four years in storage, starts in three kicks on old gas

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worntorn

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I'm a bit ashamed to admit that the Commando got parked four +years ago due to layshaft bearing concern. I have had the rgm repair kit for four years, but didn't get around to it.
Thinking it could be awhile, before storing I filled the tank with fuel and put some stabilizer in. While in storage the battery was kept charged.
Today I drained the sump, put fresh oil in and tried starting. The fuel smelled normal, no stale gas stench, so I didn't bother to drain it. The bike fired on the first kick and second kicks with the throttle shut, opened it a bit on the third and away it went. After warming it up a bit it settled down to a nice steady idle.
What a great bike it is!

On to the gearbox....

Glen
 
Alrighty I we all wondered what some decent gas might last for, cool. Carbs tend to zinc oxide their pilot jet, looks like you lucked out all around. Hope layshaft lasts a time long too.
 
The bike was stored out of the sun in the unheated part of my shop. The alloy has dulled and needs a good polish, plus the original Dunlop rims have rust specks visible on close examination. The chrome on those rims looks to be very thin. I'll polish them up and hope for the best. I have read that Mothers Chrome polish will prevent further rusting for awhile, maybe not four years, perhaps a few months.


Glen
 
Hey Glen, still pleased with your pleased state it was just a few kicks for life again. We all dull left untouched unattended. Rims - try just wd40 solvent or detergent clean then rub with Al foil, polish up wax good or clear wheel spray. I'd avoid the Mothers or Blue Job stuff as leaves obvious rubbed dull finish that's more obnoxious obvious than small rust spots. One of my early Norton hi points was my P!! drag bike sitting up in a shop 9 mo's with me far away but on return if was parked with open headed aimmed right at the pure white saddle bags of a Police HD, P!! fired fired kick and blasted out a dinner plate size carbon target on the police bike, which made me laugh and BLATT it more to leave more lasting impression.
 
.........."Today I drained the sump"......You mean it wet sumped after only four years :)
 
Unfortunately it did, although the drainage was probably complete about 3 years and ten months ago :D
Amazingly, the oil all stayed in, the floor was clean under the bike. My other bikes ooze oil once the sumps are full.

Hobot, I think Mothers has at least two products for the job, one is Mothers Metal Polish, it might be the stuff you are referring to as it is quite harsh. I used Mothers Chrome Polish instead. It doesn't dull the finish, however it also doesn't cut thru rust as quickly or easily as the Metal Polish does.

Glen
 
I now think wet sump is good on start ups and like you noticed it didn't blow out seal or split cases. Polish compound leaves shiny while rubbing compound leaves dull. Spoke nipples on my old disc brake fronts get more dark rusted than rim so ended up painting them as no amount of rubbing brighened them just made shiny darkened nipples. Do check out Al foil rubbing for mild rust cover up if first few sessions ani't pleasing enough up close for you.
 
Hobot, the only reason it didnt blow a seal on start up is because I drained the sump. A few years ago I started the bike after a three month sit without draining the sump and it blew the mainseal on the primary side.
Who knows what unintended hydraulic pressures occur when an engine is started with ten or twenty times the proper amount of oil inside?
A friend has noticed that if left long enough, his bike will hydraulically lock solid from the excess oil. It cannot be kicked over until the sump is drained. Starting in the situation where the oil level in the engine is just before the point of hydraulic lock is a risky proposition.

Glen
 
Hydraulic sump lock, ugh, never heard of that prior and can not understand how that could happen if there is a breather provided by factory or after market. Please help me understand how I can be so stupid by explaining if the seal was already on its last legs or if extra quart or so of oil added to just tank full amount of wet sump. I must be real lucky as so for I've never drained sump but to catch it before opening cases for some reason or if set up for years so oil moisture ridden.
 
" friend has noticed that if left long enough, his bike will hydraulically lock solid from the excess oil. It cannot be kicked over until the sump is drained."

