1969 Commando revitalization.

Curt13 said:
You don't need them.
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Yes , superfluous items best removed and the top entry holes sealed up with Amal screw in bolts . You intend to ride the bike , not trailer it about to shows for the critics to give you any grief over it . Lord knows I've seen it .
 
Jackman said:
Minimal progress but still progress , new alluminum rocker shaft covers hoping for less leakage and better looks. Also put new steel braided oil lines for the same reason. I have new gas line fittings from the previous owner but they are the wrong size .
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I note your fuel lines have no ferules or jubilee clips. You should put some on (ferrules need the crimping tool). A fuel line coming off the banjo or fuel tap nipple can easily result in your bike going up in flames.

- Knut
 
Jackman said:
Anyone have a close up pic of 1969 Commando speedo and tach?
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1969 Commando revitalization.
I believe these are correct. No red zone on the tach and solid green globes - at least on the early ones.
 
JVigs said:
View attachment 102575I believe these are correct. No red zone on the tach and solid green globes - at least on the early ones.
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Thanks I’m looking a a pair tomorrow they look the same as yours however I now notice that speedo green globe is not solid and the tach globe is solid, otherwise they look thaw same as yours. Appreciate the pic 👍🏼
 
mdt-son said:
I note your fuel lines have no ferules or jubilee clips. You should put some on (ferrules need the crimping tool). A fuel line coming off the banjo or fuel tap nipple can easily result in your bike going up in flames.

- Knut
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I’m going to address that 👍🏼 I didn’t know 😬
 
These are the clocks that I will check out tomorrow.

I didn’t notice the difference , close but clearly they are not the same .
 

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Jackman said:
These are the clocks that I will check out tomorrow.

I didn’t notice the difference , close but clearly they are not the same .
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Vintage British Cables in Canada can service the speedo and change the face to the earlier type. I had one done for $ 230 CAD.
 
Jackman said:
These are the clocks that I will check out tomorrow.

I didn’t notice the difference , close but clearly they are not the same .
Click to expand...


Speedo SSM 3001/02A appears to have been a later production run of the SSM 3001/02 speedo which is correct for '68/'69 so the only thing that is not accurate is the later NV 'globe' logo in place of the 'green blob'.
1969 Commando revitalization.

The RSM 3003/10 tacho is correct for '68 and possibly early '69 but was soon replaced with the RSM 3003/12 green blob with the red line by the introduction of the 'S' type.
1969 Commando revitalization.
 
First start of the season hasn’t run since December it I think it sumped, oil level was way down low in the tank I add a quart first kick is wanted to fire up but just a sputtering was all it gave , 10 or more sputtering kicks and it fired up 😊. When running I took oil cap off and watched the level rise up right to the lip , a tad more and the oil would be spilling.

Anyway good to hear it run again, I have new carbs and a tach to install and then order up 18 rims and spokes.
 
You had the dreaded wet sump when they sit the oil tank slowly leaks down to the bottom crank case, comon with Commando's adding the quart of oil to the tank then starting it the oil in the crank would have pumped back up into the oil tank and + the added quart you put in would have overfilled the oil tank.
There are plenty of threads about this, lucky you didn't blow the crank seal, there are many fixes for this after sitting for sometime, myself just drain the sump and put the oil back in the tank before starting after its sat for sometime, others do other things why you have to look up and decide what's best for you.
The oil level should be between the high mark and low mark on the dipstick, if no dipstick on the oil cap you need to have space in your oil tank, 2/3 oil 1/3 air space.
 
JVigs said:
Vintage British Cables in Canada can service the speedo and change the face to the earlier type. I had one done for $ 230 CAD.
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Yes, I had the same speedo with the striped globe and had them put the same face on a later tach to have the dot markers instead of hash marks to match the speedo. No red zone on the new tach face. BTW that price includes servicing the gauge too. Full restore to like new a little more.
I'm guessing the striped globe is late 1970 as it was solid before 1971 on any previous year Commando I ever saw. Who knows, could have been early 1971. They moved engine s/n placement before my May build '71 too.
 
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ashman said:
You had the dreaded wet sump when they sit the oil tank slowly leaks down to the bottom crank case, comon with Commando's adding the quart of oil to the tank then starting it the oil in the crank would have pumped back up into the oil tank and + the added quart you put in would have overfilled the oil tank.
There are plenty of threads about this, lucky you didn't blow the crank seal, there are many fixes for this after sitting for sometime, myself just drain the sump and put the oil back in the tank before starting after its sat for sometime, others do other things why you have to look up and decide what's best for you.
The oil level should be between the high mark and low mark on the dipstick, if no dipstick on the oil cap you need to have space in your oil tank, 2/3 oil 1/3 air space.
Click to expand...
The Norton Commando learning curve I’m slowly getting it 👍🏼. Very glad to have not blown out a crank seal . I might get the anti sump valve or just pull the plug next Spring and refill the tank, going to think on it.
 
I'd just go for a matching pair, without worrying too much about the year; as you will have seen from the discussion, very few people know what your bike should have. And those that do wouldn't approve of the 18" wheels, the crankcase breather, and the rearsets. I think its something like 2% of Norton owners try to keep them original.

Mine is a 1970 fastback, now interstate, and when I need to replace something I try to go for the best that is available, which is rarely the original 1970 part. When my speedo or tachometer fail, I will definitely go for these https://legendary-motorcycles.com/product-category/gauges-brackets-speed-rpm/ . Not original, but they seem much better.
 
I get the part of improvement through upgrades. I get the part of keeping them original as they left the factory. It is nice the 2% do try to keep them original for interest in comparing.
 

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