Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30

Thanks mate really appreciate the comments yeah was a bit suprised at that engine case.

Making steady progress bit by bit gonna get a bearing separator tomorrow to get the mains of the crank.

Had already said to dad for what it costs I'm just gon a fit a new flywheel.

I've still got to make a choice about the cylinder head I didn't like the way the spindles came out stupidly easy without heating pretty much were ready for falling out previous owner had fitted the wrong end caps an there's other damage to it as well shall see what Pete reckons once it's all cleaned up still got to get all the media the previous owner left in it.

Do agree gonna be pricey but I do intend on using it like I was an was starting to use my 650ss irritating thing is this was from a so called 'expert'
Just experienced this with my uncles gt750 when he sent some carbs to be professionally done.
They came back and I spent the past few weekends with him re stripping them to find them all assembled incorrect. That's purring like a good stroker should now.

I had my doubts when looking at it so was expecting the engine might have to come apart.
Having said that I'd been looking for a early 68' for a while as that was the year my uncle raced.

She will be ten times the bike once shes done and enjoying the fact I'm doing all the work myself apart from the major engineering work which Pete Lovell is doing an I'm getting my bits from Norvil so I'm in safe hands regarding that side of things.

Bit of a pain barrier at the moment an as you say its gonna hurt the wallet but the experience I'm gaining how do you put a price on that :)

Especially as once I sell some of my Japanese classics off i plan on getting a few more Norton's least I'll have the tools an experience to tackle anything.


Luckily one of my Yamaha rd250lcs sold the very day I advertised it so that's funding the Commando rebuild shame as I was hoping to get a 16h wd or another 650ss :) they will come in the future though!
 
o0norton0o said:
those are the original roller bearings, not the improved superblend bearings which your bike should have.
Click to expand...

They're not the original bearings!

The original '68-'71 main bearings would have been a drive-side roller (MRJA30) and timing-side (MJ30) ball bearing.

They are 6/MRJA30 'Superblends'. (The '6' denoting Superblend being etched)

https://www.nortonownersclub.org/su...mando/commando-main-bearings-service-releases
"Prior to 1971*, crankshaft main bearings comprised a roller drive side bearing (R&M Part No. MRJA30) and a timing side ball bearing (Part No. MJ30). Later models are fitted with two new type roller bearings (Part No. 6MRJA30) that give improved durability. These bearings can be fitted to earlier models on both the drive and timing side. When roller bearings are used on both sides, the crankshaft should be shimmed to provide an end play of between 0.010" and 0.020". This is Norton shim (Part No. NMT2196A, later changed to 067569)."

*(That should be "Prior to 1972")


"Service Release No. N2/9
Nature of Release Crankshaft main (roller) bearings
Models Affected 1972 Commando (all models)
Distribution Worldwide

Explanation
In order to extend main bearing life, a change of roller main bearing specification has now been authorized and fitted on production engines from Engine No. 211891. The new roller bearing is designated 'Superblend' with an increased load carrying capacity and is supplied under Part No. 063906 (manufacturers part number R&M 6/MRJA30)."
 
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Norton_rider ….. beware of so-called gurus- like the carb ones......mechanical and otherwise
 
norton_rider said:
Making steady progress bit by bit gonna get a bearing separator tomorrow to get the mains of the crank.

Had already said to dad for what it costs I'm just gon a fit a new flywheel.

I've still got to make a choice about the cylinder head I didn't like the way the spindles came out stupidly easy without heating pretty much were ready for falling out previous owner had fitted the wrong end caps an there's other damage to it as well shall see what Pete reckons once it's all cleaned up still got to get all the media the previous owner left in it.

Do agree gonna be pricey but I do intend on using it like I was an was starting to use my 650ss irritating thing is this was from a so called 'expert'
Just experienced this with my uncles gt750 when he sent some carbs to be professionally done.
They came back and I spent the past few weekends with him re stripping them to find them all assembled incorrect. That's purring like a good stroker should now.

I had my doubts when looking at it so was expecting the engine might have to come apart.
Having said that I'd been looking for a early 68' for a while as that was the year my uncle raced.

She will be ten times the bike once shes done and enjoying the fact I'm doing all the work myself apart from the major engineering work which Pete Lovell is doing an I'm getting my bits from Norvil so I'm in safe hands regarding that side of things.

Bit of a pain barrier at the moment an as you say its gonna hurt the wallet but the experience I'm gaining how do you put a price on that :)

Especially as once I sell some of my Japanese classics off i plan on getting a few more Norton's least I'll have the tools an experience to tackle anything.


Luckily one of my Yamaha rd250lcs sold the very day I advertised it so that's funding the Commando rebuild shame as I was hoping to get a 16h wd or another 650ss :) they will come in the future though!
Click to expand...

I have just bought a lot of Commando spares, including cranks, so let me know if you want me to check flywheels I have. Jan.
 
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Some of the crankshaft nuts (tall and standard height) look as if they are in the wrong positions but no doubt you will be dismantling the crankshaft.

Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30
 
oh yes, not the first time an probably not the last time any of us will get our fingers burnt. Learnt my lesson :) Good thing is with Pete Lovell an Les an Gaz at Norvil got every confidence in them as I've used them before. So know my Commando will be back better than ever.

Thanks Jan an Lab appreciate that.

Was wondering that Lab doesn't surprise me everything has been wrong incorrect cross threaded or the like. The list keeps getting bigger haha.

Yep hoping to have the crank split tomorrow and switch tact slightly to cleaning the head up still need to make a choice about that. Decisions decisions :)
 
My '70 had it's original bearings which were a roller on one side and a ball on the other. When I look at the pictures on page 9, those bearings both looked like roller bearings to me. Perhaps I am misremembering how pronounced the difference in appearance between the superblends and the roller bearings is. I could take a look at my original roller bearing to compare, since I saved it... I sent my ball bearing to Jim for some future test he's planning.
 
o0norton0o said:
My '70 had it's original bearings which were a roller on one side and a ball on the other. When I look at the pictures on page 9, those bearings both looked like roller bearings to me.
Click to expand...

They are both roller bearings therefore not original bearings or even two original (MRJA30) roller bearings.


o0norton0o said:
Perhaps I am misremembering how pronounced the difference in appearance between the superblends and the roller bearings is.
Click to expand...

The 6MRJA30 is a roller bearing and was the original 'Superblend'.
https://www.nortonownersclub.org/sites/default/files/Main-Bearings-v1.1.compressed.pdf

Are you confusing the original 6MRJA30 'Superblend' with the later FAG NJ306E. 'Superblend'?
 
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L.A.B. said:
They are both roller bearings therefore not original bearings or even two original (MRJA30) roller bearings.




The 6MRJA30 is a roller bearing and was the original 'Superblend'.
https://www.nortonownersclub.org/sites/default/files/Main-Bearings-v1.1.compressed.pdf

Are you confusing the original 6MRJA30 'Superblend' with the later FAG NJ306E. 'Superblend'?
Click to expand...

I wasn't confusing them because I didn't even know there was more than one version. The superblends I installed had a visible taper to the barrel of the roller. Thanks for setting me straight.
 
o0norton0o said:
I wasn't confusing them because I didn't even know there was more than one version.
Click to expand...

Perhaps a poor choice of words on my part. I had the feeling you were thinking of the FAG NJ306E as being the 'Superblend'

o0norton0o said:
The superblends I installed had a visible taper to the barrel of the roller.
Click to expand...

The 6 MRJA30 rollers have a similar profile although not visible in the photos (see bearing article in the previous link).
 
I have to say that this is one of the more interesting and informative threads I've read in ages. Thanks to all!
 
Hi Riviera an Steve thanks for the messages :)

Unfortunately not at the moment the cylinder head is cleaned fully now ready for engineering the poor gasket surface from Norton it's going to be skimmed. I'm going to use the same fix for the rocker spindles that I did on my 650ss which has the same issue with loss of interference fit before I got both bikes.

Should cut the cost down a bit valve seats an valves look in decent condition.
The fix worked perfectly on my 650ss (thread is in other motorcycles)

Unfortunately I'm in the hands of others now speed wise. Also got the slight issues of funds.

Got enough put away for the cylinder work an a head skim. Anything to do with the crank will have to wait until I've got some of my Japanese bikes sold.

Currently in Cornwall for a week once I'm back I'll touch base with the legends that are Pete Lovell and Chris I do know they were super busy an winter's here anyway so might take a while.
Just gotta decide what to do with the Crank gonna strip it an fit a new flywheel just wondering what the cost of getting a Norton crank balanced would be.
In other news once the japanese stuffs sold gonna get myself another Norton and a evo engined harley :)
 
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Yay bit of progress! Just picked up my Cylinder from the Legend that is Pete Lovell :) all sorted.

Just gotta work out the rest of the costs now as that's probably gonna delay things a bit more.

Gonna strip an rebuild my Crankshaft myself though an look at getting the bottom end back together at least :)

Feels like there's a bit of light at the end of the tunnel now.

Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30
20191017_133133-01 by norton.rider, on Flickr
 
Cheers mate :) yeah it's all be pretty crazy tbh! Been riding about on the 650SS alot which is running perfect now an I'm using that as my daily rider even odd day getting shopping on it haha!

One thing I've gotta decide is whether to replace the early super blends or not.

Cylinder needed only a hone + a skim and the followers were repaired + dressing of the damaged skirt.

Just been pricing it all up so should be on the home run with her an who know's might even be able to get a ride in by the end of the year if I sell a few bits an pieces to fund some stuff for the Commando or it'l wait for a bit buying all the tools then the bits for the 650ss cleared me out!
 
norton_rider said:
Yay bit of progress! Just picked up my Cylinder from the Legend that is Pete Lovell :) all sorted.

Gonna strip an rebuild my Crankshaft myself though an look at getting the bottom end back together at least :)
Click to expand...

Be sure to clean the sludge trap !
 
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