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BrianK
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 376
Location: Boston, MA USA
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 Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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| FWIW, Nisonger's rebuild costs US$165. |
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Yellow_Cad
Joined: 02 Apr 2008
Posts: 151
Location: Sacramento, CA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, I did send my speedo off for a rebuild but before doing, I did take it apart and there was a definite back and forth play in the internal drive unit. When I got out all of my Commando books and looked through them to see how the speedo cable was routed, I found discrepensies. It appears that the factory threaded the cable in front of the lower yoke while many individuals as well as my previous owner, threaded the cable on the rider's side of the lower yoke. I believe that the latter could put a side thrust on the speedo cable as it enters the speedo which could cause premature wear. When I hook mine back up, I'm going with the factory way even though the other route has a little cleaner look. |
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batrider
Joined: 09 Aug 2008
Posts: 37
Location: Upper Black Eddy, PA USA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| If you do send it to Nisonger take a good hi-res digital picture of it and send a copy along with it. I didn't do this and mine came back with a red needle. I found a clear picture of the original unit's face with the white needle and e-mailed it to them. The guy then called and said I was trying to pull a fast one because they "could tell" it was not the same unit. I said why on earth would I do that? I only have one bike and this is the way it has been for 36 years. They finally had me send it back and I got it put right but it was no fun having to argue with them. |
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Yellow_Cad
Joined: 02 Apr 2008
Posts: 151
Location: Sacramento, CA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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| I sent mine to Rabers but what you say about Nisonger needs to get some exposure. |
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tpeever
Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Posts: 222
Location: Pullman, WA, USA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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| batrider wrote: | | If you do send it to Nisonger take a good hi-res digital picture of it and send a copy along with it. I didn't do this and mine came back with a red needle. I found a clear picture of the original unit's face with the white needle and e-mailed it to them. The guy then called and said I was trying to pull a fast one because they "could tell" it was not the same unit. I said why on earth would I do that? I only have one bike and this is the way it has been for 36 years. They finally had me send it back and I got it put right but it was no fun having to argue with them. |
There's a good alternative to Nisonger's on the west coast. Palo Alto Speedo. They have rebuilt two of my instruments and did a great job. Also good folks to deal with. |
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scoutcommando
Joined: 07 Sep 2007
Posts: 3
Location: Netherlands
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mike916sp
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 95
Location: Staffordshire, UK
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:16 am Post subject: |
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Is it ok to drive the cable with a vari-speed drill to check the eratic is the result of a speedo head problem and not from a faulty drive on the back wheel? Starting with a very low speed of course and checking not too much inner cable is protruding at the head end.
Anyone know if the cable is driven clockwise or anticlockwise when viewed from the back? |
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mike916sp
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 95
Location: Staffordshire, UK
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:20 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the info Wim - I will phone him if it turns out the speedo needs a refurb |
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BrianK
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 376
Location: Boston, MA USA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:59 am Post subject: |
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Sorry to hear about the bad experience with Nisonger's; I had heard lots of good things about them before sending mine, and they did excellent work on mine (thing looks new), although they took a looooonnnngggg time to turn it around.
Best of luck. - BrianK |
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BrianK
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 376
Location: Boston, MA USA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:00 am Post subject: |
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| PS Mike, I did the drill test with a low speed rechargeable drill. I didn't even think about the "which way" question... whoops! |
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L.A.B.
Moderator
Joined: 20 Nov 2004
Posts: 1848
Location: Norfolk, UK
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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| mike916sp wrote: | | Is it ok to drive the cable with a vari-speed drill to check the eratic is the result of a speedo head problem and not from a faulty drive on the back wheel? Starting with a very low speed of course and checking not too much inner cable is protruding at the head end. |
Yes.
