Norton script on timing side. (2016)

MGB65B · Nov 11, 2016

I owned an Australian delivery black/gold coach lines 1974 Mk 2 850 Roadster for close on 25 years, from when it was still a relatively newish bike and definitely unrestored and original. It didn't have any colour to the timing cover "Norton" script. I'd always therefore assumed the painted ones were done by the owners and not the factory.

I've just bought an American import black/gold 1974 Mk2 850 Roadster (to replace the bike I should never have sold!). The "Norton" timing cover script is painted black! I'd assumed this too had been done by a previous owner. Now reading this thread I really don't know! I was intending to get the paint off to make my "new" bike more original. Now I'm thinking I might not go to the trouble.

Could the decision to paint or leave unpainted be market destination dependent? Conservative East Coast USA, Australia etc unpainted, and other destinations painted? Or maybe the crankcase painting guy took lots of "sickies", and crankcase lettering only got painted when he showed up for work, or wasn't too hung over from the night before.

kerinorton · Nov 14, 2016

and a guy walking through the neighborhood ask "Is that an old Harley?" Feck!
He probably voted for the TRUMP as well.

Dereck

JimNH · Nov 14, 2016

MK III White with blue stripe, no evidence the timing cover was painted.

kommando · Nov 15, 2016

My 850 MK2A has red in the timing cover script and the inner part of the front disc, had it since 1982 but no idea if the Factory applied the red or Dealer or PO.

gtsun · Nov 15, 2016

Well kommando I would say the red script could be stock but I don't think the red disc is..

DevonNorton · Nov 16, 2016

Hello All

This site has a selection of Norton Brochures http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Brochures/Brochures.htm

Looking at the different year models Frankdamp looks to be correct about the 1969 models

For 1970 to 1974 all are shown as just engraved.

Just when I was beginning to nod off the 1975 850 Roadster and Interstate appeared blacked in, e.g.

Interestingly the 1975 Norton/Triumph combined brochure shows the Norton cover just engraved.
Hope this helps for those in search of originality. Personally I prefer the Norton painted in for most of the reasons others have stated.

Andy

Rohan · Nov 17, 2016

frankdamp said:
Another minor point - I don't think the early production bikes (first 6 months or so) had the logo cast into the timing case at all. This was part of the "Green Blob" publicity debacle.

Commandos didn't have the Norton logo cast into the timing cover until the points-on-cam
20M3S motors appeared - for 1969.
You can't get an Atlas type timing cover with a logo cast into it.

So nothing that came out of Plumstead had a logo on the timing cover.
So that was nearly 2 years from the 1967 showing of the prototypes.

Rohan · Nov 17, 2016

BTW, a little bit of Norton history/trivia is that the very first Norton dommie twin, the Model 7
(= the Commando's grandfather) circa early 1949 was shown in the publicity photos with the Norton script cast/engraved into the timing cover.

But, as-far-as-is-known, no bikes were actually produced like that,
instead they came out with a little brass patent badge riveted to the cover...

I've snaffled slicks pic of his enamel tin sign..
With black paint in the Norton script (?).

What goes around comes around.....

L.A.B. · Nov 17, 2016

Rohan said:
Commandos didn't have the Norton logo cast into the timing cover until the points-on-cam
20M3S motors appeared - for 1969.

So nothing that came out of Plumstead had a logo on the timing cover.

The 'S' type (so 20M3S) was introduced in March 1969 and Commando production at Plumstead didn't end until July that year.

Fast Eddie · Nov 17, 2016

So gents, was there a big twin variant that had a points in timing cover and NO cast in logo?

Or...

Is the timing cover thick enough to polish the logo out?

Rohan · Nov 17, 2016

L.A.B. said:
The 'S' type (so 20M3S) was introduced in March 1969 and Commando production at Plumstead didn't end until July that year.

I knew you'd correct me !
Can we find a pic of one at Plumstead

The engines were being built in Wolverhampton by then
Or did production shift a few months after the new engine appeared ?

Rohan · Nov 17, 2016

Fast Eddie said:
So gents, was there a big twin variant that had a points in timing cover and NO cast in logo?
Or...
Is the timing cover thick enough to polish the logo out?

A plain cover with points-on-cam appeared here recently,
and seemed to have been welded over to get the plain look...

L.A.B. · Nov 17, 2016

Rohan said:
L.A.B. said:

The 'S' type (so 20M3S) was introduced in March 1969 and Commando production at Plumstead didn't end until July that year.

Click to expand...

