Bought today 35 year garage find HELP!

I just bought today a 75 Commando 850 with 535 miles. It has not been running for 35 years. I will take it to a good (but not a norton specialist) mechanic. It does not have a battery but appears in near new condition. Is there anything I should infrom my mechanic about? It was my birthday present from me for my 70th brithday. Nice bike, dying to ride, very excited (for a septenegenarian), I'll post great pictures of the red Commando as soon as I clean it. any thoughts appreciated. Just joined today, other bikes V-Strom 650 and BMW r1200c. Should I purchase a new ignition from Colorado to make the kickstart easier? What else would be a good idea?
Rick

Wow! This is an edit perhaps a Norton is not for me. I could be in way over my head FUN wise. I do NOT like to work on a bike and have no knowledge ability or desire to do so...I did not know that was a pre-requesite to enjoying a Norton. I am not a pauper but I do not own a Ferrari although I like them, because the cost to maintain them in good working condition is not worth the high cost of frequent tinkering from the owner or a very healthy bankroll. If the Norton is like this it is not for me and I will sell it. I enjoy washing and polishing the nooks and crannies (the nooks are my strong point..not too good in crannies) but I have no desire to learn how to bleed the brakes etc. I always have admired those who posess this knowledge and a like to watch them work as I watch a virtuoso violinist. I have a Doctorate in another field and have the required education..but my days of endevor into new fields are past I just want to ride.

So I guess the question I ask should I keep it or sell it?
I'll post the rest of the facts about how I bought the bike later in this same thread.
Rick

Welcome.

Get the workshop manual, no one will set it up as good as you will since you will be riding it. You've got 2 years on me. Try the Valvoline VR-1 20W50 to keep the oil flowing and the zinc levels up. Push it over compression and then give it what for.

Dave
69S

Well Rick
Welcome to the forum
its never too old to own a SNorton
You could just try the points for now. they shouldn't even be broken in yet. Lots of electronic Ignitions to choose from.
Use the search on the site to find your answers. The ignition system from CNW is good but has a tendency to overheat. I think there is a spacer made for this type and I believe a vented cap. Just depends how deep your pockets are.
Have fun with the bike.
Cheers,
CNN

First off, Welcome. Second where are you located in the world. There are many members that would be capable and willing to aid in the revival. Third if it is a true 1975 then it should be electric start, that is a whole other can of worms. It would need all the fluids changed, engine oil, brakes, transmission, primary and forks. New battery, tires, possibly hoses and most likely many gaskets and seals from sitting. Unfortunately the possibility of just getting it going and riding it as is or with little work is not feasible. You might get lucky, but most likely not. My 72 combat awoke from a 25+ year nap on the 3rd kick, but then quickly started to show the signs of sitting that long. It is now completely disassembled and on i's way back together. The good news is you have a complete possibly running bike, which is a great thing to do a refurb to. Mostly take apart, clean, and assemble with new gaskets and seals.

More data required, kept in what condition?, is it corroded, or mechanically free turning?
A full strip/check through &/or rebuild may be advisable for sake of safety, young man.

Rick Cook said:

Should I purchase a new ignition from Colorado to make the kickstart easier? What else would be a good idea?
Rick

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Welcome Rick,


Absolutely. The system they sell eliminates kick-back which can cause damage to your person if you kick it and the starter sprag if you use the starter.(75 should be electric start) I have this ignition system on 3 Commando's with no problems. There are many electronic ignitions, most of them excellent. The CNW (trispark) is less suceptible to kick-back at low voltage levels.

My cousin put his Commando in storage for 27 years. Cleaned it up, fresh fuel and oils etc and it started first kick. I hope your experience is similar.

After 35 years there are few seals (including brakes) that will need to be changed. This forum will identify a few upgrades that are beneficial.

Cheers

Yes definitely update your profile to show your location. Before you take the bike to any mechanic, I would see if there were willing members to look it over with you to work up a list of things to do.

Here are a few to think about:

New tires!
Repack wheel bearings during general inspection.
Check wheels for broken spokes, out of true rims.
Rebuild those brake cylinders, masters and slaves.
Carbs!
Fuel lines, oil lines, cables, etc.
There is an upgrade for the layshaft bearing in the gearbox. This is a big one!
New seals, main crank, a couple in the timing cover, and the gearbox shafts.
Check those isolastics.
Check the swingarm spindle.
General wiring inspection. Clean that kill switch and throw away the multi-connector under the tank!
Might as well clean the clutch plates while you are in the primary checking chain tension, and check the timing chain tension while you are doing those seals.

This will get ya started!

