Commando build date

I just bought a US spec Commando with the serial # F107374 is there a way for me to find the actual build date? It is reg. and was sold as a 74 and was a Hi Rider it was converted at sale by new bars seat ect.
Since we got all kinds here at the end I was just trying to find the engine build or close to it. Any help. Thanks

stang484 said:

I just bought a US spec Commando with the serial # F107374 is there a way for me to find the actual build date? It is reg. and was sold as a 74 and was a Hi Rider it was converted at sale by new bars seat ect.

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The build month/year would normally have been stamped on the headstock certification plate (which I presume is missing?).

From the Atlantic green data, a Commando with a frame number F107*** would probably have been assembled somewhere around the middle of 1974.

http://atlanticgreen.com/commandoframes.htm

You could try asking the dating sections of the UK NOC or VMCC as they have copies of the surviving factory records.

http://www.nortonownersclub.org/
http://www.vmcc.net/

Andover Norton also have some late Commando production records, however as far as I know, they do not offer an official information service.

I got the bike , when I asked I had not received it it was built 4/74 so thanks everyone

Its Fearfully Modern ; it was built After the War . :lol: :wink: .

Hi guys, I have been restoring a 1975 MK3 Eng # 330759 and Frame # F131365, anyone know how to get the build date? The ID plate was previously removed to fit a fairing, it's nearly finished so I'm going to fit a new ID plate.

Mr.Sparks said:

Hi guys, I have been restoring a 1975 MK3 Eng # 330759 and Frame # F131365, anyone know how to get the build date? The ID plate was previously removed to fit a fairing, it's nearly finished so I'm going to fit a new ID plate.

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Probably built around April '75: http://atlanticgreen.com/commandoframes.htm


If you are looking for a more accurate build date, then I suggest you contact member "ZFD" (Joe Seifert, Mr. Andover Norton) as he has the surviving factory dispatch ledgers for that period, however, the records are incomplete so it can be a matter of luck whether he can tell you anything about a particular machine or not.

Mr.Sparks said:

Hi guys, I have been restoring a 1975 MK3 Eng # 330759 and Frame # F131365, anyone know how to get the build date? The ID plate was previously removed to fit a fairing, it's nearly finished so I'm going to fit a new ID plate.

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I'm curious as to how you get a bike registered with a new vin plate attached. When I registered my bike, the trooper inspected the plate for tampering and said if their had been any indication, I would fail inspection and been denied. Not sure what I would have had to do if he had noticed I'd removed the plate for powder coating and reattached it with new rivets. My plate was well patinaed (sp?) and I got away with it. A new plate will be obvious.

Roadrash said:

Mr.Sparks said:

Hi guys, I have been restoring a 1975 MK3 Eng # 330759 and Frame # F131365, anyone know how to get the build date? The ID plate was previously removed to fit a fairing, it's nearly finished so I'm going to fit a new ID plate.

Click to expand...

I'm curious as to how you get a bike registered with a new vin plate attached. When I registered my bike, the trooper inspected the plate for tampering and said if their had been any indication, I would fail inspection and been denied. Not sure what I would have had to do if he had noticed I'd removed the plate for powder coating and reattached it with new rivets. My plate was well patinaed (sp?) and I got away with it. A new plate will be obvious.

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There is no way the police inspector can argue "patina" or lack thereof. You didn't "get away with" anything. Unless you start telling them you have tampered with the ID plate, it is as presented. No way for them to prove it was not stored in a climate controlled museum it's entire life with the ID plate in perfect condition. He was simply regurgitating his lines, as instructed. :mrgreen:

My way more time consuming hobby is litigation clubs, legal forums and lectures plus govt and university sites on commerce and traffic to state its similar to whether ya get cancer or not, totally random if someone will actually use live man to man reasoning or act like a robot following 'puter code or has a chip on their shoulder to mis-interpet regulations "code" with a quota of some type to meet. Rigged Elections and administrations/regimes change with the political correctness of their bankster-owner directed policies, so, If'n was me I'd get a certified statement of approval to renew the stem tag or take your chances or next fella buying it getting hung up on victimless charges of trying to defraud THE STATE or one of its RESIDENT SUBJECTS. I have retained both Trixie and Peel's cable abraded and color faded badges, powder coating around Peel's and rattle can around Trixie's both to reveal their real age of exposure and avoid registration hassles. I have lucked out swtiching tags from Peel to Trixie and getting ticketed but all's the cops notice is '72 Norton Commando, over looking numbers and color thank goodness so not impounded and start of another round of litigation games. I have slight dilemma on Peel's Maney cases, but will just stamp em with stem number and hope the exotic antique nature confuses the snot out of any close investigators if that ever even occurs. Then they'd have a hassle with me and my private club proving that had authority to even pick on me while laying out their frauds they are liable for to proceed as usual against those licensed to traffic in war emergency states. Like just to ride off, how lucky do ya feel Punk?

