building motor from parts

Onder · Aug 16, 2012

What is the deal with used parts, particularly engine cases
that have the serial number on them in terms of how to
prove that they arent stolen?
Dont want to build up an engine and then find it can
be taken from me.
Many case sets go off on ebay with no paper work.
What is the deal here?

pete.v · Aug 16, 2012

For the most part, frame tag numbers are what are registered. Other numbers, engine and gearbox, just make it a matching situation.

kingdaddyo · Aug 16, 2012

pvisseriii said:
For the most part, frame tag numbers are what are registered. Other numbers, engine and gearbox, just make it a matching situation.

The later Commandos had only the frame plate on the neck of the frame. Unstamped ones are readily available on eBay. In a perfect world you might find a Norton with matching frame, motor and trans. If you manage to find a decent motor and trans, you can get a blank plate and stamp those numbers on it. The trick is then to get a title for that lot. There are a number of agencies where you can get a titled issued in your name and that will run you a few hundred dollars to get a title.
I hope this helps .

kevbo82 · Aug 16, 2012

if your worried about a motor being taken from you because it turns out to be part of a theft (what are the chances that someone is looking hard enough to find you bought that case) you could always just do away with the serial number on the motor. Like others said, the registration would just go by the frame so if your not numbers matching who cares about the motor number.

Onder · Aug 16, 2012

Thx less worried about a bitsa than losing my hard earned.

J.A.W. · Aug 17, 2012

Get a set of number stamps, if the numbers on the cases are made legit, no worries..

J.A.W. · Aug 17, 2012

Actually seeing the title of this thread, I was kinda hoping that it would be a sticky with a list of available/recommmended vendor options to enable an off the shelf engine build, why not? ould like to know if a st
This thread heading, damn, I was kinda hoping it was gonna be a sticky list of recommended/viable vendors to enable an off-the-shelf engine build... good idea? Why not..

Onder · Aug 17, 2012

Thx for the input, in my callow youth playing fast and loose with the motor vehicle
dept wasnt a worry. Now as an aged solid citizen we really don't want to think about
tussling with The Law. I just want to play and not be bothered.

As for "building a motor from parts" sticky, good idea. Ive learned that at some
point you may be better off just getting a frame and registration and then going
from there. After all, if your guards need replacing ( and anything else) might
as well just buy what you need. If you are going alloy barrel who needs the old
iron one. Or the Fullauto head, or a billet crank or alloy rims or different seat
or whatever.

mikie3117 · Aug 17, 2012

I have dealt with my local DMV here in Colorado. They ask a local policeman to verify the frame tag only. They have never even looked at the engine or gear box numbers. I understand your concern about having stolen parts.
Mike

concours · Aug 17, 2012

Even with cars, engine numbers are NOT recorded.

ashman · Aug 17, 2012

Wow your laws are strange as over here in Aussie land you nead engine numbers as well as frame numbers for rego and if you just brought the bike you need a recite from the last owner with the price you payed for it as they charge you $2 for every $100 in stamp duty (bloody taxes) but most of the time you get the last owner to put a lower price on the recite, I had to replace my orginal crank cases (hair line cracks) with a second hand matching set, when I had to rerego it after the rebuild, they just looked up the old records on the computer seen that the frame number was the same as I have owned the bike since new, I had the old crank case with the numbers on to show them but they didn't seem to worry about it they just changed the records to show the new numbers, the transport department was very helpfull, but you have to have the bike with you so they can make sure the numbers are right.

Ashley

Onder · Aug 17, 2012

Remember, stateside, each state is different. This is a state thing from tax rate, regulation etc.
In fact, it depends on the particular motor vehicle office.
...Im not kidding.

Matt Spencer · Aug 17, 2012

Id be wary of S/H rods . " for sale Chev V8 Alloy Rods . - 7 off ' :shock: rest ready to follow suit & ' part ' . :? Though if you know theyre low time & not been
subject to excessive r.p.m.s , cranks a bit in the same boat. Pays to have Crack Tested BEFORE Grinding . Pref @ Std. dia, not its 16th regrind . 8) :roll:

Torontonian · Aug 17, 2012

Nobody steals Nortons. Squids. Welcome to 2012.

J.A.W. · Aug 17, 2012

Yeah, but they used to, & it would be a bugger to lose a rebuilt mill on registering it when its found to have been stolen back in the day.

alexhobo · Aug 17, 2012

You could always call the DMV or police station and ask.

J.A.W. · Aug 17, 2012

& expect a straight answer?L.O.L. Seriously though it might be better to erase any doubt, I know that Kawasaki sold warranty replacement/spares crankcases unstamped from new, Norton like-wise? I s'pose the after-market Commando cases are unstamped too?

SierrasCafe530 · Aug 17, 2012

kingdaddyo said:
pvisseriii said:

For the most part, frame tag numbers are what are registered. Other numbers, engine and gearbox, just make it a matching situation.

Click to expand...

The later Commandos had only the frame plate on the neck of the frame. Unstamped ones are readily available on eBay. In a perfect world you might find a Norton with matching frame, motor and trans. If you manage to find a decent motor and trans, you can get a blank plate and stamp those numbers on it. The trick is then to get a title for that lot. There are a number of agencies where you can get a titled issued in your name and that will run you a few hundred dollars to get a title.
I hope this helps .

I don't know about the rest of the world, but in California, if a engine/trans/frame/ect. has a serial number and you stamp over it, it is a felony. You can not change a serial number on any item!!! It as much a crime to change a serial number as it is to steal something. Sometimes worse... Just heads up.

California Penal Code § 537e: (a) Any person who knowingly buys, sells, receives, disposes of, conceals, or has in his or her possession any personal property from which the manufacturer's serial number, identification number, electronic serial number, or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed, defaced, covered, altered, or destroyed, is guilty of a public offense

Tintin · Aug 18, 2012

kevbo82 said:
....you could always just do away with the serial number on the motor.

Before doing so check your local law. AFAIK this would be considered as fraudulent misrepresentation here in Germany which is a crime that can be sanctioned with up to five years in jail, if the court considers it to be organized crime it could be 10 years. And ignorantia juris non excusat... :wink:

Tim

MFB · Aug 18, 2012

Yeah they used to steal Nortons. My 72 Fastback disappeared one night in 1982. Has anyone seen it lately?
I don't what the numbers were. Now where did I put the rego papers in '82?

Martin

building motor from parts

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