Commandos with faulty frame

worntorn · Nov 9, 2014

How many of the early Commandos were shipped with the problematic frame? I recall reading that the first big batch of Commandos numbered 2200 +. Would these all predate the braced up frame head?
Were all recalled to dealer for bracing or full replacement, or did a large number slip thru?

Glen

Ron L · Nov 9, 2014

It was the early 1968 models that were shipped with frames using a sheet metal brace that broke. These were usually replaced by the dealer with the later style using a small tube from the backbone to the lower part of the steering head. These would have used the VIN number 12XXX, not 22XXX which would be 1973 model 750 VIN numbers.

L.A.B. · Nov 9, 2014

http://auto-recalls.justia.com/norton/c ... 74v239000/

POSSIBILITY THAT THE LARGE DIAMETER TOP TUBE OF THE MAIN FRAME, MAY FRACTURE IN SERVICE DUE TO UNUSUAL CONDITIONS OF USE FOLLOWING AN INDUCED WEAKNESS INITIATED BY UNSATISFACTORY CRATING AND WAREHOUSING PROCEDURES.'CORRECTIVE ACTION, ON MACHINES AFFECTED, WITHIN THE SERIES OF ENGINE NUMBERS 126125 TO 128634, THE FRAME SHOULD BE CHANGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN IN THE 750CC MODEL WORKSHOP MANUAL 'PART NO.063419'.'

worntorn · Nov 9, 2014

Thanks Les and Ron
So the first 2509 bikes had the weak frame.

Glen

L.A.B. · Nov 9, 2014

worntorn said:
So the first 2509 bikes had the weak frame.

Edit: Not all the bikes within that batch of numbers may have been Commandos, so probably nearer 1,400 as it says.

Or maybe it was 1,400 out of 2,509 that slipped through the net?

74ok · Nov 9, 2014

Date Owner's Notified: 1974-12-16

went on this long?

L.A.B. · Nov 9, 2014

84ok said:
Date Owner's Notified: 1974-12-16

Click to expand...

went on this long?

"Date owners notified", so presumably that was when the recall started?
Although the frame breakage problem was rectified reasonably quickly, it seems a significant number of Commandos with those early frames slipped through the factory recall net (as they still turn up, now), and possibly why the official [US] recall didn't happen until some years later, however as it says, the recall only applies to those early Commando frames up to serial 128634.

Triton Thrasher · Nov 9, 2014

DUE TO UNUSUAL CONDITIONS OF USE FOLLOWING AN INDUCED WEAKNESS INITIATED BY UNSATISFACTORY CRATING AND WAREHOUSING PROCEDURES.

At least they didn't trot out any spurious excuses!

74ok · Nov 9, 2014

the unusual conditions of use was ....heavy braking?

concours · Nov 9, 2014

Triton Thrasher said:
DUE TO UNUSUAL CONDITIONS OF USE FOLLOWING AN INDUCED WEAKNESS INITIATED BY UNSATISFACTORY CRATING AND WAREHOUSING PROCEDURES.

Click to expand...

At least they didn't trot out any spurious excuses!

+1 I was still laughing :lol:

The corporate lawyers say "admit NOTHING!" :!:

toppy · Nov 9, 2014

L.A.B. said:
http://auto-recalls.justia.com/norton/commando/1968/74v239000/

UNSATISFACTORY CRATING AND WAREHOUSING PROCEDURES.

Click to expand...

Some poor crates not handled correctly???
Neat trick to damage the frame but not the rest of bike wrapped around it!!! When its in a crate to!!
Uri Geller must have had a job in that warehouse.

batrider · Nov 9, 2014

Was told by someone I met at a past Norton Rally, who has way too many Norton Commandos squirreled away, that some of the bikes were damaged when the crane was dropping the crates on the dock upon delivery to the States. He claimed that they aren't all bad and he kept his '68 as built.