Sounds like maybe the oil was over-full by about a gallon! :)

I have had mine drain all the oil between starts and have never paid the slightest attention to it. It has never blown a seal (nor does it leak) and has never failed to start under those conditions within 3 kicks. It is (was) a one kick starter if it had run within a couple of weeks. I say it "was" a one kick starter because now it's a "no kicks necessary" starter thanks to Alton! :)
 
worntorn said:
Hobot, I think Mothers has at least two products for the job, one is Mothers Metal Polish, it might be the stuff you are referring to as it is quite harsh. I used Mothers Chrome Polish instead. It doesn't dull the finish, however it also doesn't cut thru rust as quickly or easily as the Metal Polish does.Glen
Click to expand...

I'm by no means a mechanical expert on this Forum, but I do excel in keeping my bike squeaky clean and the metal in mirror-finish condition. I've tried the Mothers Chrome Polish...and it's OK...but if you really want to clean up those rims go with good 'ol Turtle Wax Chrome Polish. I've experimented with many chrome polish products and the Turtle Wax is the best by far.
 
Since this poor Norton is obviously a victim of neglect why don't you just have me come up there and relieve you of it? :mrgreen:
 
I think the bike is salvageable and I have promised never to ignore it like this again :D

Cmessenk, funny you should mention turtle wax chrome polish. I have had a bottle of it on hand for several years and finally ran out, so I picked up the Mothers chrome polish yesterday. I thought that it seemed somewhat ineffective compared the the Turtle Wax product, then assumed it was just my memory failing again.

Glen
 
worntorn said:
I think the bike is salvageable and I have promised never to ignore it like this again :D

Cmessenk, funny you should mention turtle wax chrome polish. I have had a bottle of it on hand for several years and finally ran out, so I picked up the Mothers chrome polish yesterday. I thought that it seemed somewhat ineffective compared the the Turtle Wax product, then assumed it was just my memory failing again.

Glen
Click to expand...

I used this stuff from Meguiar's called 'Hot Rims'. It was a pink paste that turned black when rubbed in and then you buffed it off. This stuff was great. Meguiar stopped making it. The new replacement - Motorcycle All Metal Polish - doesn't work half as good, and you use three times the polish to achieve the same result. It's also a couple bucks more for a container half the size. I've tried the white stuff from Mothers and the blue stuff from Blue Magic - only the Blue Magic is close to what Meguiar used to sell.
 
I hate when companies do away with a tried and true product. I'm still mad that Kraft quit making Postum!

The trans came apart ok except a previous meddler has already been in there, presumably to replace the layshaft bearing. I was thrilled to open up the RGM kit and see this very nice heavy duty peg socket made just for the job of removing the lock ring. Unfortunately the previous bodger must have pounded the lock ring out with a flat bladed screwdriver, so there were no shoulders left for the RGM tool to work on!
After struggling for some time I finally decided to tig weld the RGM tool to the lock ring, a bit of a dicey job, but it worked.
Now I have to grind the tool off the lockring then mill new notches into the lock ring.
The layshaft bearing in place is a US brand ball bearing and looks in good shape. Nonetheless, I removed it and will use the Torrington roller as supplied by RGM.
There mustvhave been something else causing the kickstart to move down on hard acceleration in first gear. The spring seemed to have lots of tension.
The skimpy first gear bushing was very worn, not sure if it can cause the kickstart to move, seems likely that it could?

Glen
 
The transmission is back together and I have a useable Commando again. After a four year layup it's almost like trying out a newly purchased machine!
It will get treated with fresh fuel tomorrow and then it's time for some serious miles.
Hoping to ride it to the July INOA rally in Wyoming.

Glen
 
I did drain the carbs soon after parking it, only because I borrowed the mainjets to try in another bike. About two years ago I was about to put them back in, had them in a little ziplock, sitting on the seat and went over the toolbox for something. My dog strolled by the bike, grabbed the mainjets and swallowed them.
So it was treated to a new pair of 260s the other day.

Glen
 
Mine used to eat my homework. Pack Rats replace needle with twigs and small sockets with acorns. I guess the dogs passed them out somewhere just fine.
 
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