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GRM 450 said:
That's abit like saying useing Iceburgs to test early ships..c1912,
Hob , i agree would have weeded out the frail parts...but sending in the SAS with boy scouts is a bit extream :lol:
Broken/ snapped/failed?
- Thread starter john robert bould
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That's abit like saying useing Iceburgs to test early ships..c1912,
Hob , i agree would have weeded out the frail parts...but sending in the SAS with boy scouts is a bit extream :lol:
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hehe lazy quoting grabs confuses the real writer but I like the association of being raw maniac imbecile. I will never ever forget not knowing nothing when I had the P!! dragster with tach marked @ 9000 and put it there now and then but mostly not - as was unusable power delivery w/o a 4" flat slick under freeway speeds where the vibration became so severe it was nerve damaging.
My unsung hero here - is Frank-Norton-Villers test rider. My forte is not so much hi up reving so much as low down turning strains that fly up as hi side saves : ) Most fun I had last half decade on a C'do was Trixie's parking lot circles - feeling her secure grip and popping dumb axle on very first attempt to hi side her to fling a new direction. The core of my being on cycles is learning to crash them just a bit ahead of time in best traction control conditions, so I'm already in full recovery antics where everyone else it trying to press the harshest loads just to hang on in apexes.
Ugh one snap off I'll forever remember in stupid shame, was Peel's factory barrel all honed true and painted, set it down carefully just before placing on cases in frame, turned away then back again to knock it over and pop off a thumb sized piece of rear top fin. Its on mocked up Peel now in living room with JBWeld formed new fin still hanging on. Even well cured hi temp JBW becomes soft and pliable at operating temps but proven to conceal hobot handling long term.
I assume the thinkers would ask, why not just JBW the fin back on, well gosh darn don't ya know I did and it stayed put on Peel's era of sports bike hunting down to spank in total glee > a shift ahead of them corner cripples, when Peel's stuck throttle in shed took the spunk out of her, so decided to upgrade to 920 Maney > then got Trixie, whose slot oil hole pistons came apart rubbing on Al gasket, 3 wks into using her, put in before my time, which scored her barrel so just put on Peel's, with a new style flame ring gasket that was paper like core with tin foil like copper wrapper - which 30 miles later blew out the oil drain hole on hwy - to gas jet the fin right off, but didn't stop immediately as I'd ridden Peel many miles prior on one cylinder no issues but rough low power, so rode another 30 sec, when a pensive thought occurred to me remembering posts on the factory fuel line route, pulled over just in time to find fuel hose almost cut through. So nothing for it but try to mold a new fin my hillbilly resource way.
About the most horrifying report I've read on C'do broken/snapped/failed was an 850 idling in garage driveway on its own warming up > when cast iron flywheel let go to pass through front of cases fly across street, bounce off car damaging it then passing through picture window to damage furniture and fixtures inside the living room.
Trixie after 3 wks timid riding just to work and back quite legally sanely, as if that really matters once seated and moving on a Commando.
http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/27389
/1510937174037141179S600x600Q85.jpg
Trixie after here axle break dancing
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87kW5zcbkFs[/video]
My unsung hero here - is Frank-Norton-Villers test rider. My forte is not so much hi up reving so much as low down turning strains that fly up as hi side saves : ) Most fun I had last half decade on a C'do was Trixie's parking lot circles - feeling her secure grip and popping dumb axle on very first attempt to hi side her to fling a new direction. The core of my being on cycles is learning to crash them just a bit ahead of time in best traction control conditions, so I'm already in full recovery antics where everyone else it trying to press the harshest loads just to hang on in apexes.
Ugh one snap off I'll forever remember in stupid shame, was Peel's factory barrel all honed true and painted, set it down carefully just before placing on cases in frame, turned away then back again to knock it over and pop off a thumb sized piece of rear top fin. Its on mocked up Peel now in living room with JBWeld formed new fin still hanging on. Even well cured hi temp JBW becomes soft and pliable at operating temps but proven to conceal hobot handling long term.
I assume the thinkers would ask, why not just JBW the fin back on, well gosh darn don't ya know I did and it stayed put on Peel's era of sports bike hunting down to spank in total glee > a shift ahead of them corner cripples, when Peel's stuck throttle in shed took the spunk out of her, so decided to upgrade to 920 Maney > then got Trixie, whose slot oil hole pistons came apart rubbing on Al gasket, 3 wks into using her, put in before my time, which scored her barrel so just put on Peel's, with a new style flame ring gasket that was paper like core with tin foil like copper wrapper - which 30 miles later blew out the oil drain hole on hwy - to gas jet the fin right off, but didn't stop immediately as I'd ridden Peel many miles prior on one cylinder no issues but rough low power, so rode another 30 sec, when a pensive thought occurred to me remembering posts on the factory fuel line route, pulled over just in time to find fuel hose almost cut through. So nothing for it but try to mold a new fin my hillbilly resource way.
