Cleaning my new to me 73' Norton Commando

L.A.B. said:

July '72 would be about correct. Where did you get the VIN look up information for 209xxx being '73 as that is certainly wrong.

For instance they were up to 212278 by November '72.

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batrider said:

The Combat "C" may be hidden by the headsteady bolted to the head. By July 72 I think the Combat bearing problems were being addressed. My bike has Jan 72 on the plate but may have been reworked and then sent out in June 72 based on crossed out entries in the factory serial number book.

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Mountagrous said:

I honestly don't remember where I saw that but I could be mistaken about the 209 being a '73. In doing research I was getting cross-eyed trying to understand it all.

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L.A.B. said:

Yes, it can be difficult to understand as Commandos don't have model years in the usual sense as the factory upgraded things whenever it suited them and not at a certain time of the year.
212278 can be considered the start of the 1973 series even though it's still a 750 MkIV, 750 MkV starting in March 1973 but was the same specification. The bike on your trailer in the avatar certainly seems built to the pre-212278 specification.

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Mountagrous said:

Interesting you say that because I have gone back and forth in my research using the serial/v.i.n# the stamped plate say's July of 72' the vin look up says 73 based on the 209# of the vin. It was registered as a 73' in NM where I purchased it and here in Colorado as a 73'. I have been unable to find the Combat "C" in my attempts to look for it where it should be. All #'s match but getting a good history from the previous owner who bought it at an estate sale and "restored" it has also been hard to come by.

I guess it doesn't matter much they didn't change much within those two years. I just want to make sure in sourcing parts I don't buy the wrong ones. By Green Stuff is that the brand or another name for Simple Green if not I'll look for that all the other recommendations you offered I have and will be using. Thanks Deckard.

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