Frame Number?

I am looking at machine #2081XX, a '72 fitted with 932 carbs, it would appear to be a Combat. The numbers on tag on the steering head, the engine and the transmission all match.

here's the question:

Should there be a number stamped into the steering head, next to the tag, as it is on my '75 Mk III?

Many thanks,

RS

RoadScholar said:

Should there be a number stamped into the steering head, next to the tag, as it is on my '75 Mk III?

Click to expand...

As it's a '72 then, no, I don't think any '72 models had the additional frame stamp next to the plate.

RoadScholar said:

I am looking at machine #2081XX, a '72 fitted with 932 carbs, it would appear to be a Combat. The numbers on tag on the steering head, the engine and the transmission all match.

here's the question:

Should there be a number stamped into the steering head, next to the tag, as it is on my '75 Mk III?

Many thanks,

RS

Click to expand...

For a Combat, sure signs are the C stamped on the head, disk brake and small gap between head and cylinder. Obviously after all these years there are no guarantees it came from the factory that way.

I've never seen a '72 with the number stamped on the frame.

The best guide to the identity, given the bodgers who usually fake these things, is to check if the headstock plate is held on with original type hammer drive screws.

The only issue I have remaining is that the tag at the steering head does not have a manufacturing date stamped in, the fasteners look very real, I had the local LEOs run the serial number in the national stolen vehicle database and it came up clean, the motor and tranny are clean, so why would someone steal a bike for the frame? Norton engines are much more fragile, especially in the hands of those that would consistently spin them between 5-7.5K RPMs. The deal has a certian smell to it, but the machine is 38 years old, not listed on any stolen vehicle database, and it would seem that the Motor Vehicle Departments don't much care about vehicles older then 15 years. 18 months ago I let a similar deal slip through my hands...

For $2300 I'm going to go for it, check it out:

][/img]

With the architecture of the pipes you know where this jewel was headed, I had to stop that!

RS

79x100 said:

I've never seen a '72 with the number stamped on the frame.

The best guide to the identity, given the bodgers who usually fake these things, is to check if the headstock plate is held on with original type hammer drive screws.

Click to expand...

You can get those screws AND NOS unstamped number frame plates from DomiRacer and others.

Danno said:

79x100 said:

I've never seen a '72 with the number stamped on the frame.

The best guide to the identity, given the bodgers who usually fake these things, is to check if the headstock plate is held on with original type hammer drive screws.

Click to expand...

You can get those screws AND NOS unstamped number frame plates from DomiRacer and others.

Click to expand...

The hammer-drives have always been available but that hasn't stopped an awful lot of plates appearing with pop rivets. They remain a good clue. Just one of the many though.

My pre-combat 750 2005XX has no date on the plate either. It was presumably a late 1971 build for the 1972 season but wasn't registered until September 1972 which put it on a UK 'L' suffix number plate. I assume that drum braked Roadsters were slow sellers at the time.

If the engine and gearbox number stamps on this one are not fiddled with then I personally would have no worries with its provenance. The worst thing to my mind is a number that has been 'got at' or altered.

RoadScholar said:

The only issue I have remaining is that the tag at the steering head does not have a manufacturing date stamped in, the fasteners look very real, I had the local LEOs run the serial number in the national stolen vehicle database and it came up clean, the motor and tranny are clean, so why would someone steal a bike for the frame? Norton engines are much more fragile, especially in the hands of those that would consistently spin them between 5-7.5K RPMs. The deal has a certian smell to it, but the machine is 38 years old, not listed on any stolen vehicle database, and it would seem that the Motor Vehicle Departments don't much care about vehicles older then 15 years. 18 months ago I let a similar deal slip through my hands...

Click to expand...

If it comes up clean, get it. You've done your due diligence to insure it's not currently listed as stolen. Do you want to get all CSI on it or have a bike? :mrgreen:

If the frame, engine and gearbox numbers all match, then there is every chance you have an original bike. As previously stated the data plates and hammer drive rivets have been readily available from many sources for a long time so it is possible to fake a frame number, but it is more difficult to restamp engine and gearbox numbers. I have to agree with Swooshdave you have done all the checks that you possibly can and the bike looks like a decent buy for the money.

The machine in question is now in my basement studio, I picked it up yesterday in Connecticutt, about two hours away; it will provide many hours of pleasant diversion and will be reborn as a Fastback in BRG, with gold leaf logo.

RS

And another one rescued.
Nicely done.

Well done, good luck with it,
Dave.