New Member from Australia 73 Commando 850

Good evening everybody,
Two months ago i bought my dream bike, a 73 Commando 850. I'm 23 years old from Australia and my Norton is incredible. It is currently undergoing a very small cosmetic tidy up as well as a Tri-Spark ignition upgrade to eliminate the points.
I've only been reading this forum for a few weeks, but this is my first British bike and the wiring is driving me up the wall after one night trying to work out what the previous owner has done with the wiring. I don't wish to be one of those members whos first post is a cry for help, so i will show you some photos of the bike when I got it, When I started cleaning the exterior and what its currently looking like. I am also currently awaiting a Corbin Gunfighter seat.

Welcome!

It's nice that there's some new blood as the average age here is two to three times yours!

These simplified diagrams may help and, of course, the workshop manual has the full electrical:

https://www.oldbritts.com/simp_wd.html

Welcome, it would be good to put up where abouts in Australia you are, anyway plenty of Aussies on this forum that could help you out with plenty of experances, it's good to see someone so young to take up a great motorcycle, I was 17 years old when I brought my new 74 850 Commando which I still own today but with many changes.
Your bike looks great and your on your way to make it your own, so enjoy the experance and if you need help your on the right forum.

Ashley

Welcome! That looks like a fine bike that will clean up nicely. An ohmmeter is going to be your best friend to sort out electrical. Part of the pride of ownership. Have fun!

Welcome. Where abouts are you in Oz? As the others have said you are in the right place to get the answers you need.

Mark

Hi and thanks for all the encouraging messages. I'm in Port Stephens an hour north of Newcastle.
I've got a good multi meter and I just need a weekend (hopefully this weekend) to just sit down and nut through the wiring this afternoon I'll post a photo of the wiring near the coils.
I figured there would be an age gap but my grandfather and dad are huge motorcycle fanatics and I've been around them all my life. Pops black shadow was the first classic bike I ever fell in love with but too expensive for me!!

Good day to you, sir!

Here is a thought that could save you much aggravation, tear out all that old untrustworthy wiring and build yourself a new modern harness.

I finally did this a month ago, I ordered a PC-8 circuit board from EasternBeaver in Japan and have it velcroed to the battery on the left side,

Although you could go either way, I left mine positive ground out of respect to its roots.

The problem you have now is a 40 year old harness that will drive you crazy trying to track and sort what is going where, juice is going out of the negative battery terminal to the keyed ignition, also ancient and to be viewed with great suspicion, and from there through the harness to all over the place, with the biggest weakness being the current goes to the kill button and then to the points, lots of places to fail and leave you cursing on the side of the road.

Lots of great upgrades to your bike to be considered from the front brake master cylinder to going to electronic ignition (TriSpark?).

But first consider dealing with and fully understanding your electrics, consider a new ready made Commando harness or better yet make your own!

Great to see a youngster joining the ranks. No way I could have afforded one at 23, so good going.

I would respectfully (to 1up3down) suggest that you seek to methodically understand the wiring that you have in situ, bit by bit if necessary, and assess it carefully before deciding to tear it all out and start again. Taken slowly its not that complex a system or that difficult to understand. Apart from my 1938 BSA I've never had to rewire any car or bike that I ever owned.

Often most of it is sound with perhaps a few problem areas where previous owners have messed things about. Of course if you find evidence of melted stuff deep within the loom then thats another story.

Anyway enjoy and share your ownership story.

Hi Nick. Welcome to the forum. You're in a good spot there. You have a Norton legend not far from you. I'd heard that he'd closed his workshop and was going to work from home but that was a couple of years ago. Last time I* saw him he was flat out. Vic Vassella is his name and he lives in a little spot called Medowie. I don't have his contact details but you should be able to find him.

Welcome Nick ! .... real nice looking Norton .... you have managed at a very young age to get yourself a bike that will entertain you for the rest of your ride life .... good on you .... enjoy ...
Craig

G'day mate and welcome,

you lucky, lucky... wish I had a Norton when I was your age, instead I was learning bad riding habits from ill-handling Hondas on Cheng Shin housebrick-profile bakellite tyres.