Welcome aboard.
Russ

# 1 rule: HAVE FUN!

Rick said:

I will take it to a good (but not a norton specialist) mechanic

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Rick, respectfully, I vote no confidence in that decision.

General, and good, mechanical knowledge is all well and fine, but a Norton Commando is a horse of a very particular breeding with many specific nuances.

Surely you would be better off doing a search in your locality for a Commando owner who could look it over and know right away what needs to be done.

Can you tell us where you are?

Listen to 1up3down. His name is indicative of what can happen if you get on the wrong side of the maintenance curve.

Welcome, Also, in addition to the info about the bike, we need to know YOUR skillset, so we can help. Shade tree mechanic? What do you/have you done? Oil changes? Adjust the valves on the boxer? V-strom? list all mechanical accomplishments will help.

Thanks for the replies. I live in the greater Cleveland Ohio area. Bike has manufacture date of 6-74 ..It is NOT an electric start. Based on information given by the original owner the Ohio Title registered is as a 1975 MK II. motor number 316630, Is it then a 74 ? My skill set is less then minimal..I can change the oil but even that's a challenge. I have tried to do minor repairs on my other bikes usually resulting in near disaster. I'm good at washing, polishing and riding only. I will find a good Norton mechanic in my area. The owner gave me a Clymer Norton service repair handbook. Thre is a BCF cycle about 30 miles away, is anybody familiar with it? Bike has very little surface rust and appears new after cleaning. I realize this is low on the priority list, but what is best product to clean the seat? What is the best book on the Norton Commando (not repair book) but an enjoyable read?
Rick

Rick,
There were a number of new in the crate Commandos auctioned awhile ago. There was a lengthy discussion on this forum about what you would want to do before you even thought about starting one. Your bike is probably about as close to a crate bike as one can get. Use the SEARCH feature and look for 'crate'.

Rick Cook said:

I just bought today a 75 Commando 850 with 535 miles. It has not been running for 35 years. I will take it to a good (but not a norton specialist) mechanic.

Click to expand...

Two of the biggest and most expensive catastrophes I've had on my bike have been after letting acknowledged mechanical geniuses who had no experience with Nortons work on parts. No matter where you are, there's probably an INOA chapter near you. If you are active in any VStrom or BMW clubs then be ready for a much different crowd. Brand and model specific knowledge is worth it's weight in gold. It's best to have someone that knows Commandos look over your bike, but we can kibitz on this forum a little if you want. Get a Factory manual and parts list.

Hope you are a fit 70 year old :!: you'll need to be if you haven't got the electric starter :!:
You need to replace all the consumables/ perishable parts, for after 35 years they will be well past their sell by date :!:

rvich said:

Yes definitely update your profile to show your location. Before you take the bike to any mechanic, I would see if there were willing members to look it over with you to work up a list of things to do.

Here are a few to think about:

New tires!
Repack wheel bearings during general inspection.
Check wheels for broken spokes, out of true rims.
Rebuild those brake cylinders, masters and slaves.
Carbs!
Fuel lines, oil lines, cables, etc.
There is an upgrade for the layshaft bearing in the gearbox. This is a big one!
New seals, main crank, a couple in the timing cover, and the gearbox shafts.
Check those isolastics.
Check the swingarm spindle.
General wiring inspection. Clean that kill switch and throw away the multi-connector under the tank!
Might as well clean the clutch plates while you are in the primary checking chain tension, and check the timing chain tension while you are doing those seals.

This will get ya started!

Welcome aboard.
Russ

Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum!

Brake hoses and rubber parts will need to be replaced (at a minimum).

I'd put a battery in it and ride.

Hi Rick-

I wish you all the luck with your Commando. The number would indicate a '74; it would be interesting to see which mufflers, exhaust pipes and airbox it has - lots of photos would be nice!

I'm 67 and in eastern PA and have no problem kicking my '74 - if they're sorted, starting isn't usually a problem unless you aren't up to it physically. Not to throw cold water, but I hope you have significant funds to use on the Norton. If your skill set truly is as you describe, you will be paying a good Norton guy serious money to do all the little things (and maybe some big ones too) yours will need unless you are lucky enough to find skilled, generous and nearby friends! The problem with not doing your own work on a Norton is that it seems like they ALWAYS need a little work.

Roy Bacon's "illustrated Norton Buyer's Guide" is worth reading and Mick Duckworth's "Norton Commando" is a great book. Bert Hopwood's "Whatever Happened to the British Motorcycle Industry" doesn't focus on the Commando but is a good read to get a feel for the times. There are lots of books out there, just search.

Again, good luck and photos, photos, photos!

A MkII with less than 600 miles on it!!! You lucky son of a...gun!

