Norton · Norton Commando (1968-1977)

Commando 750 / 850

Library entry covers 1968-1977

23 factory 50 guideline

Published source

Norton Commando 850 / 750 Rider's Manual (Norton Villiers), Routine Maintenance p.17

Factory owner's handbook. Covers Norton Villiers Commando 850 and 750 rider's manual; intervals in miles.

Open the source

73 items for a 1968 model, grouped by interval the way a factory chart is laid out.

How this bike is built (what the schedule is based on)

Engine cycle: Four-stroke
Engine lubrication: Dry sump (separate oil tank)
Oil filtration: Mesh screens / strainers only
Valve gear: Overhead valve, pushrods, adjustable tappets
Ignition: Battery and coil with contact points
Charging: Alternator / stator with rectifier
Battery: Wet cell (flooded lead-acid, needs topping up)
Fuel system: Two or more carburetors
Cooling: Air / oil cooled
Primary drive: Chain in oil-bath case with its own oil
Gearbox oil: Separate gearbox oil
Clutch control: Hand lever, cable
Final drive: Chain
Front suspension: Telescopic fork
Rear suspension: Swingarm, twin shocks
Front brake: Drum (or band / stirrup)
Rear brake: Drum (or band / belt rim)
Wheels: Spoked, tubed
Sidecar: No sidecar

Maintenance schedule

1968 Norton Commando 750 / 850

On the road: every 200 mi

1 item

Check engine oil level

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Each fuel stop on old machines. Dry sump: check the tank hot, engine idling or just stopped, per your manual.

On the road: every 300 mi

3 items

Check lights, horn, brake light switches

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Check tire pressures

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Lubricate drive chain

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Lube warm, ideally at the end of the riding day so it soaks in overnight. Sooner after rain.

On the road: every 500 mi

1 item

Walk-around: check nuts and bolts for vibration loosening

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Old machines shake things loose: exhaust nuts, mudguard stays, footrests, tank mounts, battery strap.

On the road: every 600 mi

1 item

Check chain slack and rear wheel alignment

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

On the road: every 1,000 mi

1 item

Check road kit: plugs, points file, master link, tube patches, wire, tape

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Every 1,000 mi or 6 months

4 items

Check exhaust nuts / pipe clamps tight

Engine

Guideline
Adjust rear drum brake and rod / cable linkage

Brakes

Guideline
Check spoke tension and wheel true

Wheels and tires

Guideline
Inspect tire tread, sidewalls and date codes

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 1,000 mi

2 items

Adjust front drum brake

Brakes

Factory

Manual: Brakes: adjust (optional disc brake is non-adjustable). Factory: Routine maintenance p.17: disc brake fluid level checked and pads examined every 1,000 mi
Lubricate control cables and lever pivots

Controls and cables

Factory

Manual: Control cables: lubricate with oil. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17

Every 1,500 mi or 6 months

2 items

Clean oil strainers / mesh screens

Engine

Guideline

Often done with every oil change on old machines.
Clean / inspect air filter

Fuel and air

Guideline

Mesh or oiled foam: clean and re-oil. Paper: blow out or replace. Some very early machines have no filter at all.

Every 2,500 mi

11 items

Change engine oil

Engine

Factory

Manual: Engine oil: change. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17: first at the 500 mi free service; oil tank strainer cleaned at each change
Check engine mounting bolts and plates

Engine

Factory

Manual: Isolastic and rubber engine mountings: check for side play. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17: dealer item; see Workshop Manual
Inspect, clean and gap spark plugs

Engine

Factory

Manual: Spark plugs: clean and set gaps. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17
Clean and gap contact breaker points, oil cam felt

Ignition and electrics

Factory

Manual: Ignition timing: check, adjust contact breaker points. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17: dealer item
Adjust clutch free play, lubricate cable and lever pivot

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Clutch adjustment: check. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17
Change primary chaincase oil

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Primary chaincase oil: change. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17: level checked every 1,000 mi
Check / adjust primary chain

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Primary chain adjustment: check. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17
Check gearbox oil level

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Gearbox oil level: check. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17
Clean drive chain thoroughly (remove and soak, re-lube)

Final drive

Factory

Manual: Rear chain: relubricate and adjust. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17: adjusted every 1,000 mi
Change fork oil

Front end

Factory

Manual: Front forks: change oil. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17: dealer item; 150 cc each leg
Grease and check center / side stand and springs

Rear suspension and frame

Factory

Manual: Rear brake pedal pivot: grease. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17

Every 3,000 mi or 12 months

13 items

Check throttle cable(s) free play and return

Fuel and air

Guideline
Clean fuel tap filter / sediment bowl

Fuel and air

Guideline
Synchronize carburetors

Fuel and air

Guideline
Check / set ignition timing

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Adjust clutch pushrod / clutch adjuster

