WEEK 4- Grit blasting and hammering my way through 1968!- 1968 Norton Commando

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Series 2: Is all about restoring this 'special' Norton Commando from 1968!
WEEK 4 - This week we enter the final stages of the strip down and we start to clean the rust away and finalise what needs repair before next week when we start actually restoring this iconic bike Norton Commando.
Every week a new video will be uploaded covering my week by week restoration of this iconic part of the Norton history, the original Norton Commando 750 1968, so PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL AND HIT THE NOTIFICATION 'BELL' ICON, TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN A NEW VIDEO IS PUBLISHED.
I look forward to sharing this worthwhile project with all Norton enthusiasts around the world.
Some history of this Norton Commando:
It was discovered in the USA rusting away until it was shipped to auction. Disguised as a cafe racer this Commando found its way to a local dealer but little did anyone know that this was one of the very first production Commandos in existence. The earliest recorded production Commando was 126125. This Norton Commando serial is 126188 putting it into the very earliest period of the commando. In fact I welcome anyone to produce a frame engine and gearbox Commando with an earlier serial number. I would be most intrigued to see how many still survive from that period.
From the auction in the USA it was shipped across 4 states to eventually being shipped to France where it was put up again for auction on eBay. I was very lucky to spot it whilst on holiday in Mallorca. It was a perfect project for the type of aesthetic restoration work I undertake. The dealer very kindly drove through the night and through the covid restrictions to my workshop in England.
Unlike the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 restoration in Series 1 (which you should definitely watch), we will follow the progress week by week as opposed to a master class in restoration for each part of a vintage bike restore.
Yes if you are thinking about restoring an English / British made vintage motorbike then you just lucked out! This series brings back a most beautiful classic English super bike back to new factory condition.
I do not over polish or finish any restored bikes. I also do not believe in rusting patena examples. I reverse engineer the restoration to what the designer had envisioned and no more. That is how they were..Restore with great care and do what is right for the bike!

Опубликовано:

14 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 22

@Jester123ish Год назад

If you ever wanted to see the truth of the old adage "There's a right way, a wrong way, and an English way." this is the project to watch.

@pdm2201 11 месяцев назад

Considering the condition of so many various parts the drive sprocket looks good.

@ulrich.hoffmann 2 года назад

Rob , check the gearbox housing for a crack between the two bearing seats. Use an upgraded bearing FAG NJ203 (C3) for the layshaft.(The smaller one) Also check the kickstart shaft for a crack right below of the pawl. The outer metal rings of the old Isolastic/Metalastic need to come out also. I used a dremel to cut them out on a 68 Commando I restored.

@dugwthree Год назад

A blind bearing puller and heat will do the trick. Aluminum expands more than steel for bearings

@TornadoCAN99 Год назад

I got mine out just with heat, as per Mick Hemming GB Rebuild DVD. Just place the casing with open side facing downward, heat whole thing up (oven, BBQ or just a big propane torch) until the bearing just drops out by gravity.

@llamamanism Год назад

I remember when my kickstart pawl broke, I gave it an almighty kick as usual from just over tdc and then to my surprise encountered no resistance whatsoever so the kickstart lever went all the way down very quickly and landed me on the floor.

@MyRestoration1 Год назад

😂 funny Jabba but potentially chin breaking!

@daveco1270 2 года назад

I can't wait to see this bike back to its former glory. Is that a fiberglass or metal gas tank on that model?

@MyRestoration1 2 года назад

Thanks Dave. Yes fibreglass. They were all fibreglass in those days. Thick layups compared to the later roadsters and better made if I compare with the 72’ we are restoring currently.

@TornadoCAN99 Год назад

@@MyRestoration1 On the glass tanks, they tend to dissolve with modern fuels. So either be crazy adamant not to use any fuel with Ethanol mixed in or you will need to attempt a tank lining procedure. These are typically epoxy based coating and are fuel proof. The problem is getting the interior surface fully prepped with years of fuel contamination embedded in the glass. Need to use abrasive pieces like used in parts tumblers or try a big bag of nuts & bolts, wrap tank in thick foam sponge and gently tumble for hours in a clothes dryer to get down to fresh clean fibreglass before using the coating agent.

