Commando front engine steady production survey

grandpaul

grandpaul

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Bill (Windy) has given my permission to copy his Commando front steadies, so I am commissioning a batch to be made.

I'd like to get a feel for how many I should have made, I'm thinking 20 to start.

The FRONT steadies are "rose" (Heim) joint, clamp-on units that stabilize the front isolastic, "forcing" it to only move fore-aft in line with the bike, same as the rose joint HEAD steady does for the top of the engine.

I'm including pix of a few that I bought from Bill back when he was offering them.

Pricing will be similar to the Taylor head steady (plus postage)

Please let me know if you'd be inte4rested in buying one.

Commando front engine steady production survey


Commando front engine steady production survey


Commando front engine steady production survey


Thanx for your input!
 
I have one of these on my bike from Windy. It needs another lock nut, otherwise the threads wallow out. He fixed mine and it has been fine.
Russ
Commando front engine steady production survey
 
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The center hex is the length adjustment and there are locknuts against both eyes. I think one has to be reverse thread. I hope Windy can remember more than I can about what he did. It was years ago.
 
batrider said:
The center hex is the length adjustment and there are locknuts against both eyes. I think one has to be reverse thread. I hope Windy can remember more than I can about what he did. It was years ago.
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Yes, on a turnbuckle, one side must be left-handed thread.
 
You all should have a look to the HD FXR model, first at '82 with Shovelhead Engine, improved after the employment of John Favill ! formerly Norton
To simplify the whole thing they made the introduction of Dyna Series, just special made rubber blocks to get away with adjusting work
I think but not definately know it goes back to John Favill who had developed the Iso's
 
ESO-terix said:
You all should have a look to the HD FXR model, first at '82 with Shovelhead Engine, improved after the employment of John Favill ! formerly Norton
To simplify the whole thing they made the introduction of Dyna Series, just special made rubber blocks to get away with adjusting work
I think but not definately know it goes back to John Favill who had developed the Iso's
Click to expand...
But those are just for the engine, no? Do they actually involve the swingarm mount as well?
 
hobot, of Sacred Memory, said the forward rig was of minor import, the aft underside one the Real Deal. Any though of running up this one?
 
Onder said:
hobot, of Sacred Memory, said the forward rig was of minor import, the aft underside one the Real Deal. Any though of running up this one?
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As I recall the rear mount is quite tricky to make and install. Ludwig did a system with teflon pucks attached t the frame to remove sideways movement, that sounded more promising.
 
Onder said:
hobot, of Sacred Memory, said the forward rig was of minor import, the aft underside one the Real Deal. Any though of running up this one?
Click to expand...
Significantly more complex deal, significantly higher cost, as already mentioned. Plus more involved installation.
 
Finally got a chance to pull the front steady off the Monoshock Prototype bike and dropped off the welded bit at the machinist's shop. Turns out it's the same shop that fixed a wonky valve guide for me way back in 2019.

Anyway, his welder happened to be there, so he handed it straight over to him to determine what it would take to reproduce it. It's not rocket surgery, but the angle and spacing of the split clamps have to be fairly near perfect or it could tweak the frame downtubes.

Meanwhile I'm researching all the other bits and we should have a copy fabbed up in a week or two...

Commando front engine steady production survey
 
grandpaul said:
Then a different situation as compared to the Commando.

HD system only deals with engine vibes, has no influence on handling.
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I just hat a closer look in the handbooks of HD FXR and Dyna, I was wrong:
FXR swingarm is mounted in transmission-case and supported by special rubbers on the outsides in the frame
Dyna swingarm is mounted only in the transmission-case
So compared to the Commando the Situation is not so different
 
grandpaul said:
Finally got a chance to pull the front steady off the Monoshock Prototype bike and dropped off the welded bit at the machinist's shop. Turns out it's the same shop that fixed a wonky valve guide for me way back in 2019.

Anyway, his welder happened to be there, so he handed it straight over to him to determine what it would take to reproduce it. It's not rocket surgery, but the angle and spacing of the split clamps have to be fairly near perfect or it could tweak the frame downtubes.

Meanwhile I'm researching all the other bits and we should have a copy fabbed up in a week or two...

View attachment 125103
Click to expand...
It looks as if it would be possible to do a bolted assembly with a bit of adjustment in it instead of the welded arrangement. Fit the split clamps, then tighten the bolts to the spacer bar. Not as neat as the picture but perhaps more practical, if there's any variation in the spacing of the downtubes (everything else on the Commando seems to be variable, so why not the tube spacing?).
 
SteveBorland said:
It looks as if it would be possible to do a bolted assembly with a bit of adjustment in it instead of the welded arrangement. Fit the split clamps, then tighten the bolts to the spacer bar. Not as neat as the picture but perhaps more practical, if there's any variation in the spacing of the downtubes (everything else on the Commando seems to be variable, so why not the tube spacing?).
Click to expand...
I think especially between Reynolds and Verlicci frames ! Frame-Tube outside diam.
1" / 25,4 mm and 25 mm !
 
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