About the most horrifying report I've read on C'do broken/snapped/failed was an 850 idling in garage driveway on its own warming up > when cast iron flywheel let go to pass through front of cases fly across street, bounce off car damaging it then passing through picture window to damage furniture and fixtures inside the living room.
Trixie after 3 wks timid riding just to work and back quite legally sanely, as if that really matters once seated and moving on a Commando.
http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/27389
/1510937174037141179S600x600Q85.jpg
Trixie after here axle break dancing
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87kW5zcbkFs[/video]
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- Oct 19, 2005
- Messages
- 18,978
Oh yeah forgot to mention all the cush drive cushions gone away too soon. Here current views of rest of current snap crackle pop.
Knocked the rest of the teeth out of rear drum to pay some more to ride with Bikes Blues BBQ festival just around the corner in nice fall like conditions minus the colors yet. Double row bearing heated out oil, ruined to replace again.
Remains of 4 layer fiber enforced rock conveyor belt turned to chewing gum with cob webs, I assume from the lose beating slack 60 miles home.
The low RH paddle is tweaked/twisted away from center to fix.
Circlip was out of its groove and stuck to the washer, groove still intact.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2929338 ... 1179owdPPJ
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2659058 ... 1179hbQhss
Knocked the rest of the teeth out of rear drum to pay some more to ride with Bikes Blues BBQ festival just around the corner in nice fall like conditions minus the colors yet. Double row bearing heated out oil, ruined to replace again.
Remains of 4 layer fiber enforced rock conveyor belt turned to chewing gum with cob webs, I assume from the lose beating slack 60 miles home.
The low RH paddle is tweaked/twisted away from center to fix.
Circlip was out of its groove and stuck to the washer, groove still intact.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2929338 ... 1179owdPPJ
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2659058 ... 1179hbQhss
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- 18,978
Ugh, people get so mixed up between Ms Peel MX fun toy, but this is Trixie who I don't have much expectations from and don't press my luck on her except just to ride and not tear up. Doing mild hardly powered circles in parking lot shouldn't strain axle, though I did give her one little tire chirp blip that popped it, but Trixie did have some strong shocks accidentally that may have added up. See my last post on this here. Regardless I want everything worn and busted around me in the end so next time out with axle strapped down will try for air in parking lot circles.
post124585.html#p124585
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Yeah, me too!
I want everything worn out and busted up so next time I can do a wheelie in a parking lot for my high school friends!
I want everything worn out and busted up so next time I can do a wheelie in a parking lot for my high school friends!
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Yeah man just I'm just trying to catch up what I missed out when kick starts ruled the roost. So I fix em up then go out and use em up. I think, there fore I am, I think, there's a bit of a plan behind my antics. Last trip was so fun I'm going to put Peels old rear sets on, tuck the exht clamps back in and remove the poor peg rubbers and see how much extra fling that gives me. If I get that down then maybe I can have some faster fun on the hyws here. Safe Journeys to ya. hobot
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hobot said:just updating a new snapped item I'd not seen listed prior nor experienced before.
Discovered couple days ago on tire change, State DMV closed on week ends. Well
I guess I don't need no stinking tin tag just to catch a joy ride today.
Doth My eyes decieve? Is that a NEW tire I see?
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Rear brake cable fails at speed and pedal falls down striking the pavement causing bike to flip over. Can be averted by using safety wire loop or tie wrap between stoplight bracket and footpeg arm.
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This is a post about broken/snapped/failed items not merely entirely possible but Highly Unlikely - like the brake peddle safety spring needed to prevent lever pogo if cable breaks. I use one of course but it didn't prevent a crash when a branch snagged the rear brake full on, or the other time branches extended the side stand out, plop.
Brent its 2, yes New Tyres both with the casting nubbins still present, front one a decade old the rear still warm from manufacture, until yesterday's fling, w/o a license tag, which was remarkable extra fun smooth grippy ride I have to watch out for boot toe or peg touching w/o intending too, because its like running w/o the ankle weights and shoe laces loose of a track runner. Front tire cost $10 the rear $55. I have a habit of Not Giving er the Gas while upright or my tyre mileage goes to $hit. Its short sleeve weather today so will call DMV for replacement then ride Trixie to work 20 m then 30 to get another tag to put on after I bodge a new holder plate. I tired to put on a NOS 19" TT100 rear tire instead of the 18" fresh tyre but found the rear hub bearings frooze up, so more money/time just because I didn't use that 19" hub in time before its seal bearings rusted in shed.
