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Early engine, what model?

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I noticed an ad for Commando bits in the States, seller lists it as a 72 but the points are behind the barrels so possibly 68/69... but what model? I have suggested it might be an R type and he would like to know for sure.

Engine and frame no. 209031

Any ideas?RHS

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I would suggest that the s/n that you have supplied are not correct, my Feb 1969 20M3 Commando is 130XXX and they shifted the points to the end of the cam shortly after.

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engine is 20M3 series. so 68, 69, fastback early 70.

Not enough frame seen to determine any further. Center stand type may give a hint if original. Coil mount hints of 71+

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The gearbox number (across the top mount) would also be of interest.

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Hope these help, I agree the numbers seem wrong and bearing in mind the engine could have fitted to the "newer bike" so really looking at the engine as a single unit, do not have the gearbox number and the clutch certainly looks to be in better condition to the rest of the bike.

Can't be a 72 so maybe the number has been changed

only seem to be able to load one image at a time.

VIN

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Just noticed, engine 209031 frame 206031, not helping much though!

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Engine and frame numbers exactly 3000 apart? And unless someone knows better, there's no (normal, or dare I say it, legit?) way that a 200000 series engine has points on the back of the timing case (and what looks like a blanking plate where the rev-counter drive would go on a 20M3 engine).

Could someone have mated a later l/h crankcase half with an early r/h half?

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That Julian is what I had considered but feared to mention it.

So its possible that the seller has a 72 frame 206031 (centre stand also confirms not an old frame)

A later 72 left hand crank case 209031, unless the numbers were altered to match the frame but the crook messed up one figure!!

A much earlier 68/69 right hand crank case

Builders surname could be Frankenstein? but then again maybe somebody was just pulling a load of bits together to put a bike on the road! can't blame him for that unless he was guilty of altering the numbers of course.

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Engine number appears to have been restamped, head is also wrong if it is an early engine.

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Thanks for all your help, I'll forward the bad news to him...

Cheers

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As I said earlier that both halves of that engine are for a  20M3(edit: remove S) engine . 200000 series has a 1x4" flat tab where the SN goes AND  similar flat tab under the timing side timing cover.

Of course different jurisdictions have different rules but for us the Frame/VIN/SN is the only thing that matters. Having an earlier engine is of no particular concern...and certainly not worth trying to fake a wrong  series number.

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...fair comment about the left hand crankcase though, thanks. Can't be a 20000 series as it has no flat tab

 


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