72 commando resto

Status
Not open for further replies.
I'm leaving my major marks in the case when I polish too. I'm also not going too far.
I like the look of a used bike that has been maintained. I know some folks are building these bikes better than they came from the factory but i like the look of a little wear on a genuine machine.
 
Yeah me too, a good, practical used bike look is what i after, polished and in good nick of course lol.
 
Well a little more progress has been made. I stripped and painted the rev counter, came up good i reckon, some before and after photos for reference. I have also cleaned and painted the coil bracket and coil holders. The forks are off and stripped. I'm just awaiting new stanchions and a bush/seal kit before reassembly. OH and Alan if you are reading this mate, sorry I missed the Norton meet :( , ironically I was elbow deep in my Norton bits before I remembered about it :roll: , my bad, will deff come along next month. :D
BEFORE
72 commando resto

AFTER
72 commando resto
 
OH and Alan if you are reading this mate, sorry I missed the Norton meet , ironically I was elbow deep in my Norton bits before I remembered about it , my bad, will deff come along next month.
Click to expand...

No prob Jim. As it happens my Norton did'nt quite make it either, as the ignition/battery warning light came on 6 miles from home :roll: So it was a quick about turn and take her back. Funnily enough my indicators were still flashing merrily when I got home, so looks like the battery is still charging - will have to look at the warning light assimilator & connections over the weekend. Fortunately for me the pleasure of riding her far out ways the hassle she gives me :!:
 
Evening all, it’s been a while since my last post but I have been clicking on the forum where I can for those inspirational pics that really help to get the rubbishy jobs done. Ive been busy in the shed and at work cleaning, painting, identifying and sorting all my boxes of bits for the bike. LOADS done now :D , front suspensions done, rear wheel arch and lighting, z plates, passenger foot rests and exhaust mounting plates, primary case, covers polished, loads and loads all wrapped away waiting for its time to be fitted-pics will follow soon. the gearbox is stripped and ready for the replacement parts that ive ordered today! lots needed there, wallet feels lighter but never mind. Still as its a 72 commando gearbox number 212309s , does that mean the breather problems been solved as the mk 3's supposedly were? clarification on this would be great as I don’t want to rebuild it to find its got to come apart again to be drilled for a breather....

Cheers guys. Jim.
 
One thing I can see that metals rust in the UK almost as much, or maybe more than they do here in the islands! Nice work Jimmy, you'll end up with a champ of a bike... cheers, Don
 
jimmytwin said:
Still as its a 72 commando gearbox number 212309s , does that mean the breather problems been solved as the mk 3's supposedly were?
Click to expand...

Probably not, unless you can find any evidence that the 850 MkIII gearbox breather has been fitted?: http://www.oldbritts.com/12_065199.html

However, a common breather mod. done to the earlier models was to drill a tiny hole in the circular gearbox inspection cover (see link above)?
 
Strange, mine has always had a hole in the inspection cover, thought it was standard. Mine is a bit smaller than the one in the photo.
 
Sorry i have missed your earlier post but when i saw your photos i think you may have an early mk5 750 and refering to roy bacons norton restoration book your gear box number [engine gearbox and vin should be the same] 211110 first detuned engine, 1973 212278 interstate, mk5 commandos had black instrament pods and 850 square taillight.
 
I wouldn't put that cam back in a freshly built motor, I rebuilt my motor 2 winters with a s/h cam which possibly looked better than the one you have and it let me down, I've twice now rebuilt motors with worn cams and have had to replace all the parts shortly after, not worth the hassle, save up and get yourself a new cam or look at getting it reprofiled at Joy cams in the UK. Remember and get the followers faced at the same time. I'd reuse the rods after a polish though!
 
possm said:
i think you may have an early mk5 750
Click to expand...


