What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Today was a nice day. Rain is forecast for rest of week, starting tomorrow. They have just reopened one of my favorite roads after a landslide. So I got Norton out and went for a spin. Ended up in a little town with a farmers market, music, coffee drinks and crepes. Ordered a pesto feta and tomato crepe (good, but unknown to le cuisine francais) and a caffe latte, sat on a bench and people watched as I ate lunch. Rode home. Checked lights and oil level, oil was just below the "L" mark so I added an ounce to bring up above the mark. Bike is charging, tail light works. Happiness is a sunny day and a smooth running Norton
 
I put the oil tank on the 71 Commando I'm fixing up for sale (long story) with new Harley Davidson heavy-duty mount studs, as the originals were broken in half. Cleaning the tank out was a chore; much sludge. But it's clean and painted now. I read up on mods here and put some dense foam on the bottom. Installation is quite a job; the order of assembly is tricky. Loosen this, tighten that. Rinse and repeat.

Like many Norton things, you take one step forward and two steps back. After doing it I know the precise order, but holy gawd, what a nightmare getting the bottom bolt in. I eventually figured out that the best way would be to use my borescope, which hooks up to my phone, to see which way I needed to push the tank to get the bolt's hole lined up. It seemed like a job for two people as I had to hold a pry bar strategically located to put pressure on the tank - I held the prybar (tire iron) in place with my armpit (!) to try to recreate the right direction I'd seen on the camera, enabling the bolt to find its hole. I used a magnet to fish in the bolt upside down to the area and feel for the hole (I dropped that bolt several times - once it found its way into the swingarm, other times it bounced into hiding spots in the garage), and mashed my hand into that tiny space with little room to turn the bolt. After many choice words and failed attempts, I got it started, then used a ratcheting box-end wrench to get it tight. Norton engineers: My bad back thanks you yet again!

These bikes seem so cobbled together. I like them, but they are punishment to work on. It took me well over an hour, and some tricks to get one friggin' bolt in. Every job on Nortons seems like this.
 
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nortonmargie said:
Today was a nice day. Rain is forecast for rest of week, starting tomorrow. They have just reopened one of my favorite roads after a landslide. So I got Norton out and went for a spin. Ended up in a little town with a farmers market, music, coffee drinks and crepes. Ordered a pesto feta and tomato crepe (good, but unknown to le cuisine francais) and a caffe latte, sat on a bench and people watched as I ate lunch. Rode home. Checked lights and oil level, oil was just below the "L" mark so I added an ounce to bring up above the mark. Bike is charging, tail light works. Happiness is a sunny day and a smooth running Norton
Click to expand...
Yes it is!
 
Thanks a bunch Mike. Greg Marsh, I’ve read some things he’s posted so informative it’s how without ever touching an Amal carb since the late 70’s l feel like l know a lot about them.
 
First ride of the season. Glorious!
Short ride to the storage unit to charge up the battery on my MG.
During my shakedown I noticed that my swingarm wiggles about 1/8" to the side. Ordered a roller bearing conversion kit from a fellow Canuk up in Ottawa. Heard from Matt that I'm "on deck" for my electric start kit and might see it this year (I've lost track of the years that have gone by since I ordered it, but not my patience so all good). So, I'm happy to know that, and maybe do both at the same time, since I'll be in there....maybe...fingers crossed...:)

IMG_3350.JPEG
 
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Starvingphotog said:
First ride of the season. Glorious!
Short ride to the storage unit to charge up the battery on my MG.
During my shakedown I noticed that my swingarm wiggles about 1/8" to the side. Ordered a roller bearing conversion kit from a fellow Canuk up in Ottawa. Heard from Matt that I'm "on deck" for my electric start kit and might see it this year (I've lost track of the years that have gone by since I ordered it, but not my patience so all good). So, I'm happy to know that, and maybe do both at the same time, since I'll be in there....maybe...fingers crossed...:)

View attachment 119215
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Good idea to do both the starter and the swing arm at the same time as you will have the inner primary case off.You might want to check the small bolt on the swing arm to make sure it hasn’t come off while you are waiting for parts. I had one come off many years ago and it was not fun to get the bike to a stop in the middle of the night!This was a new bike at the time.
Mike
 
Instead of getting involved in the garden or painting & decorating the house etc., this bank holiday weekend I have mostly been fitting an Alton starter...

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Some of the more minor jobs include changing the oil & filter & fitting new fuel lines.

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Also, popped on a Beeline Moto2 in case I get lost exploring the Isle of Man 🤣

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Cheers!!

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
daveforty said:
Beeline Moto2 is an excellent gadget. I bought one a few months ago, a big improvement on the Moto1.

p.s. Moto1 for sale.....
Click to expand...
Is that Beeline gadget on the center of your handlebar.Is it some sort of GPS? I have never seen or heard of that.
Thanks,Mike
 
Yes, the Beeline gadget is a small device approx 2" dia which mounts on your handlebars (or on a mirror stalk). There is a mobile phone app which does the route planning / navigation and the Beeline gadget displays the instructions to follow the route. The display gadget is Bluetooth'ed to your phone. The Moto1 has an arrow to point in the direction to turn etc, with a countdown to where the turn is, and isnt always the easiest of things to follow. The Moto2 has a small map display and is easier to follow. There is also an option to subscribe to the app and have spoken directions bluetooth'ed to an earpiece. It is a cool device.

Beeline Moto II: The Simplest Smart GPS for Motorcyclists

Ride smarter with Beeline Moto II, the ultimate simple motorcycle GPS. Enjoy intuitive, clear navigation without the fuss. Plan adventures, stay on track & focus on the thrill of the ride. Learn more!
beeline.co beeline.co
 
Bonzo said:
Instead of getting involved in the garden or painting & decorating the house etc., this bank holiday weekend I have mostly been fitting an Alton starter...

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Some of the more minor jobs include changing the oil & filter & fitting new fuel lines.

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Also, popped on a Beeline Moto2 in case I get lost exploring the Isle of Man 🤣

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Cheers!!

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
Click to expand...
always nice to see a Fast Show reference! ( UK readers only!)
 
Took a short ride into town yesterday, first for a couple of months due to vacations, bad weather etc and the first with new Hagon shocks fitted.
That LH side lower shock mount bolt that also locates chain guard didn’t want to come loose until a slim spanner was found to hold it. Bike fired right up and all seems good.
 
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Back to one of my favourite spots, lovely to sit up on the hill with the windmill behind looking down on the unspoilt South Oxfordshire village of Turville. This is where the the flying shots for the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang were taken as well as home for The Vicar of Dibley tv series. There are are host of such villages in the Chilterns with many nice roads to bimble along.
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 

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