1968 Commando Condensers

I have a rough '68 (early production) Fastback that was missing the ignition system when I bought it. The thing I don't understand is that the wiring for the condensers terminates in the battery box area. The wires are not long enough to reach the coil area and the wires are most definitely original wires as they are the right color and connector type and the loom is original. There are also two small holes where it looks like condensers were mounted. Does anyone have any ideas or information? Thanks!

The points on a 68 were behind the cylinders, The condensers were connected to the wires running from the points to the coils. Jim

What I can't figure out is where the condensers were mounted. There does not seem to be anywhere to mount them with the coils and the wires terminate in the battery box. If it makes any difference, the frame was replaced by the factory after the bike arrived in the states.

On my 68 the condensers are mounted to the coil mounting bracket. The wires running back to the battery box area plug into the harness from the points housing. Jim

Here's a picture of the 69/70 coils and condensers. I don't know if it is anything like the same. I really can't speak to the wires to the battery box. The wires from my points attach up near the coil bracket in the main harness. What I have never been able to figure out is where the 2 double red ground wires go to that have round lugs on them that only fit under the condenser mounting screws, but so far it is working for me.



Don't know if this helps, but at least it's an early one.

Dave
69S

Yep, that's how they are mounted on my 68. Jim

I think I'm missing the top angle piece. Mine are stacked vertically with long spacers between the two coil brackets.

You can't see them in my photo, but there are long spacers between the round brackets that hold the coils, that's probably what you have, you're probably missing the L mounting bracket.

Dave
69S

Seem like that is the issue coupled with the fact that the coil clamp brackets don't have the tab for the condenser. Thanks

Maximini, it sounds like you have the same style mounting as my early 68 (1268XX). The condensers have a spade-type connecter and are mounted to a plate on the battery box. The plate mounts between the front of the oil tank and the battery box near the "sight window" clear oil line. The wiring between the points & condensers is integrated into the main wiring harness and there's no way you could make it up to the coils with that style harness. That being said, it's impossible to get to the condensers without removing the oil tank which is a complete pain. You may want to consider switching to the 69/70 style shown in the above pic.

Believe me, my condensers are not much easier to get to since I replaced the self tapping screw they mount with, with a 6-32 stainless bolt, washers and nylock. I have to remove the assembly to get to them. I also mounted the 2 double red ground wires at that condenser mounting screw, it was all they would fit under, given the size of the round lug on the end of the wires. Don't seem to have any grounding issues so far.

Sounds like someone replaced your coil holders with a later model holder too. The 71 started mounting the condenser pack between the coils somehow and the tabs disappeared.

Dave
69S

convert to electronic and you dont need them.

Actually I think he has the right coil holders if he has the earlier style wiring with condensers mounted to the battery tray. Maximini, if your condenser pack is missing you are looking for part no 06.0573 per the 68 parts book. Item #320488044702 on ebay is what it looks like. It's actually made up 3 different parts, the condensers, mounthing plate and rubber cover.

I took some time today to really check things over on the bike. I can only conclude that the bike came from the factory with the condensers located in the battery tray. I removed the two condensers that were mounted directly to the battery tray. The holes fit the condenser pack mounting holes exactly and you can actually see the outline of the condenser pack mounting strip tabs where they were fastened to the tray. I also took a really good look at the wiring loom. The two contact breaker wires (one black/white and one black/yellow) leave the points cover behind the cylinder, go into the loom and then exit as two pairs of wires (two black/white and two black/yellow). Each pair of wires terminates into a lucas push-on with clear insulator. Single black/white and black/yellow then come out of the loom way up near the coils. The loom has definitely not been cut open or altered as the cloth covering while dirty is still in good shape. Every other wire that should be in the loom is present, the loom fits the bike exactly and all the wires/branches are the right length. I wonder if any other Norton models had this set up and if the factory was just using up what they had? I'm stumped.

I think things changed month to month, depending on what parts they had on hand or who supplied parts. Not having been there I really don't have any evidence of this other than what I have seen. I have noticed that on my 69, I have seen different oil tanks, different rear mudguards and mounts, and different harnesses, so it wouldn't surprise me that the earlier ones could be different in the same year too. That's strange to have the condensers in the battery box though, but they would probably be easy to change there. My point wires go directly into the harness right at the coil area and come back out right at the coils, not very far.

Dave
69S

Yep, that's exactly where mine are. You'll find with a little research that there were 2 different battery trays as well, one with the condenser pack mounting holes and one without. I think one of the distinguishing characteristics would be whether you have the long, fastback style oil tank or not. Because that style oil tank tucks around the front of the condenser pack they're actually quite a pain to get to at times. I find it easiest just to pull the oil tank off for the change.