Classic Barn Find - '74 Norton Commando

Well it finally happened to me... I've always dreamed of finding some classic motorcycle in a barn... for years I'd hear from friends how they "picked this up really cheap" or they heard from a friend of a friend where this cool classic bike was just sitting and rotting away. Now I've got my own barn find! I bought it from a friend who planned to "restore it someday". "It was running when I put it away". It sat in his covered outdoor barn (dirt floor and no door on one end) for the last 10 years. I'm the second owner and it has 4300 miles on the odometer. Neat!



Heavily rusted and oxidized in places, but all there... the seat and Gas tank were kept in a heated garage... so they're in relatively good shape.



Here's a picture of me digging the bike out of the frozen dirt last Saturday.



And here's a picture of the bike on the Handy Lift... I had to unbolt the front brake caliper to move the bike... it's still dirty... But she sure is pretty!





I know I'm starting to bore you all... but here she is after a few hours of clean-up.



I know nothing about British Motorcycles in general and even less about Norton's... but I have to say the Internet is an incredible place (for both good and bad) I suppose... there is so much good information and so many people willing to help... I know I'll be able to get this sorted out and done right.

I'll keep adding to this post as I make progress, if you all think there is value. Your constructive comments or suggestions are always welcome.

No fair!

New guy lucks into a barn find, and he's got a bike lift already!

hee hee

Congrats, and I for one am never bored with following "survivor" resurrections.

I love it when something comes back to life.
Congrats. That's a great find.

Welcome to the forum Philo.

PhiloMcGiffin said:

I know I'm starting to bore you all...

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I seriously doubt that, somehow!

PhiloMcGiffin said:

I'll keep adding to this post as I make progress, if you all think there is value.

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Yes I hope you will!

PhiloMcGiffin said:

Your constructive comments or suggestions are always welcome.

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I expect there will be plenty of those!

Wow! Nice going!!!! I should commission you find me a Combat that way!

That's the one we all hope to find, good on ya!

WOW!! You are a lucky man. You came to the right place (this forum). This will be fun to watch.

Del

man, that red paint looks brand new!

Good on you. Another forgotten motorsickle will be back on the road.

Wow. Great find. Keep us updated.

But I'm most impressed with the canister of AC50! That's the great secret solvent, now no longer secret.

I'll bite....

the info sheet on AC-50 states that:

AC50 Glass Activator/Cleaner is a solvent based cleaning agent with adhesion promoting properties for the
pre-treatment of direct glazed automotive windscreens.

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What does it do/work on best (without harm to the surface)?



post script: REEEEALY nice barn find. Being as every state in the CONUS is now under snow (thanks to global warming -- NOT), what section of the country was the barn in?

Looks like you have a great start to a great bike. Since you have the lift you must be into bikes of some kind before this. You will find that the British bikes of this era have a soul about them that you don't get with other makes and models. They require a little more attention and have their quirks but that is part of the charm. Plus when you pull up on a 30 or 40 year old bike in nice shape you will get noticed. I pulled into a local Harley watering hole last summer parked out front and half the bar came out to check out the bike. A guy pulls in on a high $ chopper all chrome and shine and nobody even takes a look at his sled.

MEHAVEY said:

I'll bite....

the info sheet on AC-50 states that:

AC50 Glass Activator/Cleaner is a solvent based cleaning agent with adhesion promoting properties for the
pre-treatment of direct glazed automotive windscreens.

Click to expand...

What does it do/work on best (without harm to the surface)?

Click to expand...

Oops. Sorry. check out the info sheet on ACF50. It is used judiciously on my chromoly Seeley chassis with great results.

Steel side panels & all, I'm jealous.
ACF50, rust preventative, really good stuff.

MEHAVEY said:

Being as every state in the CONUS is now under snow (thanks to global warming -- NOT),

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60 and sunny here in the PNW. El Nino rocks!

So, how much did you pay :?:

Just want to know who should start crying, you for paying too much or me from jealousy :mrgreen:

At any rate, it looks like you got a good deal. As you found out, even inside a barn, there is a lot of damage, most came from condensation, the dirt floor being the culprit. At least you seem to have a complete bike which saves you from hunting down that elusive part. Post plenty of pictures as you go along, everyone likes that.

Jean

Welcome to the forum! And what a start, your first thread full of nice clear photos. How can we be bored with that!

and what a barn find! I was looking at a barn find on ebay today and it even had the front wheel run over by a tractor and that was a good thing because you see there was still some good metal under all the rust. Now this is a great looking bike. Congratulations!

Thank you all for your kind comments... it is appreciated. With regard to the price paid... I intend to keep that "confidential"... you never know when Mrs. Philo might want to look at this thread . It was very reasonable though.

Now for my first of many questions... what precautions should I take with regard to "Turning the engine over"? It was running when parked ten years ago. A friend that restores farm tractors said I should remove the plugs and fill both cylinders with a 50/50 mixture of Marvel Mystery Oil and brake fluid... let it sit for a few days... then drain both top and bottom of the engine... then cycle the engine with the kick starter (plugs out of course)... but that seems very radical? He was concerned that the pistons might have become frozen to the cylinder bores...

I'd like to see if I can get it running before I decide weather to do a complete engine out of the frame restoration or just get it running and enjoy it as I replace or repair various components... of course; brakes, wheels, tires, electrics and carbs well be done before I do any riding.

What do you think?

I don't know if I'd use brake fluid, but maybe someone knows something I don't :wink:

diesel and leave for 3 days