Camshaft identification

Stick a timing disc on the crank, take the rocker covers off, set the clearances to the normal checking figures,  DTI the valve lift and chart. What you will also need is the rocker ratio so you can covert the valve lift to cam lobe lift, could be 1.1 to 1 but its needs checking.

You compare the distance from the pushrod centre to the rocker spindle centre and the the rocker spindle centre to the valve adjuster center.

It does look to be 1:1.1 ratio

https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/checking-cam-lift-specs-at-the-rockers.20898/

A stock MK3 cam has around .330 lift at the lifter. X 1.1 rocker ratio ratio makes it .363 at the valve. Approximately.  

But worth a quick check in case someone has fitted offset pushrod locators

Why suspect the cam, no one so far has invented a Commando cam that does not allow a Norton Commando to start. Though some claimed the latest PW cam I have fitted would not work as it pushed the boundary out further. Is it getting fuel, does it have points, if so are they wired correctly, is the ignition timed correctly, does it have compression. These are the simple things I would check before questioning the cam. 

Whatever the role of the cam in your friend's starting problem, it is surely worth investigating the cam properly in any case.

Hi 

I am local I live in Ash.  The bike should run race cam or standard, If you would like a hand getting it started send me a message.

Regards