This don't look good....

Never happened to me personally and I believe that's because Im meticulous about following the tightening sequence when replacing the axles but the cush drive blocks melting is a common problem, check the search engine here & you will find many posts about it happening if the brake isn't adjusted correctly or centralized when replacing the axle. Another reason why a one-piece axle is probably a good idea.

Just took it out for a short run. Got up to 60mph for a coupla miles and headed for the barn. Felt brake drum and hub. No heat...barely warm. These are the original cush blocks. Could it be they just decided to give up the ship? If the parts are old and wear out, how can they melt? Were's the heat coming from?

Mine melted when the circlip retainer broke in the dummy shaft and had to get the bike home 3 miles away.

Ashley

You claim to be a Commando owner so welcome to the life style, so better pull wheel to see if anything amiss before worse happens. Axles are known to have a fission half life but shortened magically if extra vibes and bad bearing miss aligned shock loads.