What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Maybe it's just a sign of getting old Greg, I am 67 in 2 weeks time and I still doing everything I have always done, but I do find it's harder to get up off the ground when doing things at that level and not as much strength in the arms as I use to have, I do a lot of walking (never been a runner, unless if someone is chasing me lol) so never short of breath, I go to bed late and always up with the sun, my body clock only sleeps 6 hrs a night and I don't get tired during the day so no nanny naps for me, maybe it's time to take it easy and get that N gauge trains out, stress and worries do have a big effect on health and looks like you have had heart problems before.
Anyway Greg hope things get better for you but just take it a bit easier and recharge the batteries, lifting you Norton off the ground wouldn't have help, at lease you are still breathing and upright, and as you say life goes on.
 
Damn Greg, I don't know why they are piece mealing this thing. A cardiac cath is done after you have an abnormal stress test. I've had several stress tests on the treadmill.
The last one was Nuclear. I told them I'm not doing the treadmill, I can hardly walk. Because of my back problems. Prior to the stress tests they hooked me up with a heart monitor for 5 days. Prior to that an echocardiogram and such. I know the doc's have to follow insurance company guidelines on procedure, but I don't understand why they didn't check all your arteries while doing the cath. My cardiologist checked all of them at once through the right arm, then he installed 4 stents in a row. 4" total. If that didn't work, the next step would have been open heart surgery. Unbelievable. I hope the best for your continued good health,:)
marshg246 said:
Had the left heart cath today. The good news is that no arteries are clogged. Therefore, the bad news is nothing was fixed so I'm still weak, tired, and short of breath. Oh well, life goes on...
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NORTSTER1974 said:
Damn Greg, I don't know why they are piece mealing this thing. A cardiac cath is done after you have an abnormal stress test. I've had several stress tests on the treadmill.
The last one was Nuclear. I told them I'm not doing the treadmill, I can hardly walk. Because of my back problems. Prior to the stress tests they hooked me up with a heart monitor for 5 days. Prior to that an echocardiogram and such. I know the doc's have to follow insurance company guidelines on procedure, but I don't understand why they didn't check all your arteries while doing the cath. My cardiologist checked all of them at once through the right arm, then he installed 4 stents in a row. 4" total. If that didn't work, the next step would have been open heart surgery. Unbelievable. I hope the best for your continued good health,:)
Click to expand...
I've had all the tests and all predicted no blockages - this was exploratory to see why the symptoms persist. To me, it's clear:

December 3, 24, I let it get away and I had extreme fluid overload - damned near died. In the hospital 13 days and lost 10.2kg, all fluid. LV EF went from 11-13 to 35. Then I continued getting water off. Then need cardiac clearance to get my knee or shoulder replaced - could not get it unless I got a pacemaker. Got the pacemaker in Feb 25. By mid-march weighted 20 kb less - all water - this morning, I'm down 29lg from Dec 3, 2024. Was given clearance for knee not shoulder. April, had knee replaced. May EV EF 40-45. July LV EF 35. Probably lower still now because the water is off but the heart failure symptoms are getting worse.

During the Dec hospital stay I had multiple tests including a right heart cath, heart CT, Lunkg CT (had a clot), brain CT (have an unimportant lesion). That cath was primary to check the fluid overload to see if a cardio convert was OK for the afib I was in. Along the way the arteries we checked and clear. the cardio convert was tried with four different locations and all fail to convert.

I believe the pacemaker was unneeded and is now making my heart worse or at least not recovering. My cardiologist, did not do pacemaker, is trying to figure it out. My old cardiologist sent me to the "pacemaker expert" for the pacemaker. I left that cardiologist and am pissed at the "expert".

This is the second time this year. A could of months ago, I thought I had a stroke or that the pacemaker was failing. Spent time in the hospital where nothing was found and was discharged with a clear head but such extreme double vision that I could do very little - that's cleared on it's own.

It's getting old being told "nothing found" but still having the symptoms!

I am happy with my current cardiologist, he younger and he's also my GP's cardiologist.
 
ashman said:
Maybe it's just a sign of getting old Greg, I am 67 in 2 weeks time and I still doing everything I have always done, but I do find it's harder to get up off the ground when doing things at that level and not as much strength in the arms as I use to have, I do a lot of walking (never been a runner, unless if someone is chasing me lol) so never short of breath, I go to bed late and always up with the sun, my body clock only sleeps 6 hrs a night and I don't get tired during the day so no nanny naps for me, maybe it's time to take it easy and get that N gauge trains out, stress and worries do have a big effect on health and looks like you have had heart problems before.
Anyway Greg hope things get better for you but just take it a bit easier and recharge the batteries, lifting you Norton off the ground wouldn't have help, at lease you are still breathing and upright, and as you say life goes on.
Click to expand...
Ya, 8 years ago, I was still able to do more than probably 90 percent of 67 year olds. Several near death problems and arthritis in every joint causing the downtime related to two hip replacements, one knee replacement one major shoulder repair, one major foot repair - all caused a lot of recovery and limited activity. And then still needing my other should replaced, my other knee replaced, another foot surgery, and cataracts surgery in both eyes - well sitting will knock you down damned fast.

If you are able to keep moving at the same pace as today for the next 8 years, you will not go downhill much. If things beyond your control get in the way, report back how good you are when 75 :)

I appreciate you saying "just take it a bit easier and recharge the batteries" and everyone who tells me the same - you are all wrong. The easier you take it the faster you'll be done - I've watched to happen to many people! You are certainly right that first trying to stop the bike from falling and then picking it up were pretty stupid. It's probably worse that you noticed because I had the side stand out so when it was on it's side it was on that stand and the tires were in the air so I was picking up much more weight and if the tires were on the ground. Thankfully, most of the pickup damage to me has gone away.
 
