Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30

Been looking at Norman naturally, Seager who Chris mentioned and OCS who I saw mentioned on someone elses post on Noc. Once I've got all the prices I'll make a choice on who to use. Emailed a few others but not heard back yet :)
 
The best seat cutters are Neway, but you might want to sit down before you look at the price of them. The cutting heads are around £90 to £100 each, & the expanding mandrels are also a bit spendy.
 
I was actually looking at the neway ones Might be something to get for the future hoping to get a few more British bikes and send it out this time round to keep the cost down so I can get the rest of the bits to get her together.
 
Main Honda motorcycle dealers have a air powered valve seat grinder in their workshops, (I've used one, they are very, very good- but the valve guide should be in first class condition, or it's a waste of time) it's worth going there for your valve seat re cutting.
 
Thanks mate :) thought a few might enjoy this picture again my dads eldest bro on his 1968 Gus Kuhn Commando.

Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30
 
Just want to say a huge thanks to the lads at Seager for sorting my head so quickly here's a few pictures just installed the stem seals, insulators springs etc.

Just waiting for the head to heat up before I push the new rocker spindles in.

On re assembly found out the old spring free length was way under the old ones. An the rocker spindles were spinning due to them being under size not the head which is good! Still going to fit the modified rgm end caps which have been brilliant on the 650ss quite fancy some of the NYC end caps at some point :)

Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30

Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30

Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30
 
Glad you stuck with that head, there really is nothing wrong with it, also incase you don't already know ,the rocker spindles have the flats facing outwards IE the spindle oil hole facing away from the head feed hole
 
Thanks Baz when I weighed up all the cost options it really was the most cost effective method. An yep got the flats outward it's burned into my memory as there's a miss print in the 650ss P Manual since the 60s I had them spinning on that due to a lack of interference fit. The RGM modded end caps really did the job on that going to fit them on the Commando as well even though the new spindles have returned some of the interference fit :) Nice bit of piece of mind with them. Quite liking the look of the NYC Norton ones wouldn't mind getting a set at some point.
 
Successful day again ^-^ The engine is back in the updated chassis on my 1968 Commando how nice is the frame modification by Norman White nice and safe now for the big trips I've got planned on her :) all jigged n checked.


Just got to sort the nightmare that the wiring loom is, I actually bought a new cloth covered loom but it did have a very neat loom fitted which at first I was gonna not use again but everyone said the standard loom can be a birds nest under the tank so a bit of thinking to do whats everyone's take on it?

Also does anyone know what side of the top tube the loom runs up? An what section comes up through the battery tray near the oil tank forgot to take a picture :)

Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30
 
norton_rider said:
Just got to sort the nightmare that the wiring loom is,
Click to expand...

There's only a handful of wires, all colour coded. How can that be a nightmare?

norton_rider said:
I actually bought a new cloth covered loom but it did have a very neat loom fitted which at first I was gonna not use again but everyone said the standard loom can be a birds nest under the tank
Click to expand...

"Everyone"!
Only if you've bought the wrong loom as the correct harness is full length so doesn't have the junction under the tank where the main harness section connects to the headlamp section plus there are no handlebar switch clusters to connect there either as the single handlebar cluster connects inside the headlamp shell. No condenser pack* under the fuel tank, no ballast resistor...

Edit:
*(I believe you intend to fit the '71-on coil bracket now the frame has been modified so the condensers can be moved to the coil bracket if points ignition is to be used).
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys just sat looking at her for ages once the engine was in over the moon :) yep I bought 06.8065/BR from Andover guessing I might end up having to extend the cables for the coils but don't think that should be to big a deal think the info id seen where it was a bit of a rats nest was an 850 was just briefly flicking through Norman's book the other day.

Just had the new loom out from Andover doesnt look to bad. As you say Lab pretty much a straight run on it into the headlight gonna get it done tomorrow can get all the battery tray and airbox back in then.

Yep gonna order the bracket and leave the Capaciter where it is I think got a tri spark on her currently.

I'm going to re jet my Premiers I took of my 650ss 28mm ones so will be good for the Commando.
 
norton_rider said:
Just had the new loom out from Andover doesnt look to bad. As you say Lab pretty much a straight run on it into the headlight gonna get it done tomorrow can get all the battery tray and airbox back in then.
Click to expand...

I don't know what loom hole you mean in the battery tray?
There's a hole for the oil tank mount?

norton_rider said:
Yep gonna order the bracket and leave the Capaciter where it is I think got a tri spark on her currently.
Click to expand...
I wasn't referring to the 2MC ignition capacitor.
I was referring to the ignition condenser pack (2CP)...
https://www.classicbritishspares.com/products/47638
...that would have been attached to the rear airbox plate, originally (for points ignition) however, as you will be using a Tri-Spark then you won't be fitting the condenser pack.
 
Last edited:
Thanks lab im wondering if he had incorrectly routed something I'll have to lay both the looms across the frame and see where it all goes. What side of the headstock does the loom usually run up guys?
 

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