment was a bit tongue in cheek, and anyway Norvil say they are made in the UK so what could possibly go wrong?

Yes, I couldn't tell if you were being entirely serious or not!

At least you know the frame isn't likely to suffer any damage if you hit something head-on with those 'crumple zone' forks in place!

My view is that if the new stanchions are as bad as the old ones then they will last another 37 years! especially if I use the bike like I intend to, which is only on dry, sunny days, posing as a classic rider pootling down to 'ye olde worlde tea shoppe' in my barbour jacket, sea boot socks, jet helmet and biggles flying goggles Oh and trying to avoid anything that might crumple the forks like potholes or white lines!!!

Cool Bike!
I'm looking forward to seeing it finished.

So what colo(u)r did you decide to paint it?
Post some pictures when it's done.
LAB wrote

'crumple zone' forks

The final colour is BMW (car) Titan Silver! I looked at the colour swatches and compared Bentley and Rolls Royce silvers, but the BMW silver was best, bright, nice and blingy! I didn't know there were so many different shades And the tank was sent away to size up the black and red pin striping, when the striping and decals are put on, there will be three coats of lacquer so they don't peel off. There will be photos

I did debate whether to paint it black but I think a big Interstate tank looks good in Silver. If I had a Roadster I would do it JPN colours