Quaife strengthened Maincase opinions

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I've used a couple of them in race bikes. They worked fine. I do recall having to grind some metal off around the mounting lugs to get them to fit through the Commando cradle. I thought Quaife had quit making them several years back. Maybe they decided there really was still a market for them.

Ken
 
I was looking at the 6 and/or 5 speed gearbox but they do not seem to have Kickstart provisions in them and I think 4 speed is good enough for a street-ridden-bike plus the whole "narrower gear" thing is a HUGE can-o-worms to open up.

Vince
 
I have a Quaife gearbox in my Seeley race bike but the shell looks like the same one as in the link you posted. I have taken it apart on several occasions and it is high quality. If you are just going to replace the shell, then you have nothing to lose (except some of your hard-earned!). I don't know who the Quaife retailer is in the US. Mick Hemmings has supplied bits for mine. You need to check if the rest of your gearbox will fit to the shell without different parts. For example, on mine, the sleeve gear is supported by two narrow ball races separated by a circlip and spacer, instead of the single ball race that is standard AMC. I would say call Mick Hemmings or his equivalent in the US to double-check.
 
I got one that Ken here repaired the bolt bosses fractured off. I had to both grind on the cradle opening and the Qualife case to get it to fit through. Took more off cradle than shell as didn't want to weaken than side of the shell.

BTW a Combat with rear low breather, even with blanking plate instead, it interferes with tipping forward to remove Quaife case w/o removing engine first. This is separate issue that grinding will not remove the hassle of.

I have twisted shaft and torn up 3rd gear teeth in factory case, those are the weak itemf to me, not the AMC case itself. So I agree if putting down power like a steer rider, that is from lower speeds than racers putting on WOT, then thicker gears the better.

BTW A few years ago I saw Kenny Cumming tear teeth off his intermediate cam gear. Found the the Altas version is beefier/wider than Commando version and a direct replacement. Same goes for the gear box and I now prefer the Altas version there too.
 
On my 1973 850 I had Gearbox problems resulting (I learned later) from twisting the case out of square when I spun the Layshaft bearing the first time (don't look at me like that!, I was 18) so a stronger case seems like a good idea to me (IF it's a direct-swap!).

Vince

Hobot,
Bags and Bags of torque is WHY I like Commando's!
 
Bags and Bags of torque is WHY I like Commando's!
Click to expand...

Duh dude, get in line on that craving!
I can relate to the young hot throttle hand on a hot shot Norton, so what's to forgive? I ain't real racer but boy howdy its no holds barred learning why modern young hot handed sport bikers are called Squids, soft body and small brain short lived jet propelled creatures. I tell ya what with a bit of a spiff up a Combat can out leap them into and out of turns putting down more torque before their hp can catch up or just spikes into to a wheelie they must back off of to stay in the game.

Out rigger bearing helps prevent main shaft candy cane, but in the end engine potential can excede the AMC innards so some aware care to put down power in way it can tolerate. But ya can't spank squid bikers being a baby, so we play we pay. I cryo temper the gearbox stuff for a bit extra reserves.

Ms Peel engine calculators imply about 1 lb ft per 4 lb mass of bike/pilot before she comes on cam in mid range on and improves.

BTW, i talk big on the spanking department but never ever pressed any one and only ever rode close to track experienced pilots I interviewed ahead of time for a joy ride pecking order not life/death risking into blinds like the squids. I only ever get into the 3 upper phases of furious corning when all by my lonesome. I would not make a peep about Ms Peel if we was talking anything related to a mere neck and neck advantage to tackle chicanes and opens way over the ton.
No Sir.
So far as I know no motorcycle is any competition to linked isolastic Ms Peel, only sports cars willing to smoke brakes into turns and break free in slides not to lose a bit of momentum while hooking up as good as then can. I've had straight line dragster and loved it but I crave those same seat smashing G's in a motorcycle that's turning.

Consider the slipper clutch of the elites, that's needed because they have to cut power in turns and fat tires can't take hi loads near edges, hehe not on ya life on Ms Peel. I best love to enter turns going into rising torque curve so she gets squirmy in rear on slight lean then stay on it as speed increase allows more hook up and just keep on torquing up into and out of apexes. Never let your bike get ahead of you. With Norton torque holding you up you can throw self at ground hard as ya can and just be thrown right back as hard into faster future.
 
I have never been impressed by " my HonaYamaKawaZuki has 9,000,000,000 HP", if it does not reach the ground in a hurry it's window dressing.
I ride Brit-bikes because they are Torquey, narrow, nimble and light. Yes, the Squids are faster in a straight line (a long one) but that ain't where most of us live! and "an old, fat-guy on an old bike blew me off" is delicious!.

I used to have a beat to hell ex-Hillclimber 441 (it was HIDEOUS) "Motocrosser" and the "Torque-monster" aspect of it made a LOT of shiny, new Jap-bikes look silly, it was great!

Vince
 
Ah cool Viny, I need the company of similar hot blooded souls, not wanting to die too soon but by God not wanting to miss out on whats possible on road joy while we can. I figure my wisdom where to press limits is less risky than just getting on to ride, so why not if not caught and arrested. About 2 decades ago I saved STATE the trouble of suspending or revoking license, officially returned it so reports don't make insurance $pike. I love to hear about them BSA thumpers on narrow tires and solid frame, gives me chills thinking of tangling with them in their element on a Commando.

Conflict of interest in the torque vs gear box, higher rpm is easier on drive train but rougher on engine. I figure I'll work up to breaking Ms Peel then put in the spare transmission and save and save and save while more gently bidding my time till a TT 4 spd installed.

A rear-front linked Cdo can set its lean and fork angle and then just steer by
R wrist action only, no tendency to fall down or flip up, just hook up at better sharper aim. I call the plastic faired bikes, angry looking insects, beside corner cripples straight line sprinters only. I get out their way on my ordinary Combat.
 
I spoke with Mick Hemmings this morning, Quaife shows the case on the website but they stopped making them a long time ago.

Talking to Mick I went with one of his cases with the fancy Layshaft bearing (about $600.00 shipped to Texas).

I ordered shocks the other day, I went with all SS, fully valanced Hagons from Dave Quinn.

The pile-o-Commando bits continues to get larger and more expensive, one day it should turn into an actual motorcycle!

Vince
 
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