1969 Fastback Rebuild

Good to see it coming together. The rods. If you can turn the engine over and watch the rods in the rocker sockets and nothing tightens up as you go over, it should be good. Just make sure the rods are in the rocker sockets, if you get a good light and mirror, you should be able to see all that. The fork stops. I have a roadster tank, but I keep the tank as far back in its mounting as I can, but I certainly don't have any problem with the bars hitting the tank. You may want to come up with another stop function? I have more trouble banging the front of the tank around the headstock and chipping the paint.

Dave
69S

Looking good joe, If you are running a bolt up back wheel, The experiance with my early 69 is that barnett plates are to vicious, i took the set out of mine as it was like a light switch all or nothing no take up.
Al

possm said:

Looking good joe, If you are running a bolt up back wheel, The experiance with my early 69 is that barnett plates are to vicious, i took the set out of mine as it was like a light switch all or nothing no take up.
Al

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I will give them a shot. I read a bunch of post from people who used them on the early commandos. Some positive / Some negative. Hopefully i will land on the positive. They were a huge improvement on my '74.

Any idea WHY they would be lack luster on the 68's and 69's?

Lack of cush? My originals are still working great.

Dave
69S

Couple Update pictures...

Wiring harness installed and Sparx III condenser mounted and wired into the harness.





Question: I have no intention of running a chain oilier (with pipe I'm holding). I believe i can crimp this off without consequence?

Chain oiler, get rid of it. You'll have more than you want anyhow, get some chain lube and put it on when you want. I soldered mine shut at the oil tank, but mine's different.

Dave
69S

DogT said:

Chain oiler, get rid of it. You'll have more than you want anyhow, get some chain lube and put it on when you want. I soldered mine shut at the oil tank, but mine's different.

Dave
69S

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That's good news because I had already crimped it off!

Oil lines are being installed this weekend and then i just need to cough up the doh on a Mik and the Exhaust pipes. Beyond that i just need to tighten her up a bit, make sure everything is sorted and it will be time to kick her over!

Hope it turns out fine. I kicked mine over about 2 days before I installed a battery and then second kick, "What is that noise? Holy Cow, it runs."

We will need a report, hope it's a good one, nothing better than a running Norton. Video would be best.



Dave
69S

Auto Parts Stores should have blind hose caps . Used on the like of water heater pipes , vacum hoses etc , for Bunging, discarding lines .

Rubber fitting , akin to the old plastic cap on the steel school char / desk legs . ( U cap , hose clip secured ) a bit of sealant to should have it
there semi permanantly .
SO ,
Theres even a real part for the Job .

Put those Pliers AWAY .

p.s. looking damn good . An Inspiration . Id be green with envy , If I had any left . :| :mrgreen:

Just an update;

I have taken the front end back apart. The steering stem is really stripped to the point that i can't get the correct tension on the steering column. Going over to a friends house who has a lathe to try to clean up the threads.

Also, rebuilding the forks again to make sure the seals are sitting properly. Beyond that, just need to order the exhaust pipes and throw on a carb. Should have some updated pictures pretty soon.

Better put a cable tie on that brake cable to hold it in place. I pinched my speedo cable, which runs in the same area, in the steering stop and ruined it

Re: 1970 Fastback Rebuild

DogT said:

Joe,
126125 was the first production machine, Feb 68. Next record I have is 131180, Mar 69. I bet it's a late 68. That's the hayday of the first Commandos, they didn't even call them Fastback as there was no other model. Fastback name only started after they built the R, S and Roadster. Mine is 132031 April 69 on the plate. Lots of times these bikes never sold until much later than the production date and are registered as the sold date, not production date.

Dave
69S

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Per my data--126125 was the first production machine 750 commando to run off the line in February of 1968.
131180 was the first "Fastback" produced in March of 1969. Name change.
131257 first S model with the camshaft points March 1969
133668 first Fastback with camshaft points September 1969

Early bikes did not have a data tag---only the number was stamped in the steering head. My 68 # is 1300xx--distributor in back r/h side of engine--tach
drive off the r/side of timing cover.
I would guess the bike would be a 1968 model. Someone following this thread may have more data as to what the number ranges were in any given
year for each model.

Great find----keep it as stock as possible as it came from the factory----worth much more down the road.

Re: 1970 Fastback Rebuild

303 fmj said:

Per my data--126125 was the first production machine 750 commando to run off the line in February of 1968.
131180 was the first "Fastback" produced in March of 1969. Name change.
131257 first S model with the camshaft points March 1969
133668 first Fastback with camshaft points September 1969

Early bikes did not have a data tag---only the number was stamped in the steering head. My 68 # is 1300xx--distributor in back r/h side of engine--tach
drive off the r/side of timing cover.
I would guess the bike would be a 1968 model. Someone following this thread may have more data as to what the number ranges were in any given
year for each model.

Great find----keep it as stock as possible as it came from the factory----worth much more down the road.

Click to expand...

Thanks.

The year has been a debate since my original post this summer. Everything I have found shows the first commando of '69 to be 130000. It very well may be a '68. I will get the NOC to check the records down the road. Either way, can't wait to get her finished up and started.

What I'm saying is that a 129xxx number would put it before the 'Fastback' which was introduced in Mar 69, 131180. So it's my reading that a 129xxx number would technically be before they called any bike a 'Fastback', S, R, Roadster, etc. When it was made it was only known as a 'Commando', although it looks just like the later 'Fastback'. The 69 Fastback still had the straight back pipes, unlike the later Fastback that had the up swept pea shooters and also had the tach drive off the engine. Maybe I read that at the Andover site, can't remember, but the info corresponds to Matt Vale's book which references Roy Bacon's, several other articles and the NOC records.

