is it a combat (2015)
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Hi L.A.B.
I think he wants the: Author, Date, Title, Publisher, page number.
Ta.
I think he wants the: Author, Date, Title, Publisher, page number.
Ta.
Your replies do you no credit.
Page 71.
"The Norton twin moved into the 1970s..." (ie 1970)
"Also listed from the middle of the year was an optional high performance version of the engine with raised compression and hotter cam.
This was known as the Combat motor..."
Wonder where it was listed ?
Is this referenced anyplace else ??
Page 71.
"The Norton twin moved into the 1970s..." (ie 1970)
"Also listed from the middle of the year was an optional high performance version of the engine with raised compression and hotter cam.
This was known as the Combat motor..."
Wonder where it was listed ?
Is this referenced anyplace else ??
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As someone who bought their Combat Interstate in 1972 I'm a bit distrustful of Roy Bacons information. His book 'Norton Twins' claims all Interstates were fitted with full flow oil filters, mine wasn't. The full flow filter was fitted later in '72 at the same time that they switched from fibreglass petrol tanks to steel. No mention of the petrol tank switch either. He doesn't mention Blue as a colour option either which mine is. There are other minor discrepancies too. The Roy Bacon books are generally good but not infallible.
If Combat engines were available in 1970, I've never seen or heard of one and in those days I was very keen and read everything concerning Nortons. First mention I heard of 'Combat' specification was when the Interstate was released in '72.
Ian
If Combat engines were available in 1970, I've never seen or heard of one and in those days I was very keen and read everything concerning Nortons. First mention I heard of 'Combat' specification was when the Interstate was released in '72.
Ian
trident sam
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Yes agreed. My 72 Combat Interstate had a fibreglass tank and no full flow oil filter when I got it. It had balanced header pipes, but no spherical Mk 3 type washers, just the crush type, I had always thought these pipes were original but maybe not.
It was in the days when exhausts used to stay on bikes untill they rotted off :roll:
sam
It was in the days when exhausts used to stay on bikes untill they rotted off :roll:
sam
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Nortoniggy said:
All Norton books that deal with the Commando in any detail have their share of omissions, inaccuracies errors-regardless of the author (Bacon, Clew, Duckworth, Wilson, Vale, Edit: and Magrath) however for two authors to state that the Combat specification engine was available in mid-1970 if it wasn't would seem a rather wild claim unless there was at least some truth behind it?
Also, Steve Wilson's original publication predates the Bacon 'Norton Twins' book.
According to the 1973 parts book, fibreglass Interstate tanks continued on into that year-so there doesn't appear to be any particular switch over date from fibreglass to steel tanks.Nortoniggy said:
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trident sam said:
A balanced exhaust wouldn't normally be standard for a '72 Interstate.
http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton% ... &Plate=020
Why would you think your balanced exhaust pipes should have had the (1975, 850) Mk3 spherical washers? :?
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Here is the Stage 1 & Stage 2 tunning notes found in many manuals durring Commando 5 yr run of Best Magazine cycle.
http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/Stage1.htm
http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/Stage2.htm
http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/Stage1.htm
http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/Stage2.htm
L.A.B. said:
Rather like most threads here too, and elsewhere, in fact. !?
Myths, legends, missreports etc etc all rolled together for Nortons, it seems..
L.A.B. said:
Don't suppose we have a page number ?!
Thanks for the mention LAB, we will have to track down where these are coming from.
Especially if the word "Combat' appears.
Nortons had offered tuned engine options for the dommies from the late 1950s,
and also extensively in the 1930s - for singles of course, of many descriptions,
going right back into the teens when you could buy your Norton sidevalve with guaranteed more performance,
as a Brooklands Road Special etc under the watchful eye of Wizard O'Donovan - who had personally ridden the bikes.
So a long history of offering more performance for your cycle.
Presumeably you read further in that thread - adjustable only if you take them out of their housing...
Anyone who can unlock the punched screw high up down in that hole, adjust it, punch it again to lock it,
all through the lamp hole aperture could give Houdini some lessons....
Post your method of doing all this to that thread, we will be impressed.
Pics of the tools required doubly so.
But we digress.
Anyone who can unlock the punched screw high up down in that hole, adjust it, punch it again to lock it,
all through the lamp hole aperture could give Houdini some lessons....
Post your method of doing all this to that thread, we will be impressed.
Pics of the tools required doubly so.
But we digress.
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For what it's worth, in '76 or thereabouts, I acquired my '73 750 used; it had 1600 miles on the clock, so I assume it was unmolested. At the time, I thought it was a Combat because it had a black barrel, a disc brake, and 32 mm carbs, and it ran a lot stronger than my old '71. L.A.B. set me straight - hat tip to him and this site.
It is Serial # 220000 and the frame plate states a build date of October 1972; it has the RH6 head and while I have not attempted to degree the cam in situ, I have measured lift at the retainers, and if I recall correctly, I was disappointed to find lift of only .360"
The lower end hasn't seen daylight since England but the head is now ported/milled 20 thou and she's plenty fast; I weigh 270 pounds and she easily over revs right through 4th on a 20 tooth.
It is Serial # 220000 and the frame plate states a build date of October 1972; it has the RH6 head and while I have not attempted to degree the cam in situ, I have measured lift at the retainers, and if I recall correctly, I was disappointed to find lift of only .360"
The lower end hasn't seen daylight since England but the head is now ported/milled 20 thou and she's plenty fast; I weigh 270 pounds and she easily over revs right through 4th on a 20 tooth.
xbacksideslider said:
Without consulting the production numbers list, 220000 and October sounds pretty early in the 1973 model year production.
Could it be the 1st one ??
It has a nice even number ring to it.
Edit.
Consulting a list says 1973 start was 212278, so they built 8000 odd, in a short time ?
(or there was a gap in the numbering ?).
I would think the 212278 would have been the last 72. Model year builds starting in Oct. with 220000 as the first 73 750. Just as with 71 where I don't think they got to 150000 and went right to 200000 in oct. of 71 to start that model year1972 build.
Now that I stuck my ass out there I can get officially corrected. LAB?
Now that I stuck my ass out there I can get officially corrected. LAB?
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pete.v said:
Well, the "official" view (at least according to the UK NOC, not me, personally) is that 1972 production ran from "200001 to 216000", however I don't think we've seen any evidence of '72 serial numbers reaching as far as 216000 (have we?)?
http://www.bmh.com.au/norton/index.php?id=modelnum
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Rohan said:
Well, that's what I want to believe - that there must have been a "numbers gap" between the MK I and the MK II and that it is the very first '73 - based on the matching numbers and the late '72 build date on the red frame tag. Further, that would argue that it might even be is the first MK II. I should add that the crankcases are of the MKII type with the small drain plug and the breather is at the bottom/rear and the timing cover is fully cast in on the back side, that is, without any magneto/starter machining/drillings at all.
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