Meet my babe.

Hi folks, meet my babe
She ain’t got a name yet –it will come…

Always wanted a Commando. Actually a Commando Fastback. A green one (yup, green …)



Got it in November, from a welsh ebay “smuggler”, imported from the USA.
Build 1972, registered in 1973.
Combat engine. Dunstall rearset.
Fakely restored (very shining –period).
Took a few months to register in the UK.

When I got it it spilled the whole content of the oil tank on the ground in 10 miles (no jokes) + stopped after 1 mile for unknown reasons (simply petrol taps not working properly… but it took me 1 months of different tests to get there…. ;-( ).

Stuff I’ve done:
-Swapped the oil tank breather tube and the breather pipes (wrongly fitted), changed all the oil pipes, washers, oil filter, rocker pipes, filter etc.
-Spark plugs, caps and leads.
-Fuel pipes and filters,
-Fitted the Andover Norton master cylinder. http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/Accessories.htm -> must do for everybody!
-Tightened most nuts and bolts (all loose).
-Refitted a loose central stand and its spring (that’s been fun).
-Refitted the oil tank with new grommets etc (stock ones. Not the heavy duty ones).
-Changed brake shoes and disk brake pads (ferodo)
-Checked thoroughly the wheels (bearings etc.)

Finally made 150 miles on Saturday.

Good sides and bad sides:
Good:
-Wow. Now I know why I wanted one.
It’s simply fantastic. It runs so beautifully… I’m used to old bikes. Not so to old bikes with such a torque.
-Starts at first (or second) kick. Cold, warm, and hot. Doesn’t matter.
-Idles greatly.
-Runs smoothly till 5000 RPM.
-Front brake is PERFECT now. She brakes like a modern bike (I never rode a modern bike though…).
-Does not spill a single drop of oil.
Serious, it’s been a month now. Not a single drop of oil.
Yes, I did check: The tank is full.
Yes, I did check: the oil pump works, it’s not all stuck in the oil tank.


Not so good:
-Makes a few bangs (left side I think) when cold started.

-Cannot turn lights on (ignition switch is faulty: turn key to ignition and lights, and all goes off, think need to change it).

-Front suspensions need some work, not reactive and too low and soft. Got to get progressive springs + maybe spending money on a damper cartridge http://www.lansdowne-engineering.co.uk/three_3.html

-Tank. Well it’s … melting? I will add pics tomorrow. 2 small bubbles appeared on the paint coating. The paint coating is sort of soft. If I press it strong I can leave my fingerprints on it.
The tank is supposed to be sealed with some aircraft fuels sealer that is “supposed” to resist to ethanol (I have no other details here).
Need advice if it’s really melting -will add pictures.

-Does not go beyond 5000 RPM, initially it was 3500, now I’ve “forced” it up to 5000… I am not eager to touch the carbs as for the rest they are doing a great job.
Do you think it’s carbs? Anything else?

Plans for the future:
-Borrani rims (no other) 19 front, 18 rear (having the rear one fitted atm).
-Norvil alloy tank
-Atlas handlebar
-Work on the front suspensions
-Solve this carb issue. (if it’s carbs. BTW I will NOT switch to jap carbs, planning to improve the Amals instead http://www.amalcarb.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?id=37410 )
-Velocity stacks (I know…)

Will give you more details as times goes by. Just wanted you guys to get to know her…
and, by the way, thanks to all of you for your fantastic help...

-Orso

Awesome Looking BIke! Best of Everything!!!

Very nice, I love Fastbacks.
Your fork oil might be too thin, change it for 10-40 or 20-50, I can't get on with that thin oil in my forks, feels horrible.
I found velocity stack none too good, ran better without them.
Check your timing before carbs. If still not right, check all the setting in carbs. are exactly as the book, it should easily red line. Try it without the air filters, can't see in the photo that well, but are they aftermarket ones?
Or sell it to me, I am having difficulty in finding one. :lol:

Orsonoce said:

Anything else?

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Swap the headlamp brackets over-so they will then be fitted the right way up? :wink:

yup. you already told me about that! I promise I will.

Flo, :
K&N filter. will give it a try running with no air filter and see if it improves.

