1971 Commando: 1977 Repair bill

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998cc

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All. I recently found this old shop bill for work that was done to my old '71 Commando prior to my ownership of the bike and thought others may find it interesting. This work was done in 1977 by a local shop. Note the mileage of only 1850.8!

Hard to believe this much engine work could be done for this price, even 42 years ago. The shop closed about 25+- years ago. The bike had about 13K on it when I bought it.

~998cc

1971 Commando: 1977 Repair bill



Here is my interpretation of the written text:

(1) 06-3608 Overhaul gasket set $17.90

(1) Norris cam exch $69.95

(1) 06-3609 Grommet $1.88

(2) 06-2461 Oil ring $8.06

(2) 06-4118 Main Bearing $67.04

Total Parts $164.83

(2) 06-4??? Rod inserts $14.30

Total Parts $179.13

Combat Cyl Head Exch $30.00

(edit: Total Parts) $209.13

06-2726 Guide Seals $1.60

Est. Parts $210.73



Labor:

Bottom end overhaul. Check crank for cracks $120.00

Furnish and install Norris cam. Check main bearings. If needed, replace with 06-4118 $6.00

Est Labor: $126.00

Grind Valves $25.00

Est Labor $151.00

Total for all parts and labor: $361.73
 
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What I find astonishing is at 1850.8 miles that much work would need be done.
 
JimC said:
What I find astonishing is at 1850.8 miles that much work would need be done.
Click to expand...

I thought the same, but the fact that a Norris cam and Combat head was being installed may just indicate performance upgrade?
Still great to see some history :)
 
Everything was cheap in them days, but so was wages, but there was no internet and getting parts from overseas was a nightmare by the time you sent money by money order then waiting weeks even months for the parts to arrive and if a part was sent that was wrong was even more a nightmare, I sent to England for 2 new 932 carbies back in 79 and they cost $105 with postage to Aus, it cost that much for postage these days if your lucky.
Yes the good old days, my new Norton cost $1,999 on the road back in 1976 but I was only earning $60 a week, I took a loan to buy it and had it paid off in less than 11 months, but my mates wasted their money on tattos, booze and loose women, but I saved my money on motorcycles, by the way I still own the Norton but wish parts were cheap like the old days.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
Everything was cheap in them days, but so was wages, but there was no internet and getting parts from overseas was a nightmare by the time you sent money by money order then waiting weeks even months for the parts to arrive and if a part was sent that was wrong was even more a nightmare, I sent to England for 2 new 932 carbies back in 79 and they cost $105 with postage to Aus, it cost that much for postage these days if your lucky.
Yes the good old days, my new Norton cost $1,999 on the road back in 1976 but I was only earning $60 a week, I took a loan to buy it and had it paid off in less than 11 months, but my mates wasted their money on tattos, booze and loose women, but I saved my money on motorcycles, by the way I still own the Norton but wish parts were cheap like the old days.

Ashley
Click to expand...

Maybe your mates spent wisely and you wasted yours...!?
 
Fast Eddie said:
Maybe your mates spent wisely and you wasted yours...!?
Click to expand...

Maybe but at 17 years old, was never interested in tatto's, booze I could get drunk on a 6 pack and there were to many loose women around our area who I wouldn't touch with a barge pole and then the troubles with kids being born after a one off fling, no thanks I think I spent wisely and didn't settle down till my 30s and I had my freedom and I still do after finding the right girl.

Ashley
 
$30 for a combat head? $17.90 for a gasket set? Seems out of all proportion - a combat head for less than the price of two gasket sets!
 
I think that $30 was for head exchange , then the cost of head was down to $209 ......
 
B+Bogus said:
I thought the same, but the fact that a Norris cam and Combat head was being installed may just indicate performance upgrade?
Still great to see some history :)
Click to expand...


I considered that, but mains and rod bearings? Crank inspection? Valve grind?

More likely the Norris cam was a, “Since it’s open”, choice.

Another question: Why no lifter replacement or resurface?
 
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JimC said:
What I find astonishing is at 1850.8 miles that much work would need be done.
Click to expand...

Exactly !

That’s why some of the 961 boys make me laugh with gripes like “Norton sucks... my bikes 5 years old and the factory won’t give me new rear wheel cush drive rubbers free of charge”. Etc.

I’m not justifying bad quality, but sometimes we can lose perspective.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Exactly !

That’s why some of the 961 boys make me laugh with gripes like “Norton sucks... my bikes 5 years old and the factory won’t give me new rear wheel cush drive rubbers free of charge”. Etc.

I’m not justifying bad quality, but sometimes we can lose perspective.
Click to expand...


Norton owners are not quality oriented when it comes to the brand Norton. If Norton were to undergo a consumer review it would receive a not recommended grade.
 
JimC said:
Norton owners are not quality oriented when it comes to the brand Norton. If Norton were to undergo a consumer review it would receive a not recommended grade.
Click to expand...

It’d be a split decision I think Jim.
Those who’ve had a bad experience would obviously, and understandably, be negative. But those who haven’t, will just tell you what a fabulous thing it is to ride!
I don’t know if you’ve ever ridden one, but they really are nice.
 
Fast Eddie said:
It’d be a split decision I think Jim.
Those who’ve had a bad experience would obviously, and understandably, be negative. But those who haven’t, will just tell you what a fabulous thing it is to ride!
I don’t know if you’ve ever ridden one, but they really are nice.
Click to expand...


A couple of times. I’ve owned and ridden Nortons off and on since 1971. My daily rider from 1999 to 2015. Rode around a 1/2 mile dirt track a few times, too. Also, have a trophy for a 1/4 mile run down a drag strip, complements of a Norris “R” cam.
 
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Not sure if we’re in the same conversation or not... I was referring to the 961...
 
I may have been to that shop, Hall-Burdette, back in 1963. I remember visiting a m/c shop in Sacramento, that had a Vincent in the showroom. May have well been Hall-Burdette.
 
JimC said:
I considered that, but mains and rod bearings? Crank inspection? Valve grind?

More likely the Norris cam was a, “Since it’s open”, choice.

Another question: Why no lifter replacement or resurface?
Click to expand...

06-4118 is a superblend bearing - not standard on a '71... definitely an upgrade. Valve grind... to refurb the Combat head which had been swapped out from the original, perhaps?
Replacing big end shells is a no-brainer, interesting that the crank bolts weren't replaced, so assume no crank strip.
No lifter replacement, no compression ring replacement, no timing chain replacement.
Still looks like a performance upgrade to me - very little was replaced like for like; shells, oil rings and gaskets - no more than reasonable while it's down...

I understand the Norris cam was pretty good for the standing quarter...
 
Agree about the cost v. your paycheck at the time. That goes for any inflation calculation when considering costs in the past.
Not surprised about the early rebuild. So many brit bikes of that era had very low miles but needed work. My experience was that
it was a mixture of serious clueless flogging and very little idea of mechanics and maintenance despite believing otherwise.
Original build quality could be all over the map.
Just as an examples, look at AN or RGM pages and see nearly every part for the later Commandos on offer made new and photographed.
Try that in the late 1970s into the 90s.
 
“Replacing big end shells is a no-brainer,”

At 1850 miles? I disagree. I would say a lack of brain not refurbishing or replacing lifters with a new cam.
 
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