850 mk3's Electric Start, tips an advice?

savingclassicmotorcycles

savingclassicmotorcycles

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Hi everyone hope we are all well :) I thought I'd start doing some research for next year, with the ongoing nerve injury I've been thinking of electric start Commando's as a potential main bike going forward an using the 650ss an 68 Commando as weekend rides, initially I was thinking of MkIIA an fitting an Alton kit so I'd still have r/h shift I must be the only 35 year old that prefers it lol.

I've rattled through quite a few modern bikes, an not got on with anything like I do the Norton's. In the search for something to take over from the 650ss for daily duties an nothing's quite fit on the emotional aspect an fun on uk roads, so that got me thinking about something Norton again.

This is something for after me moving my dad an myself down to Devon after his prostate cancer surgery an radio therapy so it's all change at the moment.

An lately I've been thinking about the Mark III Electric start interstates, an was wondering if anyone had any pearls of wisdom, or advice around that generation of Commando issues tips or things to watch out for, as it's a period I'm not super familiar with having mainly researched the 60s an pre 60s stuff with the 650ss 68 Commando an 16h's.

I've never ridden the 850 compared to the 750.

I tend to remember something about soft cam issues on one of the years,

The plan is to build something with reliability and usability in mind an try make some general improvements along the way as a different approach to my 650ss that I've ran as a daily using all standard kit, as I'm planning on the potential of a huge trip in the future an thinking rather than doing it on something modern why not a Commando (was funny last night i took my carbs coil, tank an head off on the 68 Commando to check something faster than I can get to the spark plugs on the Yamaha T7 I bought for dad lol)

I was thinking of perhaps building one with a AN Crank and JS pistons and rods an a few other upgrades like fork internals etc so thought I'd start researching now.

Are there any drawbacks to the Norton electric start system on the MkIII's compared to other options?

My dad's never rode a Norton so I'm thinking the lh shift 850 with electric start could be a good opportunity to give him a go on one to :)

Thanks in advance,

TJ
 
Last edited:
Unless a left shift is an absolute must then maybe go for a mk2a with a cnw electric starter for reliable starting and a strong motor with an RH10 head
Having said that a mate of mine has had a MK3 forever and he's only ever upgraded the leads and solenoid on his "foot assist" as far as I can remember
And it's always been good on the starter
I have an Alton on my 750 with the Yves upgrade IE it drives the engine sprocket rather than driving through the alternator keyway and is totally reliable
 
I've had a near stock MK3 for about 20 years now. It's just coming up on 50,000 miles.
It has been an excellent machine for me. I've done very little to it, mostly just ride and enjoy. It's a smooth bike with good power. I did add a stronger front brake, the Madass big single disc. The stock brake overheated when the bike was ridden hard in the mountains.

The motor is still on all of its original internal parts and doesn't require oil added between changes (2000 miles)
The 850s have a lot of torque in the low and midrange. At the top they are probably very similar in output to the 750s.
The 850 gives you extra pull right were most of us ride.
In addition to the estart, MK3s had a lot of little changes made from the earlier bikes. Most are improvements-
Here are a few
-Much better cush hub
- Vernier Isolastics
-Rear disc brake
-Hydraulic auto tensioner on primary chain
-strengthened crankcases
-strengthened crankshaft.

You might read that Mk3s are heavy bikes with a detuned engine.

One journalist used the word " Bloated"
In reality they weigh the same as other
Commandos with an estart added. I have weighed 4 different models of Commando on my hanging scales and it's interesting how close in weight they all are. Equipped the same way the scale only showed 3 pounds difference between a 71 750 and a 73 850.
A 70 750 with Alton estart was virtually the same weight as my 75 MK3. That 750 was was modified for extra power with high compression, big cam and flowed head but the MK3 stayed even with it in acceleration until about 85mph.

The MK3 engine isn't detuned from 1973 850 level unless the factory Black cap silencers are still in place. It's unlikely you will find one with those still on, but if so, they must go!

