Commando Cafe Racer Rebuild
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Fullauto said:
Fullauto did you buy the standard Norton Ikon shocks or the full adjustable damping ones :?:
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It's been a while without a progress report, but I've been working away steadily on the old girl and now have a Road Worthy Certificate - required for the registration process. I went last Saturday and it failed on several points:
Fuel leak - need new float bowl gaskets. (Float height still not right????)
Footpeg rubbers loose - a bit of contact adhesive will sort that.
Mufflers loose - yeah, you get that. Vibration.
LHR indicator not working - damn, pulled this apart the other night to tighten it up, must have duffed an electrical connection.
Aim headlight, points way too high - yeah so what, every other fugger on the road has headlights like that.
Adjust rear brake - did that on the spot.
Oil leak exhaust rocker cover - new gaskets required.
I had a week to sort all these out, or have to pay for another inspection, so it was a pretty busy couple of weeknights. Couldn't get the gaskets in in time, so bought gasket papers and made my own. Why didn't I do this before? It's so easy. Especially with a hole punch set. Never again. The indicator bulb had blown. 15 years of sitting around and even glass will leak in some molecules of Oxygen over this time and the filaments will oxidise pretty smartly. Also lost the brake bulb.
So all sorted and das heading off down for the inspection at about 9:30 this morning, just pulled out of my drive when a Velocette goes past! I follow him as he's going my way and he pulls into a house just a block away. He's spotted me in his mirrors so comes back out and we chat on for a while. He recognises the Martin wheels straight off, so he must be a knowledgeable gent, but didn't pick the Seeley forks. He's put his bike away so I don't get a good look, but from the rear it looked very very tidy.
I eventually get down to the vehicle tester. It was touch and go. I'd forgotten to put the compliance plate on. Had to go home and stick it on with double sided tape. Found out that it was still pi55ing oil in the process. Friggin hell, it's everywhere! Tightened up the rocker spindle covers - where it seems to be coming from and then notice it's nearly midday. Just have to go for it so did a couple of minutes with some rag, mopping up where it's pooled on the motor. Ride back down but instead of going into the workshop, I parked the bike out the front in what I hoped was a suitable place for a poseur and took the seat off. Guy comes out and has a squizz at the plate and says "that'll do" and completes the roadworthy certificate. My boots are covered in oil and she's left a little puddle, but I don't care any more. This lady biker walks past and says "that's beautiful". I thank her and get ready to leave. Another couple in a car stop to ogle and give me the thumbs up. I take it easy going home, hoping that, like blood a little bit seems to make a big mess and there's still plenty left in the sump.
Urgh. Get home and cleaned off all the oil and lapped the rocker shaft cover and put in a thicker gasket. Still leaking, but not from there. Oh oh. It's dripping off the head fins. About 4 fins up, directly under the exhaust port. Oh dear. This doesn't look good. That's about where the front head nuts would be...
Fuel leak - need new float bowl gaskets. (Float height still not right????)
Footpeg rubbers loose - a bit of contact adhesive will sort that.
Mufflers loose - yeah, you get that. Vibration.
LHR indicator not working - damn, pulled this apart the other night to tighten it up, must have duffed an electrical connection.
Aim headlight, points way too high - yeah so what, every other fugger on the road has headlights like that.
Adjust rear brake - did that on the spot.
Oil leak exhaust rocker cover - new gaskets required.
I had a week to sort all these out, or have to pay for another inspection, so it was a pretty busy couple of weeknights. Couldn't get the gaskets in in time, so bought gasket papers and made my own. Why didn't I do this before? It's so easy. Especially with a hole punch set. Never again. The indicator bulb had blown. 15 years of sitting around and even glass will leak in some molecules of Oxygen over this time and the filaments will oxidise pretty smartly. Also lost the brake bulb.
So all sorted and das heading off down for the inspection at about 9:30 this morning, just pulled out of my drive when a Velocette goes past! I follow him as he's going my way and he pulls into a house just a block away. He's spotted me in his mirrors so comes back out and we chat on for a while. He recognises the Martin wheels straight off, so he must be a knowledgeable gent, but didn't pick the Seeley forks. He's put his bike away so I don't get a good look, but from the rear it looked very very tidy.
