Laverda Man Finally Admits to Going Commando

Its a Mkiii gustted swingarm, I add one to my '72 Mkii, so who knows the rest.
Looks like scabbed on shock gussets to me, so who knows the rest of it.
What engine frame numbers?

Oh yeah I and many others put on oil filters when factory didn't. So who knows rest?

Engine number is 3210 XX
Hope this helps
Thx

marknorton said:

I always thought that my bike was a Mk2 Commando but on further stripping tonight I see that it has what appears to be a spin on oil filter . I was not aware of any models having a spin on oil filter.

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The spin-on oil filter was standard fitment from around mid '72 [Edit: from Eng. No. 208754] so it should be there. http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton% ... 16&Part=39

Could it actually be a MK3 Commando Interstate?

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No, it's not a Mk3, although it does appear to have the Mk3 type frame which wasn't unusual for a late Mk2/2A model, apparently.

hobot said:

Its a Mkiii gustted swingarm

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No, it isn't.

hobot said:

Looks like scabbed on shock gussets to me.

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? No.

marknorton said:

Engine number is 3210 XX

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The engine number 3210xx confirms it is Mk2/2A and not Mk3 (325001-on) also a Mk3 is different in many ways, the most notable things are that a Mk3 has an electric starter (with a completely different primary case), left foot shift and hydraulic rear disc brake.

I admit i like both

I've seen a number of late MkIIAs with the MkIII type rear gussets, long enough ago for me to think that they were original and with no suggestion that they were damage replacements. It would seem sensible that the stronger gussets were immediately incorporated in production, even if the extra holes for lock and seat stay were not used.

The bike looks to have remarkably un-bodged fasteners and the presence or a Boyer suggests a caring private owner to me rather than a 1970s African police force. Could it have been an ex-pat's bike ?

79x100 said:

I've seen a number of late MkIIAs with the MkIII type rear gussets, long enough ago for me to think that they were original and with no suggestion that they were damage replacements. It would seem sensible that the stronger gussets were immediately incorporated in production, even if the extra holes for lock and seat stay were not used.

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And...just in case any non-MkIII owners are wondering what the heck we are all talking about?

79x100 said:

The bike looks to have remarkably un-bodged fasteners and the presence or a Boyer suggests a caring private owner to me rather than a 1970s African police force. Could it have been an ex-pat's bike ?

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Could be, or the Nigerian authorities may have sold it off years ago, and it was then used by a private owner for some years, because as you say, it's got a Boyer Bransden ignition and marknorton's original "No balance pipe" topic photo shows it's got a French TT100, and I don't think they were made in France before around 1989-which suggests that the bike was in use up until at least the early 1990's.

You know nothing ever goes to plan in Nigeria. I have just wasted a whole day when I could have been working on dis-assembling my Norton. I was invited to go see the slave museum in a place called Bagadry and then on to Whispering Palms resort on the Beach to stay for the night.
The slave museum(s) were very interesting with various implements of branding, hanging and other tortures man has seen fit to inflict on fellow man. Saw the Point of No return which was the gate the slaves went thro on their way to the Americas- Amazing to think millions of people went that way never to return.
However on reaching to the resort afterwards (where I was supposed to stay tonight) I took one look in the room and it was an absolute tip- and all for 180USD a night.
So I refused to stay and decided to come back to my digs.
On the way back I had my camera out and thought it would be nice to give you an idea of the environment my Norton has lived for the last 30 odd years.
So I thought I would concentrate as far as possible on photographing bikes going past the car in traffic, and here they are numerous as wasps.
Now can I say that Nigeria roads are crazy places that people use to get to work, live, sell ,repair vehicles and die.
Cheap Chinese 100cc motorcycle taxis are every where on these roads, usually overloaded and not maintained ( and the untrained taxi riders fall off/ get killed daily).
Infact if you are in traffic for a couple of hours in Lagos you are bound to see a Bike and passenger spill, often with fatal consequences. I have seen so many, I have lost count, the funniest being when one rider side-swiped 2 other riders and they all ended up in the open sewer. There was an amazing fist fight afterwards between them all.
So I thought I would make a set of pictures of what I have seen in one 2 hour traffic jam going back to Lagos today. My Norton is in for such a shock when I get her back home to UK in her entirety- to smooth roads where she will be insured, people drive (relatively ) safely and she will be road tested every year. She will never see a pothole again...
I apologise for the quality of the pix but Lagos is not the city to go driving around with the window down, and your camera hanging out.
So anyway here goes ( and remember this is every day life in this crazy City)... But you know over the last 2 years I have been visiting here I quite like the adrenaline buzz..... and this was just my 2 hour journey today... My Norton has had 30 odd years of this.
Enjoy....
A typical Nigerian road off the main routes- untarred and with potholes big enough to swallow a small car. My Norton must have done thousands of miles on roads as bad as these, even within the cities. This was the road to the town where the Resort was located:

Many vehicles in Nigeria are badly maintained and are usually road test failures from US and Europe. They belch smoke incessantly. How my Norton coped with no air filters I really don’t know, but will find out when the pistons come out.



Hey look 3 men on a bike...

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Wow.... a sheep on a bike just went past.. probably dinner tonight


Poor thing...

Wow.. another pedestrian knocked over, this time from a Motorcycle Taxi hitting the blind side of the white bus and wiping out the pedestrian... awesome stuff, at least its not fatal..., am surprised it has not happened earlier on this journey



Pedestrian will probably have a telling off ( or maybe a slap) from the motorcycle Taxi driver for leaving the house in the first place.
 