The original sprag bearing in the starter is a weak point. CNW offers new high grade replacement parts for this area.
I've been getting by for several years with a cheap ($17) Chinese replacement
sprag. For some reason they just seem to work.


Glen
850 mk3's Electric Start, tips an advice?
 
Last edited:
worntorn said:
I've had a near stock MK3 for about 20 years now. It's just coming up on 50,000 miles.
It has been an excellent machine for me. I've done very little to it, mostly just ride and enjoy. It's a smooth bike with good power. I did add a stronger front brake, the Madass big single disc. The stock brake overheated when the bike was ridden hard in the mountains.

The motor is still on all of its original internal parts and doesn't require oil added between changes (2000 miles)
The 850s have a lot of torque in the low and midrange. At the top they are probably very similar in output to the 750s.
The 850 gives you extra pull right were most of us ride.
In addition to the estart, MK3s had a lot of little changes made from the earlier bikes. Most are improvements-
Here are a few
-Much better cush hub
- Vernier Isolastics
-Rear disc brake
-Hydraulic auto tensioner on primary chain
-strengthened crankcases
-strengthened crankshaft.

You might read that Mk3s are heavy bikes with a detuned engine.

One journalist used the word " Bloated"
In reality they weigh the same as other
Commandos with an estart added. I have weighed 4 different models of Commando on my hanging scales and it's interesting how close in weight they all are. Equipped the same way the scale only showed 3 pounds difference between a 71 750 and a 73 850.
A 70 750 with Alton estart was virtually the same weight as my 75 MK3. That 750 was was modified for extra power with high compression, big cam and flowed head but the MK3 stayed even with it in acceleration until about 85mph.

The MK3 engine isn't detuned from 1973 850 level unless the factory Black cap silencers are still in place. It's unlikely you will find one with those still on, but if so, they must go!

The original sprag bearing in the starter is a weak point. CNW offers new high grade replacement parts for this area.
I've been getting by for several years with a cheap ($17) Chinese replacement
sprag. For some reason they just seem to work.


Glen
Click to expand...
Agree on all points! I've had my MKIII since circa 1978 or so, 70K miles. Still on the original sprag, although I did the 4 brush conversion decades ago. Still on the original bottom end, one rebore up top. All around great bike, ridden on long trips all over the USA.
 
That's brilliant to hear :) It does look like one would tick pretty much all the boxes especially the updates on them, could really compliment the 68 Commando well.
 
worntorn said:
I've had a near stock MK3 for about 20 years now. It's just coming up on 50,000 miles.
It has been an excellent machine for me. I've done very little to it, mostly just ride and enjoy. It's a smooth bike with good power. I did add a stronger front brake, the Madass big single disc. The stock brake overheated when the bike was ridden hard in the mountains.

The motor is still on all of its original internal parts and doesn't require oil added between changes (2000 miles)
The 850s have a lot of torque in the low and midrange. At the top they are probably very similar in output to the 750s.
The 850 gives you extra pull right were most of us ride.
In addition to the estart, MK3s had a lot of little changes made from the earlier bikes. Most are improvements-
Here are a few
-Much better cush hub
- Vernier Isolastics
-Rear disc brake
-Hydraulic auto tensioner on primary chain
-strengthened crankcases
-strengthened crankshaft.

You might read that Mk3s are heavy bikes with a detuned engine.

One journalist used the word " Bloated"
In reality they weigh the same as other
Commandos with an estart added. I have weighed 4 different models of Commando on my hanging scales and it's interesting how close in weight they all are. Equipped the same way the scale only showed 3 pounds difference between a 71 750 and a 73 850.
A 70 750 with Alton estart was virtually the same weight as my 75 MK3. That 750 was was modified for extra power with high compression, big cam and flowed head but the MK3 stayed even with it in acceleration until about 85mph.

The MK3 engine isn't detuned from 1973 850 level unless the factory Black cap silencers are still in place. It's unlikely you will find one with those still on, but if so, they must go!

