Handlebar Switches (2007)

I have a 1970 Commando that I am restoring but with a few changes.
It came with the Dunstall twin front disc setup which I am going to keep. It also came with an period aftermarket Lockheed M/C. I've decided to change the handlebar controls to a later type and have assembled the parts to do so. I've bought the stock Commando controls off a 72-73 model. These are the cast aluminum ones with the right hand controls incorporating the M/C. Each set of controls has 1 switch in the middle and buttons above and below the switch.
Can someone tell me what these switches and buttons control?

Thanks!
Tad

tadslc said:

I've bought the stock Commando controls off a 72-73 model. These are the cast aluminum ones with the right hand controls incorporating the M/C. Each set of controls has 1 switch in the middle and buttons above and below the switch.
Can someone tell me what these switches and buttons control?

Click to expand...

The right upper push button never had any function! I believe it was intended to be for the electric starter that they didn't actually fit until '75.

The rocker switch was for the direction indicators = up for left...Off....down for right.

The lower push button is the kill button.

The left side switch housing was top push = headlamp flasher, rocker switch = headlamp high/low beam, lower push button = horn.

1971 models had a different switch arrangement, with the switch unit functions being on the opposite handlebar side to the 72-74 models.

1971 models had a different switch arrangement, with the switch unit functions being on the opposite handlebar side to the 72-74 models.

Click to expand...

Les, maybe this was true on your side of the pond, but over here all models with the Lucas blade switches were set up the same. Kill button on the right, horn on the left. The factory manual has both the '71 and '72-74 wiring diagrams labeled alike, but backwards. Of course, this was a part of dealer set up, so some dealers may have installed them reversed, but all the '71s I have worked on were set up like this.

Ron L said:

Les, maybe this was true on your side of the pond, but over here all models with the Lucas blade switches were set up the same. Kill button on the right, horn on the left.

Click to expand...

I couldn't disagree with that, and it may well have been the case that the US dealers set them up with the switches the opposite way?

However, there was a Norton Service Release issued concerning switch position reversal:


Quote:
______________________________________
"
SERVICE RELEASE

No. N3/3

NATURE OF RELEASE

Reversal of handlebar switch clusters.

MODELS AFFECTED

Late 1972 Commando - all models.

DISTRIBUTION

Worldwide (for general distribution)

EXPLANATION

As a direct result of users requests for right hand operation of the direction indicators, the decision has been taken to interchange the left and right hand switch clusters. To save changing wiring colour identification at 6 connectors, the functions of kill button and headlamp flasher and spare button and horn shown in illustration 2 of the Riders Manual are also reversed. New prints of the handbook will include this modified layout but where motorcycles have been despatched which are at variance to the handbook, the supplying dealer is requested to acquaint the new owner with the revised layout. From the time of the changeover, the revised positions will be:

LEFT HAND

Top button - Headlamp flasher

Lever switch - Dipswitch

Bottom Button - Horn

RIGHT HAND

Spare button

Direction indicators

Kill button

ACTION: Ensure that all new owners of modified models are suitably briefed."

The Owner's Handbook of the (1972) period does still show and describe the switches as being horn-dip-headlight flash on the right and kill-direction-spare on the left side.

Ron L said:

The factory manual has both the '71 and '72-74 wiring diagrams labeled alike, but backwards.

Click to expand...

I believe that these drawings are revised copies and the reason that the switches are shown on the *wrong* side could well have been because they just re-labeled the drawings instead of re-drawing the switches in their new positions!

I have that service release also. I always found it puzzling because I have never seen a Commando set up any other way.

The controls/switches I have match up with the bulletin described above.

Thanks!

Perhaps immaterial, but I have been glad the kill switch was on the right, a couple of times. Situation. The bike gets out of hand at the moment one comes to a standstill. Two times, my boot has caught on a cobble stone, no foot to hold her up and the bike went right over to the right. Naturally, she is still in gear, the clutch is pulled, and the gas gets twisted in the effort of trying to hold her up, somehow. No way to get the thing out of gear, with the right shifter on the pavement...motors going for the gusto and she's still in gear...can't just let go of the clutch, unless you fancy a trip to the knackers. And you can't push a kill button on the left side, with the left hand holding on for dear life to the clutch. Nice if the kill button is on the right then, ain't it...... :wink:

Is there a left and right plastic flipper? I’m having some issues with headlight low and high beam. I disassembled the control and I can make the lights work by manually touching the contacts together but the flipper seems to only affect the high beam. Spring and metal ball are functioning. Hmm?

Not sure what else you want the flipper to do?
On my bike, the headlamp and taillamp come on with the ignition switch. If the flipper is in the middle position, the headlamp is on low beam; if you push the flipper up, it's high beam.

Just in case anyone wasn’t aware, they do rebuild kits for these switches.

Red right ‘flipper’ here
https://www.rgmnorton.co.uk/buy/lucas-handle-bar-switch-repair-kit-71-72_4202.htm

Black right ‘flipper’ here
https://www.rgmnorton.co.uk/buy/lucas-handle-bar-switch-repair-kit-71-72_4201.htm

lloyds-son said:

Is there a left and right plastic flipper? I’m having some issues with headlight low and high beam. I disassembled the control and I can make the lights work by manually touching the contacts together but the flipper seems to only affect the high beam. Spring and metal ball are functioning. Hmm?

Click to expand...

The dip (high-low) switch is two-position, the direction indicator/blinker is three-position and the flippers/paddles are different.


https://www.eurojamb.com/products/lucas-handlebar-switch-kit-custom-triumph-norton-750-850-r-buttn
https://www.eurojamb.com/products/lucas-handlebar-switch-kit-triumph-norton-bsa-1971-72
The originals would both be black, either 'short' or 'long' ('73-'74)
Why some of the 'early' switch paddles are now red I have no idea, as the (long) red paddle was for the later Triumph T140/T160 'kill' switches.