Silver cylinders only for 73 850s?

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BrianK

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Mine has black cylinders. I'm not the original owner, so maybe something was done to the bike along the way, but does anyone know if all 73 850s originally came with silver cylinders?

Per serial number, mine is an early one, one of the first 500 850s.

I like the black. Just repainted the cylinder when I had it off for new rings, actually. Just curious.
 
Yep, the 1973 Commandos, both 750 (MkV) and 850 had silver barrels. The elusive short-stroke 750 had black barrels according to the brochure. 1974 and 1975 barrels were again black.
 
Thanks Ron. Somebody musta switched something along the way. Found .020 over pistons in there with a bore that couldn't be better (max .001 circumference variation), so maybe one of the POs threw a set of 74 cylinders on for the overbore.
 
More likely re-painted them when the cylinders were bored.
 
Earlier still. An 850 and #69, a one owner. Silver is the color.
 
Yup, just looked up at the 73 "Temptation" Norton-girl ad that's framed over my desk. Silver cylinders. Wonder why I never noticed before?

Oh yeah, the girl...!
 
My bike was born 10-73 850 I am the second owner. The guy I got it from only had it one summer. The cyclinders are black. Phil
 
Norton-Villier said:
My bike was born 10-73 850 I am the second owner. The guy I got it from only had it one summer. The cyclinders are black. Phil
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But a 10/73 manufacture could be a '74 model year. What cylinder head, RH4 or RH10? Both of my '73 MkV 750's have an 11/72 headstock tag, but are MkV's not Combat MkIV's (and silver barrels).
 
Mine was built in 73, late 73. It was an original barn find with 4200 miles. All stock and never been in to. It had black barrels.

850 BTW. still stock exhaust and everything.
 
Ron, My ID plate says 10-73 but its registered as a 74. I read somewhere if you try to change it, all you get is a big run-a-round from the DMV. It has a RH10 head, 30mm intake, 32mm carbs. Phil
 
If this helps, my 73-750 had silver barrels originally, built 3 - 73 RH 5 head 32mm straight through. I painted them flat black ...thought it might help a little with cooling.
 
My 73 #107 is silver, will be black after the teardown to bore out & put a new cam in. My 71 750 was sliver too and got the black pimp treatment when it was down years ago.


don
 
Norton-Villier said:
Ron, My ID plate says 10-73 but its registered as a 74. I read somewhere if you try to change it, all you get is a big run-a-round from the DMV. It has a RH10 head, 30mm intake, 32mm carbs. Phil
Click to expand...

You actually have a '74 "model year", so the '74 registration makes sense to me. The '73 "model year" had the RH4 head with 32 mm ports and silver barrels.
 
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