I know, I'm splitting hairs, once the Fastback name came out, I'm sure anything that looked like that was called that but technically if it's before 131180, it's just a Commando. Looks like a duck, walks like a duck....

We'll need a good video of first ignition.

Dave
69S

DogT said:

What I'm saying is that a 129xxx number would put it before the 'Fastback' which was introduced in Mar 69, 131180. So it's my reading that a 129xxx number would technically be before they called any bike a 'Fastback', S, R, Roadster, etc. When it was made it was only known as a 'Commando', although it looks just like the later 'Fastback'. The 69 Fastback still had the straight back pipes, unlike the later Fastback that had the up swept pea shooters and also had the tach drive off the engine. Maybe I read that at the Andover site, can't remember, but the info corresponds to Matt Vale's book which references Roy Bacon's, several other articles and the NOC records.

I know, I'm splitting hairs, once the Fastback name came out, I'm sure anything that looked like that was called that but technically if it's before 131180, it's just a Commando. Looks like a duck, walks like a duck....

We'll need a good video of first ignition.

Dave
69S

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Hi all. For what it's worth and that may not be much, my Commando serial number 126982 was originally sold as a 1969 but probably was a left over 1968.

It sure would be nice to know when it was actually built.

Bob

bobunome said:

Hi all. For what it's worth and that may not be much, my Commando serial number 126982 was originally sold as a 1969 but probably was a left over 1968.

It sure would be nice to know when it was actually built.

Bob

Click to expand...

As L.A.B. has said, the date of registration may have nothing to do with the date of manufacture. Don't you have a plate on the headstock that has the manufacture date stamped on it? 126125 was supposedly the first production Commando and that was manufactured in Feb 68, so go from there.

My manufactured Apr 69 132031 is registered as a 70 in April.



Dave
69S

DogT said:

bobunome said:

Hi all. For what it's worth and that may not be much, my Commando serial number 126982 was originally sold as a 1969 but probably was a left over 1968.

It sure would be nice to know when it was actually built.

Bob

Click to expand...

As L.A.B. has said, the date of registration may have nothing to do with the date of manufacture. Don't you have a plate on the headstock that has the manufacture date stamped on it? 126125 was supposedly the first production Commando and that was manufactured in Feb 68, so go from there.

My manufactured Apr 69 132031 is registered as a 70 in April.

Dave
69S

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No plate. Just serial number stamped into steering head where plate is on newer models.



Bob

Dave,

The '68 and possibly early '69 commandos didn't have the stamped plate. The Vin number is engraved. Having tore her apart, fixed cleaned and ordered new parts I'm fairly confident she was built in '68 in preparation of the '69 launch.

Anywho... Almost done. Today I installed the carb, fuel lines, petcocks, throttle cable, set the front brake and cable and put the seat and tank on to see how she looks. Now that the front end is sorted the headlight ears no longer hit the tank and everything is settling into place.

I ordered a set of exhaust pipes from Norvil a couple weeks ago and they do not fit. The bend is not right. I ordered another set from Viking and am hoping to have them next week. Beyond that she's ready to start. Then the real questions and issues begin! :wink:







Thanks for all your help guys. Almost there!

Joe, that's looking sharp. The fastback is in my next life, good luck with it, I'm still fettling a bit with mine, but had it up for about half an hour at 60mph. I still think I need to loosen the isos a bit and un-tighten the primary.

Dave
69S

The restoration is finally "complete". It took exactly 12 months from my trip to Detroit to pick her up to the initial start up! I will post pictures either later today or tomorrow. I have been breaking her in and have had a couple issues....

- Center stand spring fell off leaving the stand dragging on the first time out. Was catching on Center stand bolt. Fixed.

- Rear, Upper engine cradle bolts nut's came off (twice now, even with lock tight). Lots of Locktight!

- Wet sumping really badly. I'm going to install the anti-sump valve soon.

- Got lost yesterday (i had planned a 40 mile variable speed trip, ended up at 100 miles) the RH exhaust thread worked it's way out.

- Some leaking through the head gasket, in the front of the engine. Have re-torqued twice now.

- Mystery oil leaks. Believe it's coming from the oil tank itself through the removable "oil filter". I'll find it today.

One issue i could use some direction on....

- Occasionally, between 4,500 and 5,00 RPM's there is a power loss.
- It acts as though I fully released the throttle, but only for a second and the full power / throttle returns.
- At first i could hear it through the exhaust pipes, a little popping, and then the loss in power started.
- Thought it might be a clogged jet but it's not.
- Timing set properly.
- Might just be spark plugs. Right side rings haven't properly seated yet and I'm getting some smoke and a fouled plug (only on RH side).

Positives .....

- Starts first kick every time!

- Idles perfectly ay 950 RPM. No air leaks.

- Pulls very well LOTS of torque. Kept the 19 tooth sprocket. Really pulls through the lower gears well.

- Rides straight as an arrow and the iso's are set just right. Minimal to No vibes after 2500 RPM.

- Battery is being recharged by the sparx 3, all electrics working as should. No problems there.

Just have to sort out the issue above and tighten everything back up again, put some additional miles on her and should be in good shape. What a great bike. Very happy with the outcome of this one.

Pictures soon!