I started riding motorcycles when I was 6 years old. I love riding and working on motorcycles. I ain’t no mechanic but I play one in my garage. Welcome!
As a kid of the 60’s our family from Hattiesburg was staying in one of the rooms when JFK was assassinated. Stafford Springs along w/ Gulfport were two of our favorite getaways. I sure miss those days growing up in the Deep South as we were very blessed. Now I’m stuck in Kansas but great people and beautiful Flinthills so I shouldn’t complain I just miss the Southern culture!
Looks like an interesting build, look forward to seeing what you do next. I did my tank with the same decals, a nightmare of a job, but finally got it done after two attempts. 12v conversion and big bore front pipe, these bikes are very customisable without ruining them!
Yeah the decals are not fun to install. Which using water to install them helps. Getting the decal to separate from the plastic film is the hardest part. Yeah 500s are great bikes, Yamaha did good making the 500 and 650.
I have a 1975 850 Norton Commando Mark III Electric Start, Last US Production Year. Been in Re-build state for over 12 years Now ! So Don't feel left in the Cold ! That's how long my HEAD work has took till 2 weeks ago . He JUST got it Back from the LAST attempt of welding up the Mooned-out Blow-out when I lost a Head Gasket in Downtown Chicago in 83,YES that was the day I DIDN"T Pull the Plug,like an Idiot. But i wasn't gonna leave my Bike Downtown !! I started the Rebuild a little a that,but took it Home down-state later to have welded and milled. That didn't turn out perfect ! Still Blowing Gaskets ! That meant not Flat ! I got in contact with M.A.P. Cycle in Florida,sent it to them.told them to take time & do what's necessary,valves & All ! These Heads have TONS of Porosity in them !! And it was .008 WARPED ! At Least,All HAND GROUND !! That Takes FOREVER !! My Head was His WORST NIGHT MARE !! BUT, Come a SUNNY DAY, he sent it to a NY shop also for Last Minute Welding,and Behold,it's DONE ! I had to have time to to get my $$$ in Order too,so it wasn't his end ! He has worked ALL this time with me !!!! WHO would do that ?!?! M.A.P. Cycle is the BEST !! And now I'm gonna get my MOD parts too !!! THANKS MARINO !!!!!!!!! 😎
Man I’m glad you’re getting it back together. I heard Franz and Grubb does good work. I didn’t know Marino did head work. It took way too long for me to get my Norton engine rebuilt, but it’s done and runs really good.
I can hear that beautiful, classic Norton Commando gasping for more air when that throttle is twisted with that single Mikuni carb. It doesn't sound the way a Commando should sound. Why compromise the horsepower and torque with a single carb especially after all that hard work?
Ya know the little pin on the timing chain thats supposed to pop in and out while the bike is running? If that isn't popping in and out when bike is running but timing chain was adjusted, what might be the issue?
Are you talking about the cam chain adjuster? I would remove it and dissemble it. Make sure the plunger is moving freely back and forth. Also is the chain guide in good condition. It will wear out over time and is the cam chain new? The chain will stretch out and you could adjust it all the way in and not see plunger moving. If you’re hearing alot of engine noise, it could be the chain.
Thanks for the reply. No not new. I bought this from another guy. I assume the engine has never been opened. Its a future project. The bike can idle fairly rattly sometimes. Im currently trying to upgrade the lights and indicators and reduce the horrendous wiring mess that's currently on it...its quite daunting.@@Mobikesmoproblems
@@pmacc3557 yeah wiring sucks. If the wiring harness is a mess and you can afford a new harness, I would get a new one. You’ll save a lot time and stress. Good luck to you brother.
oh i know I was thinkn to get a new harness but...as mine is kicker only (no battery) id have to figure out to add a battery - the cost is not an issue. I would feel like a quitter if i dont tackle it myself...il see how it goes...@@Mobikesmoproblems
Sounds terrible with that single Mikuni. You can hear it gasping for more mixture when you give it some throttle. For owners considering the single Mikuni the Commando will lose it's performance at 3000 rpm and above. With the dual Amals the Norton Commando keeps the acceleration, the torque and the grunt it was engineered to have.
