Commando has it TOTALLY wrong.....I think the Commando clutch was the best clutch fitted to any late British heavyweight Twin and have absolutely nothing against triplex chains.
If you put an early original 750 Commando clutch together CORRECTLY employing an original 0.075 inch thick diaphragm spring CORRECTLY set up as the clutch was designed to do along with running it DRY as it was designed to be run then you will have a clutch that possesses 3 of the 4 basic qualities a gearbox mounted multiplate friction clutch is supposed to possess. I.E it will .....
1. NOT slip when fully engaged even when hot.
2. free off INSTANTLY and WITHOUT DRAG at all times even when hot.
3 It is EASILY operated by the user at all times. Two fingers MAX clutch lever action.
Unfortunately they forgot one very important quality which is that it should possess the LIGHTEST rotating weight reasonably possible which is why my belt driven Commando type clutches fitted to friends Triumphs , BSAs Nortons, G50s, Manxs etc employ a CORRECTLY hard anodised clutch basket and have a static weight of less than 6 1/2 lb all up considerably reducing rotating weight. But I suppose if you simply take the original Villiers Starmaker single and twin friction plate clutch and BODGE it to suit for Commandos which were i should remind you a 2 year stop gap model to keep AMC going while new models were designed, developed and put into production..(They employed DREAMERS at AMC!!)........I should add that the Starmaker clutches including its diaphragm spring were designed by a Gentleman who was when I first contacted him in the 80s Chief Clutch Designer and Engineering Director of Laycock Engineering of Sheffield and that even in his retirement he would always answer all my questions and do a bit of clutch and diaphragm spring design work for me along with successfully teaching me a great deal about both subjects.
There are ex NVT people I know who suggest that the ridiculously high rotating weight of the Commando clutches, especially the later onews with those stupid bronze plates was partly responsible for many of the gearbox failures that have occurred over the years.
As for Triplex or even singlex chains Commando would do well to obtain some old Renold design bumph and learn about primary chains, their lubrication etc etc etc. Then he might realise the beauty of employing toothed belts!!