You can go to the tech section (very top topic line on the Commando page) and download a .PDF manual to your computer. By comparing that to the Clymer manual you can learn a lot about the bike. By going to http://www.oldbritts.com and looking through the parts lists you can use their blow-up parts drawings to learn about the parts too. For messy jobs I print out sections of the manual as opposed to using my still clean workshop manual. I can make notes, cover them with grease and spill coffee without regret.

Read up on the layshaft bearing. While I have never suffered a failure of one, those that have report various disasters that include road rash.

I am not familiar with the Cleveland area, so can't help with a Norton specialist. Most of the things that will need to be done to your bike fall under regular maintenance. Personally I would get the Tri Spark ignition. If I did, I would also hang on to the original auto-advance unit as it probably is, well, like new. You have a true survivor bike from the description. There are those that would find the idea of even changing the wiring for the ignition as blasphemy, but we don't run into too many here. Most of the members here are riders and thus mess with their bikes. However, most of us didn't start out with a bike that was nearly new, unless it was 40 years ago when they bought it! I got really good at setting up my points when I was a kid. But I was a lot better at working on my knees and seeing what I was doing back then. If I had retained my points now I would certainly need a good lift, and my glasses. I always had rolling papers around in those days but now I would probably use a test light.

How much history do you know of the bike? How did it come to sit for nearly 40 years with such little mileage? I bought my original Commando when I was 19 and put that many miles on in one day a number of times!

Russ

rpatton said:

Rick,
There were a number of new in the crate Commandos auctioned awhile ago. There was a lengthy discussion on this forum about what you would want to do before you even thought about starting one. Your bike is probably about as close to a crate bike as one can get. Use the SEARCH feature and look for 'crate'.

Rick Cook said:

I just bought today a 75 Commando 850 with 535 miles. It has not been running for 35 years. I will take it to a good (but not a norton specialist) mechanic.

Click to expand...

Two of the biggest and most expensive catastrophes I've had on my bike have been after letting acknowledged mechanical geniuses who had no experience with Nortons work on parts. No matter where you are, there's probably an INOA chapter near you. If you are active in any VStrom or BMW clubs then be ready for a much different crowd. Brand and model specific knowledge is worth it's weight in gold. It's best to have someone that knows Commandos look over your bike, but we can kibitz on this forum a little if you want. Get a Factory manual and parts list.

Click to expand...

+!.... what he said

A Command is a real man's motorcycle that too often throws me back into infantile fits and failures. Everything mentioned so far only concerns the safe running of the Cdo, but likely the most dangerous thing to bike/pilot not mentioned is the disc brake will have rusted master cylinder and caliper and even if working fine may have a fluid leak that gets blown away while riding so can go completely away one good pull down to next instant nothing at all. Check brake fluid on each gas up or stops - long enough to be sure its staying put long term. Brake hose can swell inside to let fluid pressure in but not out for un-expected lock up too. SS hose definitely can be felt in more lever pressure applied to the pads. Also can poke out tiny rubber restrictor hole to get real disc brake power instead of mimicking the drum hi effort meager pull down.

Another Cdo trick - fault that can fool best Non-Cdo mechanics to trash drive train and crankshaft in one timid ride is over tightening of the primary chain which always seems to have too much slack when cold then power unit heats up and can over tension it like crazy.

I find the Cdo more pleasant to cruise around on as the gearing is higher than those moderns of yours so Cdo's don't jerk up as short and drag down as much on throttle cuts as the newbies do. A lot less shifting needed too so more pleasant that way as well. There is an uncanny soft smoothness the other cycles lack, especially noticed after 30 min or so. I love the sense of an my old clunkers feeling more refined than the moderns. It takes real serous pilots-bikes to out pace an easy to ride torquey Commando so you'll have no worries to keep up with modern traffic all day long on old man bones.

Rick,
I have been thinking about this while getting ready for work this morning. This is the kind of story that captivates Commando addicts. I do not know how much money is invested in this machine, but here is something to think about. If your MkII truly has 535 original miles on it, and it has been well stored then there is probably a collector out there who will pay a premium price for it. You might actually be better off to sell it for maximum value and buy a well sorted rider if riding is what you want to do. Anything you do to that bike might lessen the value of it. I don't believe in having things like motorcycles as investments, but then I don't really like to ruin a good investment either. If I stumbled upon a bike like you describe I would be a little torn as to which direction to take. I do know that I would have to sell it to prevent myself from riding it!

I think there is room for some thought and discussion on this. Ultimately, it is your bike to decide, but if you are more interested in riding than collecting, you should give it some thought. There is also the possibility that this bike has been rebuilt and the clock set back to zero after the rebuild. It happens.

Survivor bikes are getting harder to find and they are fetching good money right now.

Russ