New Member with 1970 Commando

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Hello folks!
I am living in Ravensburg, Germany and my latest find is a 1970 Norton Commando 750.
The frame number is 137198.
It was first put on the road in Germany in May 1970.
Its got matching numbers on the engine, frame and gearbox.

Can the bike be determined what type it was when it left the factory by the framenumber?
Roadtster, S SS??)

I bought it as a basket case. Frame with fork and swingarm and wheels and gearbox was one piece,
the rest all in pieces..
Someone gave up restoring it some 24 years ago. Since then it was stored at least in a dry (but dusty) place.
First I was happy to find some new and extra pieces.

New Member with 1970 Commando

But reality showed I had to sort out some stuff- a second cylinderhead ( from an Atlas),
a second cylinder with deep mark inside one barrel,
a centre stand which belongs to a Yamaha XS 650.

No wiring harness, no silencers, bad chrome and a lot of displaced holes in the rear fender,
a plastic roadster tank and so on. Luckily its got the correct oiltank in good shape.
The previous owner wanted to convert it into an Interstate, so I got a tank and seat from taht model.
There are brand new valves and pushrods, brake-, clutch- and gas-cables for at least two bikes
Meanwhile I started work and had the crankcase overhauled , a broken studhole in the right engine case welded,
got new main bearings and other stuff for assembling the bottom end of the engine.
Of course the exhaust threads in the heads are scrap.
The original colour is apparently Fireflake Royalblue. ( but they don´t sell Duplicolor Metal Specks rattle cans in Germany :cry: )
New Member with 1970 Commando

I want to convert it into an Commando S since I have to buy new exhaust pipes and silencers anyhow.
I find this forum very informative and I will try to send some pics soon.

I already found out a lot about the 1970 model type specialties..
Greetings from snowed up Germany!
UIi
 
Welcome Uli, we look forward to seeing some pics of it sometime, and progress reports.

I found a can of Duplicolor Metal Specks, in green.
The flake is considerably smaller than Nortons Fireflake Colors,
although it is probably acceptable if you don't have a 'proper' fireflake Commando parked beside it. !
Cheers.
 
Well your in the right place to get help & information, good start. Welcome. I'm shivering just thinking of how cold it must be there, almost makes me feel guilty for the beautiful ride myself & a few friends did yesterday in the hills & down Coast Hwy looking at the beautiful Pacific Ocean, clear blue sky's and 71' weather. On 2nd thought I don't feel guilty at all, I almost moved to New York 10 years ago but came to my senses before it was to late. Enjoy the build & post pictures.
 
Uli,

Sorry to say the last 'S' made was 135088, June 1970, yours was most likely made as a Roadster but that's not to say you can't make an S. I've got 132031 and it came to me as a Fireflake Blue 'S' in '72 with 4K miles on the clock. You should have a plate on the headstock with the number and a date stamped on it. I have a long thread I started back in 08 or so on my restoration. Search for Phoenix in my posts. Wonder if you have the central oil tank instead of the side tank? I'm not sure when it changed, maybe 71. If you need reference books or info, let me know, I've got quite a list and nearly everything is available on-line.

Welcome and have fun, that's what it's all about. Learn how to post pictures, we need pictures.

Dave
69S
 
rivera said:
Can the bike be determined what type it was when it left the factory by the framenumber?
Roadtster, S SS??)

Moin!

As I already mentioned on the other forum: My 1970 started life as a Roadster according to the despatch books. Just ask The Unvermeidable Joe.


Tim
 
Here are some pics of the bike
New Member with 1970 Commando

A quick mockup after I sorted out most of the stuff.
Just pinned together. Motor is empty.

Now with correct new halo.

New Member with 1970 Commando


The fork bridges are painted in the wrong color. This color is all over the bike, frame, fork tubes, oil tank etc.

New Member with 1970 Commando


The seat pan was used on a racing bike- not very comfy.. got it for a few bucks.

More pics to come
Uli
 
Looks pretty clean to me. Note the oil return banjo is on inside out. It points the other way and attaches to a long tube that leaks oil on the chain. That was the first thing I blocked off. Looks like you have the Roadster peashooter mounts. Unless you really want an S stick with them, the S exhaust is problematical. The trees were originally a sort of silver paint color. Hopefully you're not missing the clocks, they can be expensive and the old ones are hard to find but not impossible. The chrome looks in good shape as well as the aluminum parts.

It all depends on how much you want it to look original or how much you want to just make it useable which will be infinitely easier. Up to you.

I can't really see your clutch and brake lever assemblies, they are near impossible to find if you don't have some of the original parts. You've got good parts to start but I hope you have some money put away.