Lagos Motorcycle taxi Rank:The bad boys: untrained, uncouth, unwashed and risking their lives every minute of every day keeping Lagos moving, and just waiting to take you for possibly the last ride of your life:



Wow that car in front has got a wheel trim hanging off and hey and the other car has a fridge hanging out of its boot...



Ever seen a TV on a bike in its box?



Jeez these bikes are on the wrong side of the road coming towards us:



Oh dear.. Police have turned up for a bribe, bike and passenger quickly pick up bike and put in correct direction on correct carriageway before Police catch them:



My goodness, another sheep on a bike... can you imagine??

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I do believe the feet in front of that cart are human...



And then a cloudburst. In seconds roads are flooded as no drains, and sun is out again... even weather here is crazy:



Its dark now, and I cant wait to start more dis-assembly on the Norton tomorrow. Goodnight from a steamy hot Lagos-7 days to go and then back to the lovely freezing rain of Wales. Ohhh I so cant wait......

Next time I start complaining about where I live, remind me to look at your last post!

Visited and driven in such conditions in other countries, but not lived it long. Hope the new place you move to stays ahead of that for time for you. Sad thing is some once good places get moved into so dense by escapee's its gets about like the place they escaped.

Nigeria sure makes where I live look like paradise.
How did your Norton survive this in anywhere the condition you found it.

You could consider switching to a belt drive primary where the chain case doesn't have to seal. Cut openings where the damage is and install screens there to keep the gravel out.

It's hard for most of us to understand what life can be like in Nigeria. My Mother did work there for the U.N. for two months at a time over many years she would see dead bodies on the road on the way to work in the morning and they would still be there when she got the ride home 12 hours later. She liked the people but feared the officials she told me that the U.N. had to keep money on the ready to get their people in and out of the country. It’s hard to follow the rules when all the players are corrupt. In a country were all the pieces are there good people, good resources, just nothing connected up.

Well yesterday I had a good day cleaning and packing all the smaller components ready to take back to UK. I also sorted and cleaned a box of components that I am taking to the metal worker here in Lagos this morning. I expect him to strip off the chrome/ paint and polish as necessary before I leave on Thursday, but am secretely relaxed about this as I know all about 'Africa Time' where everything is late .




I did get stuck taking off the forks though, and need some help here. Can anyone tell me the allen key size for the pinch bolts on the bottom yoke? My Allen key set does not go that big. What would be helpful is if there would be a metric equivalent size, as getting imperial tools here would be impossible.

Additionally the clocks fitted to the bike are:



The Speedo has the word Meriden in blue stamped on it but they are Veglia clocks. Any thoughts on if these are original? Meriden was where Triumphs were made in UK as far as I know.

marknorton said:

Can anyone tell me the allen key size for the pinch bolts on the bottom yoke? My Allen key set does not go that big. What would be helpful is if there would be a metric equivalent size, as getting imperial tools here would be impossible.

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= 5/16. An 8mm key may fit?

marknorton said:

The Speedo has the word Meriden in blue stamped on it but they are Veglia clocks. Any thoughts on if these are original? Meriden was where Triumphs were made in UK as far as I know.

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As you guessed, they are later Triumph instruments from around 1979 (also the rubbers surrounding the bezels appear to have been cut from the '79 on Triumph mounting pods) although the Norton factory also fitted 'Green globe' marked Veglia instruments as well as Smiths during 1973-74 and 'NVT' marked Veglia or Smiths instruments 1975 on.

Previously, you said that you intended to fit the correct Mk2A annular discharge (black cap) silencers? If so, then the six mounting plates shown in the centre of the photo above will not be any use, as they are the peashooter mounting plate set.

http://www.oldbritts.com/mk3_m_conv.html

Thanks LAB. That is worth knowing. I am beginning to think this bike has had most parts that would be crash damaged, excluding the engine and Frame changed over the years, or, like the indicators removed completely.
So new exhaust brakets it is then. AM glad Old Britts sell them
hanks so much

marknorton said:

AM glad Old Britts sell them

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Why order Andover Norton parts from the USA?

Once home in Welsh Wales you could get every AN part you need probably next day, either directly from Andover Norton in Hungerford, or from one of their parts suppliers such as Mick Hemmings (recommended, but no web shop) or RGM Motors (also recommended) or even Norvil motorcycles.

I suggest you consider buying the polished stainless steel plates (as sold by RGM).

http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/Distributors.htm

Last night and early this morning I finally got my frame stripped bare, with the engine out (in one lump), ,excluding carbs and drained of oil . The gearbox and swing arm was removed from the frame as one assembly.
The fork legs have also been removed ( Pinch bolts were shifted using an 8mm Allen Key- Thx LAB) and despite the huge amount of rust the forks literally fell out of the top and bottom yokes with a single tap of a wood block. All rusted and seized components had been liberally sprayed with WD49 several times and left for months for the WD40 to do its work. I suspect that without this preparatory spraying I would certainly never have been able to undo the pinch bolts, as they were totally rusted solid.

One problem I have now is that the swing arm is absolutely solid against the plates.There is no movement whatsoever. Infact if one did not know better you would swear they were all one rigid assembly. My trusty can of WD40 will not shift it and I am not at all keen on hammering it.
Any thoughts on how I can free the swing arm off?

I am not sure about one of the plates in the picture below:



There is quite a bend in one of the plates ( see ruler guide) The other plate is straight. Is this bend intentional as it actually looks 'odd'.

Once again thanks for all advice Guys.