69 "S" Phoenix rises again

I'm in Australia.
Date on compliance plate is march 1969.
I found out the original earth wire was disconected when I saw sparks jumping between the stainless steel head feed oil line and the air filter plate.It still ran ok.
I have the wheels out and am cleaning it ready for rego -first time since 2003.
The 20th of March was the day it left the factory.I got the information in the UK from Archives Collection, Science Museum Library which hold the records.It was free.I sent them an email and a lovely lady named Mandy Taylor sent back the info.
That was in December 2002;it should still be available.
Will take pictures when I'm happy with it.
Her email is/was m.taylor@nmsi.ac.uk

She came out looking great, Dave. Nice work!

I know you saw my blue '69S here: http://coreylevenson.zenfolio.com/p28849150

The engine number on mine is: 132966

Best,
Corey

Corey,
Yeah, thanks, do you have the date from the ID plate? I'm guessing it's about May or June 69, sidriley in Madison VA has 133061, June 69, closest one to yours I have. I hope you don't mind I stole your Clint picture, at least I finally gave you credit. Where did you get that picture? I would love to have a poster of it, as I am sure many others would. I've looked all over for it to no avail. Lots of the forum members really loved that picture.

How's your S running? Mine is inside for the winter. Just didn't have time in the fall to get it out enough, but I did get 10 miles on it up and down the driveway in October. So far no leaks, incredible. This winter plan is to re-do the tank decals I got from NZ, panels too, put the reserve decal on and go down to my local paint shop and see if they will do a 2 pack clear on everything. I'm sure they will, it's just the price. I'll have them test with a panel. Thinking about getting the RGM shoes and sanding them down to fit the drums correctly. I always remember the brakes on this bike were not as effective as gearing down. Lots of planning required to stop. At my age it's pretty scary now and I really noticed it with the little I did drive it.

Have new petcocks to install, not a big issue, don't need gas leaks, thinking about the Caswell tank coating, but using Avgas in the meantime, I may even just stick with that, it's not like I'm going to be traveling around the world on this S.

Glad you got on the forum, welcome. There's lots of good information here, it made a big difference to me, so many helpful people, good group.

Dave
69S

Great post. Have enjoyed every step of your epic journey and have learnt a bit too. Interestingly if the engine No for the last S type was 135880 perhaps mine is one of the last remaining. It has always been in the UK and left Gus Kuhn Motors Ltd (registered as the first owner) on 2nd of April 1970 with engine No 135791. Regards, Mark.

Thanks Mark, yours is the only 135xxx I have. That proves my list is incorrect as listing June 1970 135088 as the last one. The 088 may be a typo.

Dave
69S

Last S is said to be 135088 This comes from The Tech digest 3.1 and in 3.32 by IONA

Then maybe my list is not incorrect, but I have seen the 880 number before. It sure would be easy to mix up. I wonder what Mark has then, it's past 135088.

Dave
69S

Hi Dave.
I have also wondered about the known records being correct. Interestingly with this bike came the original green log book (registration doc) which clearly states it is a 'S Type'. Perhaps Norton carried on with suplying S's to large dealerships like Gus Kuhn if the demand was there. Or simply the records are just wrong due to a typo. My bike has the early oil tank, battery holder, center stand, headlight ring, chrome shrouded rear shocks etc. I'll post a few pics when I work out how!

Regards, Mark.

Hope this works..







Mark.

What a lovely job Mark, for goodness sake don't go anywhere near Chipping Norton with that splendid paint job!

Very nice Mark. When did you get your machine and what did you have to do to bring it up to this very nice standard? I doubt it stayed in that condition it's whole life? Is that 10,000 original miles?

Interesting about the green log book, I never knew about that. Mine only came with a title, no pump, no centre stand and no tools. $750USD in '72. Can we have a picture of that log book?

Dave
69S

Hi Dave.

I bought the bike 2 years ago. It had been standing in a small rural dealeship unsold for 18months prior to that. It had been restored by someone unknown but who ever he was he understood his commandos. The only real problem I have had is the original fibre glass fuel tank started to leak and I had to buy a steel replacement one and have it sprayed. The frame has the fixing points for a pump but it was missing on purchase. I would love to source an original seat too as the current one is not quite right. I was very lucky in that the original log book has followed the bike from owner to owner. I think after 1974 the system changed and the green card book was replaced by the paper registration document.
Regards, Mark.

You can get a complete seat or parts at RK Leighton. Try to get a metal seat pan, there are some fiberglass ones out there and not very good. www.rk-leighton.co.uk Does your rear mudguard have the notch on the right side to accommodate the pump? I had to fit a 71 mudguard as the original needs a lot of work, I may do that this winter. The later rear mudguards will prevent you from fitting the pump. DomiRacer in Ohio has the pumps, they were on sale for $20USD earlier this last year and I missed getting one. Yes, I wasn't going to say anything about the seat, it looks like a 71 or later with the chrome feature. Lots of people will say the 69/70 seat is not as comfortable. Depends how long you ride at a time.

