Tim Seifert's "Leftovers" Commando
Made using only the finest secondhand parts in Dad's Norton stores...
After purchasing many a dealer's inventory over the years Norton Motors GmbH had a stack of secondhand parts of which some were impossible to move.
Added to that the private parts stash aquired in over 30 years of privately-owned Norton Commandos from his father Tim seized the opportunity to build himself a Commando from "leftovers".
This wasn't as easy as it sounds, because whilst Commandos are very similar over the years there are some points one takes for granted that, if one combines parts from different years, become tricky. An obvious problem is the front forks and fitting these to the frame headstock. The frame Tim had was an early, pre-1971 one with the "long" headstock, calling for the corresponding fork yokes and, normally, cup and cone bearings. Knowing the later solution with the sealed ball bearings is virtually indestructible and maintanence-free, Tim decided to convert to that system, which asked for a spacer made to measure between the bearings.
Which is now available from us, part# 06.7742/S.
Added to that the private parts stash aquired in over 30 years of privately-owned Norton Commandos from his father Tim seized the opportunity to build himself a Commando from "leftovers".
This wasn't as easy as it sounds, because whilst Commandos are very similar over the years there are some points one takes for granted that, if one combines parts from different years, become tricky. An obvious problem is the front forks and fitting these to the frame headstock. The frame Tim had was an early, pre-1971 one with the "long" headstock, calling for the corresponding fork yokes and, normally, cup and cone bearings. Knowing the later solution with the sealed ball bearings is virtually indestructible and maintanence-free, Tim decided to convert to that system, which asked for a spacer made to measure between the bearings.
Which is now available from us, part# 06.7742/S.
Made using only the finest secondhand parts in Dad's Norton stores...
After purchasing many a dealer's inventory over the years Norton Motors GmbH had a stack of secondhand parts of which some were impossible to move.
Added to that the private parts stash aquired in over 30 years of privately-owned Norton Commandos from his father Tim seized the opportunity to build himself a Commando from "leftovers".
This wasn't as easy as it sounds, because whilst Commandos are very similar over the years there are some points one takes for granted that, if one combines parts from different years, become tricky. An obvious problem is the front forks and fitting these to the frame headstock. The frame Tim had was an early, pre-1971 one with the "long" headstock, calling for the corresponding fork yokes and, normally, cup and cone bearings. Knowing the later solution with the sealed ball bearings is virtually indestructible and maintanence-free, Tim decided to convert to that system, which asked for a spacer made to measure between the bearings.
Which is now available from us, part# 06.7742/S.
Added to that the private parts stash aquired in over 30 years of privately-owned Norton Commandos from his father Tim seized the opportunity to build himself a Commando from "leftovers".
This wasn't as easy as it sounds, because whilst Commandos are very similar over the years there are some points one takes for granted that, if one combines parts from different years, become tricky. An obvious problem is the front forks and fitting these to the frame headstock. The frame Tim had was an early, pre-1971 one with the "long" headstock, calling for the corresponding fork yokes and, normally, cup and cone bearings. Knowing the later solution with the sealed ball bearings is virtually indestructible and maintanence-free, Tim decided to convert to that system, which asked for a spacer made to measure between the bearings.
Which is now available from us, part# 06.7742/S.
The Puzzle completed!
The front brake again was a combination of leftover parts- a secondhand CP2696 AP caliper married to a standard slider using a secondhand adaptor plate of unknown origin, with a Mick Hemmings disc and disc adapter (both secondhand, no idea where we got them from!) to a production front hub.
Master cylinder is the Andover Norton "front brake update kit" which was mandatory because Tim did the CAD design for it. The combination makes for a very powerful front brake. Which has since been superceded by our 13mm original looking master cylinders .
Also installed is the Andover Norton Production Racer type headsteady , again CAD designed by Tim.
Petrol tank was one of the few (early) satisfactory Indian replicas because Tim insisted on a Roadster. An Interstate one- which we had- was not acceptable for him.
The engine has a PW3 camshaft, and the rest of the engine had the usual TLC treatment by Rudi Kolano. Pazon ignition as one would expect.
The rest of the bike is relatively standard, with the occasional hickup encountered when one part from one year demands a bracket that wasn't there the other year....
Master cylinder is the Andover Norton "front brake update kit" which was mandatory because Tim did the CAD design for it. The combination makes for a very powerful front brake. Which has since been superceded by our 13mm original looking master cylinders .
Also installed is the Andover Norton Production Racer type headsteady , again CAD designed by Tim.
Petrol tank was one of the few (early) satisfactory Indian replicas because Tim insisted on a Roadster. An Interstate one- which we had- was not acceptable for him.
The engine has a PW3 camshaft, and the rest of the engine had the usual TLC treatment by Rudi Kolano. Pazon ignition as one would expect.
The rest of the bike is relatively standard, with the occasional hickup encountered when one part from one year demands a bracket that wasn't there the other year....
The Puzzle completed!
The front brake again was a combination of leftover parts- a secondhand CP2696 AP caliper married to a standard slider using a secondhand adaptor plate of unknown origin, with a Mick Hemmings disc and disc adapter (both secondhand, no idea where we got them from!) to a production front hub.
Master cylinder is the Andover Norton "front brake update kit" which was mandatory because Tim did the CAD design for it. The combination makes for a very powerful front brake. Which has since been superceded by our 13mm original looking master cylinders .
Also installed is the Andover Norton Production Racer type headsteady , again CAD designed by Tim.
Petrol tank was one of the few (early) satisfactory Indian replicas because Tim insisted on a Roadster. An Interstate one- which we had- was not acceptable for him.
The engine has a PW3 camshaft, and the rest of the engine had the usual TLC treatment by Rudi Kolano. Pazon ignition as one would expect.
The rest of the bike is relatively standard, with the occasional hickup encountered when one part from one year demands a bracket that wasn't there the other year....
Master cylinder is the Andover Norton "front brake update kit" which was mandatory because Tim did the CAD design for it. The combination makes for a very powerful front brake. Which has since been superceded by our 13mm original looking master cylinders .
Also installed is the Andover Norton Production Racer type headsteady , again CAD designed by Tim.
Petrol tank was one of the few (early) satisfactory Indian replicas because Tim insisted on a Roadster. An Interstate one- which we had- was not acceptable for him.
The engine has a PW3 camshaft, and the rest of the engine had the usual TLC treatment by Rudi Kolano. Pazon ignition as one would expect.
The rest of the bike is relatively standard, with the occasional hickup encountered when one part from one year demands a bracket that wasn't there the other year....
phone: +44 (0) 1264 359 565 | telefax: +44 (0) 1264 748 409 |
Web shop order questions or Retail sales, Trade Sales, Delivery queries:
sales@andover-norton.co.uk
Technical advice, parts queries:
technical@andover-norton.co.uk
Andover Norton International Ltd | Unit 6 Wooler Park
North Way | ANDOVER SP10 5AZ England
Imprint/Contact | Shipping | Data Privacy | Terms of Use | Return Policy
© 2024 Andover Norton International Ltd.
