72 commando resto

jimmytwin · Apr 14, 2009

Hi all and welcome to my new topic about my commando restoration. If you've seen my previous posts then you will be familiar with the condition in which my bike is in. If not please read my previous topic 'Hi all new user here' to see the non stripped down pics. Any way here's some pics if it today. I can only post 2-3 pics at a time so will do numerous postings. Watch this space...

old pic

new pics

The previous owner had the frame enamelled so with a good polish it comes up great! I also stripped, cleaned and painted the switch housings and got them all working. I quickly polished the levers and am awaiting a master cyl repair kit and an engine sprocket puller.

Hope this is interesting for everyone and that the pics all come through ok.

Thanks for looking, Jim.

ntst8 · Apr 14, 2009

Jim,
always good to see a restoration in progress, looking forward to the updates.
A little bit of polishing needed on the stanchions perhaps? :lol:

Jeandr · Apr 14, 2009

jimmytwin said:
The previous owner had the frame enamelled so with a good polish it comes up great! I also stripped, cleaned and painted the switch housings and got them all working. I quickly polished the levers and am awaiting a master cyl repair kit and an engine sprocket puller.

Hope this is interesting for everyone and that the pics all come through ok.

Thanks for looking, Jim.

You can make your own puller, all you need is a piece of bar stock, I used aluminum, but steel will work too, one big bolt in the center, and two 5/16-24 bolts to match the threads in the sprocket, even if you don't havea tap, you can just make the three holes and put a nut under the center bolt.

Jean

PS Good going, the frame looks good too, I thought you had it repainted until I saw the rusty bits still on

grandpaul · Apr 14, 2009

That frame looks excellent. Was the engine already paritally disassembled, or do just work REALLY fast?

\Keep up the good work, this is a great restoration thread.

BrianK · Apr 14, 2009

Enjoying the thread, thanks!

Best of luck with the rebuild.

I was looking at those first few pics wondering why the frame looked freshly powdercoated when parts attached to it - like the forks! - were obviously not, um, "fresh"....

Cookie · Apr 14, 2009

That's already in much better shape that I though it would clean up. A good surprise.

jimmytwin · Apr 15, 2009

Yup, the frames come up nice after a polish. The engine was partly stripped when I got the bike but I think all the parts are there. Thanks for all the support and I will post some more pics this week end. Is there any Norton guys in the UK? Near oxfordshire?

Thanks, Jim.

slupdawg · Apr 15, 2009

Just goes to show that a Norton is more than the sum of its parts! Looking at it the first time it seems hopeless and then, before you know it, all sorts of possibilities present themselves.

L.A.B. · Apr 15, 2009

jimmytwin said:
Is there any Norton guys in the UK? Near oxfordshire?

No doubt there will be quite a few Norton owners in that area. Oxford has its own branch of the Norton Owners Club.

http://www.nortonownersclub.org/

Alan W · Apr 16, 2009

Jim, there are a several of us in and around Oxfordshire. I'm in Bicester. The local NOC have a club night at Sturdys Castle pub near Tackley on 2nd Tuesday of the month, it's very informal - several Commandos (mine included), a Dommie and a Ducati (!) turned up for a pint & a chat last Tuesday evening (the riders, not the bikes :lol: ), all are welcome! Where abouts are you?

Alan

jimmytwin · Apr 16, 2009

Hi alan, im very near witney. Itd be great to meet up and see some finished bikes. Also to see where thins,parts wires go etc..

Jim.

Alan W · Apr 17, 2009

Jim, will look forward to seeing you. Google map the postcode OX5 3EP and the pub is near enough on the button on the A4260 Banbury road. Next meet is 12 May around 7:30/8pm (second Tuesday of the month). Providing its not p**ing it down I shall be on my bike :wink:

Alan

steven wardlaw · Apr 17, 2009

Great to see another Norton on its way back from the dead. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to see what the finished bike looks like.

jimmytwin · Apr 22, 2009

Well its time for an update. I finally got the engine sprocket off, popped off beautifully! I split the engine today to see what the sideways play in the con rods was, turned out to be the top shells were very worn but the cranks fine thank god! I'm gonna send the con rods and crank away for checking etc. Can anyone tell me whether the current mains are super blends or not? Also my camshaft looks a little tired but usable-ish. what do y'all think of the con rod. Its pretty pitted but I simply cannot afford new ones so do I take the risk? I spent a little while cleaning it up as well as polishing it. Anyways here's the pics...