It does sound weak with that single carb and is weaker. Once they put on the single many owners don't really know what it used to sound like with dual carbs or even how a Norton Commando should really perform.
Too bad it has a single Mikuni. That Commando has lost the acceleration, the torque and the grunt it was engineered to have. Dual Amal Premiers are one answer to get it's performance back.
Runs fine for me. Next guy can put dual amals on it. If I had the money I would run cNw dual keihin flat slide carbs on it, way mo better than ancient amal technology.
@@MobikesmoproblemsI'm sure you're happy with the single Mikuni but I only comment for Commando owners thinking about changing their carbs. Single carb advocates rarely discuss the performance loss when they change to a single Mikuni. New Amal Premiers are $445 for a pair compared to the Keihins at $1200+. And that Mikuni carb is not new technology either. And there is lots of 'ancient technology' on a 50 year old Commando besides the Amals. I prefer to keep the dual carbs and keep the performance.
@robertshepherd3832 you lose top end performance with a single mikuni. I’m not racing the damn thing, so what. Really what does it matter to you that I’m not getting every ounce of horses out of my Norton. I just don’t get it. Do you work for Amal or something?
Thanks man, you’re definitely correct. I decided to use a capacitor for lights and have the starter and battery separate. Just in case I wanted to remove the starter for whatever reason.
It’s coming along. I just installed swingarm and shocks. Rebuilt rear wheel and I’m going to mount tire this weekend. I’ll post a video this weekend on the progress. My projects never stop, filming stops but I don’t stop.
Because I don’t know anything about this motor. I know these engines are reliable but I have no history of how well this engine was maintained. I found that the oil pump was damaged, so I’m glad I disassembled it.
@James-dt7ky yeah if the engine has high mileage and ridden a lot off road in sand and dirt, a complete tear down may be in order. Just gives me a peace of mind to know that is has all new bearings and seals. I probably won’t have to rebuild it again in my lifetime.
Thanks man, not sure that I understand your question. Why did I not show the complete engine build or I show too many engine rebuilds? Either way, thanks for watching and I’m currently rebuilding a xt500 thumper and I love these engines. Wish I would have gotten one sooner.
@thomashayes6013 gotcha! Yeah this sr had to be completely rebuilt because it was in a flood at some point. There was sand in the top end and water had gotten into the bottom end. Most times if the engine wasn’t abused it probably would not need to be completely rebuilt.
This engine was also seized. I never did get the piston out of the cylinder. I had to cut the crankshaft and get it rebuilt. There was also a hole in the case I had to get repaired. It’s a small miracle that it’s running now, definitely the worst engine I’ve rebuilt.
did u use all.the originsl parts and polish them. I got a 71 750 in a 69 frame with similar rust/pittting. want to get everything all shiney like that. Love these bikes.
All the aluminum parts were polished and reused. The z plates and primary cover were professionally polished. I polished the rest of the aluminum parts. Frame was stripped and powdercoated. Wheels were rebuilt with new rims and spokes. I got a new emgo tank and painted it along with the original side covers. The list just goes on and on. A lot parts were not reused. I modernized all of the electrical. Check out my other videos on this bike, you can see all the work that went into it. I wish you the best of luck with your Norton. They are lovely machines.
no issues with powder coating? thanks for responding. I think mine is a 72 frame with 71 motor the crossover near the front. I'm doing the same as you from bottom up. looks great. love these machines too. I get it.
No issues with powder coat. I had a local guy do it for me. I had hell with the swingarm bushings and spindle and scratched the swingarm up bad and it had to be re powder coated. Only issue I remember. Powder coat is very durable but can get surface scratches pretty easily.
Yeah I should have replaced with an aftermarket but I found an oem replacement. I’m just glad I finally figured out what the heck was going on with it.