| mike916sp wrote: | | Anyone know if the cable is driven clockwise or anticlockwise when viewed from the back? |
The cable drive is normally clockwise for all 70's BSA Norton & Triumph magnetic instruments, the direction of rotation is identified by viewing cable rotation at the drive (speedo/tacho) end of the cable - not the driven (gearbox) end, so when viewed from the back of the instrument the drive rotation will need to be anti-clockwise = drill set to reverse. |
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mike916sp
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 95
Location: Staffordshire, UK
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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| L.A.B. wrote: | | The cable drive is normally clockwise for all 70's BSA Norton & Triumph magnetic instruments, the direction of rotation is identified by viewing cable rotation at the drive (speedo/tacho) end of the cable - not the driven (gearbox) end, so when viewed from the back of the instrument the drive rotation will need to be anti-clockwise = drill set to reverse. |
Thanks Les just worked that one out by rotating the back wheel with a small srewdriver in the speedo drive. It is anti-clockwise when rotating the cable from the driven end. Started slowly and gradually built the drill speed up - speedo stayed as steady as a rock up to 120mph so no prob with the speedo or cable.
Then took the drive off and thoroughly degreased all the old muck out of it - something I've never got round to doing since I've had the bike. Repacked with new grease but the drive does feel a bit notchy in places when turning the inner.
Will road test it tomorrow to see if there's any improvement and then decide if a new drive is needed to get a steady speedo  |
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BrianK
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 376
Location: Boston, MA USA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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Just came in from the garage. Think I'm in the market for a new drive also 
So let me know if you come up with any inexpensive (yeah, right!) source of supply, please! - Brian |
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batrider
Joined: 09 Aug 2008
Posts: 37
Location: Upper Black Eddy, PA USA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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Basically the work Nisonger did was very good and it was very quick for me. I just was a bit put off by the not-our-fault attitude and telling me that something was "fishy" about my story. (Whoever heard of a Norton tach with green globe logo having a red needle with aluminum center??) It worried me that they might not know as much as they should have - doing these day in and day out. When I got it back with the right needle I tested it on the bike against the speedo and used tables for gear ratio to check it out. It was spot-on. Also the seal held up against the downpours in Tioga County and that is a real plus.
I wouldn't have minded at all if they had just admitted that they screwed up. The guy I was dealing with there was Peter Bayer  and this was around 9/2007. But they did make good on it in the end and that is what counts I guess. |
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BrianK
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 376
Location: Boston, MA USA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:52 am Post subject: |
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Anybody know if the speedo drive is repairable (or even openable?)? - it appears my speedo problem had multiple causes. New speedo appeared necessary, managed to screw up the cable in the process, both repaired/replaced. Now appears drive is ALSO not working - will engage for short periods of time but then slips and "clicks." New ones I think push $200, plus I hate to replace a part if it's salvageable.
Thanks all - BrianK |
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Norton Commando Forum by Corporate Pages Web hosting using phpbb
The Unapproachable Norton Commando
At the end of 1967 the Norton Commando was announced.
The Norton Commando was greeted with a certain amount of scepticism because on first sight the commando appeared to comprise of the old Norton Dominator twin cylinder engine mounted at an inclined angle in a set of new cylinder parts.
It was not realized that the new Norton Commando Isolastic method of engine suspension damped out all engine vibration and produced a machine which had uncanny smoothness for a vertical twin. In due course the critics were silenced and the Norton Commando had the distinction of being regarded as the first of todays so called superbikes. There can be little doubt that the original design concept of the Norton Commando has proved correct, since comparatively few modifications of any real consequence have been made since production commenced during 1968.
Now nearly 40 years later Norton Commando riders like us are a breed of our own, and as far as we are concerned its still more fun to go for a blat on the old Norton Commando, and fast. As a Norton Commando owner and enthusiast, my goal here is to promote and give credit to those who keep the Norton name going.
It is more deserving to give credit to the Commando itself, for after all these years it continues to be respected. The original Commando designers like John Favill are those who deserve the credit for developing this incredible motorcycle.
The Norton Commando Roadster and Interstate of the late seventies, never died. Although the Norton Villiers factory dispersed the tradition lived on. Today Kenny Dreer in the USA is developing the new 952 CC Norton. What a great looking bike this is, and its engineering is still based on the original layout. It will be interesting to see how the new 952CC Norton does in todays tough motorcycle market. One thing is for sure, I would own one if I could afford it.