The Fastback was the first Commando I ever loved after reading about them in a magazine. If I ever was to seek out another Commando, it would be a green Fastback. I wonder if the bits are available to convert one from something else?

There is a lot that sounds right with your Norton, but the melting fuel tank would worry me. The motor should easily run past 5000 revs. If it is otherwise OK compression, timing, spark and such, perhaps it is something simple. I just found my fuel taps were just dribbling fuel out to the carbs. It probably would have started and run OK, but would have had a tough time at a higher power setting.

Good luck with your project!
Vintage Paul

The melting tank is something I have been reading much about. I just aquired a 71 and my guy at the shop said to absolutely NOT use any ethanol fuel. He tells me it dissolves the resins and sends them through the fuel system and into the engine, valves etc. I was told its best to seal the tank with an ethanol resistant product or to just no use ethanol fuels. Hard for me to find them here. Hard to say whether the fuel really does not contain it or not. They are supposed to post it on the pump but who really knows. I am going to seal my tank and hope for the best.
Good luck and enjoy!
Very nice bike!
MikeM

You may be able to take apart the ignition switch and repair it. Clean switch parts with a bit of light sandpaper, and use some De-Ox on the switching rotary part and it may work, you can put it back together with a couple of 8-32 screws and nuts instead of the rivets.

Nice fastback. Too bad it's green.

Dave
69S

Sounds like your tank and not revving could be one and the same problem... there could be all sorts of crap in the carbs from the tank

Beauty.

The fastback style was an acquired taste for me, but looking at that picture affirms that I've definitely acquired it. At that angle, it simply looks right.

Neat, I had a Fastback for a looooong time. Still think it is the best looking stock commando.

Jean

Yep had two Fasties, thay are great looking bikes.
My first one was very early, Silver and the second was British racing green.
I think yours is Mailbox green. I like it. They look fast, just sitting there.
AC.

Bike looks really good.
I've always liked the Fastback but not with the stock silencers. The later peashooters you have look better.
Bob

rx7171 said:

I've always liked the Fastback but not with the stock silencers. The later peashooters you have look better.

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Well, the Peashooter exhaust system was stock on the Fastback from 9/70 (Fastback MkII, III, IV and LR - Orso's Fastback is a '72 MkIV model).

here are some pics of my tank. does not look too good.

Questions: can I still recover it? even if has started to get wet in petrol in a couple of points (on the outside, that is...). So far I've emptied it and dried it out.
Currently is lined (as you can see below) shall I remove that? with what?
What product should I line it with? hearing that some work, some doesn't. Is there something safe and sound? or the only solution is avio gas?
And final question: do you reckon I could use it as is with Avio gas (without lining I mean)?

Not sure you can see this, 2 little bubbles in the centre left of the pic.


this is what I found under, the paint is coming off, and it is wet with petrol under the paint.


What surprises me is that there is a think layer of lining inside. check this out. there is like a couple of centimeter of "something". (dunno what -bought it already done).

Only thing I can suggest is to cut the tank open and clean it out. JeanR had a good post on how it did it.

Hi, Yes the fast backs are real lookers, i have a long range fast back waiting for a rebuild, Its red originaly..but i also like the Green.
Lansdowne Dampers will be going in the forks, without a doubt

swooshdave said:

Only thing I can suggest is to cut the tank open and clean it out. JeanR had a good post on how it did it.

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See my build thread at cafe-commando-build-thread-t8372.html at around page 5, I have pictures of what I did. I think, rather hope, that the tank will be sound. So far, I have done the tank on my Featherbed café and it has remained correct, I also did a tank for a racing bike, and it too is still good.

Jean

thanks Jean,
thats helpful, and I've no doubt it's a permanent solution. I just wander if there is any mid way in case I do not intend to open up the tank?
any chance I can get rid of the internal lining and re apply something that works fine without going thru all that?

Orsonoce said:

thanks Jean,
thats helpful, and I've no doubt it's a permanent solution. I just wander if there is any mid way in case I do not intend to open up the tank?
any chance I can get rid of the internal lining and re apply something that works fine without going thru all that?

Click to expand...

You can always buy an alloy Fastback tank (RGM has some), you could also cut the bottom out of the tank and use the top to cover a fabricated steel tank or do it my way.

Jean