*** Updated for February 2025 ***
I first published this page in 13th August 2019.
My new schematics have been drawn from scratch and I have included:
- better resolution – they can be printed on A2 paper (23.4in x 16.5in) without any loss of quality.
- sized for UK and Europe – originally the page was sized for US Legal (14in x 8.5in) paper, and resizing for A4/A3/A2 standard didn’t work.
- cable colours were confusing – it was difficult to see what was the dominant colour ‘vs’ what was the trace colour.
- for MK3 move the key switch from the right to the left side of the page.
- show the warning lamp colours.
- lighter background – ideally there would be no background, but as there are a lot of white cables this would make it difficult to read. I have lightened up the background, and outlined the white cables, it works much better for printing now.
- make points/condenser arrangement clearer.
- show terminals on turn signal flasher unit.
- group additional fuses on early MK3 schematic.
- improved labelling.
There are numerous other small improvements too, which make the schematics easier to read.
Matt Rambow and his team at Colorado Norton Works make some beautiful stuff, and their latest creation – an Electric Start Conversion for the pre-MK3 Norton Commando is no exception.
The cNw kit, found here is actually very reasonably priced at $2,495 if you consider that it includes a belt drive primary.
As always with Colorado Norton Works, the quality of the fit and finish is second to none.
If you don’t want a highly polished finish, there are option for satin and matt black too.
Matt supplies a starter button with his kit, as the quality of the original switches were dubious when they were new. That makes it difficult for Matt to support, and guarantee the reliability, hence shipping his own.
However, of the people I have spoken to, most want to use the original handlebar switch gear, and make use of the ‘spare’ button that Norton themselves never got round to using (the MK3 used different handlebar switches)
Here follows the Norton Commando pre-MK3 wiring diagram with the addition of the Colorado Norton Works Electric Start Conversion
The 1971 and 1972 onwards diagrams use the original Lucas switch gear.
The 20M3 bike is not a good candidate for an electric start conversion, as the points location does not give ample clearance for the starter motor assembly to be mounted.
If you want to fit electric start to an older bike, either fit a later camshaft and timing cover so that you can move your ignition to the front of the bike, look into a crankshaft mounted ignition trigger, or fit a later engine.
Anything is possible of course, but i would suggest that the engineering work/re-work involved would make it non-viable for most, and probably not financially sensible either.
1968 Norton Commando Wiring Schematic + Colorado Norton Works Electric Start
These are the pre-1971 bikes and have the ammeter in the headlight shell, as well as the Wipac Triconsul type handlebar switch.
The wiring is very simple, and more like the Atlas than what came to be familiar with the Commando.
Note that I have included the Front Brake Switch as standard – this was a US requirement, that didn’t appear on the earliest UK bikes.
1968 Norton Commando Wiring Schematic + Colorado Norton Works Electric Start PNG 5600×3960
This diagram is also downloadable as a PDF from HERE
1971 Norton Commando Wiring Schematic + Colorado Norton Works Electric Start
This is often referred to as the “Interim” model.
It is distinguishable by the three pin master switch (ignition key switch) which was Lucas part number LU39565.
These were made ONLY for the Norton Commando, and are no available as an aftermarket replacement.
If you are not comfortable rebuilding the switch, most people choose to go for the LU30552, which IS readily available.
You can find an article on ignition switches here, that may be of interest.
1971 Norton Commando Wiring Schematic + Colorado Norton Works Electric Start PNG 5600×3960
This diagram is also downloadable as a PDF from HERE
1972 onwards Norton Commando Wiring Schematic + Colorado Norton Works Electric Start
The 1972 onwards schematic covers 750 and 850 bikes and has the much more familiar four pin master switch (ignition key switch)
1972 onwards Norton Commando Wiring Schematic + Colorado Norton Works Electric Start PNG 5600×3960
This diagram is also downloadable as a PDF from HERE
I have posted another page, which you can find here. It includes a number of upgrades that Matt recommends should go hand in hand with his Electric Start kits.
NOTE:
A couple of points about the way these diagrams have been drawn:
- The diagrams on my site are schematics – the components are not drawn in the physical location on the bike. Instead they are drawn in locations that make the diagram the easiest and most logical to follow.
- Where the same colour wire goes in to and out of a single connector, that connector has usually been omitted from the drawing.
It’s obvious on the bike, is easy to spot and easy to troubleshoot.
Leaving them off the diagrams makes them a LOT easier to read, and considerably less cluttered. - Wherever the earth or ground side of a component goes back to the battery, the drawing shows a red earth symbol:
In reality, this could be connected either to a red wire in the bike’s wiring harness (loom) OR it could be attached to the frame or engine of the bike.
I have shown the red earth symbol each time in order to massively simplify the diagram, and make it a lot easier to understand for everyone.
I have also coloured them red as a gentle reminder that these bikes are wired positive earth!
Categories: Aftermarket Upgrades, motorcycles
Appreciating the commitment you put into your blog and detailed information you provide.
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Thanks so much!
Hopefully someone, somewhere will find a drawing or two useful!