1985 MK3 Commando

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Norton Dave

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Can any one explain this . Currently on Ebay there is a MK3 for sale in Australia from Queensland stated as year manufactured as 1985 first thing I thought maybe typo error , should have been 1975 maybe . But on viewing the engine number stamped on the barrels it had the usual Norton circle stamp then stamped 850 another Norton circle then the engine number 334790 followed by circle again any one seen this before or maybe can shed some light on this engine number thanks Dave ???URL=http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/nortondave/media/_57.jpg.html]
1985 MK3 Commando
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Could it be a Norvil crankcase?

They stamp their own numbers on the bikes that they produce? I would think about cross posting to the Norton owners club forum
 
The numbers after the 850 an circles looks to have been stamped by hand as they are not as level an even as the 850. It could well be a Norvil built bike an Email to them may give some answers.
 
Norton Dave said:
should have been 1975 maybe . But on viewing the engine number stamped on the barrels it had the usual Norton circle stamp then stamped 850 another Norton circle then the engine number 334790 followed by circle again any one seen this before or maybe can shed some light on this engine number
Click to expand...

Just normal engine markings for a 1975 MkIII model, (probably built approx. late July 1975) nothing odd there, not Norvil, the seller has simply made a mistake with the date.

The limit markings (three horizontal lines within a circle) were usually stamped on the engine, frame* and gearbox from around mid-1973 onward.

The engine number is of course, stamped on the drive side crankcase not on the barrels.

*(usually included with the actual frame number stamp, but not the certification plate number, however there are some exceptions.
 
If you have a close look at that sale, in one spot it states 1975 and in another minor but more readable spot it says 1985.

So we'd conclude TYPO ??
 
As I thought dates typo error , but still never seen the 850 stamped preceding the engine number on the crank cases before , does any other member have these markings . LAB you state this is normal does your MK3 have this 850 prefix before engine number because all mine do not and all the MK3's I have ever owned or seen have not either hence the question ? Just thought it very unusual .
 
I just checked mine. It does not have the 850 prefix on the case number.
Jaydee
 
my Mk3 has a 3309#@ original stamp.. with the two circle marks before and after, no "850" prior to number.... ...
 
L.A.B. said:
jaydee75 said:
I just checked mine. It does not have the 850 prefix on the case number.
Click to expand...

Some do, others do not. It's yet another Commando oddity. :)

The 850 frame number usually has the 850 prefix: http://atlanticgreen.com/commandoframes.htm
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Yes Lab I know about the vin and frame prefix 850 , my question was on the crank cases as some members have stated they do not have 850 stamped on the crank cases before the engine number , this is getting to me , no 1975 MK3 I have ever seen has these stampings , if what you say is correct what year did they start doing this , finished in 75 but produced from left over parts was this when Norton started to do this ???? Any body know or have pictures like the one above very interesting .
 
my 77 Mk 3 has the 850 prefix followed by 3353--
The number on the cast looks a bit irregular and the wheels/discs and wrong sided speedo make the speedo reading less believable

Anyway thanks for the bearing Dave it worked a treat. Amazing the difference a bit of grease can make :D
 
Mine is the same as the photo but with a little earlier number - circle stamp 850 circle stamp 334509 circle stamp. Manufactured date is July 1975 (7/75 on the VIN plate) so the one in the picture will probably be around August / September 1975. I don't think they made that many in those days, so it's worth checking the VIN plate for the manufactured date just to be sure.

I'll take a piccy if needed.

CB
 
Cheshire bloke said:
Mine is the same as the photo but with a little earlier number - circle stamp 850 circle stamp 334509 circle stamp. Manufactured date is July 1975 (7/75 on the VIN plate) so the one in the picture will probably be around August / September 1975. I don't think they made that many in those days, so it's worth checking the VIN plate for the manufactured date just to be sure.

I'll take a piccy if needed.

CB
Click to expand...
Thanks for the response a picture would be very nice 7/75 interesting , thanks again CB also glad to hear your on two wheels again Jed and sprags working Dave .
 
Here you go, I thought that all MK3's were stamped like this, not so rare after all! :D

1985 MK3 Commando

Now you have seen a 1975 MK3 with these stampings :)

I am going to stamp up a new VIN plate, so I made a circle stamp to copy the original style -

1985 MK3 Commando


Not bad for a first attempt, might make another but a bit sharper on the lines, and for info the circle stamp on the crankcase is a little larger than the VIN.

Brrr getting a bit nippy in the garage now maybe tomorrow.

CB
 
I have 2 x mk 111 bikes

75 has -- circle stamp -- number -- circle stamp

77 has-- circle stamp -- 850--circle stamp--number-- circle stamp.

sam
 
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