Norton Newbie

I think I got suckered!. I picked up a 72 750 off a buddy moving to Texas. Hasn't been run since 82. Mostly disassembled. 11k on the clock with is supposed to be correct. Haven't been through the parts bin for an inventory yet. Wish me luck.

Other than the service manual, any other required/suggested reading?

I'm sure I'll be asking LOTS of questions. Worked on UJMs and cars so used to getting my hands dirty.







Thanks

Mike

Your UJM metric tools aren't going to work on a Commando As far as reading books the service manual is probably enough as there is much online information. I see the speedo is in Km/hr - Canadian bike?
You have a drum front brake, could mean a few different things. The engine number to be a '72 should start 200xxx and have the engine breather at the lower back of the left crankcase, not at the left side of the camshaft. Did you get the seat/tank/side covers with it?

could be a 72

The non Combat 72 750s came with a drum versus disc for Combat, correct?

Can you spare 10 grand? Looks like it will take that and maybe more, depending on what upgrades you want. That's with you doing most of the labor.

Can you spare 10 grand? Looks like it will take that and maybe more, depending on what upgrades you want. That's with you doing most of the labor.

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Plus don't ever expect to see half of that back but that's the cost of the ticket to fully fettered Commando theater.
I've not counted acquiring the hand full of special tools and assumes no major parts to replace. Also will need hand holding on odd ball mixing of parts on non Combat '72 so may have to rub shoulders online with likes of hobot. Still there's nothing quite as satisfying to attend to and ride sounding so much bigger than it is yet so easy and smooth with such obsolete blacksmithing pleasing engine pulses. Commandos constantly test my manhood from affording luxury items, failures to comprehend or accomplish something simple, to convincing/settling with wife on shorting her or family interests, on top of just dealing with damaged goods mistress. But hey that's what real bikers are all about so carry on. if not a seasoned rider already there's plenty of road smarts lesion to survive that may hardly hurt you but half trashes your pride and joy.

Is it claimed to be all there ?
Have a trial assembly, and lightly sit/bolt it all together, to see how it goes.
Going through a parts list can take forever, especially if you are not entirely familiar with them.

You know the rule about never throwing anything away,
so you can always compare against new replacements,
so can see you have received identical bits.

Have fun...

Buckle up!
You have some work ahead, but its great when you kick it through and it fires for the first time.
Good luck.

frame considerations
help-been-framed-t21180-60.html

get up to speed on breather options, engine may need to be apart when/if going there

One ride on that thing when you're done and you'll throw your metric tools and bikes away. :mrgreen:

Canada went to kph in 1978 so all Commandos were in mph here.

Welcome Mike,
You have got a long way to go but you will have fun doing it. With the metric speedo you might have a European bike.
One of my 72 came that way. It had a Black Vin tag.
We are here to help.
Cheers,
Thomas
CNN

Australia didn't go metric until 73, so it's not one of ours. Must've been a Euro model. I wonder how it got stateside?

Thanks for the input everyone

It is supposed to be complete. I haven't gone through the parts bin to verify. But a mock up is my first order of business to determine what I need.

I'll have to ask the previous owner the Euro version question. Perhaps he will have an interesting story to tell about how it got here.

a1984mm said:

Perhaps he will have an interesting story to tell about how it got here.

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My guess is that it was a US Serviceman, who couldn't bear to leave his pride & joy in Germany.

Old Scratcher said:

a1984mm said:

Perhaps he will have an interesting story to tell about how it got here.

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My guess is that it was a US Serviceman, who couldn't bear to leave his pride & joy in Germany.

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+1 Scratcher
Thats my guess.
Cheers
Tom
CNN

Scratcher got it mostly correct. USAF member stationed in Spain was original owner.