Maintenance Tips & Tricks

robs ss

robs ss

VIP MEMBER
Joined
Aug 16, 2016
Messages
4,000
Country flag
In another thread our good, and now sadly departed, friend Texas Slick (Rob) started on Tools You Have Made.
I thought one on maintenance hints might be appropriate. I've put this in the Commando section to manage volume and line of interest. Other forum areas may like to follow suit if desired.

I'll start the ball rolling with a small one (because I've just done it!):
To keep the lower pivot on my long RGM kickstart tight and moving smoothly I do two things.
1.Insert a thin belleville spring between the upper boss and the arm to apply some spring tension here. (22.5 x 11.2 x 0.6mm on eBay - cheap!)
2. After putting a plastic bag over the exhaust pipe and frame, I spray TAC2 into the joint as I work the arm in and out. I leave it like that overnight and clean the mess with a couple of pieces of kitchen paper the next day. Lasts me 6 months (say, 250 kicks) before needing it again.

Cheers (...and RIP Slick!)
 
Last edited:
robs ss said:
In another thread our good, and now sadly departed, friend Texas Slick (Rob) started on Tools You Have Made.
I thought one on maintenance hints might be appropriate. I've put this in the Commando section to manage volume and line of interest. Other forum areas may like to follow suit if desired.

I'll start the ball rolling with a small one (because I've just done it!):
To keep the lower pivot on my long RGM kickstart tight and moving smoothly I do two things.
1.Insert a thin belleville spring between the upper boss and the arm to apply some spring tension here. (22.5 x 11.2 x 0.6mm on eBay - cheap!)
2. After putting a plastic bag over the exhaust pipe and frame, I spray TAC2 into the joint as I work the arm in and out. I leave like that overnight and clean the mess with a couple of pieces of kitchen paper the next day. Lasts me 6 months (say, 250 kicks) before needing it again.

Cheers (...and RIP Slick!)
Click to expand...
Thanks Rob SS, I've ordered my belleville washer :)
 
I have and otherwise perfectly good Venhill featherlight rear brake cable - but its tortuous route over the rear of the Z-plate meant that, when I inspected it recently, the outer plastic cover had fretted through, marking the beginning of the end.
I have tried normal heat-shrink in the past for other repairs, but it's pretty thin and useless.
I have come across a new (to me, at least) product of a thicker, more robust heat-shrink. It's not only much thicker but it also shrinks much more than the usual offering.
I put it on (went well) and looks like it will last a good while! 👍

What I bought for this application was CABAC SMDW12/3TK - meaning 12mm ID and 3mm thick. It shrinks down from 12mm to under 5mm - great!
Available from many outlets including evilbay.
322F18C1-6800-4C1B-84F3-E3F370CD22C2.JPG
Cheers
 
Last edited:
I should, on reflection, radius the top of the Z-plate (with a Dremel) where the cable passes over. You know - a smooth groove for the cable! 🤣
 
robs ss said:
In another thread our good, and now sadly departed, friend Texas Slick (Rob) started on Tools You Have Made.
I thought one on maintenance hints might be appropriate. I've put this in the Commando section to manage volume and line of interest. Other forum areas may like to follow suit if desired.

I'll start the ball rolling with a small one (because I've just done it!):
To keep the lower pivot on my long RGM kickstart tight and moving smoothly I do two things.
1.Insert a thin belleville spring between the upper boss and the arm to apply some spring tension here. (22.5 x 11.2 x 0.6mm on eBay - cheap!)
2. After putting a plastic bag over the exhaust pipe and frame, I spray TAC2 into the joint as I work the arm in and out. I leave it like that overnight and clean the mess with a couple of pieces of kitchen paper the next day. Lasts me 6 months (say, 250 kicks) before needing it again.

Cheers (...and RIP Slick!)
Click to expand...
Interesting, must have a look at mine, but I suspect it will actually need a sleeve in the knuckle for the bolt to stop it rocking around.
 
SteveBorland said:
Interesting, must have a look at mine, but I suspect it will actually need a sleeve in the knuckle for the bolt to stop it rocking around.
Click to expand...
I've just fitted the recommended belleville spring washer to mine, removing the wavy washer that was there originally, and the lever is transformed, it stays folded in, doesn't move around all the time, so I'm delighted with this simple mod.
 
I have a braided steel cable that Barnett made works great lookks nice and has a protective cover
Been on the bike for years with o problems
 
Where I get cable rubs, I've used black plastic spiral binding, the sort available from office supplies. Cheap. Added bonus, is it can be wound on without needing to remove the cable.
 
