Newbi questions

Status
Not open for further replies.
baz said:
Yeah I see what you mean Lab, it does look like the down tubes have been sleeved
They were probably cracked I suppose?
Click to expand...

Or completely broken!
Newbi questions
 
Until you get that frame sorted or replaced worry about the brakes might best be sent out. It may be more than
just new shoes. Drums may need to be skimmed, shoes relined and arced.
A brake specialist may be, at the end of the day, a better approach.
 
  • Like
Reactions: baz
dangerdarren said:
Thanks for advice. Will pull tank and take closer look. Cheers Darren.
Click to expand...
It's a shame you've got this problem,but it's an early commando and we'll worth doing, how's the glass fibre tank holding out?
My one melted unfortunately
 
baz said:
It's a shame you've got this problem,but it's an early commando and we'll worth doing, how's the glass fibre tank holding out?
My one melted unfortunately
Click to expand...
Its not melted, but it does look dirty inside. Was considering inline fuel filters, but have got other priorities now ;). All part of the journey etc.
Darren.
 
  • Like
Reactions: baz
dangerdarren said:
Was considering inline fuel filters
Click to expand...

This will stop any dirt getting through but the Fibreglass resin will dissolve into the ethanol in the fuel fuel and pass through a filter, it then gets deposited into the inlet and sticks to the inlet valve stem and will cause the valve to stick.
 
Hi Darren
I am just down the road in Devizes. I would be tempted to get the frame or bike with the tank off to Norman White in Andover. He is not that far away and he will be able to give you an expert view on it and what is required to make safe. He also set my twin leader up with a stiffening kit and it is certainly the best drum brake I have used. Concerning the ethanol problem in he short term Esso Synergy plus is still ethanol free so I would use that.
 
spannerhands said:
Hi Darren
I am just down the road in Devizes. I would be tempted to get the frame or bike with the tank off to Norman White in Andover. He is not that far away and he will be able to give you an expert view on it and what is required to make safe. He also set my twin leader up with a stiffening kit and it is certainly the best drum brake I have used. Concerning the ethanol problem in he short term Esso Synergy plus is still ethanol free so I would use that.
Click to expand...
That is brilliant info, thank you Spannerhands, I will give him a call tomorrow and see if he can take a look on Friday. I undid the bolts and moved the fuel tank back an inch and took a better look at the headstock. The pictures make it look worse than it does in person, definitely need to get it checked out mind. It looks like two tubes were welded over the original downtubes at the headstock in addition to the north-south tube. There's also an extra piece between the down tubes. One piece of good news is that when I moved the tank back I think I found an electronic ignition box cabled tied to the frame, so not all bad news. Thanks again, Darren.
 
dangerdarren said:
Thanks for info, so yes I've got one in that range. Having taken a look I can see that there is an additional tube running north-south which I *think* is the factory recall modification, plus as you can see from the picture I think its also been broken at headstock and welded back up. Does not look pretty, but appears to be robust.

Click to expand...

The headstock/ tube weld looks like a bloch-up job to me. It should have bee SIF Bronze welded, as per original. I would be redundant to ride this until it it corrected.
 
Bernhard said:
The headstock/ tube weld looks like a bloch-up job to me. It should have bee SIF Bronze welded, as per original. I would be redundant to ride this until it it corrected.
Click to expand...
"Bronze welded" I've never seen a stock commando frame bronze welded by the factory?
 
Welcome dangerdarren. You may be lucky and the poor welds are only holding on the reinforcing:eek: plates visible in your picture which look like they are just wrapped around each downtube and joined in the middle. In which case it may be possible to carefully grind back the welds and start afresh.

Cheers and good luck,

cliffa.
 
Bernhard said:
The headstock/ tube weld looks like a bloch-up job to me. It should have bee SIF Bronze welded, as per original. I would be redundant to ride this until it it corrected.
Click to expand...
How would being redundant affect your decision to ride the bike?
 
So have spoken to Mr White and will be getting his view on frame towards end of next week. Have also taken front drum apart (could not resist). I can see from the wear that the shoes were only touching drum in certain parts, maybe due to it being sat for long periods. I also found that the brake tie rod (sits outside the hub and connects the shoe cams) was bent. Perhaps 15 degrees. I can only assume that this was due to someone over adjusting it to try and get the brakes to work? Anyway, I've cleaned, reassembled and fitted some new shoes and its feeling a lot better. The brake lever is reluctant to return to normal position, but assume this will improve once the new shoes bed in, but that will need to wait. Thanks again for the guidance.
Darren.
 
dangerdarren said:
So have spoken to Mr White and will be getting his view on frame towards end of next week. Have also taken front drum apart (could not resist). I can see from the wear that the shoes were only touching drum in certain parts, maybe due to it being sat for long periods. I also found that the brake tie rod (sits outside the hub and connects the shoe cams) was bent. Perhaps 15 degrees. I can only assume that this was due to someone over adjusting it to try and get the brakes to work? Anyway, I've cleaned, reassembled and fitted some new shoes and its feeling a lot better. The brake lever is reluctant to return to normal position, but assume this will improve once the new shoes bed in, but that will need to wait. Thanks again for the guidance.
Darren.
Click to expand...
Did you notice if it had this brake stiffening kit installed?

andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk

If not, it's probably worth the investment if you intend to keep the drum brake.

Cheers,

cliffa.
 
cliffa said:
Did you notice if it had this brake stiffening kit installed?

andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk

If not, it's probably worth the investment if you intend to keep the drum brake.

Cheers,

cliffa.
Click to expand...
Thanks Cliffa. No, it looked like the parts catalogue, other than the shoes were modern and it did not have slippers. I do intend to do upgrade, but I want to get someone who knows frames to take a look at headstock first.
Cheers,
Darren.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top