The original sprag bearing in the starter is a weak point. CNW offers new high grade replacement parts for this area.
I've been getting by for several years with a cheap ($17) Chinese replacement
sprag. For some reason they just seem to work.


Glen
Click to expand...
As a point of interest my mate didn't realise how bad the MK3 supposedly was until the advent of the internet!🤔🤣🤣🤣
 
I agree Eddie, I think for the future for alot of people that are maybe moving from the modern Triumphs an looking at there first classic for something different a lh shift an eleccy/kickstart Commando with the smoothness of the isos an part's availability is a really good introduction. Especially with all the speed limit's over here now they make so much sense.
 
I'll add this bit of recent info about Andover Norton MK3 starter components. This was posted by Ashley ( Madnorton)

"The reason to replace everything is that the original engine sprocket is made from a material with a soft core so even with case hardening they will eventually fail. The change to material with a tougher core was one of the first changes I made when I joined AN and all our MK3 engine sprockets are made from the tougher material and have been for 8 years. There are also small differences in the working envelope for the 18 sprag to work in. The Chinese sprags for reason seem to work in anything, mine is now 5 years old and still working fine, as yet I have not heard of one even failing though I have heard of a bike where a Chinese one would not fit but when fitted to another MK3 worked fine."
 
worntorn said:
I'll add this bit of recent info about Andover Norton MK3 starter components. This was posted by Ashley ( Madnorton)

"The reason to replace everything is that the original engine sprocket is made from a material with a soft core so even with case hardening they will eventually fail. The change to material with a tougher core was one of the first changes I made when I joined AN and all our MK3 engine sprockets are made from the tougher material and have been for 8 years. There are also small differences in the working envelope for the 18 sprag to work in. The Chinese sprags for reason seem to work in anything, mine is now 5 years old and still working fine, as yet I have not heard of one even failing though I have heard of a bike where a Chinese one would not fit but when fitted to another MK3 worked fine."
Click to expand...
Brilliant info thanks Glen :) can always count on Ashley for the details.
 
savingclassicmotorcycles said:
Hi everyone hope we are all well :) I thought I'd start doing some research for next year, with the ongoing nerve injury I've been thinking of electric start Commando's as a potential main bike going forward an using the 650ss an 68 Commando as weekend rides, initially I was thinking of MkIIA an fitting an Alton kit so I'd still have r/h shift I must be the only 35 year old that prefers it lol.

I've rattled through quite a few modern bikes, an not got on with anything like I do the Norton's. In the search for something to take over from the 650ss for daily duties an nothing's quite fit on the emotional aspect an fun on uk roads, so that got me thinking about something Norton again.

This is something for after me moving my dad an myself down to Devon after his prostate cancer surgery an radio therapy so it's all change at the moment.

An lately I've been thinking about the Mark III Electric start interstates, an was wondering if anyone had any pearls of wisdom, or advice around that generation of Commando issues tips or things to watch out for, as it's a period I'm not super familiar with having mainly researched the 60s an pre 60s stuff with the 650ss 68 Commando an 16h's.

I've never ridden the 850 compared to the 750.

I tend to remember something about soft cam issues on one of the years,

The plan is to build something with reliability and usability in mind an try make some general improvements along the way as a different approach to my 650ss that I've ran as a daily using all standard kit, as I'm planning on the potential of a huge trip in the future an thinking rather than doing it on something modern why not a Commando (was funny last night i took my carbs coil, tank an head off on the 68 Commando to check something faster than I can get to the spark plugs on the Yamaha T7 I bought for dad lol)

I was thinking of perhaps building one with a AN Crank and JS pistons and rods an a few other upgrades like fork internals etc so thought I'd start researching now.

Are there any drawbacks to the Norton electric start system on the MkIII's compared to other options?

My dad's never rode a Norton so I'm thinking the lh shift 850 with electric start could be a good opportunity to give him a go on one to :)

Thanks in advance,

TJ
Click to expand...
Here is a good video showing how to improve the stock mk3 starter, converting to 4 brushes etc.
 
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