Wear priority?

I used to ask every list and forum and online archive and about every vendor existent in '99 and living and late drag race builders ...
What breaks first, then next and so on. Got that down pat with a bigger list than even the above resources knew about.

Now I'm asking what wears out first, then next and so on. When everything going as good as our grinning ear to ear Ashely, tires and chains will top the list. So that implies ~$100 per 5000 miles in best cases to set asside. I used to think it was speedo drive and AMC first gear bush and pawl springs or AAU but now think its the rubber gaiters on fork seals and carb boots on ring wear. What tops you lists I should consider for a spare on hand? I still think Norton rods and all types of crank rolling element bearings are almost indefinite wear items. Oh yeah any item that has a name reminding us of the Spragthrope kennel technology don't count here as more a disposable item than oil filter and oil. Faith in future is hopping on your Commando for an out of state run and back after dark.

hobot said:

I used to ask every list and forum and online archive and about every vendor existent in '99 and living and late drag race builders ...
What breaks first, then next and so on. Got that down pat with a bigger list than even the above resources knew about.

Now I'm asking what wears out first, then next and so on. When everything going as good as our grinning ear to ear Ashely, tires and chains will top the list. So that implies ~$100 per 5000 miles in best cases to set asside. I used to think it was speedo drive and AMC first gear bush and pawl springs or AAU but now think its the rubber gaiters on fork seals and carb boots on ring wear. What tops you lists I should consider for a spare on hand? I still think Norton rods and all types of crank rolling element bearings are almost indefinite wear items. Oh yeah any item that has a name reminding us of the Spragthrope kennel technology don't count here as more a disposable item than oil filter and oil. Faith in future is hopping on your Commando for an out of state run and back after dark.

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Wear?
This is what I wear. If you fall off, knees tend to wear out first, followed by face then finally elbows.
I'm on topic this time Les!

Phil

Ugh just Commando items Phil as 4 helmets and 3 gloves didn't last as long as some the shortest lived Commando items. So what do you expect to replace next other than soiled apparel?

hobot said:

Ugh just Commando items Phil as 4 helmets and 3 gloves didn't last as long as some the shortest lived Commando items. So what do you expect to replace next other than soiled apparel?

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Hobot
I can't help you here.
MkIII's never wear out.
I'll have to hand you back to the herd.

My mistake I thought this was a serious thread,post removed.

Hey Steve

As you say tyres are the first to replace, but other than that its just pot luck what will wear out next, it depends on how hard you ride, but as a young bloke I wore out my cylinder bores pretty quickly (about 20,000 miles) after doing burn outs every Friday and Saturday nights when a crowd was gathering, but now at a more muture age I look after things, but one important thing I did learn at a early age was to change oils the more you trashed your motor the more oil changes you did, keep maintenance up to every moving parts and things will last, I don't drop my clutch and change gears slowly and easy and things in your gearbox will last a long time as well as chains and sprockets.

As for oil seals in front forks its just a nomal wear and tear, but after fitting gaitors to the forks my seals are lasting a lot longer as no dirt and crap can get into them, I am still running my orginal front and clutch pullies except for the cluch centre it had wear on it and was replaced about 2 years ago and I am still running my orginal clutch plates but running early Ford tranny oil and no more problems with pulling the clutch plates out to clean every so often and no more clutch slipage, but I did run a belt drive for about 4 years, but have now gone back to chain.

As for brake pads I replace them when needed but I don't work my brakes hard, never lock them up, slow my bike down before the corners and open it up through the corners, I still had the orginal brake pads in the front before I replace my whole front brake system and it was about 2 years ago that I replaced the orginal rear brake shoes, there wasn't much left on them, another thing that does wear as you say kick start pawls, I have replaced mine about 4 or 5 times now in 39 years, as for anything else I just fix or replace as needed, as we all ride our bike diffrently, what happens to your bike may never happen to mine or others, so its anyones guess what will wear or break next and I still ride my Norton hard everytime I ride it and thank it after every ride that you make it home safely.

