Mk3 anomaly?

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EstuaryBoy

EstuaryBoy

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Just watched '76 episode of The Sweeney. Central to the plot is a search of a young tearaway's Mk3 Commando to find incriminating evidence. So.... The seat is lifted off (not hinged) to reveal suspect wad of cash..
So, as Mk3 adverts make play of hinged, lockable seat, were they all fitted from the get go?
Also the side cover had the bottom right indent from the previous dzus fitted ones, which I assumed had gone by the Mk3, but the Mk3 Interstate tested by Cycle World also has similar....
The Sweeney bike did have left hand front disc and starter motor, so no doubts as to it being a Mk3, though they must have depreciated fast in the first year as it was quoted as being worth: '600 quid' (New price in '75 £1k+)
 
EstuaryBoy said:
The seat is lifted off (not hinged) to reveal suspect wad of cash..
So, as Mk3 adverts make play of hinged, lockable seat, were they all fitted from the get go?
Click to expand...

Yes, as far as I know (except for the Hi-Rider).
There's no alternative non-hinged Interstate or Roadster seat in the parts book and the Mk3 brochure shows the lockable seat.

EstuaryBoy said:
Also the side cover had the bottom right indent from the previous dzus fitted ones, which I assumed had gone by the Mk3, but the Mk3 Interstate tested by Cycle World also has similar....
Click to expand...

The Mk3 Interstate (not Roadster/Hi-Rider) LH panel still had the recess (but not the Dzus fastener in that location).

Bonhams : Last off the production line, unregistered, 7 miles from new,1977 Norton 850 Mk III Commando Interstate Frame no. 336539 Engine no. 336539

Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers: auctioneers of art, pictures, collectables and motor cars
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Mk3 anomaly?
 
Re: The side cover, I was looking at the illustrations in the parts list, which show no indents...
 
EstuaryBoy said:
Just watched '76 episode of The Sweeney. Central to the plot is a search of a young tearaway's Mk3 Commando to find incriminating evidence. So.... The seat is lifted off (not hinged) to reveal suspect wad of cash..
So, as Mk3 adverts make play of hinged, lockable seat, were they all fitted from the get go?
Also the side cover had the bottom right indent from the previous dzus fitted ones, which I assumed had gone by the Mk3, but the Mk3 Interstate tested by Cycle World also has similar....
The Sweeney bike did have left hand front disc and starter motor, so no doubts as to it being a Mk3, though they must have depreciated fast in the first year as it was quoted as being worth: '600 quid' (New price in '75 £1k+)
Click to expand...
I dunno guv !!!
 
EstuaryBoy said:
Also the side cover had the bottom right indent from the previous dzus fitted ones, which I assumed had gone by the Mk3, but the Mk3 Interstate tested by Cycle World also has similar....
Click to expand...

Update.
Mk3 anomaly?

It's certainly a Mk3 Interstate. The panel, however, has the hole for the Mk1A/2A Dzus fastener.
I can't see the Mk3 only LH retaining lug on the bottom of the panel (the black item hanging over the Z-plate is the battery strap) and there are two fasteners presumably holding the panel in place?

The '850 Commando' side panel decal isn't the correct Mk3 'Electric Start' type and also looks silver but the 'Norton' tank logo, is gold so I'd guess the side panel was probably from a Mk1A (Mk2A would be gold?) and the original hinged seat had also been replaced.
 
L.A.B. said:
Update.
Mk3 anomaly?

It's certainly a Mk3 Interstate. The panel, however, has the hole for the Mk1A/2A Dzus fastener.
I can't see the Mk3 only LH retaining lug on the bottom of the panel (the black item hanging over the Z-plate is the battery strap) and there are two fasteners presumably holding the panel in place?

The '850 Commando' side panel decal isn't the correct Mk3 'Electric Start' type and also looks silver but the 'Norton' tank logo, is gold so I'd guess the side panel was probably from a Mk1A (Mk2A would be gold?) and the original hinged seat had also been replaced.
Click to expand...
And it was only a year old! Probably why it was only worth £600 :-)
 
That rear fender doesn't look right at all, it looks too deep. Mine doesn't hang down below the frame tube.
Jaydee
 
jaydee75 said:
That rear fender doesn't look right at all, it looks too deep. Mine doesn't hang down below the frame tube.
Jaydee
Click to expand...
the one in the photo doesn't hang below the frame tube either?
 
The MK 111 seat hinge assembly is a PITA. Many figgly parts . My Interstate chose the previous model unscrew and lift seat for my own sanity.
 
Torontonian said:
The MK 111 seat hinge assembly is a PITA. Many figgly parts . My Interstate chose the previous model unscrew and lift seat for my own sanity.
Click to expand...
Ditto, plus bungs to fill frame holes behind the removed hinge.

My LH Roadster side panel has the bottom indent, no dzus, just 1 top screw and a rubber hole on right side that a stud on the frame goes into. That might be what's referred to as a dzus, but the stud profile isn't as pronounced and not as tight a fit as dzus fastenings I've come across before..
 
Mart UK said:
My LH Roadster side panel has the bottom indent, no dzus
Click to expand...

That's unusual as the Mk3 Roadster panel doesn't normally have the indent but should have the lower retaining lug and grommet (item 10, 06.1686) that locates behind the Z-plate.
andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk

Mart UK said:
just 1 top screw
Click to expand...

That's where the Mk3 Dzus (item 15 on the diagram above, and 19 on the one below) would normally be.
andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk


Mart UK said:
and a rubber hole on right side that a stud on the frame goes into. That might be what's referred to as a dzus, but the stud profile isn't as pronounced and not as tight a fit as dzus fastenings I've come across before.
Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean as the rear attachment is a smooth pin on the bolt-on bracket, item 17 in the first diagram.

Edit: Is it steel or fibreglass as the Mk3 panels as far as I know were steel?
 
Last edited:
With regards to The Sweeney, several brit bikes were used apart from the cop Saints. One episode featured a '73 Bonneville & another a T160 which the robbers were using as a getaway vehicle. You'd better know the episode numbers or you're nicked!

Martyn.
 
L.A.B. said:
That's unusual as the Mk3 Roadster panel doesn't normally have the indent but should have the lower retaining lug and grommet (item 10, 06.1686) that locates behind the Z-plate.
andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk



That's where the Mk3 Dzus (item 15 on the diagram above, and 19 on the one below) would normally be.
andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk




Not sure what you mean as the rear attachment is a smooth pin on the bolt-on bracket, item 17 in the first diagram.

Edit: Is it steel or fibreglass as the Mk3 panels as far as I know were steel?
Click to expand...
It's fibreglass. Decals are correct. It is steel on the RH oil tank side. After 40 years, I expect it's aftermarket or repurposed from a prior model?
 
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