Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30

norton_rider said:
One thing I was wondering when I read up about the headsteady that's been fitted by the previous owner they have springs on them, with mine being the earlier frame no where for it to fit. How integral is the spring to the operation of the headsteady? So that's something I need to think about wondering if that had any bearing on it. Other side of it could be the ham fisted previous owner come across a few examples of that on the bike
!
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The suspensory spring was introduced on the 850 Mk3 although earlier models with the box section head steady can be adapted to use the spring.

The later box section head steady has been fitted to your Commando so it should be possible to fit the spring bracket to it, however, your '68 model 'widowmaker' frame doesn't have the brace tube or the same tank brackets so an alternative frame/upper mount would be required.

norton_rider said:
One other leak I've got ever so slightly is the oil feed joint on the primary side of the crankcase where the line goes in at the front, going to go through the parts drawings and see if anything is missing.
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I think what you mean is the crankcase timed breather pipe joint. It's not an oil feed.
 
Ah yep Sorry lab yep that's the one I mean long pipe to it got a smattering of oil around the threads.

Yep that's what I was looking at spring wise with mine missing the sections of the later frame. Didn't realise some earlier models had the box section head steady without it what year did the box section come in?
 
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Thanks mate appreciate the reply Yeah it looks like he's fitted number 7 on the 2nd link through some rubbers on the top mounting hole I'll have a propper look at what he's done tomorrow when I get the bike out again.
 
Thanks Lab was wondering what the correct rubbers screw into, I'll take some pictures with the side plates removed on the headsteady tomorrow wanna check exactly what he's done :)
 
Just nipped out an took a few pictures of what he had done

Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30
IMG_20190622_210852235-01 by norton.rider, on Flickr
middle sleeve is just a clear run no threads on it
Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30
IMG_20190622_210933925-01 by norton.rider, on Flickr
That's the snapped bolt an some of the rubbers he had in on one side look like tank rubbers to me.

Norton Villiers Commando 1968 Re commissioning an adventures at 30
IMG_20190622_211002966-01 by norton.rider, on Flickr
 
I’m not familiar with the ‘68 so excuse my ignorance if I’m talking bollox here, but...

Your set up doesn’t look right to me. That through bolt is connecting the engine and frame... solidly. It cannot therefore allow movement. The rubber washers either side are not acting as isolastics. It looks to me that this is why the bolt broke.

I would have thought it should have silent block bobbins in situ there?
 
Yeah, my mistake on my previous comment. That rigid bolt in the wrong place would probably break even if you didn't have the extra stress of the widowmaker frame adding to the flex of your frame. As LAB and Nigel have both said, that is supposed to be a "bobbin" (rubber exhaust hanger bolt) so the engine can move up and down a bit, but not latterally.
 
Fast Eddie said:
I’m not familiar with the ‘68 so excuse my ignorance if I’m talking bollox here, but...

Your set up doesn’t look right to me. That through bolt is connecting the engine and frame... solidly. It cannot therefore allow movement. The rubber washers either side are not acting as isolastics. It looks to me that this is why the bolt broke.


I would have thought it should have silent block bobbins in situ there?
Click to expand...

Well, I think we'd already established there should have been two AV mounts (and a spacer) but it's not surprising the stud broke with the head steady solidly mounted to the frame as it was.
 
Indeed totally agree lads it's crazy what some people who consider themselves 'experts' do on bikes was running like tat when I got her steadily getting better though.

At least I've found it an can sort it out :) on the next order on Monday.

Gotta sort the oil lines out as well when I find them on Andover :) if they sell them for the 68' that is.

Hopefully this explains the strange intermittent noise I've been hearing.

Taking it the centre sleeve will just tap out an I can fit the one Lab posted for the correct rubbers to slot into :)

Thanks again for all the advice everyone it's very much appreciated as I get familiar with Commandos :)
 
If/when you fit the AV mounts you will probably notice they are wider overall than the box section but they will compress when the triangular plate bolts/studs are tightened.

Check the head steady isn't pulling the head over to one side when tightened. Although there is 1/8" offset built into the steady (as the engine is offset slightly left of the frame centre line) the steady-to-head holes are slotted so fine adjustment can be made by 'skewing' the steady.
 
Thanks L.A.B. just been looking at the original side plates on the 68' on Andover's website the seem to be slotted at the top where the AV mounts go in compared to the later plates.

Working out all the oil lines an breather lines at the moment :)

Does anyone have the internal diameter of tank to air filter 12629 part numbers not showing anything on Andover.

So far got in the shopping cart.

06.1876 Breather pipe Crankcase 1/2" x 5/16" x 36 " Quantity 1

06.7631 Copper Washer Breather Elbow NM13786 Quantity 1 (think this is missing)

06.2283 Breather pipe (10") NM19629 Quantity 1

00.0950 P Oil Feed or Return hose 1/2" ID x 5.1/2" Long (Plain) x2

Pretty sure the ones from the spin filter were ok gonna nip out an have a look at those shortly.

+ the headsteady parts
 
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L.A.B. said:
Supposedly introduced from serial number 220000 (or thereabouts), so 1973 750 MkV and all 850.
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Neither of my MkV 750s came with the box section head steady. Probably was introduced with the first 850's!
 

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