What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

raleypc said:
Adjusted the spring head steady on my 1975 MK3 to factory specs. Quite a noticeable difference in vibs below 3000 rpm.
Click to expand...
What is the factory spec?
I just adjust mine until I can slide the loosened front iso bolt back and forth by hand.
Cheers
 
robs ss said:
Thanks Les. As the spring constant will be variable, including with time, I think I'll stick with my empirical method.
Cheers
Click to expand...
I think your method results in what the factory was trying to obtain. In my case I just adjusted the coil length by the book and got a noticeable improvement.
 
Every mechanical spring has a constant "k", where the amount of force equals k times deflection. As springs stretch with age (particularly cheaper ones) k changes too.
All of that means the Norton method, posted by Les above, will not necessarily give the desired force to support the front of the engine unit.
 
The horn was a bit loose on its mount, a good opportunity to clean some otherwise in
accessible areas.
IMG_7087.jpeg
 
marshg246 said:
Oops!

View attachment 122249

It's not the getting old that's a problem - it's the getting weak. I used to be very strong - apparently, I can't remember that I'm not now!

Fortunately, that's my rider, not a customer bike.
Click to expand...
Never did like those Kendon lifts. That looks like some kind of copy. Plus, no side boards even though it looks like there is a provision for them? No different than driving your MC onto the back of a P/U with one ramp, although I have done it numerous times. Should be easy to pick up by yourself. Just move that lift out of the way. UFB.
 
NORTSTER1974 said:
Never did like those Kendon lifts. That looks like some kind of copy. Plus, no side boards even though it looks like there is a provision for them? No different than driving your MC onto the back of a P/U with one ramp, although I have done it numerous times. Should be easy to pick up by yourself. Just move that lift out of the way. UFB.
Click to expand...
It's not a copy. The side shelves are off in the picture but they are about useless. The are only about 2' x 18" and clip onto the sides under the engine.

I do all my real work on 2' x 6' tables I build. The lift is only for quick things or things where I needed to get things where I can work - I have one destroyed shoulder and one bad shoulder and I can no longer get on my knees, so this was good for some things. Since I can no longer safely put bikes on an off it, it's got to go.

Here's what I use for almost everything and there no chance of me getting hurt or dropping a bike: https://gregmarsh.com/MC/MMCT.aspx
 
Deets55 said:
Damn Greg, hope you didn’t get hurt . On a good note the tins were off. Hope the OEM black cap survived.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, I did get hurt. Cuts, but more importantly, I tried to stop it and further damaged my left shoulder and pulled something in my back and neck.

The muffler is OK, the mounts are bent - that's no big deal. The PITA is that I spent about 6 hours restoring the turn signals and taillight bracket and then doing what I consider the hardest Commando job - getting the rear fender, taillight, and turn signals aligned. That's all a mess now. The side-stand took some damage - I'm hoping it the stand and not the mount or frame. It still holds the bike up OK, but it leans a little more than before.

Extra special good is it missed the rear end of the 1970 perfect Bonneville I have for sale by about an inch.
 
Ouch, that stinks. The beams in my garage are strong enough suspend the bike with a 1T chain hoist, no need for a platform. I never trusted the small ones, which never fit the undersides of any bikes I've owned. And the big ones make it too hard to get up close.
 
I'm pulling out the bottom end now ,on the street .
Is there a ratchet strap I can buy , to the main upper frame to wrap around the stripped down engine , to raise and lower it ?
Or wood blocks to support up .. then the down again .
 
marshg246 said:
Unfortunately, I did get hurt. Cuts, but more importantly, I tried to stop it and further damaged my left shoulder and pulled something in my back and neck.

The muffler is OK, the mounts are bent - that's no big deal. The PITA is that I spent about 6 hours restoring the turn signals and taillight bracket and then doing what I consider the hardest Commando job - getting the rear fender, taillight, and turn signals aligned. That's all a mess now. The side-stand took some damage - I'm hoping it the stand and not the mount or frame. It still holds the bike up OK, but it leans a little more than before.

Extra special good is it missed the rear end of the 1970 perfect Bonneville I have for sale by about an inch.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear that. Hope you both mend up quickly.
 
marshg246 said:
Oops!

View attachment 122249

It's not the getting old that's a problem - it's the getting weak. I used to be very strong - apparently, I can't remember that I'm not now!

Fortunately, that's my rider, not a customer bike.
Click to expand...
Greg,
Don’t feel alone on this.My main bitch about getting old is my loss of strength!At least I am still above dirt.
Mike
 
gpzkat said:
Ouch, that stinks. The beams in my garage are strong enough suspend the bike with a 1T chain hoist, no need for a platform. I never trusted the small ones, which never fit the undersides of any bikes I've owned. And the big ones make it too hard to get up close.
Click to expand...
Curious,where do you rig the sling(s)?
 

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