Commando Instrument Number List

L.A.B. I have just purchased 2 x veglia NVT clocks from e-bay , I don't know if these are the ones you are refering to?

When I have them in my possesion, I will post you the numbers, along with the two (non standard for my MK3) green spots that it is presently wearing. So I won't be able to give you date of machine manufacture, in relation to clock numbers.

Reggie

Reggie said:

L.A.B. I have just purchased 2 x veglia NVT clocks from e-bay , I don't know if these are the ones you are refering to?

Click to expand...

Yes they probably are the ones I saw on eBay (if they had the mounting pods and wiring included?).

And the numbers I think should be: speedo = 0919 091 9911, -tacho = 0920 090 9911 If so then that's OK, -thanks Reggie.

Just what has happened here ? A green globe painted on a speedo with trip or a hole cut in a dial to use on a trip speedo ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NORTON-S ... dZViewItem

Just as an aside, why are so many US ebay sellers so unwilling to ship outside of the US ? Are we really all perceived as a bunch of criminals ?

As you say = a Smiths trip speedo fitted with an earlier dial that's had a slot cut in it, I think!
Certainly not difficult to change the dials (once the bezel has been removed).

LAB...

You mentioned no KM speedos....

Was on my 72, until it stopped working, or the drive broke in 74? Has only 5,263.1 KMs on it and the number SSM 3001/10 600....Smiths....

remember it quit on the Autobahn....racing this Mercedes at 190 or so...thought I was king of the road.... :wink:

G'day L.A.B.

As i said a couple of weeks back my gauges have identical numbers, i have carefully gone through the sequence again and they both read as follows - 09200909900 - they are greenspot made in france Veglias, if required i will email you a picture of the gauges, hopefully with enough zoom to read the numbers without loosing the whole gauge.

Mike.

OK, thanks for rechecking those numbers Mike, and if that is what they are then that is fair enough (the speedo I take it is a 150 MPH trip type also marked *1000t = 1MILE* below the green spot?).
It just seems surprising (to me anyway, and I certainly don't disbelieve what you say Mike) that two different instruments should share the same number as I also have Veglias early (speedo only) and late NVT (both speedo and tacho) the speedo numbers both start '0919' and the tach '0920' so I surmised that they were the respective codes for speedo and tacho -but perhaps not? Perhaps it is more to do with the next group of three numbers 090/091 although that still wouldn't explain why your instrument numbers are identical?

L.A.B.

You are correct, it is a 150m.p.h. type but no other markings apart from Made in France, i will email a couple of pictures once i charge my camera.

Mike.

Thanks again Mike and you can Email any photos to me directly at <temp.mailbox690@ntlworld.com>

Firstly, thanks to everyone who contributed.

And I have tried to make (some) sense of the information, so as well as to satisfy my own curiosity these numbers could possibly be of some use to anybody doing a restoration etc., but unfortunately this list is by no means complete, and as is usual with Nortons frequently turning up answers can lead to even more questions! If anyone can assist by offering additional number information then please do so, or if anyone thinks that there's an error in the list I would also be grateful if they could comment.


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SMITHS SPEEDOMETERS


MPH speedos are normally marked; *1000 turns = 1 Mile*

SSM 3001/02 150 MPH (1968-70) Solid Green Spot

SSM-3001/02A 150 MPH (19??) Green Globe Logo (this could be a later replacement part?)

SSM 3001/09 150 MPH (1971-74) Green Globe

SSM 3001/10 240 KPH 600 turns (1972) [1971-74?] Green Globe

SSM 4003/00 150 MPH + Trip meter (1975-on) NVT

SSM 4003/01 240 KPH 600 turns + Trip NVT known to be used on Triumph 750 Bonneville/Tiger 75/76. Possibly also Commando 850 MkIII ?

SMITHS TACHOMETERS 4:1

RSM 3003/00 9k RPM (1968-70) Solid Green Spot

RSM 3003/12 9k RPM (Commando 'S' 1970) Solid Green Spot?

