Commando engine numbers

You could contribute to the famous surplus,and have sent unto you a reading from the Book of Norton. Regards John.

Hi Ian,

Yes, it does not make sense, even if a number had been missed off one end or the other.

850 MKIII's started at 325001 and ended around 336539 so the first or second number could never be a 5.

As you say, maybe factory spares had a different number.

I am sure someone will know.

Regards

Tony

It certainly sounds odd. Early Mk3s didn't have the 850 prefix to the number but as Tony says, were always a six-digit sequence beginning with '3'. Replacement crankcases were normally supplied unstamped.

There are some oddly stamped pre-production cases around, some with casting differences but I've never seen any without a six-digit number. On the other hand, I've never seen a faked security marking either (most owners didn't bother).

I think the only possible way that you might get more detail on this is if you posted photos of the casings with any other numbers stamped on them (such as the case-matching numbers etc.) There just might be a clue there, or some obvious non-production details that point in the direction of a prototype unit.

Prototypes in most cases either used production numbers or were unstamped. The only odd prototype numbers I encountered was EXP01 on the first-ever Interstate, and PP01 on the first-ever Rotary Classic.

The 'H22' is a common Mk3 marking and is normally only on the drive side front. The case matching numbers will be a three-digit sequence low down on the rear. You'll have to have a fairly clean engine to see them.

I have a photo somewhere of an EXP number on a Mk3 case but can't find it on my chaotic pc.

Does the case have an odd protrusion on the front, about half way down ? Some of the later cases did.

Hi,

Another strange number appears to me: 1973 Commando-750, matching numbert on frame and engine 235118. What's this?

Fritz

My 1973 Commando 750 (in Australia) has engine and frame numbers 235254 dated Jan 73 on the headstock plate. According to my literature and on-line info, it can't exist. Any ideas?

The factory records on 750s that the VMCC- and the NOC- have are not complete. 235... numbers existed. In the original sales ledgers we have- which give a lot of numbers NOT on film, like the Mk3s etc- late 750s are missing and 850Mk2As ditto.

As Joe says, the 235 numbers certainly exist. The VMCC has a small number of NVT UK registration returns showing numbers in that series but most seem to have gone to the U.S.

They either seem to be late 750s or Mk2A 850s. It's almost as if someone mislaid a ledger and it then came back into use a year later. I don't suppose that we'll ever really know but it's evident that NVT assembly was a pretty hit & miss affair towards the end.

Thanks Richard and Joe. For a while I was worried I had an unidentifiable or stolen and rebirthed bike. I was actually very pleased to find out the factory's record keeping was slack. Now to fix the couple of broken bits and ride again.