John Player Special restoration project
- Thread starter grandpaul
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2008
- Messages
- 170
Re: Eliminate doubt on this JPN
ื
I've got an old photocopied brochure from Sprint manufacturing that offered your style of seat, Rohan. If yours wasn't manufactured by Sprint, then it may have been made by Airtech. Check this link here:
http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/vin ... tonJPS.htm
Grandpaul,
Original JPN's would have a plastic airbox, which I think in turn means a different battery tray than earlier styles of 850. So you could check for that. The shift lever is also unique, and from your photos it appears you may have the correct one.
The JPN license plate holder is unique among various Nortons. Your bike appears to have the correct one, but your photos make it difficult to tell for sure.
JPN Nortons also have twin Zener diodes, and this bike seems to have the correct Z plates to support that feature. The (alternator, rotor, or both?) were also higher output items than other 850 models (except the MK III).
You have the correct left hand side cover for a JPN.
The fairing bracket is not correct.
Did you get the original fairing?
I recently acquired a JPN, and it came with a 2nd fairing, made by Sprint. The previous owner commented on how it was substantially thinner than the original Avon fairing, which I just verified and it appears to be.
A good thread is needed here documenting all the little details about the John Player model.
Years ago I had one that had the horizontal stripes and the cutaways in the cowling to access the spark plugs. It was originally sold in San Jose, if I remember correctly. It looked like the one featured in the sales brochure. The lower stripe was black, not blue, as was the lower parts of the left and right seat stickers. In the brochure the colors do look to be red and black.
Andover Norton may be making JPN parts now, as indicated at the below links. I doubt they've got the finer points sorted, though. Search for "JPN" on the first link, as they don't refer to the after market parts with the full "John Player Norton" name on the web page:
http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/News.htm
http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton% ... art=067345
ิ
ื
Rohan said:
I've got an old photocopied brochure from Sprint manufacturing that offered your style of seat, Rohan. If yours wasn't manufactured by Sprint, then it may have been made by Airtech. Check this link here:
http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/vin ... tonJPS.htm
Grandpaul,
Original JPN's would have a plastic airbox, which I think in turn means a different battery tray than earlier styles of 850. So you could check for that. The shift lever is also unique, and from your photos it appears you may have the correct one.
The JPN license plate holder is unique among various Nortons. Your bike appears to have the correct one, but your photos make it difficult to tell for sure.
JPN Nortons also have twin Zener diodes, and this bike seems to have the correct Z plates to support that feature. The (alternator, rotor, or both?) were also higher output items than other 850 models (except the MK III).
You have the correct left hand side cover for a JPN.
The fairing bracket is not correct.
Did you get the original fairing?
I recently acquired a JPN, and it came with a 2nd fairing, made by Sprint. The previous owner commented on how it was substantially thinner than the original Avon fairing, which I just verified and it appears to be.
A good thread is needed here documenting all the little details about the John Player model.
Years ago I had one that had the horizontal stripes and the cutaways in the cowling to access the spark plugs. It was originally sold in San Jose, if I remember correctly. It looked like the one featured in the sales brochure. The lower stripe was black, not blue, as was the lower parts of the left and right seat stickers. In the brochure the colors do look to be red and black.
Andover Norton may be making JPN parts now, as indicated at the below links. I doubt they've got the finer points sorted, though. Search for "JPN" on the first link, as they don't refer to the after market parts with the full "John Player Norton" name on the web page:
http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/News.htm
http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton% ... art=067345
ิ
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2009
- Messages
- 2,107
Re: Eliminate doubt on this JPN
I believe the JPNs were all MKIIA, so the sidecover is correct, along with the battery tray to take the Dzus fastener which must also be correct
MkIIA airboxes are an utter swine to fit - probably rank as the only thing worse than the horn!
Where is the ignition lock located? I presume this wouldn't be standard MkIIA?
Robert_Norton said:
I believe the JPNs were all MKIIA, so the sidecover is correct, along with the battery tray to take the Dzus fastener which must also be correct
MkIIA airboxes are an utter swine to fit - probably rank as the only thing worse than the horn!
Where is the ignition lock located? I presume this wouldn't be standard MkIIA?
grandpaul
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2008
- Messages
- 13,264
Re: Eliminate doubt on this JPN
I have a plastic airbox complete from my '75 Interstate which I can install if it comes down to a total restoration, I know it's not going back on my street bike.
Looking like I will PROBABLY paint this fairing white with the commemorative Blue and Red/Gold stripes, maybe something on the seat as well. I kinda hate to paint the tank, even though it's already been somewhat "distracted" by smoothing over the topside welds; the Black paint job it has now is quite nice...
I have a plastic airbox complete from my '75 Interstate which I can install if it comes down to a total restoration, I know it's not going back on my street bike.
