Jonez69
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2024
- Messages
- 133
Thanks to everyone who offered advice and shared experiences concerning my swing arm rebuild. I couldn't perform some of the improvements that were shared or that I found in reading about the frame and swing arm alignment. The limits of my small garage really leave me with nothing more than a good set of hand tools. No drill press, no lathe, etc, so i just make do with careful hand work.
The Ken Augustine article about "The worlds straightest Commando" is intriguing and filled with insight about what correctable flaws these Commando frames have, but my limited budget on this project simply forces me to live with the inherent flaws found in these old bikes . I think the Kegler clamps along with the new spindle and bushes will be a great improvement. A rear shock absorber upgrade may be in this bikes future, but the budget puts them on hold for now. Today I will put in the new rear Isolastics and join the swing arm/cradle assembly to the frame. Thus, the rebuild starts up the hill to completion!
Here are some pics of my work, my apologies to those who find it foolish to not repaint or powder coat these components before reassembly. With my limited shop and budget, I just can't do a full on restoration. Personally, I prefer patina bikes anyway with their battle scars, so I choose to live with missing paint!
The Ken Augustine article about "The worlds straightest Commando" is intriguing and filled with insight about what correctable flaws these Commando frames have, but my limited budget on this project simply forces me to live with the inherent flaws found in these old bikes . I think the Kegler clamps along with the new spindle and bushes will be a great improvement. A rear shock absorber upgrade may be in this bikes future, but the budget puts them on hold for now. Today I will put in the new rear Isolastics and join the swing arm/cradle assembly to the frame. Thus, the rebuild starts up the hill to completion!
Here are some pics of my work, my apologies to those who find it foolish to not repaint or powder coat these components before reassembly. With my limited shop and budget, I just can't do a full on restoration. Personally, I prefer patina bikes anyway with their battle scars, so I choose to live with missing paint!

