done deal Commando 750

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ernest

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Oct 14, 2009
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I've been working on this deal for months now and finally have it in my garage.
done deal Commando 750


The bike is not running , blew a valve and garaged since 1988. This deal came with new valves, gaskets, guides, etc... and a combat head.
done deal Commando 750


I would like to get this running asap and after a few years I'll tear it done and do the restoration. I'd appreciate any links or literature that could tutor me in rebuilding the head, carbs, disc brake, etc...to get this thing going by the summer. :D
 
I am sending my head to Leo Geoff at MemphisMotorWerks for new bronze guides, valves with seals, CNW will do it too. Barrel is probably OK, but check. Bottom end you can probably do yourself. I have mine apart at the moment. Get Mick Hemmings DVD, it pretty much explains everything. Look up the superblend thread and read it. I'm going with NJ306E.M1.C3 for both bearings. You will need that with the Combat. Prices in UK are usually 1/2 the USA prices. Norvil, Hemmings and RGM have good stuff. Norvil has a real good deal on bottom end rebuild kit and pistons/rings. Walridge and OldBrits have everything too and are real nice and easy to deal with. Consider new bearings (especially layshaft bearing) in the gearbox too, it is not hard and you will know what you have when finished.

If you are like Mick and have all the parts, you can break down and put the engine back together in 2 hours, awesome. Good luck.

Dave
69S
 
Very cool, that's at least two new projects starting up together on the forum...
 
+1 for Leo Goff for the head work.
I pray when I'm ready to do mine he still is at Memphis Works.
I restored mine w/ 98% of my parts coming from OldBritts.com
Excellent couple to deal with and Fred actually participates in vintage road racing w/ a Norton.
Most everything on the bike you can do yourself. Riding as you go along is the way to go.
A work in progress is still a rideable bike.
Some guys get em apart and they never put em back together.
There is a restoration thread on this forum that was recently discussed.
Start at the critical things and work down from there.
And I too love that metal flake blue.
Absolutely defines the psycadelic mood of the 70's 8)
Groovey Baby!!!!
Congrats on your new purchase.
May I ask what they are selling for today?
Marshal
 
MarshalNorton said:
Absolutely defines the psycadelic mood of the 70's 8)
Groovey Baby!!!!
Congrats on your new purchase.
May I ask what they are selling for today?
Marshal
Click to expand...

I'm a sucker for sparkle paint. :mrgreen:

I've been taking a MC repair course for a a couple semesters from the instructor Bill Brown.
The bike came from his collection of vintage rides. I've been restoring a 1972 cb 350F Honda in class and he took a liking to it and myself. So I've been hanging out and working on him to where he finally gave in and let the Norton go for 1k plus the restored cb350. I'm in my 30s and showed some talent being able to tear down a bike and build it back up so he felt I could do it justice.

thanks for links and tips. If I have to send the head to Leo Goff, how long does it take to get it back? how much $ we talking?.....I might have the tools to do it in class but not sure what I'm doing....
 
Regardless what Leo charges it will be money well spent. Many a Norton head has been rendered useless by hammer handed machinists. I've always found Leo's work to be more than fairly priced. Especially when you consider it only has to be done once.
 
JimC said:
Regardless what Leo charges it will be money well spent. Many a Norton head has been rendered useless by hammer handed machinists. I've always found Leo's work to be more than fairly priced. Especially when you consider it only has to be done once.
Click to expand...

Edited because I was unaware of the circumstances.

Leo was out ill for a few days. He's on the job. I'm sure his work will be thorough and expertly done.
 
I spoke with Leo last week and sent in my head. Nothing heard yet, but they may not have even opened it yet. Hope I don't have a bad experience.

Dave
69S
 
Leo had quoted me about $650 for a complete head job, valves, guides, springs, etc a couple months ago.

What is he telling you now?

If you have the head off, there is no better time than now to take the cyl barrel off and have the bore honed and
get some new rings also, have the condition and clearances checked.

Also, you can then see what kind of shape your cam is in.
 
I've always had a good experience with Leo before, but..... He received my crankcases six weeks ago for cam bushing replacement. Haven't seen them yet. Maybe he's got too popular.
 