Ashley

Gosh Ashely that's as sweet to read as watch old time maintenance and safety movies where the hero rides off into the sunset with his grateful gal. Very realistic sense of the flow of items to reasonably expect with some I'd not got around to yet. I had to go though child hood mc phase on Peel so now operate Trixie with insights gained and pleased to see nil fuzz on magnet and intact 1st gear bush and may only need resealing from the air boots cracking unknown deep in pleat only sucking though roostering around some on THE Gravel. Made my day imagining such ongoing smooth life style maintenance, after getting the high hormone boyhood kix done with.

Time Warp said:

My mistake I thought this was a serious thread,post removed.

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Post removed but avatar replaced.
Nice looking fastback.

Phil

hobot said:

.. I'm asking what wears out first ..

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your keybord ?

I'm with you Ludwig, but who's will it be First, Phil Yates or Hobot's?
Chili

Chili said:

I'm with you Ludwig, but who's will it be First, Phil Yates or Hobot's?
Chili

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It will be a close finish. Except I use voice recognition.
Comes with every MkIII sold.

Judging by a lot of input in here, I'd say enthusiasm for the Commando might be the first thing to wear out for many. Or has already done so.

Seems there's a Japo or two hidden in every other garage. And takes pride of interest.
Seems things have gotten worse since the rot set in back in the 60's.

If you shook the tree real hard, I'd say an awful lot of pretend Commando enthusiasts would be on the ground.

The very first thing to wear out on my combat was drive side main bearing. But that was before superblends. Rear chain stretched at a frightening rate and contact points never remained constant. Rear tyre disappeared rapidly and chrome on fork stanchions soon scored. Rear duck tail colour changed and exhaust pipe rings constantly vibrated loose. Amals would never stay in balance and tappets needed constant adjustment.

But it was the best bike I had ever ridden and was bettered by nothing but my later hand built combat and now the MkIII.

The very first thing to wear out on my combat was drive side main bearing.

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Hm, how did ya know that was what happened? Did you volunteer to stop and fix it or did the bad '72 bearing vote first?

Engine wise the valve stems are under a bit of stress due to the pushing action of the rocker arm. So guides and stems are possibly high up on the list, though fitting something to the standard of Kibblewhite valves and guides where the guide has to reamed/honed to size according to the valve stem dia. and the valves have DLC coating significantly reduce wear. Getting the pushrods to the right length for each rocker/valve gets the tappet operating centrally on the valve tip and reduces side thrust.

+1
ha now thats funny (and so true)

Chili said:

I'm with you Ludwig, but who's will it be First, Phil Yates or Hobot's?
Chili

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mikegray660 said:

+10000!!

Chili said:

I'm with you Ludwig, but who's will it be First, Phil Yates or Hobot's?
Chili

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Be patient with Phil, it's a honeymoon thing, I hope. It should where off a bit after the first major break down/up.

get off the computer, get on your bike and wear out a set of tires.

ludwig said:

hobot said:

.. I'm asking what wears out first ..

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your keybord ?

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That's the best post I have seen in a long, long Time! LOL. :wink:

hobot said:

What tops you lists I should consider for a spare on hand?

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I cannot think of anything that could where out that I couldn't get in a day or 2.

hobot said:

The very first thing to wear out on my combat was drive side main bearing.

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Hm, how did ya know that was what happened? Did you volunteer to stop and fix it or did the bad '72 bearing vote first?

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There was a loud explosion at 110mph (3mph over redline) and the alternator shot left and killed a wombat instantly on the side of the road. Well so the story goes. I've told it.

No, nothing fell apart but riding home I could hear an unpleasant knock. Same at idle. We stripped the engine down (dad and I) and found the bearing stuffed, drive side.

Norton eventually came to the rescue and replaced both bearings with superblends, rebuilt the engine and reinstalled into bike. All under warranty. That's how I know.

pete.v said:

mikegray660 said:

+10000!!

Chili said:

I'm with you Ludwig, but who's will it be First, Phil Yates or Hobot's?
Chili

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Be patient with Phil, it's a honeymoon thing, I hope. It should where off a bit after the first major break down/up.

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I hope you're right Pete.
But the Doc said it could take years.