Braided brake hose for '75 MKIII

N

Neilgb

Joined
May 29, 2024
Messages
2
Country flag
Hello to the Norton Knowledgeable,

I have bought a '75 Commando MKIII with standard USA bars and am working through it making it roadworthy. This is my first Norton, my first British motorcycle and my first vintage motorcycle. (I Have owned many different modern motorcycles for decades). First challenge is the braking. I have searched Access Norton but have not found a clear answer to the questions I have.

1) Does any one make braided hoses for the MKIII? It has a short hose (~10.5") from the master cylinder to a short bundy pipe and then another hose from the bundy to the caliper. I have not been able to find anyone that carries these.
2) What are the fitting threads and lengths if I have to order custom parts (I do not want to disassemble to brake to measure them up before ordering them).
3) A single braided hose from Master Cylinder to caliper has been suggested by a vendor - does anyone have experience with this set up and how did you retain the hose in place?
4) If I can't get braided hoses I will just get OEM style hoses from Andover Norton.

I have overhauled the front caliper with new pads and installed an Andover Norton 13mm Master Cylinder. Great improvement in feel and braking.

Thank you for any help you can provide.
 
Back in the early eighties i replaced both front rubber pipes with aeroquip braided stainless ones on my first Mk3. Made to the same length as the original ones. I found the bottom hose (from bottom yoke to slider bracket) bent the hose in a way that i was not happy with, especially when the forks were compressed, as under braking. It would have been better to fit a longer bottom hose and put a loop in it. This could be the reason why you find only single hoses from M/C to caliper from the usual suppliers. That and the cost, The braided SS hose is not too costly, its the fittings and especially stainless fittings that put the price up.
I use the OEM hoses from AN
 
Neilgb said:
1) Does any one make braided hoses for the MKIII? It has a short hose (~10.5") from the master cylinder to a short bundy pipe and then another hose from the bundy to the caliper. I have not been able to find anyone that carries these.
Click to expand...
I would have thought just about anyone making brake lines in the US could.
As I live in the UK then I can only suggest Venhill USA but I expect our American members can suggest others.

Venhill | Control Cables and Braided Brake Lines for Motorcycles, Quad Bikes, Cars & Karts | Venhill USA

Venhill Engineering Ltd - UK manufacturer of braided brake lines and control cables for motorcycles and industry since 1970
www.venhillusa.com www.venhillusa.com

Neilgb said:
2) What are the fitting threads and lengths if I have to order custom parts (I do not want to disassemble to brake to measure them up before ordering them).
Click to expand...

The fittings are 3/8" UNF with a 90 degree tapered seating.

Neilgb said:
3) A single braided hose from Master Cylinder to caliper has been suggested by a vendor - does anyone have experience with this set up and how did you retain the hose in place?
Click to expand...

If you choose a single line then I suggest it is made with an adaptor and swivel fitting at the upper end.
Braided brake hose for '75 MKIII
 
Neilgb said:
Neilgb said:
3) A single braided hose from Master Cylinder to caliper has been suggested by a vendor - does anyone have experience with this set up and how did you retain the hose in place?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
As LAB suggested a swivel fitting at the upper end is good, but a swivel fitting at both ends of the hose is better, otherwise you are rotating the caliper to screw it onto the pipe fitting. If you do go down the route of stainless braided hose you will need to make sure that the hose braid doesn't come into contact with anything at all. It acts like a very good saw and will wear through anything it is touching. Wrapping the hose with spiral cable sleeveing or similar works to prevent this. Some of the propriety hose kits come with the hose already sleeved.
 
A lot of the stainless line is now sleeved in clear plastic, the last ones I bought were of this type and it seems pretty standard now.
 
Last edited:
Neilgb said:
Hello to the Norton Knowledgeable,

I have bought a '75 Commando MKIII with standard USA bars and am working through it making it roadworthy. This is my first Norton, my first British motorcycle and my first vintage motorcycle. (I Have owned many different modern motorcycles for decades). First challenge is the braking. I have searched Access Norton but have not found a clear answer to the questions I have.

1) Does any one make braided hoses for the MKIII? It has a short hose (~10.5") from the master cylinder to a short bundy pipe and then another hose from the bundy to the caliper. I have not been able to find anyone that carries these.
2) What are the fitting threads and lengths if I have to order custom parts (I do not want to disassemble to brake to measure them up before ordering them).
3) A single braided hose from Master Cylinder to caliper has been suggested by a vendor - does anyone have experience with this set up and how did you retain the hose in place?
4) If I can't get braided hoses I will just get OEM style hoses from Andover Norton.

I have overhauled the front caliper with new pads and installed an Andover Norton 13mm Master Cylinder. Great improvement in feel and braking.

Thank you for any help you can provide.
Click to expand...
I have both AN hoses in stock (06-6243 bottom, 06-6237 top). I generally use custom DOT-approved hoses. They are clear plastic covered braided stainless. They do not have the protector that 06-6243 has.

I love the MK3 and Trident setup - I would never switch to a single hose! If you really want one, I can have it made but need an exact measurement shoulder to shoulder. I already know what ends are needed.

I have them made. If interested PM me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

The yaki
Norton or triumph back master cylinder fitted ??
2
Replies
20
Views
514
L.A.B.
L.A.B.
Jonez69
1973 850 Commando front brake M/C question
2 3
Replies
41
Views
769
lazyeye6
lazyeye6
S
Goodridge Stainless Brake Line
Replies
10
Views
618
Ron L
Ron L
marshg246
  • Locked
Stainless Brake Hoses [Deleted]
Replies
1
Views
126
marshg246
marshg246
W
72 Disc Brake issue
Replies
15
Views
575
wbehning1
W
Back
Top