Actually, your'e not the first person to notice that: hello-all-new-user-here-t3608.html

Although this bike has apparently done 28 thousand miles in the five years it was on the road, if the speedo reading is to be believed, and it also changed colour at some point (from Yellow), so anything could have been altered during that period?
Officially (according to the NOC and Roy Bacon etc.) 750 MkV production commenced in March 1973 (from serial number 220000). Apparently there were some MkV spec. Commandos sold in the USA that have late 1972 date stamps, but I think if I remember correctly from previous discussions, these MkV spec. machines also had 22**** serial numbers?
 
FINALLY got back on the forum! :D iv been doing all the things that needed doing like cleaning,painting and polishing parts. I just purchased my new crank bearings which means that with the purchase of new shells I can finaly start reassembling the bottom end.
I do have a little question tho, i have '2 thou' play on my camshaft bush (Timing side) and thats not and play,its wear :| . Now is this acceptable? Also as im on a rather tight budget, shud i reuse the old camshaft? I will try and upload a pic of it cleaned up. I would like to use it as its the origional combat one but it does have a little pitting and slight wear, i think there is a pic on this thread...

Thanks chaps..
 
The cam can most likely be salvaged by polishing the lobes on a lathe with very fine emery paper, as for the "play", some bikes probably left the factory with more play than you found.

Now post some pictures to show you did something for the last six months :mrgreen:

Jean
 
Right, im back in the game after getting a new job which gives me more access to buy parts :D See the following pics of the rebuilt motor and the beginning of the cyl head strip.
72 commando resto

72 commando resto

72 commando resto


The sprocket is on so' that i could turn it over as its a bit stiff. Also its freezing cold at the monent. The new rings were very impressive although there seemed to be a top ring and bottom oil scraper ring but the middle ring also had some sort of scraper edge on it so i put them in facing down...hope this was correct. They wern't ridge dodgers, just a standard ring set from norvil... :?
 
Conrods look OK polished out as long as the small ends are good to go. I can't fathom why someone would completely disassemble a Commando to re-do the frame without doing everything else, but at least that's one thing you won't hae to deal with.
 
Thats exactly what i thought. Seems alot of hassle to strip the whole bike, enamel the frame and then just plonk all the old parts back in..? Ah well, each to their own i guess. Need to find the bearing cover, triangle washer and pinion gear next but i just cant remember which box they went in :roll: Not too important at this stage tho. Next job is the head. The exhaust valves seem ok and the stems have very little play in them. The inlets are a little more tricky to remove so its off to the machine shop with it for a checkover etc i expect.
 
Heres a few more pics of what ive been up to in the workshop..the wheel was a bargain, rear rim is in the post...oh and so are the new handle bars. These are a natural finish which are light and somewhat flexible :lol:
72 commando resto

72 commando resto

sorry it came out a little blurry...my internet connection is a bit rubbish at the mo :roll: so will upload more pics as soon as I can.
 
Right, time to kick start (Excuse the pun) this thread of mine again...been busy of late which delayed the project a bit, mostly due to rebuilding my landy v8. Now moneys are available more shiny bits have been obtained! exhausts,wheel the fuel tank has been welded up, sealed up with ethanol proof tank sealer (from tank care products-comes highly recommended!) that and the side panels have been painted in a manx silver with fine metal flake, the decals are from norvil. I have had it running, now its the fun of working out which electrics work and which dont etc...oh and put some air in that rear tyre and recover the seat...
72 commando resto

72 commando resto

72 commando resto

72 commando resto
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

grandpaul
'72 Commando transmission shafts dimensions
Replies
4
Views
372
YukoNorton
YukoNorton
Interbak
Brand new Andover rear fender for 71/72 Commando
Replies
1
Views
384
Snakepit
S
Interbak
‘71-72 Commando fenders
Replies
9
Views
998
Interbak
Interbak
J
John's 72 Commando woes
2
Replies
36
Views
2,034
Torontonian
Torontonian
Cammy66
  • Locked
Odd Tabs on '72 Commando Frame
Replies
4
Views
647
Mart UK
Mart UK
Back
Top