99 Dommie Rev Counter

The Ampmeter needle appears to be bent. The R/C needle could be replaced but its likely that a faulty movement had it flicking back and forth, as its magnetic its going to have a rolled on bezel that means a proper overhaul. Turn the bars up to make the clutch cable run a bit more viable.

As far as I know, a Britax ammeter is aftermarket. Never had a 99 with rev counter.

The speedo and rev counter are Smiths magnetic instruments - clearly a later addition. You would expect a Dominator to have a chronometrics. So the bike isn't standard (nowt wrong with that). A look through the classic bike magazines should find adverts for people who can repair magnetic speedometers. Of course, the first thing to check is the drive cables to make sure they are OK.

The cable runs to the Commando switch gear are 'orrid!

Previously keith_brown wrote:

... although it amazed me that there was no air filter of any description on the monoblock carb.

Pretty standard back in the day. I never had a British bike with an air filter and my current 1965 650SS is filterless too; I just don't think too much about the muck that is probably going down the carbs!

Good luck with the tidying up.

It will be a job to find a filter to fit in,and it would upset the carburation anyway. Don't really need an R/C on a 99, it will tell you when you are overdoing it, 80 in third ???.

You have a later headlight , the earlier type with the speedo built in are a bit scarce. What year is your bike?.

It's a slimline so manufactured from October 1959 on for the 1960 season. Pretty tidy. There's a Commando chainguard to match the Commando switchgear and clocks.

Keith _ Here's an image of my slimline (1962) SS and apart from the ace bars and a double-sided front brake, for production racing, should have the same instruments as your 99. A 1959 99 could have been 'wideline' but the headlight/instrument cluster would have been the same. Regards, Howard

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The orriginal headlight would have been very similar but probably not "exactly the same" the pressing in the switch area looks like it was meant for something else. I suspect the bike was orriginally coil ignition and would have had a PRs8 switch ,however as its now a mag an orriginal shell may still work with a simpler switch as shown.The engine stamping 99C would clarify what it was. This waffle may be relevent as the charging set up could be too much for a mag bike.

Love the 150mph speedo on Howard's 88SS. We can but dream... Great for impressing gullible schoolkids!

Previously keith_brown wrote:

Thanks for your input guys. The bike I have confirmed was registered in 1960. I guess that the original dials were removed or went faulty some years ago. My thoughts are that the dials, as featured on Howard's bike are much more in keeping with a dommie of this age. I suppose in light of the fact that my friend doesn't intend keeping the bike, my best option would be to have the R/c repaired and put a more appropriate ammeter it the headlight shell. Of course tidy up the cables that are, I agree, hideous. I guess all bikes of this age would have had a few modifications along the way.

Yes I agree Keith - the tacho can be rebuilt easily and quite cheaply. Try Ian Bartram, Mill Lane , Barnby, near Beccles, Suffolk NR34 7PZ. ( approx £85). The Commando clock holders look good and should polish well - as does the Atlas light unit. Al Osborne can supply the correct ammeter depending on the voltage. His details are in RH magazine. Good luck, Howard

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

Love the 150mph speedo on Howard's 88SS. We can but dream... Great for impressing gullible schoolkids!

I have a 150mph speedo on my Model 50!