Rear wheel/swing arm play

If everything goes well, my commando will be on the road again next week.

When assembling the rear wheel, i noticed some side play when moving it from side to side at the top. I can move it maybe half an inch. So there is some torsion there. The swing arm bushings and spindle seem good. The islolastics are spot on. But i do have the original headsteady.

Is this side play normal for a Commando? I never checked it, and the bike was handling very good before i crashed it.

What i can think of, would be a worn engine cradle. My spindle is only secured to the cradle by the original bolt. But before i do the swing arm mod, i want to make sure it is not normal flex for a commando, with the isolastics. The bike is in overall very good condition with very few parts worn. A worn engine cradle would be an exception to this. Or would the combination of original headsteady, a slightly worn cradle and maybe slightly worn wheel bearings cause this play.

If i would replace the headsteady by a modern one, and do the swing arm mod, can i expect to neutralize this?

Thanks!
Dimitri

Sounds like alot to me. I have just changed my swinging arm bushes and spindle after feeling 1/8th of an inch of play side to side at the back edge of the wheel furthest from the pivot point.
If you put your finger in gaps between frame and ISO mounting and head steady mounting and get someone to move wheel it should show where movement is. Also check wheel bearings and axle.

I have a Norvil head steady by even with it removed i don't get that happening. If it was the whole power train moving you should be able to see it at head or exhaust system etc. I would look further into this.

Will do!

I did not notice any excessive side play by feeling at the back of the wheel (furthest from the pivot). Only at the top of the wheel. It made me think about the whole power train, but it can be an oval cradle i suppose. Also, it does not feel like play, but more like flex. there is no stop at the end of both sides when moving from side to side. I'll check again tonight.

Side play can be hard to see because the bike pivots on the mainstand quite easily. Have a helper capture the front wheel between knees, hold the bars, repeat the test. I agree the spindle in cradle fit is a good place to scrutinize. Understand it was a poor design, not so much "worn out", but there is a relatively simple fix, search "Kegler mod" on this forum.

Hi Dimitri.
Re: "...i would replace the headsteady by a modern one..."
I replaced my headsteady with a springloaded rose jointed type and reduced this movement remarkedly so.
Ta.

I had the frame fixed to a work bench to check. Rear mudguard was off so i was able to lay the rear frame loop on my work bench. It is 1cm steel and attached to floor and wall, so the frame was pretty steady. Front wheel on the ground and no center stand used.

The Kegler mod would be a good option i guess. I understand now that it is more an improvement than a fix. And it is not that hard to install.

@Needing: do you mean the MKIII type of headsteady spring? I did think about it, but had no real issues in handling so left it for now. Sourcing info on a forum often makes you think every mod is necessary so we need to choose wisely. I must admit though every mod i did so far on the Commando is worth it's money.

Hi dimitri
My old headsteady was the rubber bobbin type so it could stand some improving. I acquired the m3 spring and the rosejoint assembly at the same time.
Ta.

needing said:

Hi dimitri
My old headsteady was the rubber bobbin type so it could stand some improving. I acquired the m3 spring and the rosejoint assembly at the same time.
Ta.

Click to expand...

I think you are trying to describe the "Dave Taylor" design of head steady.
You can get them with the addition spring support system from RGM or search this site for more info on them Dimitri.

The Kegler mod was a great improvement on my M/C.I had the same situation that you described and was pleased after putting on the 2 clamps

Swing arm clamps are, IMO, a "Must do" for the Commando. There can be a lot of play in the swing arm even with new bushings that the swing arm clamps totally eliminate. I installed new bushings and still had some play - clamps eliminated all of it. Clamps, and good iso rubbers with play adjusted to Norton specs or slightly less will result in a bike that will be quite impressive handling-wise.