Looking like I will PROBABLY paint this fairing white with the commemorative Blue and Red/Gold stripes, maybe something on the seat as well. I kinda hate to paint the tank, even though it's already been somewhat "distracted" by smoothing over the topside welds; the Black paint job it has now is quite nice...
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2009
- Messages
- 2,107
Re: Eliminate doubt on this JPN
Hey GP, the Mk IIA and Mk 3 airboxes are actually quite different - main one being the Mk 3 has the front sidepanel bracket riveted to it, and the Mk IIA has captive nuts fitted for the ignition switch bracket, which LAB confirms wasn't relocated (despite my shocked disbelief :shock
There's no future in café racers - I think you should quit now and ship it over to me
grandpaul said:
Hey GP, the Mk IIA and Mk 3 airboxes are actually quite different - main one being the Mk 3 has the front sidepanel bracket riveted to it, and the Mk IIA has captive nuts fitted for the ignition switch bracket, which LAB confirms wasn't relocated (despite my shocked disbelief :shock
There's no future in café racers - I think you should quit now and ship it over to me
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2008
- Messages
- 2,585
Re: Eliminate doubt on this JPN
I recognise a lot of parts that were on the burned out JPN I bought. The serial number plate was indeed on the top frame tube, and your rearsets as well as one part of the fairing mounts look like what I had. The gas tank was extended and the welds were very crude looking. I still have the rearsets, I will post pictures later.
Jean
I recognise a lot of parts that were on the burned out JPN I bought. The serial number plate was indeed on the top frame tube, and your rearsets as well as one part of the fairing mounts look like what I had. The gas tank was extended and the welds were very crude looking. I still have the rearsets, I will post pictures later.
Jean
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2010
- Messages
- 667
Re: Eliminate doubt on this JPN
In case it is of interest we have the original molds to make the JPN fairing parts and do so if/when anybody wants them. See http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/News.htm and scroll down to August 2014.
Joe/Andover Norton
In case it is of interest we have the original molds to make the JPN fairing parts and do so if/when anybody wants them. See http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/News.htm and scroll down to August 2014.
Joe/Andover Norton
grandpaul
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2008
- Messages
- 13,264
Re: Eliminate doubt on this JPN
I appreciate that Joe, in fact I've seen your parts page many times from everyone I've discussed this with off-line. My biggest problem is a shoestring budget!
I will not have the funds to do a proper total restoration on this bike, so it will have to be used parts IF I do the original style JPN refurb at all.
I appreciate that Joe, in fact I've seen your parts page many times from everyone I've discussed this with off-line. My biggest problem is a shoestring budget!
I will not have the funds to do a proper total restoration on this bike, so it will have to be used parts IF I do the original style JPN refurb at all.
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2003
- Messages
- 3,658
Re: Eliminate doubt on this JPN
The black springs on the test bike in the '74 Cycle issue were not original. Check pages 25-26 and page 32 of the same issue that show chrome springs - standard issue for all Commandos. See my avatar...this is a pretty origin JPN except for the lettering was hand painted to not so original.
Bob Z. said:
The black springs on the test bike in the '74 Cycle issue were not original. Check pages 25-26 and page 32 of the same issue that show chrome springs - standard issue for all Commandos. See my avatar...this is a pretty origin JPN except for the lettering was hand painted to not so original.
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2008
- Messages
- 2,585
Re: Eliminate doubt on this JPN
Here are pics of the real JPN rearsets
Some have made reversed shift levers, but they don't have the same bend. Print out a copy of my shift lever and place yours over the picture, I bet the cure would be very close if it is a real JPN lever.
Obviously, since what I bought was a burned out bike, the rubber has burned off both sides.
Jean
Here are pics of the real JPN rearsets
Some have made reversed shift levers, but they don't have the same bend. Print out a copy of my shift lever and place yours over the picture, I bet the cure would be very close if it is a real JPN lever.
Obviously, since what I bought was a burned out bike, the rubber has burned off both sides.
Jean
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2010
- Messages
- 8,215
Re: Eliminate doubt on this JPN
Your pics have a funny golden glow to them.
Was this the lighting, or do they have a golden look to them (burned ?).
Thanks for the pics, from all of us, think thats the 1st time I' ve seen them shown in detail.
Are these still available anywhere ?
I'd also comment that I have an el cheapo looking copy set of something like these,
where the parts look very similar but are not the same in detail.
These would have been off a Commando PRIOR to the JPN cafe, so Nortons may have copied the copies !?
Your pics have a funny golden glow to them.
Was this the lighting, or do they have a golden look to them (burned ?).
Thanks for the pics, from all of us, think thats the 1st time I' ve seen them shown in detail.
Are these still available anywhere ?
I'd also comment that I have an el cheapo looking copy set of something like these,
where the parts look very similar but are not the same in detail.
These would have been off a Commando PRIOR to the JPN cafe, so Nortons may have copied the copies !?