snort'n Norton, the pointless? thread

All it takes is money! My 70 750 Roadster is for sale.

Ain’t that the truth! But that’s kinda boring haha.

I subscribe to the “patients/projects” mind set with bikes. Always on the hunt and open minded, just kinda wait for em to come to me. I’ll build it cause I can’t afford to pay the last guy for all his wonderful work haha.
 
Ain’t that the truth! But that’s kinda boring haha.- - - .

Hi WideAWAKE,
It's all in how you tell the story:-
The truth:- I once owned a Royal Enfield and a Norton that were once the property of HM King George VI.
The kinda boring:- I only got them after the army sold them in the civilian market when the war was over.
 
This thread has me thinking my Norton - 1974 Commando 850 Mk IIA - came into my life at the wrong time.

1981, when I was young, penniless and needed a bike that ran. Now I'm a lot older, have a bit more idea how to fix bike up, cheapskate but enough money for parts if that's the only way. Also have a couple of other bikes that run so that removes a lot of pressure.

But I ain't buying another Norton. This looks like a very nice project, will watch with interest and take vicarious pleasure.
 
Last edited:
This thread has me thinking my Norton - 1974 Commando 850 Mk IIA - came into my like at the wrong time.

1981, when I was young, penniless and needed a bike that ran. Now I'm a lot older, have a bit more idea how to fix bike up, cheapskate but enough money for parts if that's the only way. Also have a couple of other bikes that run so that removes a lot of pressure.

But I ain't buying another Norton. This looks like a very nice project, will watch with interest and take vicarious pleasure.
Well then, this should help fulfill that need Raymond.
20211121_213337.jpg

it's (almost) embarrassing how easy this is going to clean up.
Bike has been through a violent wreck in it's past. Front end/wheel does not agree with engine transmission #s which would have come with a disk front brake. But evidence says the frame is a factory built replacement, a lot has been replaced chassis working parts all appear straight. Hey it can be a fun "retro classic" bike. Sticking to rivet counting restoration standards not my thing anyways, donchaknow?
Always good to degrease and clean while getting a feel for what I've dragged home and plotting the way forward.
A battery and carb clean, see if it will kick to life, is in the near future. Hopefully no major stumbling blocks are revealed. I always like to hear the motor run before going too far on labor/parts. I MAY have a deal going on a parts stash from a guy that built an awesome custom.
This:
mark marango.jpg

Isn't that a beauty!!!!
That would go a long ways toward bringing this back to the street without dropping 3-4K$ at the vendors. They'll get plenty anyways....
 
Well then, this should help fulfill that need Raymond.
View attachment 202127
it's (almost) embarrassing how easy this is going to clean up.
Bike has been through a violent wreck in it's past. Front end/wheel does not agree with engine transmission #s which would have come with a disk front brake. But evidence says the frame is a factory built replacement, a lot has been replaced chassis working parts all appear straight. Hey it can be a fun "retro classic" bike. Sticking to rivet counting restoration standards not my thing anyways, donchaknow?
Always good to degrease and clean while getting a feel for what I've dragged home and plotting the way forward.
A battery and carb clean, see if it will kick to life, is in the near future. Hopefully no major stumbling blocks are revealed. I always like to hear the motor run before going too far on labor/parts. I MAY have a deal going on a parts stash from a guy that built an awesome custom.
This:
View attachment 202128
Isn't that a beauty!!!!
That would go a long ways toward bringing this back to the street without dropping 3-4K$ at the vendors. They'll get plenty anyways....

Thats a really lovely build on a tidy classic.
 
Front end/wheel does not agree with engine transmission #s which would have come with a disk front brake
You sure, Gary? When I researched it, I had read somewhere that some of the early 72's were still shipped with the drum brake? I also read that the drum brakes were preferred over the disc brakes?
 
You sure, Gary? When I researched it, I had read somewhere that some of the early 72's were still shipped with the drum brake? I also read that the drum brakes were preferred over the disc brakes?
Well I ain't no Norton expert So I'm really not sure if Roadster Combat Commandos came with both types of front brakes
Yes the disk brakes were um underwhelming as supplied. Like the XS650 the mastercylinder to caliper ratio was VERY conservative. You want to be careful shaking hands with a Commando rider, they'll have a powerful squeeze.
This will be the first Drum brake commando I've owned, suspect once the brake is gone through it will be about par with early XS650 front drum brakes, IE not bad for a drum.
The Serial Numbers on the Frame and Engine from 1945 to 1974 should match.
The frame number is stamped on a plate riveted to the headstock (missing or never installed) on this frame.
Some serial/VIN #s
Jan 1972 200001 Fastback MK IV
" Jan 1972 200001 Roadster MK IV
" Jan 1972 200001 FastbackLR MK IV
" Jan 1972 200001 Hi-Rider MK IV
" Jan 1972 200001 Interstate
750cc --- 200976 First Combat Engine
This engine/ tranny # are 2094** Or fairly late in the combat engine bikes. Don't really know production quantities or if some later combats got made with drum front brakes but 8500 Combat 750's seems like quite a few and in the early 70's disks were what all the fast guys wanted.
I'll pose the question on the Access Norton forum.
Some Commando timeline info. https://silodrome.com/buying-guide-norton-commando/ But no disk brake timeline listed beyond the 73's were disk..
Put in a battery and got spark, The motor fired up briefly off a bit of carb cleaner sprayed in the intake.
Kicking this thing to life is not going to be trivial.
 
This thread has me thinking my Norton - 1974 Commando 850 Mk IIA - came into my life at the wrong time.

1981, when I was young, penniless and needed a bike that ran. Now I'm a lot older, have a bit more idea how to fix bike up, cheapskate but enough money for parts if that's the only way. Also have a couple of other bikes that run so that removes a lot of pressure.

But I ain't buying another Norton. This looks like a very nice project, will watch with interest and take vicarious pleasure.
I picked up a Mk2A about 5 years ago. It had been sitting for at least 16 years and part of that time was in Michigan. It was parked with fuel in the tank and gas attracts moisture so the bottom of the tank was rotted out. Low mileage around 14K on the clock. It's a challenge but I'm bringing it back to life.
 
It lives!
Only took a couple kicks and vroom, vroom. Jetting and float valve nowhere close but ran it up and down the road, everything's working. Woot Woot!


Pool under
One pipe a bit Blue left
Very fine Bike ---Very Fine like new Exhibition Collector class
Rate it a 7- 8 -9 running on a scale to 10 Maybe just maybe a little loud Valve sound but to early to tell
Not knowing the Carburetor ..Oil status and if it has been sitting and if it is warm there
 
Always so exciting to get the engine running!

I note single carb? My Mk IIA had twin Amals coz I can remember learning how to synchronise them.

Evocative noises . . .
yeah it's wearing a VM34 with some seriously messed up jetting, assembly, the needle was sitting on TOP of the retainer plate, basically free to rise and fall separate from the slide, other jets were outside commonly specced tuning ranges a 25 pilot and 250 main are both pretty far out there. LOL..... a pair of extremely low miles 32mm Amals on manifolds with the stock airfilter assembly also came with the bike. Correct is cool, fighting Amals? not so much. A set of FCR Keihin pumpers from the grizzly bear beckons.......
 
I don't know much of carburetors But this bike is in my view going in the stock direction
Not knowing what has been done already.
Problems ??? Jaeeh 50 year Old British Motorcycle ..Well it is a well known fact one is asking for Trouble .
Courtesy Mr Lucas and others.. More or less.
But as the saying goes " If it was simple everyone would do it "
I believe I have seen somewhere that Amals are produced New --Can be Wrong
 
Back
Top