Norton 650 parts

rwalker28

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May 21, 2011
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I know this is a pretty broad question, but what is the availability of parts for 650 models? I think I am a bit spoiled buy the abundance of excellent vendors of good quality parts for the later Commando's. Just wondering.
 
It depends on what you're looking for, but in general, availability is pretty minimal when it comes to 650 parts. Especially main bits like cylinders, heads etc.
Availability is certainly much less than anything you'd find for a Commando, or even an Atlas.
Are you building / rebuilding one? Are you looking for something in particular?
 
Right now I am not looking for anything. However, this one: http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/mcy/5496759488.html is about 2 miles away. I have no idea of condition, et. but it sounds like it is not too bad - that is until a guy gets it and the improvement projects start. I would think pipes and bearings are no big deal, but things like kick start pawls, and wear items, or gauges, or gas cap not sealing right, or gears or engine components. Never know.
 
Without seeing a photo or getting more info, it's impossible for me to comment too much on that one. 1966 is more likely to be an Atlas, 750. Surely could be a 650 though. Many parts such as the ones you mentioned, aren't hard to find. I'm talking more about engine components when it comes to being difficult to find.
 
The only real difference would be pistons/rings, barrel and cylinder head casting. Everything else would be common to an Atlas. Bound to be numerous minor details like carb jetting etc but nothing to cause you to stay away from a 650.
 
Definitely nothing to cause you to stay away from a 650, but I'll say that getting cylinders and head, could be a difficult search and a very costly bit of parts once you've found them. There just aren't many loose motor bits laying around. Even when you do find them, they often need a good bit of work to make them serviceable. And still expensive.
I'm personally a big fan of the 650, it's just that I know from experience, that replacement motor parts are difficult to find and quite expensive.
 
triumph2 said:
The only real difference would be pistons/rings, barrel and cylinder head casting. Everything else would be common to an Atlas. Bound to be numerous minor details like carb jetting etc but nothing to cause you to stay away from a 650.
Click to expand...

I have the hard to find lightweight pistons (only 170 grams) and longer rods for the 500 through 650 dominators).
Jim S
 
I think that if I was buying that, I'd want to see the cylinder head off the motor. If there are no cracks or porting, might be a really good thing. The 650 Manxman was a particularly good bike in it's day.
 
I had to get my barrels bored a year ago on my 650SS Mercury. I had to shop around to find new oversize
pistons and they cost twice as much as a pair of Commando pistons, but parts are out there. I've seen
a head and barrels for the 650SS come up for sale on eBay in the past year. Better luck finding 650SS
parts in Great Britain than the USA.
 
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