'74 Ignition Switch Location

Working on restoring a ’74 850 MKII. The prior owner drilled a hole in the left side cover and installed the ignition switch through the cover. This may have been a common modification, just guessing. It’s not that bad looking, but I am trying to find a stock bracket to maybe mount the ignition switch in the correct location. The parts book does not show the part (I sure couldn’t find it in my two books). I can see general location from left side photos, but not any detail on the bracket. Could someone send me a photograph of what the bracket looks like and how it attaches. Thank you.

I think (get ready for a flood of people telling me otherwise) it should be on a bracket that comes from the air filter (some here refer to it as "ham can type") back plate on the left hand side. The parts drawing shows the filter assembly from the right hand side so you can't see the bracket.

Toppy,You're correct,my 74 has an "L" shaped bracket that is attached to the air cleaner back plate.By the way JP cycle sells a 3 position switch that fits perfectly in the hole for when the time comes that the original switch craps out.

Pictures please? Mine has been pop riveted to the back of the air box and needs to be repaired to look as new. Thanks!

https://www.oldbritts.com/airbox.html

AZScott said:

Working on restoring a ’74 850 MKII. The prior owner drilled a hole in the left side cover and installed the ignition switch through the cover. This may have been a common modification, just guessing. It’s not that bad looking, but I am trying to find a stock bracket to maybe mount the ignition switch in the correct location. The parts book does not show the part (I sure couldn’t find it in my two books). I can see general location from left side photos, but not any detail on the bracket. Could someone send me a photograph of what the bracket looks like and how it attaches. Thank you.

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As shown in the photos, the stock bracket was spot welded to the air cleaner mounting plate. The weld is a common failure point.

The switch has a rubber boot that covered the wiring end, and a 2nd boot to protect the switch.

I suppose they went to the weird 74 location because the previous side panel one was a problem. Too bad Frank had left Norton by then as we might get the story on how that abomination occurred. Now you have a lock and switch facing forward into the wind and weather. Of course they saw this and added the two piece black rubber over it. That was the bit that only covers the switch when you arent moving and until the rubber flapper falls off.
Some things on a Norton are simply beyond comprehension.
...and this was 1974 with the jap invasion well under way.

Thanks L.A.B., your pictures explain a lot. I know now why I couldn’t find a standalone bracket since it is part of the air cleaner back plate. My Commando did not have the stock air cleaner and instead had a single Mikuni. A question I have is, on the MKIIa as in the John Player Special, in looking at pictures it has a funky black apparatus, I do not see a bracket extending for the ignition switch. Was there a different location for the ignition switch (front fork?) or am I just not seeing it? I personally was planning to use the K&N double filter on my two Amals, so my options are, 1) keep it coming through side cover, 2) find a stock air filter back plate, to use with my K&N filter (assuming there is enough room), 3) design my own bracket and attach to the bottom of the battery tray. Kind of leaning toward option 1, as long as the key sticking out does not interfere with my leg.

AZScott said:

I personally was planning to use the K&N double filter on my two Amals, so my options are, 1) keep it coming through side cover, 2) find a stock air filter back plate, to use with my K&N filter (assuming there is enough room)..

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I went with Door Number 2, using the stock backing plate so as to keep the switch in its stock location, and using K&N's #R-0990 (http://www.knfilters.com/search/product ... 78147&rw=1)
And, yes, my bracket was cracking and needed an additional weld.

Nathan

Onder said:

I suppose they went to the weird 74 location because the previous side panel one was a problem.

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That 'weird' location was the same for Fastbacks from '68, and most other models from '71-'74.

I'd guess the switch was only relocated to the side panel for '69 (and continued on into '70) so it was further away from the 'S' exhaust system!

AZScott said:

A question I have is, on the MKIIa as in the John Player Special, in looking at pictures it has a funky black apparatus, I do not see a bracket extending for the ignition switch. Was there a different location for the ignition switch (front fork?) or am I just not seeing it?

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The switch was in the usual position on the JPN replicas as far as I know, and could be awkward to operate, I believe ?
The black apparatus you see is probably be the switch cover.

I use the KN filter on my 74 as did the PO. When I first got the bike, the ignition mounting bracket was fractured and hose clamped to the frame. I drilled a hole in it and used the airbox mounting screw holes to attach the bracket so that the keyhole faces port, just high enough off the primary so the Kryptonite key stays well clear.

Is your bike maybe a MKIIA? Does the right sidecover have an indent and a hole down low? These bikes had a plastic airbox similar to a MKIII and the bracket for the switch was pop riveted to the airbox. The sidecover used a rotolock like the MKIII, only it is down low.

milfordite said:

Is your bike maybe a MKIIA? Does the right sidecover have an indent and a hole down low? These bikes had a plastic airbox similar to a MKIII and the bracket for the switch was pop riveted to the airbox. The sidecover used a rotolock like the MKIII, only it is down low.

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The '74 JPN and MkII had a different black airbox than the MKIII. The ignition switch bracket was attached by screws in threaded holes in the airbox. Mk III was riveted on as mentioned. I had experience sourcing this airbox for my JPN, but it came with the screw on bracket.

illf8ed said:

milfordite said:

Is your bike maybe a MKIIA? Does the right sidecover have an indent and a hole down low? These bikes had a plastic airbox similar to a MKIII and the bracket for the switch was pop riveted to the airbox. The sidecover used a rotolock like the MKIII, only it is down low.

Click to expand...

The '74 JPN and MkII had a different black airbox than the MKIII. The ignition switch bracket was attached by screws in threaded holes in the airbox. Mk III was riveted on as mentioned. I had experience sourcing this airbox for my JPN, but it came with the screw on bracket.

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It's actually the side cover bracket that's riveted to the MkIII airbox.
The MkIII ignition switch is up on the console-so there are no fittings for a switch bracket on the MkIII airbox.