A late 72 journey out of hibernation (2020)

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Jun 5, 2020
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Hi I'm Gary and I'm a Nortohaulic. :cool: It's been 40 years since my last Commando but I just fell off the wagon. Purchase was more emotional than logical and with a bit of legerdemain on the seller's part I should have walked away, but NO. Hauled it home.
It had been in one family since 1985, lived on a small island, got little regular exercise, the clock shows 13,900 miles 300 of those since a motor overhaul in 2016 bore, pistons etc. Bike came with 15 years of records, receipts, been through those once quickly. It readily started and ran through the gears a mile up n down the rural road. Forgive me if the PO is here, he was more of a romantic than a mechanic, most work had been performed by shops, located a ferry ride and 100+ miles away. Have other bikes, don't NEED to ride right this right away but, well you know...
So hoping to share and gain insight from the fold on how to proceed. Let's say it's been living in benign neglect. Somewhat tatty, a ten footer, would be a fitting description.
Got a photocopy workshop manual with the bike. Will set valves. Put the camera in the holes. Try to get through a basic wake up maintenance.
Any help, suggestions, and even you maroon! comments welcome.
Will need to determine if it has combat spec parts. Heard rumors of a C mark on the head somewhere? Can cam lift be checked at the lifter?
Currently compression is 130, 145 after about 5-6 kicks throttle open with a gauge I know and trust. A glam shot with one of my Xs650s.
A late 72 journey out of hibernation (2020)
 
Check it out & do the fluids...... Then get to burning asphalt. Looks good enough to me as is and so it shall to you as you ride it.. Keep watch on that master cylinder if not rebuilt. Had my old one fail at a most inconvenient time.
 
I got one going last summer after 30 years of sitting. It came to life surprisingly well.
I put 1500 miles on it and then blew a head gasket at the end of summer. Lesson learned - check the head fasteners for proper torque.
 
Beavered away on a round of basic maintenance, cleaning, n painting, set valves, they weren't bad, looked in the cylinders (pretty good) crosshatching still visible. sanded, cleaned, gapped point's, Lit the fires and put 50 miles on it. There's a long list but she's running, shifting riding good, and, um, it stops fairly well . Caught n fixed some oil n gas drips. Primary case seems to be the main leak now.
A late 72 journey out of hibernation (2020)

Now to get "the list" made, ordered, installed.
 
There were fewer stop lights and cars on the road when those Commandos were being built. Stopping "fairly well" is about as good as it got. Engine braking is pretty good on a healthy Norton though.

I fantasize about a leak free Norton. So far that is the best I can do. Did you drain the primary case? It might have some excess oil in it. I'm not sure how the Commando primary case is though. It might not have a drain or a wet clutch. I haven't had a Commando since around 1986. Best way I've found so far with regard to oil leaks is to put my bike up on a stand when garaged so everything is horizontal. If I leave it on the side stand I have oil all along the bottom of the primary case in 3 days of sitting. Fast wet sumper and different design I have.

When I read you checked cylinders and they had good cross hatching, I thought to myself... he took the head off checked the cylinders and put it all back together overnight. I haven't had that much energy for turning wrenches for a very long time.

Looks good. Have fun with it.
 
Long couple days in the shop, she's coming along. Got the plugged idle orifice open, that really helped, installed a battery, fixed some bullet connectors, three one kick starts in a row. Woot Woot. Speedo started fritzing it had been working fine but I had the cable off cleaned oiled, might have made something worse. Odo still seems to work fine.
 
1972 was/is a very fine year for the 750’s , good for you , have some fun with it , and please keep us posted ....
 
Combat Commando is a name of legend...... and not all bad either. Those beasties are badass as Nortons go. I wish I had one to fondle the throttle on.
 
Just had to tease me.... Haven't even cranked up my 850 in a week and a half because been trying to finish up the Goldwing..... All is lost.... Woe unto poor me.
 
A week into ownership; I got the smmotorco primary cover seal, so redid the primary. Found the main culprit was no grommet on the alternator wire! A glob of silicon was just hanging from the wire.... Now with a grommet installed and some wire rerouting so it's not rubbing on the cradle. Extensive clean up of flanges and the seal groove, found the new seal was about an inch short, just used a bit of the old to close the gap :confused: put the seam up top bolted it all back up and took off for a 200 mile "test ride" . Much better! Think the primary is tight now. Need to stop some exhaust valve cover drool and she should be good to go til the tranny gets gone through. Glorious day for a ride, sunny dry 60's, back roads Wisconsin. Not done with carburation yet, higher throttle is great, kinda lumpy surge-y at lower speeds, will install the new throttle cables and have another go at synching. After one ride working perfectly, the speedo wandered off into Jittersville, oh well, one step forward, one back. I have now put more miles on the bike in the last week than it had gone in the last 4 years. Will be calling around monday finding a way to get a reduced bore front MC as soon as possible! With lots of deer encounters waiting patiently for the bike to slow down is just not an option. Got cut off in a small town yesterday, truck driver looked right at me and pulled out in my path anyways. I was cursing that pitiful front brake again! About 3 miles later an SUV had rear ended a minivan, if they can't see a minivan....
 
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A week into ownership; I got the smmotorco primary cover seal, so redid the primary. Found the main culprit was no grommet on the alternator wire! A glob of silicon was just hanging from the wire.... Now with a grommet installed and some wire rerouting so it's not rubbing on the cradle. Extensive clean up of flanges and the seal groove, found the new seal was about an inch short, just used a bit of the old to close the gap :confused: put the seam up top bolted it all back up and took off for a 200 mile "test ride" . Much better! T Think the primary is tight now, need to stop some exhaust valve cover drool and she should be good to go til the tranny gets gone through. Glorious day for a ride, sunny dry 60's, back roads Wisconsin. Not done with carburation yet,higher throttle is great, kinda lumpy surge-y at lower speeds yet, will install the new throttle cables and have another go at synching. After one ride working perfectly, the speedo wandered off into Jittersville oh well, one step forward, one back. I have now put more miles on the bike in the last week than it had gone in the last 4 years. Will be calling around monday finding a way to get a reduced bore front MC as soon as possible! With lots of deer encounters waiting patiently for the bike to slow down is just not an option. Got cut off in a small town yesterday, truck driver looked right at me and pulled out in my path anyways. I was cursing that pitiful front brake again! About 3 miles later an SUV had rear ended a minivan, if they can't see a minivan....
'wandered off into Jittersville'.... Love it!!
 
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