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750ss stands

Submitted by jamie_colville on Wed, 12/03/2025
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Commando

Hi, I am slowly restoring a 71 SS bought in pieces. Inevitably some parts were missing so been buying as I spotted the gaps. The early gap was no centre stand so duly bought the later type (fits to gearbox cradle) from RGM.
Some time later I reach the stage to fit it, and cannot find any mounting holes on the cradle or brackets on the frame tubes. As the bike came with a skid plate anyway my query is was the 750 SS ever fitted with a centre stand at all.
If not can rely on the side stand and anyone want to buy a new centre stand still in its wrappings!

Submitted by jamie_colville on Wed, 12/03/2025

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Hi I am slowly restoring a 71 SS bought in pieces. Inevitably some parts are missing so been buying as I spotted the gaps. One early gap was the lack of a centre stand so I bought the later type that fits the gearbox cradle from RGM.
Some time later I reach the stage to fit it, and can't find any mounting holes on the cradle or brackets on the frame tubes. As the bike came with a skid plate my query is whether the SS was fitted with a centre stand at all?
If not I will rely on the side stand and anyone want to buy a new centre stand still in its wrappings?

Submitted by stan_thomas on Wed, 12/03/2025

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It's not the SS that's different, it's the year. Early Commandos had the centre stand mounted to the lower frame cross-member which was below the gearbox. Later frames mounted the centre stand on the engine plates and moved the frame cross-member forwards. Change over happened around 1970.

1971 Norton brochure shows SS (Street Scrambler) with later frame, bash plate and centre stand:
https://www.nortonownersclub.org/html/archive/rh/brochure_book_v7/532/index.html

If you have early engine plates and a later frame the easiest option is to drill the engine plates.

Some pictures on Andover Norton:
https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-drawing/474/centre-stand
https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-drawing/457/early-commando-frame-repair-items

Submitted by jamie_colville on Thu, 13/03/2025

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Hi, thanks everyone for your replies. I think one of the problems of buying a box of bits is assuming they all came from the same bike. My engine and frame number match at 150001 showing a 71 bike that should have the later stand but definitely no holes on the gearbox plates. So drilling seems to be the answer. Don't know yet if I can get a drill in to pace with everything in situ, also need to know exactly where to drill, anyone got the measurements.
Whilst on about stands the side stand has a mounting hole significantly bigger than the pin on the frame. I see Andover Norton do a conversion bush to mount this stand but wonder how it is all to stay in place as appears only a small circlip goes on the pin? Large washer behind the circlip perhaps.

Submitted by adam_lynam on Thu, 13/03/2025

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Getting the hole measurements for you is too inaccurate with mine assembled. Ideally if someone has some plates they can give you measurements and datum points. 

Submitted by julian_wells on Thu, 13/03/2025

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That is indeed the question. The little circlip is what the factory thought adequate — they were wrong.

The problem is that wear in the prop and in the stop that holds it when opened tends to lever the stand lengthways along its pivot.

Once this starts to happen it is only a matter of time before the pressure is enough to pop the circlip off. Any washer would simply transfer the pressure from the prop to the circlip, with the same result.

Submitted by stan_thomas on Sat, 15/03/2025

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This shows the position of the centre stand pivot holes on an '74 850. The measurements are 235mm and 152mm c-c.
850 rear engine plates

 



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