1973 Paul dunstall Norton: Mike Wille.

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Mike Wille

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Purchased a Paul Dunstall Norton.
I believe it it’s from the Dunstall factory. Believe it’s a MK3 because of all the options?
I believe it’s about as original as you can get?
Someone made a modification to fit 32mm Mikuni carbs. I have the original Ohio title from 1983 and it has 5614 miles on speedo. I have been riding nortons for many years and have never seen one like this is an honor to have it just joined this forum to get to the experts. would love to have any feedback on this bike. Thank you all. Mike Wille.
 

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Welcome.
🍻
MKIII would have rear disc brake, electric start specific primary covers, as well as timing cover, Left hand shift.
What makes you think it's a MKIII?
 
I believe he is referring to it being a 'Dunstall Mk3', the highest option with the twin discs.
 
when I got the bike it’s was more trying to figure out if it came from the dunstall factory rather than a dunstall bolt on bike but I found a magazine article with Paul that spoke of the gears he ran which this bike has and it has the flowed and polished intake ports and brass valve guides. I really think it’s a rare bike and it’s hard to trace its history. Lots of little things unfamiliar from my stock commando.
 
Mike Wille said:
when I got the bike it’s was more trying to figure out if it came from the dunstall factory rather than a dunstall bolt on bike but I found a magazine article with Paul that spoke of the gears he ran which this bike has and it has the flowed and polished intake ports and brass valve guides. I really think it’s a rare bike and it’s hard to trace its history. Lots of little things unfamiliar from my stock commando.
Click to expand...
 
Stuck a camera in the cylinder. Crazy?
 

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A lot of Dunstall pieces on that build.
I believe a full on Dunstall head will have lightened and possibly polished rockers.
Have a look..
Also, I think the head will have been milled like a Combat.
Check the spacing between the head and barrell.
 
Does not have the polished rockers but just looking at the head is really tight on the cylinder compared to my stock commando. I appreciate the feedback.
 
I thought Paul Dunstall did not do much after about 1970. I have his tuning notes - they seem to be a bit dated. He built the first over-bored 750 which I think was 800cc. I do not think provenance means much - from the photos, it looks good and well-developed. With that front brake, the bike has probably done something.
 
Dunstall stuff was around when I was racing fairly regularly. I always thought he traded on his name and what he sold was not really about racing. However I think that Dunstall himself, was a successful racer. His Norton tuning notes are probably deceptively simple. In later life I discovered we do not need to do much to make a Norton really go. To my mind - the gearbox is the most significant factor. That front brake is also very important. Any bike which has that can be ridden very fast. If I had that bike with the twin disc front brake, I would win races - the motor would not need to be special. The standard gearbox is useless.
 
Interesting that the pistons are domed.
The Dunstall 750 pistons I have are higher compression but flat topped. Not sure how they'd get along with a skimmed head.
 
I think Jim Schmidt's 12 to 1 comp. light pistons must be domed. If I was going further with my 850, I would buy them. Interesting that some other guys are also using methanol. It is a much nicer way to go racing. The domes on Triumph 12 to1 pistons do not need to have the gaps between the head and the crowns - they are a silly shape. The side of the crown which is away from the plug often has coke on it - which says something about combustion in the Triumph head. A piston which fits close to the head at the sides, has to be better,
 
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I have a 1974 Dunstall catalog, but not 1973. Yours looks to be genuine, minus the Mikunis and belt primary case.

Dunstall Nortons could be like Dreer Nortons. Features could vary and options added.

Dunstall Catalog.JPG
Dunstall Norton Spec.JPG


Your pictures don't show side covers, so if you have them, they should have the Dunstall lettering to be authentic. The tank badges were part of the brand also.
Note that polished rockers aren't listed.
10:1 compression without listing pistons to achieve. The catalog only offers high compression pistons for 750.
Yours should have directionals if imported to USA.
Would have been nicer to have the Alloy tank if it came from the UK.
No mention of Boyer ignition


I'd go through the process to request despatch records on your s/n
 
I do have the side covers they were bare metal there was no badges on side cover or tank. No turn signals as well. Does have the Boyer ignition. I will look into the records. Have you ever done that? Thank you very helpful.
 

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