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marshg246 said:
Ya, 8 years ago, I was still able to do more than probably 90 percent of 67 year olds. Several near death problems and arthritis in every joint causing the downtime related to two hip replacements, one knee replacement one major shoulder repair, one major foot repair - all caused a lot of recovery and limited activity. And then still needing my other should replaced, my other knee replaced, another foot surgery, and cataracts surgery in both eyes - well sitting will knock you down damned fast.

If you are able to keep moving at the same pace as today for the next 8 years, you will not go downhill much. If things beyond your control get in the way, report back how good you are when 75 :)

I appreciate you saying "just take it a bit easier and recharge the batteries" and everyone who tells me the same - you are all wrong. The easier you take it the faster you'll be done - I've watched to happen to many people! You are certainly right that first trying to stop the bike from falling and then picking it up were pretty stupid. It's probably worse that you noticed because I had the side stand out so when it was on it's side it was on that stand and the tires were in the air so I was picking up much more weight and if the tires were on the ground. Thankfully, most of the pickup damage to me has gone
Click to expand...
 
Yesterday: Spent two hours tightening bolts, checking fluids and cleaning Norton for the big All Brit ride today. Put Norton on trickle charge

Today: Pulled Norton out of garage, tickled carbs, turned on key - click click click. Checked all settings: click click. !@#$%^!! Pushed Norton back in garage, pulled out the 2014 Triumph and beat feet to the ride start. Got there on time, and started taking photos and benchracing. Someone was selling T shirts for $5.00. I put my helmet down on the table and perused the T shirts. Decided to buy one, put shirt in pack - and noticed my helmet had disappeared. Several friends and I started looking for my helmet. Came upon the person who bought a T shirt before I did. He was holding MY HELMET, with his T shirt stuffed inside it. I demanded my helmet back. Got a rather confused explanation about how he is used to walking around with a helmet and there was a helmet on the table, so it must have been his. Also got my helmet back and an apology.

It was a beautiful day, in the low Seventies, and the ride organizers had laid out a great 75 mile route and gave everyone a map. One person had a stuck float bowl, but it un-stuck after a little fiddling. An unwelcome barger on a Yamaha (Brit Bike Only ride!) stalled out at a stop light. We all passed, making unkind comments. The ride finished up at a Mexican restaurant where we continued catching up on auld acquaintance and benchracing

Rode home. Found my multimeter, pulled Norton out of garage and connected multimeter up to tricklecharge pigtail. Turned on key and hit button. Norton started making start noise, so I disconnected multimeter, tickled carbs and hit button. Norton started. Grrr. Did some poking around. The battery is a year and a half old. The tricklecharge pigtail wire looks a little compromised. Plan is to remove it tomorrow (too bushed today) solder up and replace. Also order new battery.
 
So today I beefed up the battery charger pigtail, reassembled the wires to the battery, and plugged Norton in. Two hours later, pulled Norton out of garage. Norton started right up, ran great for over twenty miles. I stopped at a coffeeshop. After a half hour of coffee and munching, Norton started right up and ran great for 15 miles all the way home. I have no idea what is going on.
 
IMG_5064.jpg
There's a few things going on there and it all didn't happen in one day. Evolved over a couple years.
How many can you spot?
1. Carbs, single pull gantry with rubber mounted Mk 2 manifolds.
2. Obvious E-start.
3. Dave Taylor Head steady.
4. Drilled intake rocker shafts, eliminating the cross over line.
5. Modified/Shortened WW domed bolt for oil line cap.
This all took place over a couple years as there was an engine overhaul in the middle of all this.
 
MichaelB said:
View attachment 122424
There's a few things going on there and it all didn't happen in one day. Evolved over a couple years.
How many can you spot?
1. Carbs, single pull gantry with rubber mounted Mk 2 manifolds.
2. Obvious E-start.
3. Dave Taylor Head steady.
4. Drilled intake rocker shafts, eliminating the cross over line.
5. Modified/Shortened WW domed bolt for oil line cap.
This all took place over a couple years as there was an engine overhaul in the middle of all this.
Click to expand...
I like the dark blue/blackened pipes. Caning it as was intended. 🏁😎👊🏻
 
Took advantage of a warm day in Michigan yesterday. Did a 35 mile round trip to Czapskis in Milford What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?for coffee and a delicious Golabki with fresh bread.
 
gpzkat said:
That's a tricky one, such a tight space. You can use a normal ratcheting strap to lower, but it is a bit fiddly, one click at a time, very carefully. I have some are easier than others, still don't think I'd chance it. Once when I was garage-challenged, I used a neighbor's kids' swingset and the hoist, bike on its side. Maybe there's a playground nearby? :p
Click to expand...
Today took the rebuilt J.S. motor downstairs ( no head on ) to the bike ,on the street , using a hand-truck . 5 C. out , nice . Lifted it up and into place easily and my neighbour tapped the top subframe bolt into place . On centerstand , this bolt is the fulcrum point . Covered up and tomorrow the front iso goes into place to tap in the top bolt only . Another fulcrum point , final bolts later .
 
Today did something different. Usually I ride Norton to breakfast. Today it was foggy in the AM, so I rode Norton to lunch with friends. Bike started, but battery made some concerning sounds on cold start. After lunch, Norton started right up and ran with no issues. 90 plus miles in total. I decided not to trust that battery any more, so wrote a note to self to install the replacement I bought a couple of weeks ago.
 
I put 1 ounce of two-stroke oil in the gas tank, as well as a half ounce of stable fuel stabilizer. Was just about to run that through the carbs when a snow squall came up. That'll have to wait for another day to run it in.




What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 

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