Be aware that the brake master cylinder may be rather rusted up
as well as caliper below. One on the road better check fluid
levels each gas stop for ~1000 mile to make sure fluid ain't
leaking and blown away unknown. There is No Warming
form one good function to the next completely gone.

Metal flake blue was a factory offering.
I almost lost a head sent to M.A.P Cycle in Fla.
MAP sent to their machinist, who decided to get out of
Norton head business w/o telling anyone, so head got
kicked around for a few seasons and finally recovered
with a fin busted off.

One heart break tale was finely finished head delivered
home but box left in front of garage door. Wive got in car,
remote opened door and backed over head to trash it,
still in the box.

hobot
 
Highdesert,
Leo told me $400 plus parts. Included boring out old guides, new bronze ones, checking all parts, cleaning head. I am not wanting new valves, springs and rockers unless needed. New seals which the 69 did not have. Said he would break it down and call me with a price. Standard cam setup. I hope it doesn't take 6 weeks, he was talking about a few weeks. If he is messing up, I am sure it will get around quickly. Unfortunately, the only other option I see is CNW which is around $1000, but I am sure it is a very fine job.

Hobot,
That's like the time the wife drove over my $500 Stihl chain saw and broke both cases. Useless after that. But got a new one out of the deal. She's cool, almost another Peel (don't tell her that, she's a Swede and twice the feminist). When I told her about your Ms Peel, she knew right away what I was talking about which took me weeks.

Dave
69S
 
Dog, you pretty much have to mentally commit thousands of dollars to making your Norton up right.

I do understand your excitement in getting it into rideable condition!

Having the head off is just a great opportunity to go the extra distance and scope out the rest of your motor.

There is terrific peace of mind in knowing yourself that all the internals are sound and that you should have no reason to worry about your motor again for many happy years and miles.

Just saying, there is a veru good chance that your motor Has been mostly neglected for the past 40 years.

Regardless of how far you go now, congratulations on your project Norton!
Everyone here seems to really enjoy helping each other, welcome!
 
highdesert,
I did break apart the crank cases per Nelson's suggestion. There was nearly no stuff in the sump trap. The rod bearings were nearly streak free, just a few little marks alongside the oil holes. New GPM pistons and rings to replace the slotted ones, light hone on the barrels, new crank studs and nuts, sealant on the flanges going back together, I don't think there was anything on the originals, using Hylomar sealant on everything, new studs and nuts on the crank to primary inner case to do away with the bolts per hobot's recommendation. Phil at FairSpares did the new gearbox seals and the tach drive seal. Everything on this bike has been inspected, detected, subjected and rejected. For a 69 I am expecting a fairly leak free bike except for the drive chain. We'll see.

Dave
69S
 

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Dave's just having some head work done - by the master! Will be interested in any reviews. How much longer is Leo himself gonna be there? Worth knowing!

Ernest has a bit more of a process ahead of him! Well worth while, and hopefully we at Access Norton can do him a good turn now and again. Ernest, you are most welcome here!
 
Dog Dave,
You read what your taking on.
similar to me, told, once this or that do dad off, would be a real shame
to miss the next part as its right there now to see if still ripe or rotting.

$400 for renewed head by someone that knows Norton quirks
is a bargain but could take a season or more. Emotional depths
attained while maintaining a stiff upper lip is life time priceless.

Yet few things will pay back like a fully fettered Commando,
even if it take 20 yr to break even.

hobot
 
Actually I have less than $4K in this project over 4 years including the head, the most expensive item to date. I'm thinking I'll be well under $5K unless I get a whole bunch of chroming done.

Leo's $400 did not include any parts, I'm hoping all can be re-used except for the guides.

Dave
69S
 
Ernest,
That fire flake blue color scheme is very special. Hard to find and many efforts have been made to duplicate it. I have evidence of it on paint chips on my side covers. I hope it is in good condition.
You should make a list of some of your needs like pipes, manifolds, etc. and post it in the wanted section. Many people will bite and offer to get them to you for little more than shipping, myself included.
 
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