- Joined
- Mar 15, 2014
- Messages
- 28
First off, hope those at the rally had a great time and will get home safe- as my son and I did last summer.
So my question is, when you acquire a Commando (I now have 4) and it's running pretty well, what's the best advice on how far to go to check things out? Of course one checks (or changes/adjusts) the basics (oil, plugs, tires/pressure, intake/exhaust clearance, alignment) and you probably want to tighten places where oil can exit - but where do you stop if it's running pretty well?
Here's my brief story: bought bike last summer. It was fully stock other than older Rita ignition. It ran pretty well but tires were old. This spring, of course it didn't start so went through carbs and put PowerArc Ignition/coil on from Old Britts (I have them on 2 other bikes and zero issues). BIke then starts and runs really well. OF course I then register and insure it, take it out and put 10 gentle miles on it. It's perfect. I check for anything loose. All good.
Yesterday I took it out for faster 25 mile loop with about 5 highway miles up to 70 mph then cruise back. I noticed at a stop light a little puff of smoke and figured it's a drip on exhaust pipe or whatever. Did not see anything leaking. 20 minutes later, pull into driveway, park it and see oil seeping pretty hard from front between head and barrel. So out comes the torque wrench and I go at it CAREFULLY. I'll add I am a decent mechanic - rebuilt my original '75 Mk III twice and other than the bottom end have done it all since high school. I was also a maintenance officer in the Army - so I will at least admit to not being 'dangerous' but never claim expertise.
Of course, the torque was screwed up on pretty much every bolt but the WORST THING was I broke one of the studs on the top front by the exhaust. So now a simple 30 minute job becomes hours to disassemble, take to shop, etc.
So my question is, should I have torqued the head sooner and possibly discovered this obviously failing stud last winter or would the majority vote for the saying "if it aint broke don't fix it?
I am pretty certain this was the source of my significant oil seepage as al three in front were not even close to spec. I estimate it broke at closer to 50 pounds . The good news is I'll now have the head off and can spend more money to have it gone over and probably ported, etc. And since the head's off, I will look at the cylinder walls... I hope my wife understands my addiction. Thanks for any advice... I have my eye on a local 750...
arbrnrngr
So my question is, when you acquire a Commando (I now have 4) and it's running pretty well, what's the best advice on how far to go to check things out? Of course one checks (or changes/adjusts) the basics (oil, plugs, tires/pressure, intake/exhaust clearance, alignment) and you probably want to tighten places where oil can exit - but where do you stop if it's running pretty well?
Here's my brief story: bought bike last summer. It was fully stock other than older Rita ignition. It ran pretty well but tires were old. This spring, of course it didn't start so went through carbs and put PowerArc Ignition/coil on from Old Britts (I have them on 2 other bikes and zero issues). BIke then starts and runs really well. OF course I then register and insure it, take it out and put 10 gentle miles on it. It's perfect. I check for anything loose. All good.
Yesterday I took it out for faster 25 mile loop with about 5 highway miles up to 70 mph then cruise back. I noticed at a stop light a little puff of smoke and figured it's a drip on exhaust pipe or whatever. Did not see anything leaking. 20 minutes later, pull into driveway, park it and see oil seeping pretty hard from front between head and barrel. So out comes the torque wrench and I go at it CAREFULLY. I'll add I am a decent mechanic - rebuilt my original '75 Mk III twice and other than the bottom end have done it all since high school. I was also a maintenance officer in the Army - so I will at least admit to not being 'dangerous' but never claim expertise.
Of course, the torque was screwed up on pretty much every bolt but the WORST THING was I broke one of the studs on the top front by the exhaust. So now a simple 30 minute job becomes hours to disassemble, take to shop, etc.
So my question is, should I have torqued the head sooner and possibly discovered this obviously failing stud last winter or would the majority vote for the saying "if it aint broke don't fix it?
I am pretty certain this was the source of my significant oil seepage as al three in front were not even close to spec. I estimate it broke at closer to 50 pounds . The good news is I'll now have the head off and can spend more money to have it gone over and probably ported, etc. And since the head's off, I will look at the cylinder walls... I hope my wife understands my addiction. Thanks for any advice... I have my eye on a local 750...
arbrnrngr
