WEEK 10 - RESTORATION BACK ON! - 1968 Norton Commando
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- Опубликовано: 18 июл 2023
- #norton #1968nortoncommando
Series 2: Is all about restoring this 'special' Norton Commando from 1968. The ealiest known surviving production line Commando.!
WEEK 10 - After the mammoth Moto Guzzi project we get back to finishing the fantasticly important Norton Commando Let's go!
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! 
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Excellent work and advice, thanks 👍😊
Brilliant .. can't wait !!
Will be watching for sure.
A superb series
Can’t wait to see the series!
Great video, we'll keep checking in to see how things are going. 👍
Thanks. I will come up and see you at some point…this old girl as some bits I can’t find yet!
Finally!!🎉
Good to see you work on the early Fastback!
Looking forward to it and thanks for posting👍
Looking forward to seeing more of your work! I enjoyed the Guzzi project a lot.
New subscriber, can't wait to see this one finished, I watched the 15min VFR video and will now watch the series as well as the RE and Guzzi, you deserve a larger subscriber number for sure as well as a sponsorship from WD40 for the amount of product you use :) Keep up the good work, patience is a virtue for sure.
Thanks Steve!
I'm looking forward to this one. What an amazing bike and basically a piece of history. One day I'll turn my attention away from road bikes to motorbikes. I have a vision to restore a bike form my birth year (1991). I think I need to expand my tool set before anything else 😂
You should J! Might need so help to finish all this work on top of that I bought another bike…a beast from another time..keep watching!
I found your channel looking up repair of Smith instruments and have become a subscriber. Did you ever do part 2 of your week 7 restoration of the Norton instruments? I have a 1970's all numbers matching that needs some love. Lol. Looking forward to your Norton journey.
Hi Bill. Thanks for subscribing. I completed the restoration but I still can’t find the correct size bezels and glass. The ones from India were too big. I’m also waiting on the restoration of the bike to decide whether to restore the dials. The ‘quality’ of the restoration is still undecided.
Great content, will stay tuned. I also have a shed find crusty1969 Norton Commando found one block away from my house in metalic blue fiberglass tank, halo headlight. not sure if its an S or a roadster but has provisions for low pipes. Some missing item, most notably is the clutch.The guy I bought it from is a hoarder so parts are hard to find but he did find the carbs, cylinders and head I have a parts list going at Andover Norton at 2500 dollars and counting and I paid 1000 US but Im going ahead. already stripped down and sand blasting items just like your Norton. Im not clipping the spokes because the rims cleaned up good and are true and I just want to spend on engine and transmission. kind of a patina ride. Im even staying with the original metalic paint it cleaned up nice.
Excellent find Peter. All restorations are ONLY based on what is in front of you. Some call for full redo others are better as you find them. Only the owner knows!
@@MyRestoration1 thanks for the reply
Maybe i missed something, but what was the procedure for the inner lining of the fibreglass tank ?
I had one of those fibreglass tanks on my 69 fastback and the inside was first cleaned with a special acidic cleaner and then coated with a 2 component ethanol resistant paint.
Then it was repainted beautifully.... and after about 6 months of using the bike (ethanol fuel) the paint was bubbling up.
Turned out that the inner coating didnt seal up all recesses of the tank because you have to twist, turn and shake it for hours to make the coating spread in every corner.
I talked to a tank restorer at a classic bike show and his opinion was: cut the tank in half, apply the coating to the inside, with a brush and then epoxy the tank halves together again... or get a metal tank.
Very simple. I’m not sure what the ‘tank restorer’ was thinking! People always over complicate things..Epoxy such as West Systems when cured is impervious to chemicals. Wash out the tank. Dry. Add isopropyl alcohol to remove any grease or old residue. pour it in. Put in about 750ml so it produces a thick skin. All the way up to the hole so it’s sealed. It doesn’t matter if your tank is made from paper mache! So many people are following bad advice. I hope more people read my comments because I get asked a lot..
Where have you been???
I took on a client restoration on the Guzzi LeMan which took a year. It’s on this channel