Primary and gearbox

Guideline
Check chain guard, chain oiler (if fitted), rear chain case

Final drive

Guideline
Inspect chain and sprockets for wear (measure stretch)

Final drive

Guideline
Check steering damper (friction or hydraulic)

Front end

Guideline
Check steering head bearing adjustment

Front end

Guideline
Inspect fork seals, stanchions and fork boots

Front end

Guideline
Check and shim Isolastic engine mounts

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Worn or loose Isolastics make the bike wander and vibrate. Set end float per the manual.
Check footrests, pegs, rear brake and gear lever pivots

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Check wheel bearings for play

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 4,000 mi or 12 months

1 item

Replace spark plugs

Engine

Guideline

Every 5,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Check cylinder head bolt torque

Engine

Guideline

Air-cooled iron and alloy engines can lose head bolt tension; follow your manual's sequence and whether it is done hot or cold.

Every 5,000 mi

7 items

Check and adjust valve clearances

Engine

Factory

Manual: Valve rocker clearances: check and adjust. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17: dealer item; camshaft chain checked at the same interval
Replace oil filter

Engine

Factory

Manual: Oil filter element: replace. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17: first at 500 mi
Replace air filter element

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Air filter element: fit new. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17
Replace points and condenser

Ignition and electrics

Factory

Manual: Contact breaker points: clean; lubricate cam felt and auto advance unit. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17: dealer item; points examined every 6,000 mi per the ignition section
Change gearbox oil

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Gearbox oil: change. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17
Grease swingarm pivot

Rear suspension and frame

Factory

Manual: Swinging arm bushes: check and oil. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17: SAE 140 oil through the grease nipple
Lubricate brake cam spindles, check linings and drums

Brakes

Factory

Manual: Brake expander pivots: grease (one stroke of grease gun). Factory: Routine maintenance p.17

Every 6,000 mi or 12 months

4 items

Check charging voltage and regulator / cut-out

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Check swingarm bushes for play

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Inspect rear shocks for leaks and damping

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Lubricate speedometer / tachometer cables, check drive

Controls and cables

Guideline

A dry speedo cable whips the needle and eventually kills the instrument.

Every 6,000 mi or 2 years

2 items

Check engine breather and oil return

Engine

Guideline
Lubricate and check automatic advance unit

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 10,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Compression test (or leak-down)

Engine

Guideline

Every 10,000 mi or 3 years

1 item

Repack / replace steering head bearings

Front end

Guideline

Many old machines use loose balls in cups and cones. Taper roller conversions are common.

Every 10,000 mi

3 items

Clean carburetor float bowl(s), check float level and jets

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Carburetors: dismantle, clean, check for wear. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17
Replace chain and sprockets (wear based)

Final drive

Guideline
Repack / replace wheel bearings

Wheels and tires

Factory

Manual: Wheel bearings (including rear sprocket bearing): repack with grease. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17

Every 12,000 mi or 4 years

1 item

Decarbonize head, grind / lap valves (top-end decoke)

Engine

Guideline

Period practice. Leaded-era valve seats may need hardened seats for unleaded fuel.

Every 15,000 mi or 5 years

1 item

Inspect clutch plates and springs

Primary and gearbox

Guideline

Every 15,000 mi

1 item

Replace brake linings / skim drums (wear based)

Brakes

Guideline

Every 25,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Replace swingarm bushes / bearings

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 30,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Rebuild forks: seals, bushes, springs

Front end

Guideline

Every 1 month

1 item

Check battery electrolyte, top up with distilled water

Ignition and electrics

Factory

Manual: Battery electrolyte level: check. Factory: Routine maintenance p.17: every two weeks

Every 6 months

1 item

Clean battery terminals, check charge and strap

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 12 months

1 item

Check speedometer / odometer against a known distance

Controls and cables

Guideline

Old speedos drift with tire size and drive wear. Use phone GPS over a measured 10 miles / km.

Every 2 years

3 items

Inspect fuel tank for rust, sealer failure, leaks

Fuel and air

Guideline
Inspect wiring, bullet connectors and ground points

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Inspect frame, welds and lugs for cracks

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 4 years

1 item

Replace fuel lines

Fuel and air

Guideline

Old rubber and modern ethanol fuel do not mix well.

Every 6 years

2 items

Replace inner tubes and rim tape with tires

Wheels and tires

Guideline
Replace tires on age (regardless of tread)

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Guideline lines: Intervals here are general guidelines for the machine's era and layout, compiled for this app. They are not factory manual figures. Check your workshop manual, and edit any interval in the bike's Schedule tab.