Norton 850 project(s)

Camp6 said:

...as to the "spanners" I have read much about Norton's having different size nuts/bolts and the whole "Whitworth" measurement (BSM) sizing. Do I need to get some BSM or will the Metric/Standard sets I have work. I haven't had any issues thus far, but also don't want to get on a roll and then have to stop with possible issues with an uncooperative bolt.

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Whitworth is BSW not BSM (never heard of BSM! -- BSW, BSF, AF, UNC, UNF but no BSM). Some AF spanners/wrenches will fit. The URL below gives info and about half way down the page is a cross reference chart.

http://www.timebus.co.uk/rlh/whitworth.htm

IMHO you need a few Whitworth wrenches, and the link agrees, apparently, because it says: "Whitworth heads are NOT the same size as the equivalent UNC/UNF - they are larger. For this reason, it is imperative that a set of Whitworth wrenches are purchased before working on any antique British machinery. Otherwise, expect rounded-off heads and busted knuckles, trademarks of the careless craftsman." No doubt some one will chime in saying they rebuilt their bike using a only Crescent wrench and Swiss army knife, but I don't think it is to be recommended.

Sorry I miss-spoke, I meant BSC, but it refers to the same as you had advised (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Standard_Cycle). I have not experienced such a bike where the tools are as unique as the machine and seems to add to the appeal.

So after nearly 2 years of waiting on the owner for some $$$ to get the project going, a question has been brought up.
1. Would it make more sense to sell the 3 bikes (complete 73 non-running with title, complete 73 non running w/o title, and dismantled 75 with title) and use the funds to purchase a running bike? What would the 3 bikes bring for the lot of them or being sold separately?....any thoughts?
2. Complete the project as originally thought and hope the amount put into the project doesn't surpass the amount that a running bike would have cost.

Any help would be greatly appreciated for the current issue at hand.

"Would it make sense?" Is an open-ended question.

For most people, probably.

For some others, absolutely not. Then you'd only have 1 bike and not 3.

Personally, I'd swap the best parts from the three onto the best matching-numbers frame/engine combo with title, get it running, then build a second runner from the remaining titled bike, selling off the remains of the 3rd to recoup some of the build costs as I went along.

Camp6 said:

......... and hope the amount put into the project doesn't surpass the amount that a running bike would have cost. .

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Well, I believe that you will probably put more into them than you will be able to sell them for. If the intent is resale, it's probably best to list them as is. Even if you're doing all of the work yourself and don't factor in your time, the price still ends up going real high.

Basket case bikes are a lot like boats. A boat is a hole in the water that one throws money into. When one purchases a basket case bike, they have purchased a hole to throw money into.
As long as you or he can afford to do it, it can be great fun and rewarding, though not in a financial way.

http://www.jerrydoe.com/MK3-Norton-Rebu ... ebuild.php

My two cents

After nearly 2 years of waiting on the owner for some $$$ to get the project going, owner is NOT going to.

Makes sense to sell the 3 bikes (complete 73 non-running with title, complete 73 non running w/o title, and dismantled 75 with title) and use the funds to purchase a running bike. I would say 2 to 3 thousand each on fleabay. This will get you a nice runner for 6 to 8 thousand.

Most restorers want to do one bike at a time and will pay more. A dealer will try to lowball all three.