1972 combat arrived today

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AM I crazy..... or is there no oil filter on a '72 Combat? Very strange.[/quote]

Yes they took out the sump screen before they got around to putting on the filter. Really dumb!
You can get a kit from OldBritts to add a filter which is what I did to my 72 Combat.
Matches what is on the later bikes.
Actually not too difficult. Involves drilling a couple of holes and routing the oillines.
All the stuff you need in kit.

Bob
 
I love this forum. You guys are great! Thank you for all the advice!

How did i celebrate the st. Louis cardinals win tonight after several adult beverages?? I decided to hand paint ( with a brush) the norton emblem on the side cover. Not bad considering the 12 beers i had AND, that i did it in the dark with a flashlight. ;-) I will have to review my work in the morning.

1972 combat arrived today
 
the 72 combat I bought NEW had an oil filter. it was added somewhere in mid year production just don't have the the serial #.

rvich said:
No filter on the combat...and no large sump screen either.

Russ
Click to expand...
 
Has anyone added an inline fuel filter between the gas tank and carbs? I took her for a nice ride today and noticed when I got home that there was a bi of sediment in the clear fuel line.... which would eventually make its way to the carb. I am going to drain the tank (which was sealed by the previous owner) to see if I can get most of whatever is in the tank out. But a filter would make sense to me. -Unless perhaps it is restrictive to the flow of fuel.
 
pvisseriii said:
Johnnymac said:
I talked to the guy at COmmando Specialties and he said that the Ferodo pads were as good if not better than the AP Racing ones. So we will see.

AM I crazy..... or is there no oil filter on a '72 Combat? Very strange.
Click to expand...
I know LAB will correct me but I don't think oil filters were standard till the MKIII.
Click to expand...

The spin-on filter was fitted as standard from serial 208754, so from around the middle of 1972 and well before the MkIII.
The complete kit was available under part 064283 to convert earlier models.
 
i just got a 74 commando myself, and also feel like the braking is very poor. i'd like to upgrade my pads and rotor. where can i find different options on those parts?
 
in answer to the question about fuel filters. They are on every bike I own. I consider them an essential item. I am sure that is not the consensus view. but its about time for another noisy debate. LOL
 
Johnnymac you are now an "artiste". Congratulations. Have you ever tried writing your name in the snow after many beers ? It's fun. Front brake stock is a danger to yourself and others ,I used this forum to connect with MikeXS.com $75 master cylinder after the stock master resleeve internals croaked. Plus small diameter braided stainless to the stock Norton Lougheed caliper with stainless pistons and some rather pricey brakepads. You gotta stop ,it's actually more important than goin'....
 
The Ferodo 'Platinum' pads are commissioned by Vintage Brake Co. in the US.

It's well worth having a good look at the website.

http://www.vintagebrake.com/

They're as good or better than anything else that I've ever used with the standard caliper but I do have a variable ratio master cylinder and it's so long since I rode with an OE master cylinder that I really can't remember how bad they are.

There are plenty of threads on here regarding improving braking performance but if you like the looks of the original caliper then the platinum pads are worth a try and may be enough, depending on your riding style. If you do lots of downhill twisties two-up and with luggage then alternative calipers and discs might be a good idea.
 
Well, I pulled the old pads and what do you know....? They were the Ferodo ones to begin with. I replaced them with the new ones and no difference. I still have the old rubber brake line so that might be the next thing that I replace. Would a new rotor make any noticable difference over the stock one?
 
There's no view of the rotor in the photos. Does it still have the chrome/nickel/whatever plating on it? The original plating reduced rust and stopping.
 
Johnnymac said:
Well, I pulled the old pads and what do you know....? They were the Ferodo ones to begin with. I replaced them with the new ones and no difference. I still have the old rubber brake line so that might be the next thing that I replace. Would a new rotor make any noticable difference over the stock one?
Click to expand...

Nor would we expect it to.

You did read the part about sleeve master cylinders, right?

"Secret" to really good Commando brakes:

Sleeved master cylinder
Ground disk
New pads
Braided brake line
 
swooshdave said:
Johnnymac said:
Well, I pulled the old pads and what do you know....? They were the Ferodo ones to begin with. I replaced them with the new ones and no difference. I still have the old rubber brake line so that might be the next thing that I replace. Would a new rotor make any noticable difference over the stock one?
Click to expand...

