1973 Norton Commando 750 - Should I buy? - Of Course
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Re: 1973 Norton Commando 750 - Should I buy?
Great to see another Canadian on the forum! Theres probably only a handful or two of us.
Dave, do you have any idea when my '72 combat came off the line? # 207099
Matt
Great to see another Canadian on the forum! Theres probably only a handful or two of us.
DogT said:
Dave, do you have any idea when my '72 combat came off the line? # 207099
Matt
DogT
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Re: 1973 Norton Commando 750 - Should I buy?
Dave, do you have any idea when my '72 combat came off the line? # 207099
Matt[/quote]
All I have is First Combat Engine 200976 and First detuned 211110, with no dates, but it's between 200001 Jan 72 (Interstate) and 212278 ?? 73 Interstate. Someone else may have more info. I think my list is from Bacon's book. I found it on the internet many years ago and haven't seen it since, but it seems to agree with nearly everyone else's list.
Dave
69S
Dave, do you have any idea when my '72 combat came off the line? # 207099
Matt[/quote]
All I have is First Combat Engine 200976 and First detuned 211110, with no dates, but it's between 200001 Jan 72 (Interstate) and 212278 ?? 73 Interstate. Someone else may have more info. I think my list is from Bacon's book. I found it on the internet many years ago and haven't seen it since, but it seems to agree with nearly everyone else's list.
Dave
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Re: 1973 Norton Commando 750 - Should I buy?
It certainly appears to be a 1971 Roadster. According to the UK NOC, 1971 production officially ended at 150500 and 1972 production commenced from serial 200001, but 1971 spec. Commandos with serial numbers higher than 150500 are known to exist, however a number that high seems odd?
Presumably the frame headstock certification plate (which usually has a date stamp) is missing?
jesterday said:
It certainly appears to be a 1971 Roadster. According to the UK NOC, 1971 production officially ended at 150500 and 1972 production commenced from serial 200001, but 1971 spec. Commandos with serial numbers higher than 150500 are known to exist, however a number that high seems odd?
Presumably the frame headstock certification plate (which usually has a date stamp) is missing?
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Re: 1973 Norton Commando 750 - Should I buy?
Nope, it is there, the previous owner covered it in duct tape to protect it, back in 1986, so I have some goo to clean off it...lol But the engine, and gearbox are stamped with that serial number, I checked that out today.
I was playing around with the bike, trying to organize everything to see what I have, and what I don't. So far, I am missing the rear shocks, and maybe some wiring, but everything else seems to be there. I have no clue about motorcycles, so I decided to jump right into it today and try to assemble as much as I can to learn about it. I got the motor and gearbox mounted into the frame, inside primary cover mounted, the wheels, front forks, and a few other things. Definitely a learning experience. I know this sounds stupid, but I am going to build the bike like it is, try to get it working and then tear it down to restore it. I figure I will learn a lot more building the bike twice.
I checked the motor and it isn't seized and has fairly good compression, I will get my old man to verify what I have done when he gets some spare time.
I need to figure out how to reinstall the primary. The previous owner had it all apart, but put the reassembled the clutch completely, if I am not mistaken, that needs to be taken apart to be reinstalled, correct?
Also he had the gearbox apart to replace a bearing, and I don't know if he put it back together properly, got to really look at the diagrams for that.
Had a fun first day, but it is Mine and the wife's anniversary, so I have to go be good for a while now. Later!
Nope, it is there, the previous owner covered it in duct tape to protect it, back in 1986, so I have some goo to clean off it...lol But the engine, and gearbox are stamped with that serial number, I checked that out today.
I was playing around with the bike, trying to organize everything to see what I have, and what I don't. So far, I am missing the rear shocks, and maybe some wiring, but everything else seems to be there. I have no clue about motorcycles, so I decided to jump right into it today and try to assemble as much as I can to learn about it. I got the motor and gearbox mounted into the frame, inside primary cover mounted, the wheels, front forks, and a few other things. Definitely a learning experience. I know this sounds stupid, but I am going to build the bike like it is, try to get it working and then tear it down to restore it. I figure I will learn a lot more building the bike twice.
I checked the motor and it isn't seized and has fairly good compression, I will get my old man to verify what I have done when he gets some spare time.
I need to figure out how to reinstall the primary. The previous owner had it all apart, but put the reassembled the clutch completely, if I am not mistaken, that needs to be taken apart to be reinstalled, correct?
Also he had the gearbox apart to replace a bearing, and I don't know if he put it back together properly, got to really look at the diagrams for that.
Had a fun first day, but it is Mine and the wife's anniversary, so I have to go be good for a while now. Later!
Ron L
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Re: 1973 Norton Commando 750 - Should I buy?
