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I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Wesley and I just recently purchased my first Norton. I picked up a 1971 Hi-Rider that had been in a friends attic for the last 34 years. I look forward to getting to work on it.
 
Welcome Wes! I just recently got a 75 running that had been in storage for 28 years. good luck with your project, this forum helped me out quite a bit.

Steve
 
Welcome, where abouts are you, whats your plans, keeping it as a hirider or convert it to a roadster, anyway have fun you will enjoy the experance.

Ashley
 
Welcome to the madness!
Mine was in a barn for 20 years. Its now back on the road.
 
Welcome. Yes, important to know roughly where you are to help steer you to resources.

What are your thoughts on where you want to take this restore? Rather odd, a bike in an attic, a garage or basement yes but an attic, just odd. Storage in an attic should be drier than a basement or garage so should be little to no corrosion. Is it in boxes or assembled.
 
I'm in central Virginia. The bike was in a large Rubbermaid container with all the bits covered in a light coat of oil. There is almost no rust to be seen. The guy I bought it from was a BMW mechanic and racer. He got this bike as a project, finished an engine rebuild and stopped. So far the only thing I believe I am missing is the tail light assembly.

I'm still debating what I'm going to do with this restoration. I hate to bastardize a complete, matching numbers original, but man that thing was ugly! I would like to do a roadster, but I am still open to being convinced either way.

First thing is buying myself yet another set of tools for yet another standard. I have restored a couple US cars and trucks and some Japanese bikes but this is my first British venture.
 
pick up a clutch spring suppressor tool so you can remove and clean the clutch plates

also get a front sprocket puller so you can service the primary chain

you really do not need to buy a complete set of whitworth tools, really just a couple of sockets, wrenches, pretty much all else can be handled
with the tools you already have

most consider the Hi Rider the ugliest Commando but it can easily be converted to a Roadster with proper tank, seat, bars, etc

welcome, this is a great forum that can help you out with everything
 
Hi Wes

It's OK with me if you convert the bike from Hirider to Low rider or medium rider. :D

Saw a fellow on a Harley chopper today. His knuckles were level with the top of his helmet. How can that be comfortable or even controllable?
Kinda like driving a car with the steering wheel mounted upside down to the ceiling, equally useful!

If you do move away from the high bars, just think of all the time you will save by not having to specially groom your armpit hair for exposure to the world! :mrgreen:

Glen
 
WesWood said:
I'm in central Virginia. The bike was in a large Rubbermaid container with all the bits covered in a light coat of oil. There is almost no rust to be seen. The guy I bought it from was a BMW mechanic and racer. He got this bike as a project, finished an engine rebuild and stopped. So far the only thing I believe I am missing is the tail light assembly.

Anywhere near Richmond? That sounds like a good find

justin
 
I got a clutch spring compressor with the bike, so I lucked out on that. As far as the Whitworth hand tools, any recommendations for a middle of the line brand?

I'm about an hour away from Richmond Justin. Just north of Charlottesville.
 
WesWood said:
First thing is buying myself yet another set of tools for yet another standard. I have restored a couple US cars and trucks and some Japanese bikes but this is my first British venture.

Remember that only the engine/gearbox are British Standard type tools (sometimes loosely called Whitworth sizes),
all the cycleparts are UNF American sizes.
 
Rohan said:
WesWood said:
First thing is buying myself yet another set of tools for yet another standard. I have restored a couple US cars and trucks and some Japanese bikes but this is my first British venture.

Remember that only the engine/gearbox are British Standard type tools (sometimes loosely called Whitworth sizes),
all the cycleparts are UNF American sizes.

It's not quite that straightforward, and I think what Rohan actually means is "Unified"(UN) rather than "UNF".
 
I'll defer to your encyclopedic knowledge, but I don't have any marked 'Unified' tools ?
Last time I think I said AF, which I also got shot down on, but I do actually have some spanners/wrenches stamped as AF.
And they do fit the cycle parts on a Commando....
 
Rohan said:
I'll defer to your encyclopedic knowledge, but I don't have any marked 'Unified' tools ?

Probably not, as the tool isn't Unified, the thread is.


Rohan said:
Last time I think I said AF, which I also got shot down on, but I do actually have some spanners/wrenches stamped as AF.
And they do fit the cycle parts on a Commando....

"AF" simply means across flats. It's not a thread type as some tend to think.
 
L.A.B. said:
"AF" simply means across flats. It's not a thread type as some tend to think.

So AF spanners/wrenches are what is required for the majority of fasteners on Commando cycle parts...
 
Welcome to the forum! You are definitely in the right place for help. I am currently restoring a '74 850 roadster and would still be scratching my head if it weren't for this group.

Regarding WW tools, I bought mine from e-bay. Sounds cheesy, but they work just fine are decent quality, and you can get the set for less than 100 bucks.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KOKEN-WHITWORTH ... 70&vxp=mtr

-Kevin
 
3/16W*, 1/4W*, 5/16W* and 3/8W* including a thin 1/4W* socket for cylinder head nuts and bolts will basically be enough *Whitworth* tools for most things.

*(For tools marked "BS" instead of "W" those sizes will be 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 and 7/16. Some tools carry both markings, thus "1/4W 5/16BS").

http://www.sat.dundee.ac.uk/~psc/spanne ... Size_Table
 
Welcome there, Weswood.

You can see how a simple "hello" thread and quickly change into a " Oh hell" thread. Don't worry, this is normal and to be expected. :D Enjoy!
 
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