First post new member crazy question!

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joe blow

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Goodday everyone!
Have been riding just over 50 years...just bought my first norton, the ownership says its a 72.
Was told it was completely rebuilt, and now that I have it in a thousand pieces you can tell it was rebuilt, by someone with the skill set of a chimpanzee!
It has become a real learning experience!!
The crankcase drive side is a 66, I'm guessing.
The timing side crankcase I think is 72
Combat head, atlas pushrods, no base gasket used when assembled
The drive side cranking pressure was 170 psi
The timing side was 210 psi
The rocker geometry was all out of wack!!!!
Anyway it has a wassel electronic ignition driven off the end of the cam!
I want to run an old style Lucas magneto!
The question, will the early stlye magneto drive chain and sprockets fit in the late model timing cover and connect to the crank?
Would like to leave the late style cam in it.
Thanks Tim
 
I commiserate with you re: magneto. I think (think means not absolutely sure) the magneto chain will fit properly assuming you get the Atlas/Domi half time gear with the dual sprockets. I had a Commando half time gear at one time, and as far as I could tell, it was identical to the Atlas except having only the cam sprocket.
You will have to drill and tap the three magneto stud mounts and install waisted studs. Good luck with it.

Slick
 
joe blow said:
The timing side crankcase I think is 72
Click to expand...
joe blow said:
I want to run an old style Lucas magneto!
Click to expand...

Are you aware the opening and stud/bolt positions of the '71-'72 timing-side case were intended to mount a Lucas starter motor and drive housing (that the factory never actually got around to fitting) and not a magneto?
I believe the stud and crankcase boss positions may not be the same as the different gaskets for each appear to indicate.

Gasket for the magneto/points housing:
andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk

Gasket for the starter motor blanking plate:
andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk
 
L.A.B. said:
Are you aware the opening and stud/bolt positions of the '71-'72 timing-side case were intended to mount a Lucas starter motor and drive housing (that the factory never actually got around to fitting) and not a magneto?
I believe the stud and crankcase boss positions may not be the same as the different gaskets for each appear to indicate.

Gasket for the magneto/points housing:
andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk

Gasket for the starter motor blanking plate:
andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk
Click to expand...
Wow! Good answer
Never thought of that!
Thanks for the info.
 
texasSlick said:
I commiserate with you re: magneto. I think (think means not absolutely sure) the magneto chain will fit properly assuming you get the Atlas/Domi half time gear with the dual sprockets. I had a Commando half time gear at one time, and as far as I could tell, it was identical to the Atlas except having only the cam sprocket.
You will have to drill and tap the three magneto stud mounts and install waisted studs. Good luck with it.

Slick
Click to expand...
Great
Might just work
Thanks for that
 
Do you have the Lucas maggie or just thinking about one, if not then a new 4 rare earth Joe Hunt maggie be a better option, more reliable and easier to maintain.
 
ashman said:
Do you have the Lucas maggie or just thinking about one, if not then a new 4 rare earth Joe Hunt maggie be a better option, more reliable and easier to maintain.
Click to expand...
I'd like to mount it in the stock location
The joe hunt magneto I've seen where sticking out off the timing cover
Do you know if it will mount behind the cylinders
Thanks Tim
 
No there are 2 sorts of Joe Hunt maggies one will replace behind the motor as where the Lucas maggie sits and is cheaper than the timing cover mount maggie, I run the timing cover mount maggie on on my 850 and have had no problems with it in the 10 years or more, look up Joe Hunt maggies, the 4 rare earth maggies are so good mine starts on first kick every time and once the motor has been fired up for the first time on the day will fire up on 1/2 swing on the kicker all day, I ran a older JH with 2 rare earth on my 81 Triumph Thunderbird for 9 years and 250k km without any problems at all except for general maintenance, the 4 rare earth JHs are even better, they are simple to work on and put out such a good spark.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
No there are 2 sorts of Joe Hunt maggies one will replace behind the motor as where the Lucas maggie sits and is cheaper than the timing cover mount maggie, I run the timing cover mount maggie on on my 850 and have had no problems with it in the 10 years or more, look up Joe Hunt maggies, the 4 rare earth maggies are so good mine starts on first kick every time and once the motor has been fired up for the first time on the day will fire up on 1/2 swing on the kicker all day, I ran a older JH with 2 rare earth on my 81 Triumph Thunderbird for 9 years and 250k km without any problems at all except for general maintenance, the 4 rare earth JHs are even better, they are simple to work on and put out such a good spark.

Ashley
Click to expand...
But does the Joe hunt magneto that sits behind the motor fit a commando?
IE the ill fated starter position or does it fit atlas/ dommie type cases with Lucas magneto bolt centres?
 
joe blow said:
The timing side crankcase I think is 72
Click to expand...

joe blow said:
I want to run an old style Lucas magneto!
Click to expand...
I can't see modifying a camshaft driven ignition to a chain driven Lucas magneto ($$$ to restore) a step forward.



Jim Comstock posted this.

I have all the jigs to drill a Commando case for the mag mount behind the engine. It requires welding to build up some material for the mounting studs. It is not a minor project -I have done several of them.

You have to use the early style cam or make a custom sprocket for the Commando cam to move the chain position out. Then you need the early intermediate gear and spindle with mods to the timing cover to make it fit.

The nice thing is then you can use the advance unit from the Atlas which is a big plus if you have a high compression motor. It fits right on the Hunt mag shaft. Jim
 
Last edited:
baz said:
But does the Joe hunt magneto that sits behind the motor fit a commando?
IE the ill fated starter position or does it fit atlas/ dommie type cases with Lucas magneto bolt centres?
Click to expand...
Not sure as I don't run mine behind the motor, but if it has a plate cover then be easy to make it fit, read what Texas Slick has said in the 3rd reply as well Jim Smit would also know, but I like mine where it is mounted it runs nice and cool there and runs perfect, lot of others have different opinions but most have never ran one or don't understand how good they are, if a Lucas maggie fits then the JH will also fit.
 
ashman said:
Not sure as I don't run mine behind the motor, but if it has a plate cover then be easy to make it fit, read what Texas Slick has said in the 3rd reply as well Jim Smit would also know, but I like mine where it is mounted it runs nice and cool there and runs perfect, lot of others have different opinions but most have never ran one or don't understand how good they are, if a Lucas maggie fits then the JH will also fit.
Click to expand...
No the Lucas magneto will not fit a commando crankcase without welding and machining
So I guess the easy way would be to use an atlas crankcase
 
baz said:
No the Lucas magneto will not fit a commando crankcase without welding and machining
So I guess the easy way would be to use an atlas crankcase
Click to expand...
All I can say if the OP was thinking about mounting the LM then all I said was a JH be a better option, but then I have no problems running mine out the side, in fact I prefer it there a simple straight run off the cam.
 
joe blow said:
I'm old school, I Guess!
May have too much time on my hands, but I just wonder about having two ignition systems on the bike.
Switch one on the other off.
Play around with it!
Click to expand...
Regardless of what school... Don't do that. It would end your new to you Norton honeymoon. Way too much work and not worth it.
 
This is signature line GOLD right here:

"Was told it was completely rebuilt, and now that I have it in a thousand pieces you can tell it was rebuilt, by someone with the skill set of a chimpanzee!"
 
Yes a lot of so called rebuilt bikes around depends on who rebuilds them and what has been used, looks like you been burned, so many out there don't give a sh.t and out to make money, but not all lost now you can build it properly and make it your own, even if its a bitsa.

Ashley
 
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