Here's a related maintenance tip
Hand one of these around your neck to keep your head a bit cooler when working on your bike in a hot environment
 

Attachments

  • Maintenance Tips & Tricks
    IMG_20250630_104051184.jpg
    388.9 KB · Views: 66
robs ss said:
Okay Baz, I'll bite. What is it, a double ended dildo? ;) ;)
Click to expand...
🤣🤣🤣🤣No mate
It's a neck fan
I'd seen them about and thought I'd give it a try you charge it up and and hang it on your neck and blows upwards onto your face
I got it to you use in my lean-to that has a plastic roof where I do a lot of my bike work and it gets pretty hot when the sun is out
But I'm now using it at work as well 🙄🙄🙄https://images.app.goo.gl/CJAKXxmLjVmUTnxL7
 
Last edited:
What does it get hot over your way, I always laugh when I see over in England they are going through a heatwave but really, it's our normal summer heat here lol
 
ashman said:
What does it get hot over your way, I always laugh when I see over in England they are going through a heatwave but really, it's our normal summer heat here lol
Click to expand...
Yep
It's gets above 30c for a day or two and the TV and newspapers go mental over it !!!
They should spend a day with me structural welding!
 
30C is our cooler summer days, and I live on the east coast of Aus only 1km from Moreton Bay so nice afternoon sea breezes but just go over the Great Divide range that runs up the whole east coast of Aus is where the temps get real hot and inland Aus, nearly 70% or more aussies live close to the coast but even close to the coast can get temps over 38c and gets bad here when we get northerly winds blowing, hot and very humid and after summer rain it get sticking sweaty hot.
Up in the top end of Aus even winter days are above 32c but the nights drop down and the same inland Aus a lot of British tourist/back packers go what we call troppo from the heat up in the top end, why we love our beers cold, nice and cold, we invented the Esky a cooler box full of ice for our beers.
 
Last edited:
Doing a coolant change on the 2016 Thruxton today, 7 years of running so needs to be done before winter is over and our warm days start back up and I run a Lochead oil cooler on my Norton all year round, July is our mid winter month down the southern part of the world.
The shed gets very hot in summer so I built a 7.5mx4m open awning off the front of the shed for working on the bikes as well has my snooker table under it with a honey suckle vine growing over the top of the awning roof and 1/2 the shed roof has made the shed cooler in summer and getting that sea breeze off the bay is a nice outdoor area in summer and the beer fridge in the shed is always full, well most of the time lol, the shed is 7.5 x 6.5m with 7.5 x 4m open awning which is great for working on the bikes when its hot.
Maintenance Tips & Tricks
Maintenance Tips & Tricks
Maintenance Tips & Tricks
Maintenance Tips & Tricks
 
Last edited:
baz said:
🤣🤣🤣🤣No mate
It's a neck fan
I'd seen them about and thought I'd give it a try you charge it up and and hang it on your neck and blows upwards onto your face
I got it to you use in my lean-to that has a plastic roof where I do a lot of my bike work and it gets pretty hot when the sun is out
But I'm now using it at work as well 🙄🙄🙄https://images.app.goo.gl/CJAKXxmLjVmUTnxL7
Click to expand...
This is the type of thing we use. You soak them in water, shake the excess of and put it around your neck. It's like an ice bandana!
They're reusable many times.
Cheers
www.ebay.com.au

2pcs Cooling Neck Wraps, Ice Cooling Scarf Water Soaking Wraps for Neck Band | eBay Australia

No more overheating! Perfect for various scenarios such as hiking, mountaineering, camping, etc. Stay cool and comfortable in high temperatures effortlessly. Neck Heat Relief: For those who need to cool down in hot weather, this cooling neck wrap provides instant relief during outdoor activities.
www.ebay.com.au
 
robs ss said:
This is the type of thing we use. You soak them in water, shake the excess of and put it around your neck. It's like an ice bandana!
They're reusable many times.
Cheers
www.ebay.com.au

2pcs Cooling Neck Wraps, Ice Cooling Scarf Water Soaking Wraps for Neck Band | eBay Australia

No more overheating! Perfect for various scenarios such as hiking, mountaineering, camping, etc. Stay cool and comfortable in high temperatures effortlessly. Neck Heat Relief: For those who need to cool down in hot weather, this cooling neck wrap provides instant relief during outdoor activities.
www.ebay.com.au
Click to expand...
Looks good
When I wore it at work the first response was "what's that on your neck you twat" or "your headphones have dropped down" etc etc
Then I let them try it and they didn't want to give it back 🤣🤣🤣🤣
 


Write your reply...

Similar threads

ludwig
Fork maintenance made easy.
Replies
2
Views
813
dave M
D
joe czech
  • Locked
mounting tires - inner rim rust -- tips and tricks...
2
Replies
21
Views
5,524
joe czech
joe czech
johnfitzw
  • Locked
Zen and The Art of Norton Maintenance RTW Tour - 850 barrels needed
Replies
16
Views
3,207
rvich
rvich
B
  • Locked
Commando forks maintenance...
Replies
7
Views
1,662
kommando
kommando
L
  • Locked
tips and tricks for kickstarting a Commando (2014)
2 3
Replies
45
Views
8,173
Mart UK
Mart UK
Back
Top