L.A.B. · Nov 9, 2014

toppy said:
L.A.B. said:

http://auto-recalls.justia.com/norton/commando/1968/74v239000/

UNSATISFACTORY CRATING AND WAREHOUSING PROCEDURES.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Some poor crates not handled correctly???
Neat trick to damage the frame but not the rest of bike wrapped around it!!! When its in a crate to!!
Uri Geller must have had a job in that warehouse.

As I understand it, it was how the bikes were packed and the way in which the crates were damaged when they were unloaded at US dealers that was the main problem, apparently the crates were often physically pushed off the end of the truck until the crate tipped and fell around 6 feet to the ground, the forks (without wheel) taking the initial impact from the drop which started the fracturing process! This is mentioned in Ken Sprayson's book.

Hobot · Nov 9, 2014

Service note #6 had an alert

service releases
www.eurooldtimers.com/cze/functions/get ... hp?id=3506

REASON Jz'OR RELEASE: Incorrect assembly of front forks to frame.
MODELS AFFECTED: All Commando.
DISTRIBUTION: Worldwide.
PARTS INVOLVl3D: Front Fork Assembly.
EXPLANATION: During assembly of the fork lower lug and stem to the
steering head tube of the frame, it is possible for
the shoulder of the stem to become lodged against the
lower headrace. If this is not realised and the fork
should turn on to full lock, the thick cross section
of the yoke will lodge against the lock stop on the
frame. As the stem is drawn home into the bearings
by tightening of the large stem nut, the yoke cannot
follow and will either be distorted beyond further
use or fractured in the area where the stem joins the
yoke.
ACTION: To prevent damage, ensure that the correct lower
portion of the stem is central in relation to the
lower bearing inner race before the stem nut is tightened.

commando6868 · Nov 9, 2014

L.A.B. said:
worntorn said:

So the first 2509 bikes had the weak frame.

Click to expand...

No, because not all the bikes within that batch of numbers would have been Commandos, so probably nearer 1,400 as it says.

I have one of the 1968 Commandos with the original frame. It has a weld exactly where the break is, as in the posted photo, 22k on the odometer when I got it. I had a tube welded on, as the factory later did. My question is how many 1968 Commandos were produced? I guess some of the consecutive VIN numbers were stamped on Atlas bikes? I think, by April 1968 the Commando and the Atlas were the only Nortons produced?
It seems like 1400 is a very small production run.
I never heard the "dropped crate" explanation before, I guess the longshoremen were...... Harley riders.

MF

Hobot · Nov 9, 2014

Hm, mabye the cane and truck crate dropping tales was more about who was going to cover the repairs and public image.

74ok · Nov 9, 2014

after being well known for "Featherbed frame design went against all engineering principles"

well, dude was in a pickle but looks like fancy footwork or pulling a rabbit outa the hat did the trick

L.A.B. · Nov 10, 2014

hobot said:
Service note #6 had an alert

That service release is concerned with distortion or fracture of the yoke stem caused by incorrect assembly.

commando6868 said:
It seems like 1400 is a very small production run.

Presumably, it was as far as they got before it became apparent they had a serious frame problem on their hands, or another possibility is that the "1,400" were sill unaccounted for at the time of the official recall?

commando6868 said:
My question is how many 1968 Commandos were produced?

According to the serial number information, total Norton production for 1968 was only around 5,000 machines-not all of which were Commandos.

phillyskip · Nov 10, 2014

Between the cost of repairing faulty frames and the later "Combat" issues how the hell did they stay in business?

Fast Eddie · Nov 10, 2014

phillyskip said:
Between the cost of repairing faulty frames and the later "Combat" issues how the hell did they stay in business?

Err, they didn't !

Commandos with faulty frame

worntorn

Ron L

L.A.B.

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worntorn

L.A.B.

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74ok

L.A.B.

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Triton Thrasher

74ok

concours

toppy

batrider

L.A.B.

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Hobot

commando6868

Hobot

74ok

L.A.B.

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phillyskip

Fast Eddie

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