New Norton(ish) Owner

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Hi everyone. My story is an interesting one. My older brother has had a 1972 Norton Commando 750 for the past 30yrs. I beleive shes a Roadster but I also have a spare interstate seat and tank.

My brother sold me this bike 12yrs ago and I had partially started the restoration but due to cash and space restraints I had to sell her (to my nephew). My nephew had no where to store her so he sold her back to my brother.

Long story...I now have her back. Im continuing the restoration I started 12yrs ago and Im very happy. This motorcycle hasnt run in 30yrs and is quite dirty and partially in pieces but all the pieces are there. I have restored a few motorcycles in the past but nothing this extensive.

I look forward to picking your brains and getting some knowledge from all of you. Thanks in advance.

Current situation, motor was taken appart (12yrs ago). Painted her, changed all the gaskets and piston rings and will put her back together soon. Anything I should be aware/careful of?

Also...New (ish) not Norton ish. Lol
 
I always upgrade my commandos with a better front brake system. I like using a hydraulic clutch too. If you have any specific questions ask away here.

Welcome to the forum

Cheers
Jerry
 
Forgot, you might want to consider getting your cases machined for a more advanced crank breather. They have reed valves to keep the pressure right. Helps prevent oil leaks. You can search the forum here for more details. I sent my cases to Matt at cNw and he took care of it. He offers that service.

Cheers
 
you are aware that the current gasoline sold in canada does not agree with fiberglass fuel tanks. the alcohol eats the resin and dumps it into the carbs and engine. very bad.

since your bike is a 1972 with very likely a fiberglas tank, you may want to get a replacement steel tank...
 
My advice is to STOP.

Take some time to read through various topics on here. Ask specific questions and you'll get great advice. You'll get some great off topic input too !

But seriously, there are some very knowledgeable people on this forum. There is nothing Norton that can't be worked through on here !
 
Re the ethanol fuel problem-its a big problem in some areas and not at all in others. Ive never had to use the fuel with ethanol in it while touring Western Canada and the Western US.
The Pure Gas site shows 273 Gas Stations with Ethanol free gas in Ontario.
You will be fine with the fibreglass tank if you only use ethanol free gas. Even if you are stuck somewhere that doesn't have ethanol free gas, it won't hurt to burn a tank or two of it to get home. Just make sure it's all out of there and the pure stuff is left in for any storage period.

Glen
 
I agree with Fast Eddie - read through as many of the rebuild threads as you can, and you will see laid out for you a lot of what you might see with your bike. A lot of different roads taken which will case you to do searches and think about options.

Plan as holistically as you can, but I would order your parts in "sections" based on what you will be working on at the time, rather than scatter gun approach. That way, you dont end up with orphaned parts as your plans morph.

Ask lots of questions.

As for your motor, definitely look at a reed valve breather, either a nice one to go onto your cases from Jim Comstock (comnoz on the forum) or Jim Schmidt (jseeg1). Dont know if comnoz's screw in breathers fit a '72?

And there is plenty of new candy out there for performance parts:
Colorado Norton Works
Don Pender (madass140)
JS Motorsport
NYC Norton
 
Welcome to the group. There is no such thing as a dumb question, ask away. Both Jim's are great people with lots of experience in dealing with Norton's. Take your time and if you are not sure ask. I would recommend a Pazon electronic ignition and a single carb Mikuni set up myself, others might disagree and that is OK. Inspect your head and check to see if the exhaust threads are OK, if they look questionable now is the time to get them fixed. Jim Comstock is the man to do this.
John in Texas
 
Before you get very far with your project, you will need to decide whether you want it restored to more or less original or whether you want it to be modernized. Some things are easy to reverse. Others not so much.

The crankcase breather that has been mentioned a number of times above, probably bolts directly to the back of your '72 case without modification. This is a bonus. However, there are different schools on what to do with those motors regarding oil scavenging. Do you have a Combat head?

There are some rebuild DVDs that where put out by the Norton Owners Club with Mick Hemmings that are worth watching. One on rebuilding the twin motors and one on the gearbox.

Before you get very far with assembly, I would recommend figuring out the breathing/oiling thing for yourself. Some other things that are easier done before you get very far would be swingarm mods, cradle and isolastics, and the horn, don't forget that thing.

Russ
 
Welcome to the forum.
Any chance you have a Combat Commando?
C stamped on front of head. If yes look up the threads that discuss its issues that need to be considered.
I suggest an electronic ignition. I have a Pazon Sure Fire that works well but others out there.
Dave taylor Head Steady. https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/who-is-dave-taylor-re-dave-taylor-head-steady.16236/
My 72 didn't have an oil filter so added one from OldBritts behind gearbox. Standard on later years.
Single carb with manifold Mikuni VM34 popular for simplicity and good durability.
http://www.mapcycle.com/performance...on-commando-single-mikuni-conversion-kit.html
Layshft gearbox bearing if original is prone to major failure. Look at threads that describe the problem and its replacement.
Replace Zener with solid state rectifier. Podtronics.
Oil needs zinc for flat lifters which modern oils don't have. Mobil V-Twin 20-50 Synthetic has Zinc.
21 gearbox sprocket for better cruising if stock one 19 tooth.
These are just things I did and like.
 
Thanks everyone. I'm in Ottawa Ontario Canada. I have both the Roaster steel tank and a fiberglass Interstate tank. I fortunately do not have the Combat motor, stamp is an MS I think. I'm not doing a "full" to the exact original restoration for now but I an also not bastardizing the bike with cheap or non authentic parts. I just want to get her running then I will add as I go. Just stripped my gas tank...it was more bondo than tank, ordered some new parts for damaged or unsalvagable parts and going from there. I will definitely look into the crank breather suggestion. Thanks everyone.
 
Ive noticed that I have 2 large hoses coming out of my crank case. Can I assume the breather conversion is already in place?
 
see if you can put some photos on here makes it much easier to give you advice,cheers
 
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