Heavyweight Contender or rope a dope,Mk 111 commando
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All this talk about starting with the electric starter.... I don't ever use the ES on my MK3. I just straddle the bike and kick it over.
Seriously, I haven't used the starter on my bike since 1996. The system is stock and was working with the exception of the magic button sticking occasionally when I "temporarily" disconnected the starter and just kicked it to life.
Talk about procrastination..........18 years later, I'm still kicking it.
It's normal, it's natural, and it's just how the norton gets started. My bike is always a 1 or 2 kick machine so it's pretty easy.
One bonus is that my 39 year old brushes and sprag are still in great condition.
Seriously, I haven't used the starter on my bike since 1996. The system is stock and was working with the exception of the magic button sticking occasionally when I "temporarily" disconnected the starter and just kicked it to life.
Talk about procrastination..........18 years later, I'm still kicking it.
It's normal, it's natural, and it's just how the norton gets started. My bike is always a 1 or 2 kick machine so it's pretty easy.
One bonus is that my 39 year old brushes and sprag are still in great condition.
Hmm, instead of issues I think you meant to say attributes, and I'm still pondering that last sentence. Is it veiled praise, or an insult. :roll: :?:hobot said:
As far as the years are concerned, I believe '75 was the only true model year of production with some being assembled 'till '77. Could be wrong.
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hobot said:
The majority of MkIIIs appear to have been built over a 7 - 8 month (approx.) period, and a further 1,400 or so were assembled during '76 - '77, so MkIII production can't really be measured in terms of 'years', however as we've discussed previously, going by the serial numbers somewhere around 11,000 MkIIIs could have been built during that time, but whatever the total number was, a reasonable proportion appear to have survived.
Jerry Doe
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Well I swore I would never get a MK3 as there was too much to go wrong and they were too heavy. Then I built my first one, because I have a herniated disc and even though my MK2 started first kick it killed me. Now with physical therapy and my MK3 that starts every time by starter, I got to say I love it (Unless I leave the ignition on and battery goes flat). I tried to use the kick start for the first time due to flat battery and it hit the exhaust. I adjusted that this morning so it clears. I don't ride around like a lunatic, like I used to when I was in my 20's but I still ride it quite fast for a commando. It's just as much fun and its not even tuned. Its good to ride slowly and cruise too. Just got back from a fast ride in the canyons here, what a blast!
Fast Eddie
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1up3down said:
And that no doubt added to their insolvency... Produced for one year... Yet had enough parts in stock to build for 3 more years... Even the simplest self employed trader would find such disregard for cash flow astonishing!
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Fast Eddie said:
I must admit, I can't follow your logic?
Before they went bust, they were obviously producing about 1,000 machines per month, the stockpile of left-over parts built up into the 1,400 (apparently) complete machines after the crash wouldn't have amounted to more than about 5 - 6 weeks-worth of production at that rate. I have a feeling the stockpile of parts had to be purchased from the receiver by the company set up by Dennis Poore to build the bikes, either way, I think it unlikely they would've had enough of everything in stock to build 1,400 bikes.
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Apparently the last machines were not built on a production line as les said but with spares left on the shelf.
Kind of hand built , had quality control issues ,leaky ,ill fitting trying to get cash in to pay the bills and keep going hoping for the best with management sucking up all the cash on a somewhat outdated machine cashing in on the brand so to speak.
That would never happen in this day and age, would it, government cash to keep it going , buildings not suited for modern motorcycle production, but still eager motorcyclists wanting a Norton Commando mk 1V.
Kind of hand built , had quality control issues ,leaky ,ill fitting trying to get cash in to pay the bills and keep going hoping for the best with management sucking up all the cash on a somewhat outdated machine cashing in on the brand so to speak.
That would never happen in this day and age, would it, government cash to keep it going , buildings not suited for modern motorcycle production, but still eager motorcyclists wanting a Norton Commando mk 1V.
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Ok yo'all cleared up my confusion for the myriad MKIII issues and why I was confused if MkIII models spanned a number of years. I've done over 100 miles on one - hwy to town use and enjoyed it and its thumb commencer. As for my remark I don't feel I'm intelligent enough man to keep up with or put up with its attributes but it is the luxury line of Commandos a woman would not have to bounce to start. All Cdo's can make great long range cruisers, such as the Combat introducing the 6 gallon tank and low pipes for big bags. MkIII's deserve their own section, to doge by me.
I just put my mower engine in w/o putting on the starter so only up to taking care of simpler pull rope level complexity.
I just put my mower engine in w/o putting on the starter so only up to taking care of simpler pull rope level complexity.
auldblue said:
That's right! The MKIV! Isn't that the one where the factory realized their mistake and went back to a kickstart only, right hand gearchange and stuck it in a Seeley MKIII frame with Buell rubber engine mounts?
Can you confirm this Les?
You guys haven't convinced me,I still reckon NO kick starting is unbeatable, just for the novelty sake if nothing else.I can kick a bike to life with the best of them, but I don't have to prove it, every time I go for a ride.. Lets face it the mk3 was the final model with most of the quirks fixed up, with the starter and disc on the back it has everything more modern bikes had whilst still retaining the big british twin feel. what you think Phil?
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Fullauto said:
The 850 'MkIV' was supposed to have been the Norton 76.
norton-t15430-30.html#p189584
79x100 said:
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