New Old Belt Drive

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T

That's a pretty tall set of legs with a 22T and a Maney, and for sure you will get great gas mileage. It would be a great highway burner. You won't pull any wheelies with that combo. I had to shim the back side of the sprocket some to stop a 520 x-ring from gouging into the gearbox. I run a 21T with my 850 and the Maney Primary drive. YMMV
let us know how this combo works for you.
Cheers,
Tom
Come to think of it I haven't seen a Commando ever pull a wheelie. The only exception was Kenny Dreer when he was out testing one of the VR880s.

I thought the belt drive would gear it down a little so my 22 will be more like a 20-21?
 
It looks like the clutch centre and the clutch chainwheel on the belt kits are often made of aluminum.
Given the tendency for the clutch plates to notch the steel centre and steel chainwheel, I am curious how the aluminum items stand up with mileage and time???
I'm using the Barnetts so the basket will be fine, I suspect.

As for the hub, the CNW item is hard anodized. We'll see how it does against the steel plates.
 
The friction plates mate with the clutch center, the steel plain plates mate with the basket.
 
Come to think of it I haven't seen a Commando ever pull a wheelie. The only exception was Kenny Dreer when he was out testing one of the VR880s.

I thought the belt drive would gear it down a little so my 22 will be more like a 20-21?
Swoosh it will gear it UP as I said in post 4. If you count the teeth on the Maney kit and then on the stock kit, you’ll get an idea of how much. I can’t remember exactly but IIRC you’re looking at around 8-10% HIGHER gearing.

Whether or not this is a good thing or a bad thing will depend a lot on your riding style and the engine performance. If you like long cruises with low engine speeds you’ll be fine. If you like acceleration you might not be. I ran a 21 with my Maney belt kit and thought it felt just right, but that’s a 920 so I can’t comment re an 850.

You rode the bike before, so just ask yourself if it felt like it would pull another tooth on the gearbox sprocket.
 
Swoosh it will gear it UP as I said in post 4. If you count the teeth on the Maney kit and then on the stock kit, you’ll get an idea of how much. I can’t remember exactly but IIRC you’re looking at around 8-10% HIGHER gearing.

Whether or not this is a good thing or a bad thing will depend a lot on your riding style and the engine performance. If you like long cruises with low engine speeds you’ll be fine. If you like acceleration you might not be. I ran a 21 with my Maney belt kit and thought it felt just right, but that’s a 920 so I can’t comment re an 850.
Aye!
 
The early rgm belt drives geared up about 10% I found 20t more then high enough for me as for clutch plates mine are surflex and solid fibre and never slip or drag
 
Swoosh it will gear it UP as I said in post 4. If you count the teeth on the Maney kit and then on the stock kit, you’ll get an idea of how much. I can’t remember exactly but IIRC you’re looking at around 8-10% HIGHER gearing.

Whether or not this is a good thing or a bad thing will depend a lot on your riding style and the engine performance. If you like long cruises with low engine speeds you’ll be fine. If you like acceleration you might not be. I ran a 21 with my Maney belt kit and thought it felt just right, but that’s a 920 so I can’t comment re an 850.

You rode the bike before, so just ask yourself if it felt like it would pull another tooth on the gearbox sprocket.
I'm seeing if Ella can toss a 20 tooth on my order. If not I'll try the 22. I was really surprised to find the 22 considering how well it pulls now. It does have a Comstock built head and Web cam and not a lot of miles on the engine so it's healthier than stock. Maybe not 920 healthy but still not shabby.
 
You are totally right. If I'm not looking at something I tend to forget.

I need to find some alloy plain plates to go with the kit I'm putting together, I once saw them on e-bay but was outbid. I have seen them for an Atlas from one of the suppliers but I can't seem to find the for the Commando. Some hard anodized ones would be great, any help out there??
 
I need to find some alloy plain plates to go with the kit I'm putting together, I once saw them on e-bay but was outbid. I have seen them for an Atlas from one of the suppliers but I can't seem to find the for the Commando. Some hard anodized ones would be great, any help out there??
I wonder if because of the additional surface area of the drum that the teeth don't have as much impact. Not that I haven't seen worn drums, it's just that worn hub seem more common.
 
It from drilling the hole for the chain adjuster. I'll clean it up and relube the chain.
Well at least I’m not seeing things. :rolleyes:

FWIW, I bought an AN clutch centre a couple of years ago, but never fitted it. Then I think FE had posted a picture of the CNW centre. Even from those pictures the machining and finish looked so much better I sold on the AN centre and ordered one from Constant at HNW.
 
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I'm seeing if Ella can toss a 20 tooth on my order. If not I'll try the 22. I was really surprised to find the 22 considering how well it pulls now. It does have a Comstock built head and Web cam and not a lot of miles on the engine so it's healthier than stock. Maybe not 920 healthy but still not shabby.
That would be like taking your previous setup to a 21. So, if what you like is your previous gearing, go to a 21 with the belt?
 
I run a 21 with a 312a and JC ported head and love t he combo (with a IWIS chain primary)
 
I need to find some alloy plain plates to go with the kit I'm putting together, I once saw them on e-bay but was outbid. I have seen them for an Atlas from one of the suppliers but I can't seem to find the for the Commando. Some hard anodized ones would be great, any help out there??
I would have thought that alloy plain plates would get chewed up by the friction plates?
 
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