I eventually get down to the vehicle tester. It was touch and go. I'd forgotten to put the compliance plate on. Had to go home and stick it on with double sided tape. Found out that it was still pi55ing oil in the process. Friggin hell, it's everywhere! Tightened up the rocker spindle covers - where it seems to be coming from and then notice it's nearly midday. Just have to go for it so did a couple of minutes with some rag, mopping up where it's pooled on the motor. Ride back down but instead of going into the workshop, I parked the bike out the front in what I hoped was a suitable place for a poseur and took the seat off. Guy comes out and has a squizz at the plate and says "that'll do" and completes the roadworthy certificate. My boots are covered in oil and she's left a little puddle, but I don't care any more. This lady biker walks past and says "that's beautiful". I thank her and get ready to leave. Another couple in a car stop to ogle and give me the thumbs up. I take it easy going home, hoping that, like blood a little bit seems to make a big mess and there's still plenty left in the sump.
Urgh. Get home and cleaned off all the oil and lapped the rocker shaft cover and put in a thicker gasket. Still leaking, but not from there. Oh oh. It's dripping off the head fins. About 4 fins up, directly under the exhaust port. Oh dear. This doesn't look good. That's about where the front head nuts would be...
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- Nov 11, 2008
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Bottom of the rear rocker gasket. Dribbles all the way through the head and out the front. Made a new one out of that rubberised cork stuff rather than gasket paper for this one. Seems to have done the trick. Either that or I've run out of oil!
S'pose I'd better post up a pic or two now that I'm pretty well finished.
S'pose I'd better post up a pic or two now that I'm pretty well finished.
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- Oct 31, 2009
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Check the oil lines on the head. At idle they won't leak much but when going down the road they may. The oil will run down and appear to come from the head in front by the exhaust. I could sware that it was coming from where the haed meets the barrel.
If these are old plastic lines they can split near the barb but you won't notice it until the oil pressure build going down the road.. Pull to one side or the other to reveal crack in line near fitting.
I did a complete upper end tear down only to discover this later. I fixed it once by cutting it at the slit and shoving it back on to the fitting. I started carrying zip ties as clamps at the fitting barbs. Another time my leg was burning from oil blowing out another split from the other side. That is whan I upgraded to SS lines and fittings.
If these are old plastic lines they can split near the barb but you won't notice it until the oil pressure build going down the road.. Pull to one side or the other to reveal crack in line near fitting.
I did a complete upper end tear down only to discover this later. I fixed it once by cutting it at the slit and shoving it back on to the fitting. I started carrying zip ties as clamps at the fitting barbs. Another time my leg was burning from oil blowing out another split from the other side. That is whan I upgraded to SS lines and fittings.
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- Nov 11, 2008
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They're all ok Pvisserii, all replaced. I'll have another test ride this morning and see if my diagnosis is correct and repair effective. I ran it up in the workshop last night and it seems tight, but there's no substitute for road miles.pvisseriii said:
All the old gaskets have been compressed for so long they've turned into a plastic-brittle substance the thickness of cigarette paper. Not much use at all!
I don't know Paul, only what's standard on the engine. That's the only part of the bike I didn't do, reassemble the major engine components. (Never again - I'll do it all myself next time!) I've been following all the discussion on this topic including yours where you modified a modern Triumph one (if memory serves). I'd have thought what's standard must at least work or is it pressurising the whole engine? At least I'm assured of one thing - there's plenty of oil up the top end!grandpaul said:
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- Nov 11, 2008
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Had another fang this arvo, 5ks and not a drop whereas before my boots were covered in oil spots after the same distance, so all sorted.
Nah - what am I thinking? Better put some work into the Pantah first and I really should pull the head down on the TRX and get the valves shimmed and oil seals replaced...
But then again, those jobs could wait...
Well Fullauto, I'll be looking for another project and there is this other Commando for sale up in NSW for just 6 and a half...Fullauto said:
Nah - what am I thinking? Better put some work into the Pantah first and I really should pull the head down on the TRX and get the valves shimmed and oil seals replaced...
But then again, those jobs could wait...
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Made a rego appointment, but the earliest one available is next Wednesday week! Hate to be in a hurry. S'pose in the scheme of things it's really nothing, but I'm now rather impatient. And check out the cost:
Initial Registration Fees - Secondhand Light Motor Vehicle
Appointment Fee: $15.00
Inspection Fee: $23.90
Registration Fee: $183.30
Transport Accident Charge: $390.00
Insurance Duty: $39.00
Number Plates: $30.00
Motor Vehicle Duty: $80.00
Total Fee Payable $: $@ERROR
@ERROR, no friggin wonder! $761.20! Had to pay the first $38.90 over the 'phone by credit card. Bet that doesn't even include the Motorcycle Safety Levy. At least you now only pay that on one bike's registration (already paid with the TRX), so I won't have to pay that.