Would of liked to see the rear drum circle jerk damage which is one I've missed out on so far. If one is frustrated enough to get mainshaft bearing seated in wallowed out AMC gearbox shell bore, it don't take too much whack to drive the bearing race right through the shell leaving a perfect round if rough edged hole.
Brent its 2, yes New Tyres both with the casting nubbins still present, front one a decade old the rear still warm from manufacture, until yesterday's fling, w/o a license tag, which was remarkable extra fun smooth grippy ride I have to watch out for boot toe or peg touching w/o intending too, because its like running w/o the ankle weights and shoe laces loose of a track runner. Front tire cost $10 the rear $55. I have a habit of Not Giving er the Gas while upright or my tyre mileage goes to $hit. Its short sleeve weather today so will call DMV for replacement then ride Trixie to work 20 m then 30 to get another tag to put on after I bodge a new holder plate. I tired to put on a NOS 19" TT100 rear tire instead of the 18" fresh tyre but found the rear hub bearings frooze up, so more money/time just because I didn't use that 19" hub in time before its seal bearings rusted in shed.
Would of liked to see the rear drum circle jerk damage which is one I've missed out on so far. If one is frustrated enough to get mainshaft bearing seated in wallowed out AMC gearbox shell bore, it don't take too much whack to drive the bearing race right through the shell leaving a perfect round if rough edged hole.
Ron L
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From my '73 Roadster (MkV 750 with RH6 head), since I bought that new as 23 year old fresh college grad. Maintained pretty rigorously and now has about 45K on the clocks (it quickly acquired stablemates).
Original 750 flat plate headsteady broke twice. Replaced with box section.
Shifter ratchet spring broke twice.
Rear oil tank tabe broke. Repaired with new heavier tab and Harley oil tank mounts.
Ignition switch failed.
Warning light assimilator failed . Replaced with OEM type.
Original mufflers rusted out.
Original spark leads broke down. Replaced with Packard 440 wire.
Centerstand broke at crossbar. Replaced with 850 style.
Auto advance unit wore grooves in the slots. Replaced with Boyer.
Original rubber muffler mounts broke at head steady and mufflers. Replaced with "waisted" type.
Primary chain broke a couple rollers. Replaced
Original rocker feed oil line broke. Made a new one with truck air brake line.
Original paint flaking at the filler neck and lower corners of the side covers.
Original side cover decals peeled off in about 6 months.
Replaced leaking fork seals.
Still has original 932 Amals with original slides. Original cylinder bores with new std size rings at about 20K. (Pulled the barrel to check the cam "just because").
Starts with one kick and idles smoothly at 900 rpm.
Original 750 flat plate headsteady broke twice. Replaced with box section.
Shifter ratchet spring broke twice.
Rear oil tank tabe broke. Repaired with new heavier tab and Harley oil tank mounts.
Ignition switch failed.
Warning light assimilator failed . Replaced with OEM type.
Original mufflers rusted out.
Original spark leads broke down. Replaced with Packard 440 wire.
Centerstand broke at crossbar. Replaced with 850 style.
Auto advance unit wore grooves in the slots. Replaced with Boyer.
Original rubber muffler mounts broke at head steady and mufflers. Replaced with "waisted" type.
Primary chain broke a couple rollers. Replaced
Original rocker feed oil line broke. Made a new one with truck air brake line.
Original paint flaking at the filler neck and lower corners of the side covers.
Original side cover decals peeled off in about 6 months.
Replaced leaking fork seals.
Still has original 932 Amals with original slides. Original cylinder bores with new std size rings at about 20K. (Pulled the barrel to check the cam "just because").
Starts with one kick and idles smoothly at 900 rpm.
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- Jan 17, 2011
- Messages
- 280
john robert bould said:Just intersted in ALL the failings of Commandos, anyone who as had a failure,fracture,broken part..I am, plus many others would like to hear, But more important how long did the repair last, Modified part etc...it's just a mate said when he first saw my commando " Dont these fall to bit's" ? to be honest i stumbled for works...starting the answer "Well.......... then i didnt know where to start:!: I bet there is over twenty common original failings,,starting with Combat Rods comming off :!:
JRB, rather than just pandering to your mate's prejudices, find out what he rides and fight fire with fire! Seriously, any machine from the 1970s looks a little daft in 2011 because things have moved on in the last 40 years. All things are relative. and Nortons are not alone in being imperfect- and that's part of the fun. That's like dismissing a 70s Japanese bike with 'Avoid corners and hedgrows' :mrgreen:
Ok, I will admit to a gearbox layshaft explosion in London traffic on my immaculate low miler, but I will also admit to more soul stirring, brilliant times in the saddle. And that's without mentioning a Honda whose carbs blew out of the rubber manifolds while overtaking, and a Suzuki whose clutch fell off on a lonely Queensland road, obliging yours truly to hitch a ride with a lorry carrying pigs... :mrgreen:
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