@MyRestoration1 Год назад

@@TornadoCAN99 thanks for chipping in. My day job is composites so I’m fairly familiar with this issue. There is a huge amount of misinformation about original glass tanks and ethanol. I’ve seen too many thrown out because of this. Epoxy such as West systems 105/205 does a sterling job on tank linings no matter what substrate is beneath. I don’t use the branded lining stuff. Can you see me with a megaphone..stop swapping out your fibreglass tank for metal ones!’

@TornadoCAN99 Год назад

@@MyRestoration1 Yes, I'm very familiar with the West System products...used it a lot for boat work and even made a bamboo bicycle with carbon butt joints with that epoxy. There are reports of epoxies (usually branded tank sealer type) that eventually separate from inner walls of the tank. I would surmise that is from improper surface prep and lower secondary bonding being achieved.

@davidedwards5141 2 года назад

Hi..really like your vidios I'm trying to find an unrestored british classic to bring back to life but cant find much out there.been on ebay etc..can you recommend any sites to visit that specalise in that type of thing..thanks..

@MyRestoration1 2 года назад

Hi David, thank you. There is a chap called Michael Dew who finds and trades good bikes. I bought the Norton off him. He lives in France and Cornwall. I can’t share his email without permission so if you go onto eBay and look for my Norton commando (auctions ended) you can private message him I’m sure. There are others of course but I can’t vouch for them. Thanks

@dugwthree Год назад

To be honest the wear is greater at the top of the bore usually and should be even top to bottom when new, the Bottom of the sleeve will probably have little of no wear. A worn cylinder will have a ridge you can feel at the top. best to measure . Snap gauges are good and not very expensive and a Micrometer. Or try using feeler gauges to measure the clearance.

@MyRestoration1 Год назад

Cheers Indy! I’ve got time to look at this one 👍

@dugwthree Год назад

@@MyRestoration1 my experience and from what i have been informed. i follow you very closely now. i learn from you also

@dugwthree Год назад

i am a retired machinist not automotive but in the marine industry , but have been involved with motorcycles since the late seventies

@ulrich.hoffmann 2 года назад

Protect the conrods from banging against the crankcases .They are sensible for scars and maybe later cracks. The barrels don,t look good with that broken off piece at the bottom. Replacing would be better

@MyRestoration1 2 года назад

Thanks. I’ve been around the block on this one. The fracture dye shows no cracks in this region. The bore and pistons are well within std spec as we measured yesterday. This was after I tried to buy a barrel from the USA from a time waster. In the U.K. the costs are unreasonable for the quality of the barrels I’ve found so at this point I’m going to run this barrel. Looking at the crankcase assembly and other signs it looks as if this was rebuilt and then run for a short while before being abandoned. Timing chain, gears, new conrod, piston surface wear etc are a give away. As the bike externally has been sitting in the weather I’m also loath to hammer apart the case for no apparent reason. If it turns out the engine shows signs of problems then of course it will come out and I will attend to these issues as needs must. We will have to see. I cut the isolastics out as you suggested. Thanks Uli!

@chev39rsh 2 года назад

Other than vibration and breaking crank shafts they were typical British bikes. Everything Norton tried to do to make the commando a success couldn't out run its failures. Make sure the floating frame grommets are perfect or you will get handling wobble. You will get swing arm wobble if everything isn't right. I preferred Triumphs over Nortons ongoing experiments.

@MyRestoration1 2 года назад

Thanks Chev39rsh for your comments. I don’t know enough to disagree or agree with you. I’m sure there are many view points on this brand and others. All your suggestions are already being implemented and I will share in the coming months the progress so I hope you’ll be around! Cheers!