Best way ?

Try to find the best, safest noninvasive way to remove the retaining washer from the back the rear dummy axle?

I assume you mean the thin staked down in a depression washer > pure will power for a mean state of mind with some brute force on sharp picks and maybe a super magnet to help tip it up to actually get a bite under it to work out this hobby horse frustrations. I think Norton considered its rear bearings permanently lubed for life, an attitude stemming from them viewing the Commando as stop gap model that would last long any way.

I assume you mean the thin staked down in a depression washer > pure will power for a mean state of mind with some brute force on sharp picks and maybe a super magnet to help tip it up to actually get a bite under it to work out this hobby horse frustrations. I think Norton considered its rear bearings permanently lubed for life, an attitude stemming from them viewing the Commando as stop gap model that would last long any way.

There is a thread on this. But if you are willing to toss and replace the
pressed in washer easy to either drill a small hole, run in a PK screw
and then grab that with a pair of vise grips to pull out. If you have
a slide hammer you can screw in the vise grips to that and it is real
easy. Or you can fold in one of the edges and grab the edge with the
vise grips and pull it out.
The washer is only a couple of bucks. If you are tapped, then do the
little hole method and reuse the washer sealing the hole with a tiny
daub of RTV.

Are you talking about #32 or #30?
http://www.oldbritts.com/1972_g17.html

#32 is just a matter of picking and punch in one area to pull in out with least damage. These are fairly soft and can be reshaped to function again as intended. They are around 4 bucks, so if needed, order a couple up and have a spare or two.

If I recall about #30, it just sit in the like the washer behind TS crank pinion. Pick and magnet. Fiddle and diddle. $1.60 a pop.

pvisseriii said:

Are you talking about #32 or #30?
http://www.oldbritts.com/1972_g17.html

#32 is just a matter of picking and punch in one area to pull in out with least damage. These are fairly soft and can be reshaped to function again as intended. They are around 4 bucks, so if needed, order a couple up and have a spare or two.

If I recall about #30, it just sit in the like the washer behind TS crank pinion. Pick and magnet. Fiddle and diddle. $1.60 a pop.

Click to expand...

Ya #32 I'll try and pick it out if worst I can get a new one . @hobot I was wondering the same thing how they must think its got forever lube on it ;-)

Hey TJ
"Try to find the best, safest non-invasive way to remove the retaining washer "

Here is what I did as I was in the same situation when I put a new drum on for a 520 chain and happened to forget the cir-clip before the washer.
I used a coat hanger. Cut 6" and hammer one end till it’s a very flat thin screwdriver type blade shape. Use a file to thin it out and shape it. Peen over a very short hook and then use it to roll it into the gap. Then pull around edges to coax it out. Works a charm.
Cheers,
CNN