Nor would we expect it to.

You did read the part about sleeve master cylinders, right?

"Secret" to really good Commando brakes:

Sleeved master cylinder
Ground disk
New pads
Braided brake line
Click to expand...

I saw the sleeve kit on rgms website, but the fact that it says not recommended for amateur installation kinda of scares me. How difficult is it to install? Colorado norton works has a brembo master that would be great but i would lose my kill switch. I am no mechanic, but i am pretty handy. Is there a dIY/faq section that explains how to do these mods?
 
Johnnymac said:
swooshdave said:
Johnnymac said:
Well, I pulled the old pads and what do you know....? They were the Ferodo ones to begin with. I replaced them with the new ones and no difference. I still have the old rubber brake line so that might be the next thing that I replace. Would a new rotor make any noticable difference over the stock one?
Click to expand...

Nor would we expect it to.

You did read the part about sleeve master cylinders, right?

"Secret" to really good Commando brakes:

Sleeved master cylinder
Ground disk
New pads
Braided brake line
Click to expand...

I saw the sleeve kit on rgms website, but the fact that it says not recommended for amateur installation kinda of scares me. How difficult is it to install? Colorado norton works has a brembo master that would be great but i would lose my kill switch. I am no mechanic, but i am pretty handy. Is there a dIY/faq section that explains how to do these mods?
Click to expand...

Exchange master cylinder 13mm resleeves are available.
OldBritts has it for $224. I've found their parts, service and quality top notch.
Search in their brake section.
Other vendors also offer exchange rebuilds.
If you do it the ss brake lines highly recommended to handle the increased fluid pressure.
OldBritts also sells AP pads so you may ask them how they compare to the Ferrodo.
When I did my new pads I also used orbital sander on disk and after more than 1,000 miles it still gives me a lot better stop than Emgo's.


others also
 
Lots of intresting ways to spend money . :D Just get a job pruneing pine trees , or bending steel reinforceing manually .You get paid ..A lot of people pay good money to get exercise like this .

Keeping the disc and pads clean ,, busting the glaze on the rotor with emery paper works a treat . the old mk1 Cortina got a once over with a spanner and this & a tune every two weeks initially .
After being schooled on motorcycles . The attention keeps everything spot on and performace at its best , and you get to know all the neuances of its disposition .

A bit of track or dragstrip use would be less profitable without considerable dedication to seeing everythings right . Not a Problem . Such as the odd bolt jumping ship or gremlins at the helm . :shock:
 
http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/Accessories.htm
Norton Disc Brake Upgrade Kit

Using a new master cylinder with carefully calibrated bore, this kit will stop your front wheel at any given speed using the standard production caliper- and gives you feedback, too!

The visually unobtrusive kit fits all pre-Mk3 disc brake models using the original Lucas switchgear. It consists of a new Grimeca master cylinder, a CNC-machined adaptor plate with threaded mounting hole for the original mirror, stainless steel brake hose, brake light switch and all fittings. Suits European and the US-type handlebars. Comes with instructions.

Part#13-1600

Price UK£220.00 + VAT
Click to expand...
 
I ended up going with the Brembo Master Cylinder and Stainless Steel brake lines from Colorado Norton Works. I already have the high performance pads and rebuilt Stainless Pistons. I will give it a shot and see how she stops. The very helpful person at CNW said that if I want to upgrade to the rest of their front brake Brembo Package (Brembo caliper, disc) I can do so at any time and they will deduct the parts that I've already purchased. I am very much looking forward to being able to stop on my Commando withhout having to drag my feet like Fred Flintstone.! :-)
 
Johnnymac said:
I ended up going with the Brembo Master Cylinder and Stainless Steel brake lines from Colorado Norton Works. I already have the high performance pads and rebuilt Stainless Pistons. I will give it a shot and see how she stops. The very helpful person at CNW said that if I want to upgrade to the rest of their front brake Brembo Package (Brembo caliper, disc) I can do so at any time and they will deduct the parts that I've already purchased. I am very much looking forward to being able to stop on my Commando withhout having to drag my feet like Fred Flintstone.! :-)
Click to expand...

Good choice, Johnny.

A fellow I know calls Nortons a wallet vacuum. I think he's restored four or five of his own.
 
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