Torque is fine, but...

o0norton0o · Jun 5, 2016

Torque is fine, but... I don't like the feeling I get when I go from coasting off throttle to rolling on the throttle to accellerate. I have an early commando with no cush drive set up in the rear wheel, so I feel like the "chain snatch" feeling is magnified by all the parts that have no tollerance built into them. the commando is such a torquey engine that it's hard to gently roll onto the throttle with no "snatch" and having just reassembled and cleaned my clutch plates, they don't slip at all which magnifies the "snatch" feel...

I wonder if anyone here swapped their old rear wheel without a cush drive, for the later cush drive wheel and felt it made a noticable improvement in the feel of their throttle?

I've thought about a primary belt drive system too, but I recall somewhere reading that the belts don't stretch so they wont transmit the driving force any less abruptly than a chain drive. So,... what's that leave as an option except the rear wheel cush drive set up? I've seen the set up with the springs mounted in place of the cush rubbers. I'm not sure if that's one of Madass's custom parts, but I wonder if anyone who has one thinks it's made a big difference in the feel.. Thanks...

comnoz · Jun 5, 2016

o0norton0o said:
Torque is fine, but... I don't like the feeling I get when I go from coasting off throttle to rolling on the throttle to accellerate. I have an early commando with no cush drive set up in the rear wheel, so I feel like the "chain snatch" feeling is magnified by all the parts that have no tollerance built into them. the commando is such a torquey engine that it's hard to gently roll onto the throttle with no "snatch" and having just reassembled and cleaned my clutch plates, they don't slip at all which magnifies the "snatch" feel...

I wonder if anyone here swapped their old rear wheel without a cush drive, for the later cush drive wheel and felt it made a noticable improvement in the feel of their throttle?

I've thought about a primary belt drive system too, but I recall somewhere reading that the belts don't stretch so they wont transmit the driving force any less abruptly than a chain drive. So,... what's that leave as an option except the rear wheel cush drive set up? I've seen the set up with the springs mounted in place of the cush rubbers. I'm not sure if that's one of Madass's custom parts, but I wonder if anyone who has one thinks it's made a big difference in the feel.. Thanks...

I have swapped them and could not feel any difference.
A leaner slide may improve the transition from off throttle to on throttle. Jim

concours · Jun 5, 2016

+1

Sort the carburetion.

acotrel · Jun 5, 2016

If the lag is due to richness, there might be wear on the needle and needle jet. It is unusual to have to change the slide. If there is an air jet, it might be blocked. If there is a cough (flat spot) when changing up and down through the gears as you ride the bike, the carburation is probably lean - raise the needle one notch.

o0norton0o · Jun 5, 2016

acotrel said:
If the lag is due to richness, there might be wear on the needle and needle jet. It is unusual to have to change the slide. If there is an air jet, it might be blocked. If there is a cough (flat spot) when changing up and down through the gears as you ride the bike, the carburation is probably lean - raise the needle one notch.

The nature of what I am talking about is mostly related to the way my norton has a torquey feel at low RPM's. There's no "lag" of any kind on my bike. In fact, it's more the opposite. I find that it's hard to smoothly roll onto the throttle because the bike really jumps in response to the throttle. This characteristic is fantastic when you want to ride the bike in a sporty manner, but that same snappy feel to the throttle doesn't lend itself to just "putting around town".

....... and that's why I asked if the cush drive hub was any help smoothing out the jerk that cracking open the throttle delivers.... I assumed that maybe the cush drive back wheel was helpful in softening the feel of take offs.

concours · Jun 6, 2016

o0norton0o said:
acotrel said:

If the lag is due to richness, there might be wear on the needle and needle jet. It is unusual to have to change the slide. If there is an air jet, it might be blocked. If there is a cough (flat spot) when changing up and down through the gears as you ride the bike, the carburation is probably lean - raise the needle one notch.

Click to expand...

The nature of what I am talking about is mostly related to the way my norton has a torquey feel at low RPM's. There's no "lag" of any kind on my bike. In fact, it's more the opposite. I find that it's hard to smoothly roll onto the throttle because the bike really jumps in response to the throttle. This characteristic is fantastic when you want to ride the bike in a sporty manner, but that same snappy feel to the throttle doesn't lend itself to just "putting around town".

....... and that's why I asked if the cush drive hub was any help smoothing out the jerk that cracking open the throttle delivers.... I assumed that maybe the cush drive back wheel was helpful in softening the feel of take offs.

The tiny, hard plastic strips do nothing(JMWO). Rather than "cush drive", think "quick wheel removal". I think we all understand the symptom you describe. (Except for misuse of "torque"). Carburetion which is improperly tuned/partially clogged can give an abrupt transition from coast to throttle on gently. The driveline snatch is always available, but it's a non-issue when the engine responds correctly to fine changes in throttle setting. :mrgreen:

cjandme · Jun 6, 2016

o0norton0o said:
....... and that's why I asked if the cush drive hub was any help smoothing out the jerk that cracking open the throttle delivers.... I assumed that maybe the cush drive back wheel was helpful in softening the feel of take offs.

I would take a look at www.tritonmotorcycleparts.com and consider purchasing one of Don's rear cush drive hubs. While the difference in "seat of the pants feel " to the rider might be slight, I suspect the added advantage the cush drive hub provides to your bikes drive line will go a long way towards helping the longevity of the individual parts, like the final drive chain and sprockets. I think that we're lucky to have guys making this kind of stuff for our old rides. Cj

jaydee75 · Jun 6, 2016

Perhaps your drive chain/sprockets are worn out?
Jaydee

Dances with Shrapnel · Jun 6, 2016

The "chain snatch" feeling you mention suggests too much chain slack.

Torque is fine, but...

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