It also looks like you may have a 71 or later front mudguard and stays. The bridge on mine is less than 4" from the bottom of the mudguard to the bottom of the bridge. The 71 and later were around 5" to accommodate the larger tyres. The stays are also about an inch longer on the 71 up. The 69/70 f/r mudguards are rare as hens teeth, but once in a while they turn up. The front mudguards had a different curve so you cannot interchange mudguards and stays/bridge.

Keep your exhaust nuts and bolts tight or it will start beating on your left panel or the 1/2" nut at the isolastic mount. The shields will not last too long. Watch for a crack at the top of the dog leg exhaust bracket.

Dave
69S

Thanks for the link and tips. I'm already on my second set of heat shields. Both forward ones have splilt where they are clamped to the exhaust pipes. I agree and think the front gaurd (fender) is a later one. When I bought the bike I found the fork action stiff and had to fiddle and file the holes in the stays to get a better fit. Also under hard breaking the fender foulded the exhaust causing the steering to lock (not good for the blood presure!). A set of Landsdown fork inserts cured that particular problem. Were the original front and rear fender finished in chrome or stainless? Reading your restoration project I'm amazed how many parts are unique to the 'S type'. I've kept the adjustable head bearing set up and like the idea of being able to adjust for any play rather than a complete strip down. One thing puzzles me though, why isn't there a drain plug in the oil tank? What a mess at service time!

Regards, Mark.

I'll second DogT's suggestion of RK Leighton, they put out an awesome product.

DogT said:

Interesting about the green log book, I never knew about that. Mine only came with a title,

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Its a UK thing, as UK vehicles do not have "title" documents.


All UK vehicles had a "Log Book" which was issued to the registered keeper by the UK registration authority when the vehicle was first "put on the road" and given a registration number (what you would call the "license plate" number). The log book, now replaced by a V5C registration document, was basically a UK vehicle's "identity document" which listed the vehicle details, including the registration number, engine and frame numbers, CC, taxation class, type of fuel, etc. and the name and address of the registered keeper-who may not necessarily have been the vehicle's owner. If the vehicle was sold, then the new keeper's name and address had to be recorded in the log book. These days, a new V5C document is issued to the new keeper.

DogT said:

I have about 3 out of 9 that I don't have numbers or dates for and I know there are others out there, I just haven't picked up on them.

Anyone else want to fess up?

Dave
69S

Click to expand...

My bike was titled as an "S" when I bought it. Letter from the NOC, states it was an early Roadster delivered in May 1970. Same machine as an "S", but with low pipes. Many assume it is an "S" because of the central oil tank, halo, etc....

Number is 1360xx and D69 stamped on the headstock, and was originally fireflake red. Don't know if this helps you at all. Thanks for this thread. I have been trying to find resources for some of the harder to find earlier bits. Most suppliers seem to only have the parts to fit the later Commando's.

Erich

Mark,
Yes, that is something I forgot to mention. The longer stays and newer front mudguard will foul in the S exhaust pipes. Nelson also discovered this fact. I'm sure the 'S' type has the shorter stays and closer to the tyre mudguard just because of that, I'm sure the factory knew that. That's why I decided to use my old front mudguard and stays instead of buying newer ones. The original S and Roadster guards were chrome. I think stainless came in around 71. Notice the R had painted stays, which was essentially an early fastback.

Eric, I'm sure that a lot of bikes made after the end of the factory production of the S were converted to S models later. The 70 Roadster was only different by the exhaust. That's perfectly good if that is what one wants to do. Just take note if you convert a 71 or later of the front mudguard/exhaust issue as above.

There were also some subtle differences in oil tanks (where the breather went into it) and the mounting of the rear mudguard. Mine has a strap between the shock top mounts and a single 1/4" bolt from the triangular horn mount. Some have a strap that affixes to the flat plate at the end of the large central tube. I imagine the 70 Roadster still had the tyre pump and the notched rear mudguard like the S.

When I started this project, early parts were very hard to come by, but they seem to be more and more available. Only things that aren't are the mudguards, and the little plastic covers for the pinch bolts under the halo mount. Luckily I still have mine.

Dave

DogT said:

You can get a complete seat or parts at RK Leighton. Try to get a metal seat pan, there are some fiberglass ones out there and not very good. http://www.rk-leighton.co.uk

Click to expand...

Hm, they at least don't mention the S-type seat on their homepage. Did you get yours there?


Tim

No, they don't but if you ask them they will make one. They sent me a picture of one and it is the right one. About 3 1/3-4" thick along the whole seat. The pleats are a bit thinner than the original, but I've never found a new cover with only 15 1/2 pleats like my original. They all seem to have about 21 pleats front to back. Mike at Walridge says there was no logo on the back too, but I have a picture out of the S and Roadster Owners manual that shows the Norton logo on the back. I remember mine was Silver. Leighton will say gold is correct, but I think they are wrong. My old cover only shows the outline, the color is completely gone.

I rebuilt my seat with the cover from Walridge for about $75. I need to get some new foam though. It's available cut for big bucks, you can get some replacement foam (rebond) for about $25 and cut it yourself. The seats are really not hard to do, if your pan is good.

Dave
69S