idling in traffic couldn't find neutral?

A couple week ends ago we had a warm sunday.
I rode into a quaint little town I like to ride through only to find every one had the same idea.
I have never sat in a traffic jam before w/ my commando.
As I crept along , I noticed it was getting harder to shift into neutral.
It was like my clutch plates swelled up.
At one point I stalled her.
A young cop, younger than my Norton by at least a decade, and a half, asked me is it gonna restart?
I pulled in the clutch, rolled to te side of the road, center standed her.
I found neutral, restarted 1st kick, cocky cop drove off, and a nice 67 camaro let me back into traffic.
I took the first left turn outta town and shifting resumed normal.
My question is what happened?
It seemed like my clutch cable grew as the plates would not separate?
Cooled down and no problems?
My brain is confused :?
MarshalNorton
72 combat w/ menapause.

My guess is your clutch plates got hot and expanded or warped a bit.

I had the same problem and thought it was heat too. Was tinkering with the clutch after every ride. Two things. The clutch adjuster, at the lever, was vibrating and slowly turning. A little lock tite fixed that. The main problem was however that the clutch cable was not ran properly. It had a couple of tight bends in it. I removed the cable lubricated and re-ran it with as smooth as bends as possilbe with the cable coming out of the gear box perfectly strait. One final adjustment after that and haven't touched it in two months. Shifts great everytime, hot or cold. I think the reason I was originally blaming the heat is because I ride more on hot days.

Oh ya. I never had a problem until she got hot. But now that the clutch is properly set up there seems to be enough tolerance. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice.
I put a new Vernhill lined cable on in May '09.
It was a little longer than the orig 750 cable.
Not much maybe 1/2" (orig. 56 1/2 new cable 57").
I ran it relaxed partially over the speedo face, under tank along the spine of the frame,
then crossed over through a gromet on the timing side and behind the air box back plate.
It appears to enter the outer trans cover and connect inside in a straight line.
I have not did any adjusting of the clutch from the primary side as I never had experienced
any issues. I have not sat in still traffic on her before either.
I may have to check my adjustment per owners manual.
Srew may need to be turned in a bit for more lift.
Marshal

Very possible an adjustment will fix it.

Cookie,
I'm hopingit is something simple.
If it's the solution I'll be sure to share.
Marshal

The last time mine was dragging it was oil leaking onto the clutch from the tranny. I cleaned it up and added an O ring and now I get to move on to new problems.
Years ago when I was shop manger for a trucking company that ran SF hills we changed clutches like you change oil. Adjustment was weekly maintenance and I went to all paddle type sintered bronze. I sharpened the ends of the tranny splines and with my special jack we could change a truck clutch in an hour.
These Norton clutches are duck soup by comparison, good stuff available now and if you get a good stack height they work very well. Years ago I battled slippage on my early Commando with those fiber plates. That seems to be history.

Cookie,
I'm learning that is the joy of piloting a commando.
Just when you think you tinkered it right,
another area of the bike cries for attention.
Must be like have sextuplets to wait on
I need to get into the trans this winter so we may end up pulling the primary side as well
Looking forward to that like a root canal.
Marshal

Mine is just for local fun and each bit tinkered into submission makes it easier. It gets a little better all the time. The funny thing is that these old Nortons and I are about the same vintage, I was sixteen when I got my G15CSR and about 21 when I got my 71 Commando. I need a little tinkering now and then these days myself so I can't hold it against the bike.

Cookie,
I was 10 when my 72 combat sailed across the pond.
I first saw a really cool couple in the early 70's riding a Norton.
I guy I hung out with had a repainted grey 750 w/ dunstall tips.
Everybody just stood and watched the starting ritual and smiled at the exhaust tone.
That reaffirmed it for me.
In 2004, I fulfilled that dream.
After a 4 year lag it was cleaned and polished, frame on restoration.
2 first place and two second place showings in the 4 local shows in 08-09.
It was worth the 32 year wait.
Now I click on the garage light and know I ride the right bike
Marshal

Funny how that stuff gets in your blood, you've put it to good use.