The combat camshaft was stamped ss but the only stamp on mine appears to be a T?

Thnaks, Jim.

chris plant · Apr 22, 2009

hi jimmy regarding the main bearings, they are not superblends,regarding the cam it looks like a std one rather than a 2s combat cam ,is there anything stamped on the drive side of the cam, when i say drive side i mean drive side of the engine not drive side of cam(points side) regarding con rods i dont think its worth the risk they look a bit pitted, unless they will polish out,and you are not going to race it,the little ends maybe the deciding factor, although it would be possible to bore and fit a bronze bush in there

L.A.B. · Apr 22, 2009

jimmytwin said:
Can anyone tell me whether the current mains are super blends or not?

"6 (etched) MRJA30" identifies that bearing as the early 063906 "Superblend" made by R&M (later by RHP)

jimmytwin said:
what do y'all think of the con rod. Its pretty pitted but I simply cannot afford new ones so do I take the risk?

= I wouldn't!

While you have the cases apart perhaps it would be worthwhile doing the oil scavenge pickup conversion?: http://www.oldbritts.com/n_c_case.html

Cookie · Apr 22, 2009

I'm glad you are taking the bits over to be inspected, it looks like the rods might polish out but I'm a long way from there. Likewise the cam might clean up.
If I were building a street bike I'd like the standard cam rather than the Combat but I'm sure you'll get a lot of opinions.
Get a mike on that crank too.

L.A.B. · Apr 22, 2009

chris plant said:
regarding the main bearings, they are not superblends,

I quote from FACTORY SERVICE RELEASE N.2/19

"NATURE OF RELEASE: Crankshaft main (roller) bearings

MODELS AFFECTED: 1972 Commando (all models)

DISTRIBUTION: Worldwide (Distributors and Dealers)

EXPLANATION: In order to extend main bearing life, a change of roller main bearing specification has now been authorized, and fitted on production engines from engine number 211891.

The new roller bearing is designated "SUPERBLEND" with an increased load carrying capacity and are supplied under part number 063906 (manufacturer's part number R&M 6/MRJA30)."

(Jimmy's Commando is Eng. No. 212309)

Quote from the NOC Service Notes

"MAIN BEARINGS: There are, so far, only two types of bearing I would recommend anyone to use in any
Norton twin (500 up anyway). "These bearings are both Superblend Roller Bearings-one from Ransome
and Marles, Norton No: 063906, and one from F.A.G., Norton No: 064118. Either should be used in 500-
750 engines; the factory reckon only to use the F.A.G. bearings in the 830s There will be some end float
with the double roller-bearing set up which previously was controlled by the ball-bearing in the timing
side-this should be between 10 and 30 thou (0.25-0.75mm), but don’t worry if it’s not, as long as there is
some float. The outer rings of the bearings are glued in at the factory by Loctite Bearing Fit, so there’s no
reason why you shouldn’t use it too, as long as you make sure that the rings are hard home before the
glue sets, not when you find you haven’t got any end float! Only use bearings with one of the following
nos: NJ306E (E is very important, NJ306 is weaker) or 6 MRJA30. The 6 may be hand engraved on the
bearing. The timing side bearing need not be a particularly tight fit on the crank. Again don’t use just any
roller bearings, these ones are barrelled to allow crankshaft whip. Another number is NJ306E MI,
(Harder.)"

chris plant · Apr 22, 2009

hi lab is that the factory service release you posted earlier

L.A.B. · Apr 22, 2009

chris plant said:
hi lab is that the factory service release you posted earlier

I may have posted this information here at some other time?

Could you be more specific, please?

Or do you mean the NOC Service Notes?

72 commando resto

jimmytwin

ntst8

Jeandr

grandpaul

BrianK

Cookie

jimmytwin

slupdawg

L.A.B.

Moderator

Alan W

jimmytwin

Alan W

steven wardlaw

jimmytwin

chris plant

L.A.B.

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Cookie

L.A.B.

Moderator

chris plant

L.A.B.

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