Can we find a pic of one at Plumstead

I'm sure there's a photo of the "last Plumstead Commando" on the track surrounded by the workers which, if I remember correctly, was an S type. I can't think where it the photo is but I will see if I can find it

Rohan said:
The engines were being built in Wolverhampton by then
Or did production shift a few months after the new engine appeared ?

According to Bacon, the first Wolverhampton engine was 134108 so early '69, Plumstead-built engines having a 'P' suffix.

auldblue · Nov 17, 2016

L.A.B. said:
Rohan said:

L.A.B. said:

The 'S' type (so 20M3S) was introduced in March 1969 and Commando production at Plumstead didn't end until July that year.

Click to expand...

Can we find a pic of one at Plumstead

Click to expand...

I'm sure there's a photo of the "last Plumstead Commando" on the track surrounded by the workers which, if I remember correctly, was an S type. I can't think where it the photo is but I will see if I can find it

Rohan said:

The engines were being built in Wolverhampton by then
Or did production shift a few months after the new engine appeared ?

Click to expand...

According to Bacon, the first Wolverhampton engine was 134108 so early '69, Plumstead-built engines having a 'P' suffix.

I have looked at quite a few dating sites and all seem to vary, contradicting one another . The above information attributed to Roy Bacon maybe correct but according to my bike within engine number time frame for plumbstead but no "p" suffix and it was registered in June 69. And camshaft points which according to other sites the above number was the first fastback with them and "p" suffix for Wolverhampton.
Jg

L.A.B. · Nov 17, 2016

auldblue said:
I have looked at quite a few dating sites and all seem to vary, contradicting one another . The above information attributed to Roy Bacon maybe correct but according to my bike within engine number time frame for plumbstead but no "p" suffix and it was registered in June 69. And camshaft points which according to other sites the above number was the first fastback with them and "p" suffix for Wolverhampton.

I did say 134108 was "early '69" which may not have been correct.

According to Bacon, the first camshaft-points Fastback was "133668 - September 1969" and the first Wolverhampton engine "134108" also "September 1969".
If Wolverhampton didn't actually begin supplying engines until September '69 (by which time Commando assembly was being transferred to Andover) then there would be no reason to expect a June '69 registered Commando engine to have the 'P' suffix.

L.A.B. · Nov 17, 2016

Rohan said:
Can we find a pic of one at Plumstead?

Here's one:
http://www.workingatamc.london/assembly.html

auldblue · Nov 17, 2016

L.A.B. said:
auldblue said:

I have looked at quite a few dating sites and all seem to vary, contradicting one another . The above information attributed to Roy Bacon maybe correct but according to my bike within engine number time frame for plumbstead but no "p" suffix and it was registered in June 69. And camshaft points which according to other sites the above number was the first fastback with them and "p" suffix for Wolverhampton.

Click to expand...

I did say 134108 was "early '69" which may not have been correct.

According to Bacon, the first camshaft-points Fastback was "133668 - September 1969" and the first Wolverhampton engine "134108" also "September 1969".
If Wolverhampton didn't actually begin supplying engines until September '69 (by which time Commando assembly was being transferred to Andover) then there would be no reason to expect a June '69 registered Commando engine to have the 'P' suffix.

Sorry Les,

As usual I didnt check my facts first. 133668 could not have been the first cam/points fastback engine as mine is three hundred odd numbers before it.

Jg
And can't tell if the script was painted at source.

Pete D. M. · Jul 25, 2022

I have seen some where the script is slightly gray and it does not seem to be painted and may have something to do with the casting. Makes the lettering stand out.

YING · Jul 26, 2022

chrismay said:
My 75 850 came from the factory not painted. I bought it new and I have thought it would look better blacked out but I wondered when I polished the cover would I buff out the recessed paint?

Good luck deciding
Chris

Chris,
I have never had a problem disturbing the black when using a wheel.Just take your time.
Mike

L.A.B. · Jul 26, 2022

YING said:
Chris,
I have never had a problem disturbing the black when using a wheel.Just take your time.
Mike

This is an old (2016) thread and chrismay hasn't logged in since November 2020.

Norton script on timing side. (2016)

MGB65B

kerinorton

JimNH

kommando

gtsun

DevonNorton

Attachments

Rohan

Rohan

L.A.B.

Moderator

Fast Eddie

Rohan

Rohan

L.A.B.

Moderator

auldblue

L.A.B.

Moderator

L.A.B.

Moderator

auldblue

Pete D. M.

YING

Pittsboro,NC

L.A.B.

Moderator

Similar threads