Interesting mix of parts. The bike is obviously a '71 from the numbers and the frame's side stand mount, but it has steel sidecovers. I also see an oil filter mount in the parts, but the engine cradle is not drilled to mount it, so it was probably purchased by the previous owner after he tore it down.
I would decide what you want to do about the side stand before you paint the frame. The '71 frame has the peg type mount that usually breaks or falls off with dangerous results if it happens while moving! I would get one of the late style lugs from Old Britts (or other dealers) and weld it on the frame to allow use of the late style side stand. Your frame appears to have a hole in the frame tube (maybe a shadow in the picture?) that may need to be welded up anyway.
Interesting mix of parts. The bike is obviously a '71 from the numbers and the frame's side stand mount, but it has steel sidecovers. I also see an oil filter mount in the parts, but the engine cradle is not drilled to mount it, so it was probably purchased by the previous owner after he tore it down.
I would decide what you want to do about the side stand before you paint the frame. The '71 frame has the peg type mount that usually breaks or falls off with dangerous results if it happens while moving! I would get one of the late style lugs from Old Britts (or other dealers) and weld it on the frame to allow use of the late style side stand. Your frame appears to have a hole in the frame tube (maybe a shadow in the picture?) that may need to be welded up anyway.
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Re: 1973 Norton Commando 750 - Should I buy?
HORN FIRST!
You may want to start a new thread, this title no longer poignant.
The first thing that jumps out at me is the head steady. You can easily upgrade to a later 850 boxed type. The one you have is not really bad, just no good.
HORN FIRST!
You may want to start a new thread, this title no longer poignant.
The first thing that jumps out at me is the head steady. You can easily upgrade to a later 850 boxed type. The one you have is not really bad, just no good.
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Re: 1973 Norton Commando 750 - Should I buy?
One thing I did notice today, was the Stem that connect the Upper and Lower Yoke is damaged on the bottom, like someone beat it with a hammer to remove it. I am going to have to either look into buying a new one, or repairing that one. I don't know if it is repairable or not though.
One thing I did notice today, was the Stem that connect the Upper and Lower Yoke is damaged on the bottom, like someone beat it with a hammer to remove it. I am going to have to either look into buying a new one, or repairing that one. I don't know if it is repairable or not though.
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Re: 1973 Norton Commando 750 - Should I buy?
If you did decide to replace the yoke, perhaps with another used item, then make sure you get a 750 yoke and not the 850 type as 850 yokes look similar but they have slightly different geometry to the 750 type. 850 yokes are normally marked 'ANG' on their underside.
The numbers certainly look genuine.
jesterday said:
If you did decide to replace the yoke, perhaps with another used item, then make sure you get a 750 yoke and not the 850 type as 850 yokes look similar but they have slightly different geometry to the 750 type. 850 yokes are normally marked 'ANG' on their underside.
The numbers certainly look genuine.
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bwolfie said:
It is pretty bad, it is mushroomed for about 1/4 of an inch, might be 1/8 of an inch shorter than it is supposed to be and an 1/8 of an inch bigger on the diameter, the nut doesn't come close to fitting it. Maybe if I ground it down and rethreaded it? I dunno...get the old man to look at it.
There are a few machine shops around here, so maybe I can get them to make a new one.
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Are you delivery challenged up there. The reason I ask is that absolutely everything is available and if you have the time to shop, you will find it for very reasonable. The "Forsale" and "wanted" sections here on the forum are also very helpful. Sometimes all you have to do is ask.
I have received items for nothing more than the shipping charge( crankshaft oilpump wormgear for example).
Norvil will build you a brand new Norton Commando at pre 1975 specs. Complete! Your choice of "anything". I say this because it is reassuring to know that there is absolutely nothing on these bikes that cannot be fixed, replaced, or upgraded........ nothing.
I have received items for nothing more than the shipping charge( crankshaft oilpump wormgear for example).
Norvil will build you a brand new Norton Commando at pre 1975 specs. Complete! Your choice of "anything". I say this because it is reassuring to know that there is absolutely nothing on these bikes that cannot be fixed, replaced, or upgraded........ nothing.
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Re: 1973 Norton Commando 750 - Should I buy?
The gearbox number is interesting, mine has got the same grinding with the number stamped into it, I assumed that someone must have changed the casing, ground out the number and re-stamped it, looks like they came from the factory that way, mines a bit older April 1971
jesterday said:I verified matching numbers today!, which is pretty cool. I have to get my soda blaster working so I can get the frame down to bare metal so I can start painting it.
Made in September 1971.
The gearbox number is interesting, mine has got the same grinding with the number stamped into it, I assumed that someone must have changed the casing, ground out the number and re-stamped it, looks like they came from the factory that way, mines a bit older April 1971
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