New here - '74 Commando (2016)

Not sure where to post up intros, so I'll do it here. Been lurking for awhile and finally decided to post an intro. My earlier years were into bikes (mostly hacks), and then after marriage, many years into Brit Cars (including 10 years restoring a '61 Austin Healey 3000 BN7). Then, after retiring and contemplating a life spent working hard to get to a point where I could 'enjoy' my retirement, I bought a '74 Commando off a local gent a few months ago. To say that getting a Norton was a big deal to me after waiting more than 35 years would be an understatement ..... The bike had been in the gents possession for 25 years or so. Kept in climate controlled walk (ride) out basement/machine shop. Pretty interesting guy. Anyone who has a Bridgeport in their basement is interesting to me. Anyway - he didn't ride the bike much, so decided to part with it. Difficult for him to do, but he felt it was time. Besides, he has other things to do, like paragliding and building his own helicopter. The bike has no turn indicators or mirrors, which I can imagine didn't bother the owner one bit. Other than that, the bike is stock, 10k miles, and very original. Tyres are relatively new, so I think I'm ok there for a while. I'd post pics, but haven't figured that out yet.
The bike has the stock ignition and carbs. I'm pondering on getting a new electronic ignition and have been reading up on the available units. Carbs probably need either resleeve/rebuild, or replace with something: amal premier units are supposed to be pretty good. The more I think about the bike overall, the more I think I should let it stay original and as stock as possible. Once you start with the new shiny bits, then there's no stopping. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I'm just wondering if this bike should be left pretty much as is.
So - it's all good. An iconic work of motorcycle art sitting in my shop. Life is good. Though, kicking over engines was easier 40 years ago ....
Dave
Southeast Michigan, USA

Welcome Dave, you can still achieve the original look , the Premiers are a good choice, I run them on my race motor ( have to for that period class) and they work very well.
A simple late model ignition system will also help, easy to conceal the black box.
Enjoy
Regards Mike

Welcome Healydave, sounds like you have a good rider there, cNw electric start conversion might be a good starting point if you had some money burning a hole in your pocket either way you have come to the right forum, lots of knowledgeable folks here.

Hi Dave, welcome. This forum was invaluable to me restoring my '74 850, and helped me to avoid pitfalls.

Running a Pazon Altair on my '74 after tiring of the inconsistent idle offered by the stock unit. A bit spendy, but the idle stabilization feature makes it all worthwhile. Welcome to the group!

Nathan

Welcome Dave .... enjoy your new Norton and your retirement ... it's really not true that the only golden experience in old age is your urine ...
Craig

HealeyDave said:

The bike has no turn indicators or mirrors, which I can imagine didn't bother the owner one bit. Other than that, the bike is stock, 10k miles, and very original. Tyres are relatively new, so I think I'm ok there for a while. I'd post pics, but haven't figured that out yet.
The bike has the stock ignition and carbs. I'm pondering on getting a new electronic ignition and have been reading up on the available units. Carbs probably need either resleeve/rebuild, or replace with something: amal premier units are supposed to be pretty good. The more I think about the bike overall, the more I think I should let it stay original and as stock as possible. Once you start with the new shiny bits, then there's no stopping. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I'm just wondering if this bike should be left pretty much as is.
So - it's all good. An iconic work of motorcycle art sitting in my shop. Life is good. Though, kicking over engines was easier 40 years ago ....
Dave
Southeast Michigan, USA

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Hi Dave,

Congratulations on your acquisition. I've owned and ridden Commandos and other Norton models over 43 years. My thoughts are keep the modifications limited to ease of maintenance so agree with electronic ignition. I like original design/shape Amals since they fit without having to do modification to the ham can airbox and ignition switch mount. Other than Avon Roadrider tires, nothing else is required unless you plan to do a lot of night time riding. Go fast mods are for bragging rights and expensive. Cheaper to buy a modern machine if the stock Commando isn't fast enough. I put a TriSpark ignition on my '72 Commando last year. The first box failed in less than 1000 miles, but the replacement is doing fine. Prior to that had Boyer and Lucas RITA systems. The Boyer is a good low cost system and works quite well on an 850....not so much on my combat engine.

Thanks all for your replies and thoughts. I'm definitely on the search for an electronic ign. It seems the environment that the system is installed in is tough on the electronics in terms of both thermal and vibration. It's a harsh environment for sure, but you'd think that a system could be designed and qualified (shake and bake testing) to meet the requirements. But, I'm a noise and vibration engineer, not an electronics component design engineer. I wonder which it is that is the most difficult for the electronics to handle: the heat of the vibration? Heat is the great enemy of electronics.
For the limited amount of riding I will be doing, hopefully a good system will suffice and last. One or two kicks please ! I'm going to noodle on carbs for a while. Polishing the SS fenders (guards). And, I'll try to stay away from the cNw web site :wink:

Hi Dave from Southeast Michigan with a 74 Norton, I am also Dave from Southeast Michigan with a 74 Norton! I'm in Walled Lake, how about you?

This forum was great for restoring my bike, especially since I had no idea what I was doing or what I was getting into!!

As for electronic ignition, I went with the PowerArc from Old Britts and it has been completely reliable and was a breeze to set up. I have no experience with any others, but the PowerArc has been great!