RSM 3003/15 9k RPM (1971-74) Green Globe

RSM 3003/(21?) 10k RPM (1975-on) NVT


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VEGLIA SPEEDOMETERS (also used in pairs as well as Smiths types but only fitting the deeper black instrument housings used from 1973-on)

1000 turns = 1 Mile

09190919900 (1973-74) 150 MPH + Trip meter, Green Globe and 'Norton'

0919 091 9911 150 MPH + Trip meter (1975) NVT


VEGLIA TACHOMETERS 4:1

09200909900 9k (1973-74) Green Globe and 'Norton'

0920 090 9911 10k (1975) NVT

At least one instance of both Veglia speedo and tacho sharing the same number *09200909900*. The speedo unusually has no trip counter and the tacho having no redline marking.

KM speedo is for 240 KPM......green globe.....

Thanks.

...Added to the list.

Another one to add to the list, the Smiths KPH NVT Wiggly Worm speedo (with trip, of course) is numbered SSM 4003/01 600

This is from an instrument in a case with rear studs, so I assume Mk III Commando.

79x100 said:

This is from an instrument in a case with rear studs, so I assume Mk III Commando.

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Thanks 79x100, -but an NVT wiggly instrument having studs doesn't necessarily identify it as a MkIII Commando type, as the SSM4003/01 KPH item was certainly listed for the Triumph Bonneville/Tiger models, (twins didn't get the T160 [stud-less] style housing until 1979) so it could have also been used on the Commando, but I will add it to the list.

But L.A.B. ... It was intact ! It hadn't been shaken to pieces... It couldn't ever have been anywhere near a Bonneville !

Seriously, If the gearbox ratio was the same (which I don't know) would Smiths have made different clocks for Meridan monstrosities and Commandos ?

79x100 said:

Seriously, If the gearbox ratio was the same (which I don't know) would Smiths have made different clocks for Meridan monstrosities and Commandos ?

Click to expand...

They certainly did up until '75 as of course 'Norton' clocks are green spot/green globe types which weren't (to my knowledge) used for Triumphs! Internally these units are probably identical, any minor difference would seem to be sufficient for Smiths to allocate a unit a different type number.
The Triumph clock numbers are also fairly easy to check as they list them in the parts books and I don't think any of the 'Norton' number types are listed.
So until more info appears, there is nothing to prove either way with regard to 75/76 NVT Smiths production unless this unit is known to be original? These units being easily interchangeable.

All these speedo types were 15:12 (1.25:1) gearbox ratio as far as I know, and that equates to 1000 cable turns per mile or 600 turns per Km (as they are generally marked).

L.A.B., What do you make of this one ? I am not completely convinced that it is as NOS as the seller says.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Norton-Triumph-NV ... dZViewItem

Number on the dial is the same as mine and I believe fits what you have found for Triumph. Does the trip reset confirm anything ? I don't recall seeing such a knob but I haven't really made a habit of looking up underneath other people's instruments !

My reset was (before I lost it !) a flexible drive of 4" or so which was a push fit through a rubber grommet into a spring retainer. Is that standard for MkIIIs ? I can't imagine how this small reset would be accessible inside the instrument holder.

It certainly appears to be a genuine Smiths speedo, only the trip knob looks non-original, but then they are only a push-in fit, and frequently fall out, so generally end up getting lost!!
The Veglia ones don't seem fall out although the plastic knob can still be pulled off the pin easily.

When I bought my T160 (Smiths instruments as standard) the 'trip knob' I discovered was made from a small screwdriver that had most of the handle cut off!
I eventually got a replacement trip knob from Gaggs of Nottingham as I don't think they had been available as a normal (Triumph/Norton) spare part for quite some time (if ever?).
And they're not cheap either!

I know that I am not really adding to what is already known, but despite the efforts of the Post Office, I have at last received the NVT veglia clocks from my e-bay purchase, and can confirm that the numbers on the tacho and speedo correspond with your information on page 2.

Thanks, Reggie.