Hi Nick.

I too am still in my 20's. Good to see someone else this side of 40 in the Norton game. Im in sydney, so if you ever need a hand with stuff let me know.

Regards

Ross

In my 20's as well , but my bike and I are in Melbourne . We're all over the place!

Sounds like you guys need a 20-something rally!

On an aside, I would venture most guys here got their first Commando somewhen in their 20s - I did, but that was in the mid-80s!

Welcome to the magic of owning a Norton Commando. You will not be disappointed.Just ask any questions you have and the people on this site are extremely helpful.
I am in Melbourne also. I purchased my first Commando, a 1971 Roadster, new in March of 1972 at the age of 18. What a wonderful ride that bike was. Unfortunately I sold it in 1975 but I have recently purchased another 1971 Roadster that is a basket case and is undergoing a full rebuild.
Enjoy your Norton.
David

Hi buddy, I'm near Cessnock, not far from you. If it might help, I could prolly email you a few downloads, manuals etc. If they wont email I can burn a disc or two and send them by post. SHHHHHHHH. Did I say that, I would never do that. PM Me. :mrgreen:
JUG

Far out, this forum seems awesome, I work right next to Medowie so hopefully I can meet up with him soon to get some advice.

I had a slight win today. I pondered the wiring nightmare all day at work and then came home and spent 2 hours on it, and got the Tri-Spark ignition to work, I was stoked so I then tidied up the wires (I still have a long way to go).

I havent ridden the bike yet, I am a little OCD and decided I won't until I got the bike exactly as I want it then take it for its first ride.

I have some photos from tonight, from the wiring that was under the tank right up to back together next to my 1969 Honda Dax.

I apologise the first two photos I uploaded were crap, the first is the only full photo of the bike that was in the advertisement and the next is the first time I got the black and gold tank and covers on it, I usually take better photos.

I'm pumped there are heaps of younger guys here too. I worked pretty hard to afford this bike and sold another Honda Monkey to help pay for the big rig.

There are so many people replying, I will eventually get relevant questions to you everyone, including meeting up with blokes close by for a ride.

Welcome to Norton ownership. Be carful as it can become a life long addiction. At the age of 19 I bought my first new Norton, a 1972 purple metal flake Combat. Sold it in 75 with 62,000 miles on the speedo to buy a house. Once the house was purchased a series of Nortons have followed. My current bike is a 1973 850. I've owned this bike for 6 years. Like yours, the PO had mucked up the wiring. I cleaned it up and eliminated all of the bullet connectors by soldering everything together. No electrical issues in the 20,000 miles since doing that. No plug ins will slightly complicate any needed electrical work, but hey, I haven't needed to touch anything yet.
You'll like the Corbin seat. It looks good and after break in is quite comfy. Mine took about 1000-1500 miles before it fully conformed to my behind. I put a set of the lower Euro style bars on the bike shortly after installing the Corbin. That change really helped with the body ergos making the bike much more pleasant on longer rides. You're going to be pleased with the expert advice that you will find on this site as well as being baffled by some of the BS. Thankfully the good outweighs the bad. Another great thing about Commandos is the network of parts providers out there. Good luck and ride well.

Welcome! So much info to wade through here. It's great fun, and very informative.

wynston said:

Click to expand...

Ouchy! At least you were able to get the Trispark to work.
Like so many here, I fell in love with mine at an early age. I was just fourteen when I got to help assemble this brand-new girl (she-back-t16865.html) from the crate at our local British bike shop.
As Clanger said, the electrical systems are pretty straight forward. I've never had any of the components fail on mine; only problems with connectors. Of course, if the wiring's cooked or starting to crack from age, you're probably best to start from scratch, rather than trying to nurse along a failing system. A new replacement loom can be had for around $135 USD.

Have fun!

Nathan

Wynston,

Your right side side-cover, that mounts on the oil tank, is not fitted correctly. The lower tab should be fitted between the aluminum Z plate and the frame -- not to the outside of the aluminum plate as you have it fitted in the photos you've posted.

There should also be a rubber spacer fitted in the hole of the tab.



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