Hey Dave. Small world. I'm just up the road in Commerce. Union Lake area.
I'll have to check out the Old Brits system. I'll have to pick your brain also on where to get stuff done locally.
I see quite a few Norton's out at Camp Dearborn for the annual Battle of the Brits. More than the Vincents but fewer than the Triumphs and BSA's.
Dave

Hi all. And I'm new here too. Down in southwest Ohio. And I have a '74 850. I bought someone elses project. I'm just finishing it off. In the early '70s I had one of those hybrid "Matchless" Nortons. It vibrated like crazy at highway speeds. Magneto ignition. So very simple. But for one reason or another I sold it cheap. I swore that one day I would get a Norton with isolastic suspension. It just took a while -- quite a while! My problem is with the Boyer MK3 ignition that came already installed. Don't know anything about it. With the plugs out and grounded there is a weak orange spark when I kick it(or no spark sometimes). Battery is fully charged. But when I switch it off there is a blue white hot spark. I know this is probably the wrong place for this question, but this is my first post and I did not see the right place to ask or look. Any help or redirection would be great.

Welcome to the group. For electronic ignitions I prefer Pzxon myself, a bit more expensive that Boyer but a better unit as far as I'm concerned. Boyers are voltage sensitive, if your battery isn't up to a full charge you can have problems. Pazons are good down to about 10 volts as I remember. Also replace the points lead wires if you don't use a Pazon. The insulation get brittle and will crack letting the smoke out of the wires.

Cheers
John in Texas

My problem is with the Boyer MK3 ignition that came already installed. Don't know anything about it. With the plugs out and grounded there is a weak orange spark when I kick it(or no spark sometimes). Battery is fully charged. But when I switch it off there is a blue white hot spark.

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So, what is the nature of the problem? Hard starting? Poor idle?
I have noticed similar results on analog Boyer units, where the spark when switching the key (or kill button) is bluer and fatter than when kicking it over with the plugs out. However, the bike started first kick and idled nicely. Not being an electronics whiz, I can't explain it.

I do like the newer digital EI such as Tri-Spark (not used Pazon, but I'm sure it is quite good) over the Boyer, but I would not replace a working Boyer just to get a digital ignition. My 750 Roadster is on the same Boyer installed 20-25 years ago.

Congratulations on your new machine.

You might want to write to Jerry to ask him to move this thread over to the "Norton Motorcycle Rebuilds" thread. This is the same advice I was given.

Mine is sitting in the garage waiting for a title issue to clear up, which is taking longer than expected. So it sits disassembled in the garage waiting for the green light.

Our bikes are in the same relative condition. Mine is more complete, but rustier. It will be interesting to see how your vision manifests compared to what I have in mind. Is your engine free?

Good luck with the build.

The poor fella who started this project did a pretty good job as far as he got. He died suddenly(don't know any particulars) and I bought the bike from his mom through a bike shop. Tank painted in black with gold colored lettering. Mostly all put together. Just not running. Needed fuel taps and other odds n ends. Worked on it a little, changed oil, got some gas in it, pushed oil through the lines and kickid it over(free engine). Nothing. Made sure gas was getting to the Mikuni and kicked some more. Nothing. Checked plugs. There was a very weak spark with the plugs out and grounded. A very weak orange colored spark -- and sometimes no spark though I might have missed it with all the kickin and jumpin. Battery full charge. Faint whiteish puff out the exhaust( fuel air mixture compressed and released). Then I noticed when I shut it off there was a hot blue white spark at the plug. By the way, sorry to be at the wrong spot on this site. I'll try to get moved over today. Really didn't know where to begin contact here.

To "healeydave" and "Davecox",

I live in West Bloomfield, MI and border Walled Lake and Commerce. I was wondering if you gentlemen still own your Norton's. I own 3 Commando's (one is stored in baskets) and two are assembled, but not running.

I'm looking for inspiration as I have rather lost interest in motorcycling. I'm pretty sure I lack the strength (or balls) to even kick start one of my bikes - the last time I tried the misfire/kickback sprained my ankle which took a good 4 months to recover! That was 3 years ago...

Message me if you have any thoughts!

Thanks!

Bill Walker

If I was just entering the Norton hobby/addiction world or had lost interest as WMW has, I'd join the local International Norton Owners Club chapter. Nothing like getting to see first hand any change that you might be thinking of. Also for WMW it's a great way to recharge your interest.

Thanks for the sage advice, "eskasteve" and as a matter of fact I plan to attend a gathering of the Michigan Norton Owners Association at a cider mill in Plymouth, MI this Sunday 9/30/2018. Maybe that will spark my interest - or show a way out! I have a great many spare parts I've collected over the years.

As a "new" Commando owner who grew up in Dearborn, spent many summer days at Camp D, it stings just a little to be now living 3 hours north.
Thanks for highlighting the Michigan Norton Club, I will be joining soon.

I acquired my 74 850 as a HiRider back in January with only 8300 original miles on the clock. Needed quite a bit of work to convert to Roadster and attend to numerous aged components, but it's now a good runner, 1-2 kicker (choose a Wassell EI) and I've now down 10,600 miles total on her.

Last week I needed to replace the main crank seal as it poured oil into primary and spewed it out the drive sprocket opening coated everything aft of there. Seal was completely split in half when I reached it on the shaft. Bike had wet sumped day I get the oil spray so likely blew out the 44yrs old seal at fire up.
One of the best tips I've found here was to fit a check valve on the breather line to help reduce pressure pulses in the casings...this immediately halted a few seeps from various locations.