Just as a point of interest would you measure the centre distance between your rear suspension points on the frame and swinging arm please.....you could well find a 6mm difference. Metrinks one person was responsible for the frame drawing and someone else the swinging arm and neither talked to each other. Either that or when the drawings were converted to metric for the frame maker in Italy someone got it wrong. (Italian made frames have a metric size spine and Uk Renold ones an Imperial inch size spine). If you look up the rear end end of many Commando (or Atlas Mk3s as sahown on factory drawings!!) you may well note thet the timing side suspension unit is NOT vertical being 6mm /1/4 inch further out on the frame than the swinging arm. Funny how non of my Commado owning friends had never noticed it ...till I had them check....and heard screams of 'oh **** my frames ******* bent'. The Richard Negus private entry Commando that finished second behind a factory(?) Honda 4 in a 1970s Spa 24 hour endurance race finished with only one suspension unit coupled to the swinging arm.......Apparently, so I heard from people involved, the Norton race shop were not capable of building a motor that would stay as one lump for a whole 24 hour race anf that motor had not long completed a 6 hour endurance race with only a very quick check over between them.....the Richard Negus motor being in a slightly lower state of tune to give it a chance of staying as one lump for longer.
One friend(now dead) who rebuilt Commandos for customers always put a large area washer on the timing side swinging arm fixing point to ensure the unit did not completely work off the metalastic bush whilst the bike was in use. Apparently having only one suspension unit in use upsets the handling a tad and made riding that Commando art Spa and here I quote 'INTERESTING'.
