850 Battery Sidecover

My Mk III roadster restoration is missing a battery side cover. I have a line on a roadster sidecover that is already painted black, but it is for a Mk II. The '75 Mk III had a change requiring different mounting holes/brackets.

Can a Mk II battery sidecover be easily modified to fit a Mk III, or I am better off just looking for a Mk III cover? If not, how hard is it to find a Mk III roadster sidecover (photos at Clubman's and others appear to fit the Mk II's and earlier). The Mk II cover was professionally painted and the asking price is $75.

Cheers,

HJ

Hungry J0e said:

Can a Mk II battery sidecover be easily modified to fit a Mk III, or I am better off just looking for a Mk III cover?

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Anything would be possible, depending on how much you are prepared to do?
And the modifications you'd need to make would depend on whether your MkIII still has the standard plastic airbox or not?
The earlier panels normally have a bracket extending forward at the front, which may need to be removed to allow it to fit with the plastic airbox? And may or may not have a tool tray that would probably need to be removed?
A hole would have to be drilled in the top of the cover for the plastic MkIII airbox mounting bracket Dzus fastener & grommet?
The IIA (and I think also IA?) battery covers (Interstate & Roadster) were different, as they had a recess with a hole for a rotor lock fastener at the bottom, which differs from the MkI, II and also the MKIII, (even though the MKIII also has the plastic airbox) those ones have a small lug containing a rubber buffer that hooks behind the L/H Z plate which locates the panel.

Hungry J0e said:

If not, how hard is it to find a Mk III roadster sidecover (photos at Clubman's and others appear to fit the Mk II's and earlier).

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MkIII battery sidecovers although made from GRP (fibreglass) instead of steel (some models did have fibreglass panels as standard) are normally available form Norvil: http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/sidepanel.htm but are available in plain Black without the stripes or Commando 850 E/S sticker?

RGM offer an unfinished steel 066330 (MkIII) item panel that might prove easier to modify rather than one that has already been painted?: http://www.rgmmotors.co.uk/home.htm Item 853B

(The item 853B in the photo does appear to be the earlier panel?)

And the modifications you'd need to make would depend on whether your Mk III still has the standard plastic airbox or not?

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I am missing the airbox as well (along with pretty much all plastic on the bike). I was planning on installing K&N's on to replace it. Building a cafe, not restoring to stock.

What does the forward bracket on the Mk II battery cover affix to? As I'm missing the airbox, sounds like I'll have to come up with an alternative method to fit any sidecover, Mk III or no...

Cheers,

- HJ[/quote]

I have a roadster side panel fitted to my MKIII, I still have the old interstate one so I'll check them out and see what the difference is, both are steel. As for parts you may be able to source one from nortonmotors.de this is outcome of ANIL being bought from BSA Regal. they have the online exploded view catalogue and do mail order as well.

Hungry J0e said:

I am missing the airbox as well (along with pretty much all plastic on the bike). I was planning on installing K&N's on to replace it. Building a cafe, not restoring to stock.


What does the forward bracket on the Mk II battery cover affix to?

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In that case you should be able to fit the earlier panel using the earlier model front bracket Dzus fastener or something similar, quite easily? There should already be hole for it in your MKIII frame?:

http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton% ... 014&Part=5 Items 5 & 6.

http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton% ... &Plate=025

You will probably need to fabricate an additional support lug for the rear of the panel as a MkIII only has the one rear lug, plus the lower Z plate retainer.

In that case you should be able to fit the earlier panel using the earlier model front bracket Dzus fastener or something similar, quite easily? There should already be hole for it in your MKIII frame?

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If you are using the Mk3 battery tray you will need to rig up some type of peg to hold the bottom of the earlier style cover as well. If you use the earlier style battery tray, the peg will be already be there.

Ron L said:

If you are using the Mk3 battery tray you will need to rig up some type of peg to hold the bottom of the earlier style cover as well. If you use the earlier style battery tray, the peg will be already be there.

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That would also be the same lug that I referred to on the last line of my previous message (rather than an additional fixing).

Yep! Missed that line