There'll come a day when this government will just screw the poor old motorist just one step too far...
Initial Registration Fees - Secondhand Light Motor Vehicle
Appointment Fee: $15.00
Inspection Fee: $23.90
Registration Fee: $183.30
Transport Accident Charge: $390.00
Insurance Duty: $39.00
Number Plates: $30.00
Motor Vehicle Duty: $80.00
Total Fee Payable $: $@ERROR
@ERROR, no friggin wonder! $761.20! Had to pay the first $38.90 over the 'phone by credit card. Bet that doesn't even include the Motorcycle Safety Levy. At least you now only pay that on one bike's registration (already paid with the TRX), so I won't have to pay that.
There'll come a day when this government will just screw the poor old motorist just one step too far...
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davamb said:
Uh, they haven't already.
US$48 is the registration fee for a motorcycle in Oregon.
By the way, that's for 2 years.
Plate fee... $12.
I think that's it. Maybe insurance. Dunno what that is. I think from Dairyland or the like it's not bad.
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- Apr 15, 2009
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davamb said:
Intel is right down the road. The have optimistically called the area the "Silicon Forest" in an homage to Silicon Valley. So, short answer, probably.
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- Dec 3, 2009
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Hi,
Just wanted to let you (and the other forum members) know that your front forks are Metal Profiles, not Seeley.
Best Regards
Bert
Just wanted to let you (and the other forum members) know that your front forks are Metal Profiles, not Seeley.
Best Regards
Bert
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- Nov 11, 2008
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Thanks Burt,
that's interesting. Guy I bought the bike off was sure they were Seeley. Must look further into that, see if I can find out more about them.
edit:
Found this link for starters.
edit2:
Found that Metal Profile forks are now produced by Greeves Motorcycles.
Maybe I can get replacement parts now and cure that bit of stiction. Cheers Burt. Much appreciated!
that's interesting. Guy I bought the bike off was sure they were Seeley. Must look further into that, see if I can find out more about them.
edit:
Found this link for starters.
edit2:
Found that Metal Profile forks are now produced by Greeves Motorcycles.
Maybe I can get replacement parts now and cure that bit of stiction. Cheers Burt. Much appreciated!
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- Nov 11, 2008
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- 834
Counting down the days to registration on Wednesday. Couple of things in the meantime.
Sent Greeves an email but yet to get a reply. Would really like to get new bushings and dust caps and overhaul the forks.
Going through the roadworthy documentation, checking all ready for Wednesday and noticed the wrong frame number has been written on the doco. Bummer. Temporary vehicle permit has expired so I drove down there this morning and asked the examiner to issue another certificate with the correct number. This he refused to do unless I could produce the vehicle and he could see the label. Yeah like that would help, you couldn't see it properly the first time! Anywho decided that all I can do is ride by there an hour before my scheduled registration appointment and he'll give me an updated certificate.
Finally, a little concerned about the headers. The left one seems to be bluing up more than the right. I'll grab the IR thermometer from work on Monday and see if there's a substantial difference as I'm worried that pot's running leaner than the right.
Not much longer now! Bit like waiting for Christmas.
Sent Greeves an email but yet to get a reply. Would really like to get new bushings and dust caps and overhaul the forks.
Going through the roadworthy documentation, checking all ready for Wednesday and noticed the wrong frame number has been written on the doco. Bummer. Temporary vehicle permit has expired so I drove down there this morning and asked the examiner to issue another certificate with the correct number. This he refused to do unless I could produce the vehicle and he could see the label. Yeah like that would help, you couldn't see it properly the first time! Anywho decided that all I can do is ride by there an hour before my scheduled registration appointment and he'll give me an updated certificate.
Finally, a little concerned about the headers. The left one seems to be bluing up more than the right. I'll grab the IR thermometer from work on Monday and see if there's a substantial difference as I'm worried that pot's running leaner than the right.
Not much longer now! Bit like waiting for Christmas.
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- Oct 29, 2006
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- 1,075
"@ERROR, no friggin wonder! $761.20!"
HOLY MOLY!!! I get upset in Mexico because the charge to use the "interstate" (which is a toll road in Mexico) is the same for bikes as it is for cars. Once in a while it's good to have a "reality check!" Can't imagine having to deal with those kinds of charges...
HOLY MOLY!!! I get upset in Mexico because the charge to use the "interstate" (which is a toll road in Mexico) is the same for bikes as it is for cars. Once in a while it's good to have a "reality check!" Can't imagine having to deal with those kinds of charges...
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