Dave
 
Hello Dave!
As mentioned the bike is just pinned together to get an overlook.
If you haven´t dissasembled the bike yourself it is difficult to put it together..
Oil pipes are loose on the connectors. They can be easily slid up an down. I guess I have to get new hoses and clamps.
The chain oiler is also blocked of on my bike. ( thanks for the hint, didn´t know were this pipe goes so far!).
Here is the assembly
New Member with 1970 Commando


Clutch and brake levers: they are present, its the later type with LUCAS flip switches. I guess this was a dealer conversion.
Joe Seifert from Norton motors told me the bikes were delivered to Germany without indicators. But these are mandatory over here.
I like to convert it to bar end blinkers.
Joe offers the "old style " levers. I have to find a Wipac light and horn switch and a switchfor the blinkers to get it back close to original standards.
Or I stick with the present units.
Instrument: Luckily present but where in bad shape. Glasses cracked and on the rev counter a missing needle. The aluminium cases were scratched on one side.
New Member with 1970 Commando

I polished the cases an built a new needle out of aluminium sheet. New glasses and rims were ordered in GB .
New Member with 1970 Commando

Uli
 
Yes, unfortunately there are no assembly details on the central oil tank parts and some other parts on the 69/70 bikes. The parts book lists them, but there are no pictures. Joe S. should know if you have access to him, he's got a few early ones I'm sure. Can't see your front mudguard with any detail, but it too was specific to 69/70 and took a 3.00 x 19 tire, I think Joe was making parts for that. I even sent him some detail measurements on the front stays which are shorter as well as the mudguard bridge. If you need any information on assembly details, let me know, I probably have a picture or can get one. Mine was complete when I got it. If you want an early type seat, Leighton sells one but later ones will fit. I took mine completely down and rebuilt it. It seems to be running fine so far with about 14,000 miles on it. I have few modifications to it.

You can go through 25 pages of pictures here if you care to. http://s251.photobucket.com/user/DogTi/ ... t=3&page=1 Most of them are Norton related. Note how I've put the decals on the side panels, its the same as from the brochures and also just like when mine were new. For some reason people want to line the decal up with the top of the panel.

Good luck,
Dave
 
Howdy rivera, looks like a great head start compared to some finds and you are able to work magic on clocks so should be a knock out fully fettered Commando with modual outfits to wear. I'm kind of interested in the seat pan though expect shipping might quash that idea. Don't over tighten the primary chain or belt and beware the dreaded wet sump phenominia everyone must come to grips with in their own way, just like which case breather philosphy to follow.
 
rivera said:
Hello Dave!
As mentioned the bike is just pinned together to get an overlook.
If you haven´t dissasembled the bike yourself it is difficult to put it together..
Oil pipes are loose on the connectors. They can be easily slid up an down. I guess I have to get new hoses and clamps.
The chain oiler is also blocked of on my bike. ( thanks for the hint, didn´t know were this pipe goes so far!).
Here is the assembly
New Member with 1970 Commando


Clutch and brake levers: they are present, its the later type with LUCAS flip switches. I guess this was a dealer conversion.
Joe Seifert from Norton motors told me the bikes were delivered to Germany without indicators. But these are mandatory over here.
I like to convert it to bar end blinkers.
Joe offers the "old style " levers. I have to find a Wipac light and horn switch and a switchfor the blinkers to get it back close to original standards.
Or I stick with the present units.
Instrument: Luckily present but where in bad shape. Glasses cracked and on the rev counter a missing needle. The aluminium cases were scratched on one side.
New Member with 1970 Commando

I polished the cases an built a new needle out of aluminium sheet. New glasses and rims were ordered in GB .
New Member with 1970 Commando

Uli
You're going to do just fine...
 
Hi all!
Today I peeked into the glasfibre roadster tank which came with my Commando.
I noticed a blueish-green inner "tub". Its all over the center "hump" for the frame tube.
On the outer sides it goes up circa 1/4 from the tank bottom. it has a 2-3mm thick "rim".
It is smooth and does not show any texture. At one point i could lift off a piece which was cracked with a screwdriver.
Underneath there was bare fibre matting.
Hard to get a photo from but I hope you get the image by my description.
Factory standard ?
Has someone opened a tank and found the same thing?
The tank has not seen the modern "aggressive" petrol since it was dry for 24 years.
So I see a slight chance to seal it with Caswell or similar products
which are available over her in Germany.

Uli
 
I've got a F/G tank. I used it until about '85 when it was drained and stored. 2005 I started using Avgas, BP110LL, and it's been in the tank since. I haven't had any problems yet. I'd rather buy a new Emgo tank than try sealing it.
 
rivera said:
So I see a slight chance to seal it with Caswell or similar products
which are available over her in Germany.

Uli, do yourself a favour and get a new steel tank. They are really good.


Tim
 
Been quite a while but I was not too lazy.
I had to disassemble the rear swingarm again, because I noticed too late the chainguard mount was missing.
So I had it welded on an repainted.

New Member with 1970 Commando


New Member with 1970 Commando


New Member with 1970 Commando


The almost new 530 RK O-ring chain was riveted together and for a long time she was on her own feet again- at least for while...

New Member with 1970 Commando
 
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