Horizontal play in swingarm...Chains need tensioning?

I was pulling up on the chain to see if I needed to adjust the tension, and noticed the rear tire moving back and forth as I did that!
So I tried to wiggle the wheel and see where the play was originating from, and it was the swingarm. Could this be due to lack of oil?
Normal to have a little play here? I heard a little "snagging" when I was going at low speed in 2nd gear...

Also I was reading about adjusting the primary drive chain- I just changed the oil and don't want to drain it all out and do it again right away. Any way to tell if it's in need of adjustment without taking off the cover?

Lastly, how about the cam chain? How do I inspect/adjust that?

Thanks guys!

You can adjust the primary chain without removing the cover. The top plug above the cover bolt is where you access the chain. I can't help you with the rest as I have a hard tail bike and haven't jumped into the cam chest yet. If it ain't broke I'm not going to look.

1) Swing arm should be pretty tight. The swing arm has two bronze(oilite) bushings which rotate on a steel shaft. This shaft is locked to the cradle. Locking method and swing arm seals vary depending on Mk # of the bike, but there should be no 'snick snick' movement in this part. Check to make sure the movement isn't just the cradle moving, which would point to isolastic adjustment, or be as simple as a missing bolt on the cradle (I saw this last month over at my local Norton shop)

2) primary chain tension can be checked by removing the inspection plug on the cover (the big one near top center). You can adjust the chain without removing the cover. Once the primary is set, recheck the drive chain.

3) Cam chain requires removing the timing cover, which requires removing the distributor or tach drive, dependent on whether its an early or late model.
Cam chain tensioner is held by two nuts.

Commando swing arm play

Worn swing arm spindle tube in the engine cradle is one of those "typical" problems on the Commando. There is a long known "mod" to fix it and many variations in how to do it. Up to, but not including the 850 Mk3, the spindle is held in the engine plate tube with one 1/4" bolt in the top center. After time the hole in the engine plate tube gets egg shaped as the spindle pivots on the single fixing bolt. This allows side to side movement in the swingarm and degradation in handling. The cure is to add two additional points (bolts, clamps or whatever) to make sure the spindle cannot move. Check with INOA for modifications. 11 years ago when restoring my '72 750 I cut additional holes in the engine plate tube and brazed 1/4" nuts so that I could add two set bots from below. Works very well.

Now the other issue is some owners mistake the grease fitting in the timing side spindle cover for a place to add grease. Read the manual! Swingarm lube is supposed to be 140wt gear oil. The spindle is hollow with a hole drilled so that lube can get to the bronze bushes. If grease is used the bushes dry out and seize. A set of bushes and a spindle run about $125 - just replaced mine last week as the lube appearantly ran out and spindle was pretty much toast.

Applogize to the long time Commando owners as this information is really old news - everyone knows this.

I also have the repair collars to fix this loose pin. A simple fix with NO welding. $35.00 a set.

windy