Air cleaner box model differences.

hello all. Hearty good wishes.
I have just bought a complete air cleaner box, front and back plate and perforated plate. it was intended to go on a 70 fastback . I thought they were all the same being just an airbox.

I have discovered that it will not fit and is off a later model. the early fastback air box is different because of the fastback oil tank. the 2 tapped mounting lugs on the back plate are in different position for the fastback. they should be both level and mounted a bit higher to clear the projecting part of the oil tank that houses the inlet and return fittings.

the Roadster style air box has the lugs a bit lower and one is off set from the other. they are not level.
The conclusion is that the early fastbacks will only take the airbox listed in the 68,69,70 fastback part numbers. the later model airboxes will need modifying to fit.

The point of this post is to perhaps save someone else from making this mistake. Fastbacks up to 1970 have a different airbox. The perforated plate is the same but the front and back plate are different.

Hope this helps someone.
Contrary opinions and corrections welcomed
Bradley

Contact Colin Kelly at Custom Classic Cycle Parts: http://www.customclassiccycleparts.com/
He makes perfect reproductions of Norton tin. My experience is he can provide the correct part at a reasonable price.

Stephen Hill

Looking at the 68 parts book, the front and back plate are listed, 06.0902 and 06.0815. In the supplement for the S, R and 70 Roadster no extra/other parts are listed for page 32 although for the S the back plate is the oil tank, and has been shown on another thread, the 68 front plate is painted black where the S is chrome. Another discrepancy of the 68-70 parts book?

Dave

Hello all
Dave, (DogT), no, not another discrepancy in the parts book. . just another lesson for myself in the many small differences of the same basic Commando. u r right regarding those part no's in the 68 manual and supplement.

my mistake was assuming that any air box would fit an early fastback. I thought after all, gee its just an air box. so I bought back plate 062799, front plate 060902. these are for later models. 060815 and 060902 are the correct parts numbers as you say.

the point being to maybe help someone from making the same mistake. nobody's fault here but mine due to lack of intimate detail knowledge.

Interestingly, when searching part no,s on the Andover site, 060815 and 060902 come up with different numbers and saying this is a generic part, implying that the bits will fit all models.

I am going to clarify this with AN before ordering their numbers just to ensure that I get something that will fit.
best wishes Bradley

Well, Joe has all sorts of Nortons, so he should know. But yes, the part numbers game is a mystery to me.

Dave

DogT said:

Well, Joe has all sorts of Nortons, so he should know. But yes, the part numbers game is a mystery to me.

Dave

Click to expand...

Dave, yes it is indeed. the beauty of Norton Commando's is that many different standard models and styles can be built as a mix and match project to get whatever you want using genuine factory parts.
I would re-iterate the main point, early fastback air box is different .
best wishes Bradley

Front plate 06-0902 and surround 06-0816 are universal. Rear plate I use 06-4894 for. There was also front plate 06-2266 which we still make, but the brackets for the bolts are in identical positions, the difference being holes for- I think- the electric terminal with plug.

06-2799 is only a drawing that shows how the breather hose 06-2283 goes on plate 06-4894. We don't use that number, so I wonder if the ione you bought was an original part or some pirate product which may not fit.
Joe/Andover Norton

hello Joe and thanks for your comments.
the air box I bought was an Andover part bought as a complete unit. I only get Andover bits as i have been down the pirate parts road and never again. I still have the packing slip numbers and reciept.
at no stage did I imply that the parts were faulty, far from it. I believed I had bought the wrong part for my Fastback, it has happened before.
Simon at Andover has been very helpful indeed with photos and explanations . Simon explained that the hole positions and cenrtres were the same on the modern part they supply as the original drawings. the interference of the timing side lug on the rear plate was about 1/8th interference. if the holes are the same, therefore the position of the oil tank became the chief suspect.

upon very close examination, the oil tank seemed to be too high causing interference between the timing side back plate mounting lug and the oil tank projection containing the outlet and inlet fittings. the bike had never had the original airbox fitted before.

I carefully relocated the oil tank a bit lower and forward. very careful use of a file on the mounting lug and 2 bottom holes. combined with the re positioning gave a good result. there is a 1/16 clearence between tank and air box lug now.

I have learnt a lot here. I still reckon there is a very small issue with the mounting lugs. the outside of the lugs may be just a fraction bigger to just cause interference. or something. but the oil tank location seemed to have the most effect.

HAS ANYONE ELSE FITTED ANDOVER AIR BOX TO A EARLY FASTBACK AND HAD ANY ISSUES. be interesting to hear other experiences.

Joe, your parts are fine, maybe a bit of minor fitting, but hey, you get that. I just fitted a skinny front mudguard and stays I got from you and that fitted perfectly.no filing or twisting. good stuff