You might not like leaning the legal hobby side, as much as I do learning new mechanic tasks yet can't always avoid it just for a safe joy ride.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMOIFcMRiWY

My 1968 Commando has the VIN # 127129, so would that make it the 129th off the line?
It also has the VIN stamped on the headstock, it is the original frame for this bike, with a tube welded on like the replacement/newer frames.

MF

First production machine was 126125, so probably more like the 1000th.

DogT said:

First production machine was 126125, so probably more like the 1000th.

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So they had all the bugs worked out by then, right? :mrgreen:

MF

Absolutely not they were hard into new innovations for each version of each model depending on how full or empty the last parts bins were.

concours said:

Roadrash said:

Mr.Sparks said:

Hi guys, I have been restoring a 1975 MK3 Eng # 330759 and Frame # F131365, anyone know how to get the build date? The ID plate was previously removed to fit a fairing, it's nearly finished so I'm going to fit a new ID plate.

Click to expand...

I'm curious as to how you get a bike registered with a new vin plate attached. When I registered my bike, the trooper inspected the plate for tampering and said if their had been any indication, I would fail inspection and been denied. Not sure what I would have had to do if he had noticed I'd removed the plate for powder coating and reattached it with new rivets. My plate was well patinaed (sp?) and I got away with it. A new plate will be obvious.

Click to expand...

There is no way the police inspector can argue "patina" or lack thereof. You didn't "get away with" anything. Unless you start telling them you have tampered with the ID plate, it is as presented. No way for them to prove it was not stored in a climate controlled museum it's entire life with the ID plate in perfect condition. He was simply regurgitating his lines, as instructed. :mrgreen:

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Thanks for the info LAB.
Can't see a problem with the ID Plate, the engine and frame numbers are clearly visible and have the proving stamps either side. Just needed the build date to complete the plate. PS I'm in Australia and it's pretty hard to put one over our Road and Transit Authority who manage vehicle registration.

commando6868 said:

DogT said:

First production machine was 126125, so probably more like the 1000th.

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So they had all the bugs worked out by then, right? :mrgreen:

MF

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The first run of regular production Commandos totaled about 2500, all pretty much in a single run from late Spring through the end of Summer, 1968. The last 1968 Commando was 128644 (128645 was never assigned to a production bike). From around Sept 15 to Oct 17, they had a run of 496 Ranger 750s (128646 to 129145, don't know where the gaps are) then around 800 Mercurys (129146 to around 129950) to the end of the year. 1969 Commando production picked back up in January, and all but a very small handful of Nortons produced were Commandos until the end.

Common problem on the early Commandos was the 'widowmaker' frame. Most original bikes went back to the dealer for a gusset plate retrofit, and the frame was modified in the 69 model year to correct this potentially fatal flaw. If your bike has the coils stacked vertically under the tank instead of side-by-side, then its likely it never got the fix.

A lot of changes during the Commando run, usually for the better, sometimes a step backward.

BillT said:

commando6868 said:

DogT said:

First production machine was 126125, so probably more like the 1000th.

Click to expand...

So they had all the bugs worked out by then, right? :mrgreen:

MF

Click to expand...

The first run of regular production Commandos totaled about 2500, all pretty much in a single run from late Spring through the end of Summer, 1968. The last 1968 Commando was 128644 (128645 was never assigned to a production bike). From around Sept 15 to Oct 17, they had a run of 496 Ranger 750s (128646 to 129145, don't know where the gaps are) then around 800 Mercurys (129146 to around 129950) to the end of the year. 1969 Commando production picked back up in January, and all but a very small handful of Nortons produced were Commandos until the end.

Common problem on the early Commandos was the 'widowmaker' frame. Most original bikes went back to the dealer for a gusset plate retrofit, and the frame was modified in the 69 model year to correct this potentially fatal flaw. If your bike has the coils stacked vertically under the tank instead of side-by-side, then its likely it never got the fix.

A lot of changes during the Commando run, usually for the better, sometimes a step backward.

Click to expand...

Bill,
Thanks for the info on build dates. I don't remember ever seeing a Mercury.

MF