What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Bonzo said:

It's Maughold (Isle of Man)

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Wow. Congrats, the holy grail of hardware on two wheels!

Finished installing freshened up Amals with Don Pender single cable throttle control. CNW prepped oil tank and new lines were installed a few days ago. Starting to get itchy as bike gets new parts added.

Starvingphotog said:

I finally got my modified airbox cover back from the local fabrication shop. I had them convert the dual air ports to one, and also powder coat. Put on a new metal air filter cover as well (why not). View attachment 108095View attachment 108094

I also had the fabricator powder coat a spare primary cover I have. Tried it out for looks. Not too shabby looking at all. I like the contrast of the chrome with the black.

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What manifold are you running there?

Started to fit some sheet metal for the rear swingarm mounted fender. I might as well get that done so I can build the motor while it's out for paint.

Starvingphotog said:

I finally got my modified airbox cover back from the local fabrication shop. I had them convert the dual air ports to one, and also powder coat. Put on a new metal air filter cover as well (why not). View attachment 108095View attachment 108094

I also had the fabricator powder coat a spare primary cover I have. Tried it out for looks. Not too shabby looking at all. I like the contrast of the chrome with the black.

View attachment 108096

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Rob,
I like the way the air cleaner modification turned out.Looks very proper. I wish I had someone around where I live with those talents.
Mike

Bonzo said:

What manifold are you running there?

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Bonzo. I got it from a fella on the West Coast, Brandon at Steadfast Cycles. He made the fuel hose setup and a single throttle cable as well for my setup. The manifold is just one that he had around when I told him what I was looking to do. It looks like one that comes with a Mikuni carb kit.

Hey Mike,
Thanks! I owe it all to my fabricator fella and his buddy that does powder coating. If you send me your cover I could have him do the same thing for you. I also found this guy on eBay that sells ready made single port airbox covers. I didn't find this until yesterday when I was looking to get a few replacement throttle cables.


He has a painted one, in the link, and a stainless steel version available.

By the way, I'm sure there are folks around there. NASCAR country you live in and there are race car builders and fabricators all over the place in the back country and in and around Mooresville. You can check with your local mechanic that you take your car to if they know of a local fabricator that they can recommend and work with. That's how I found my guy. In my case, he's a quarter mile up the road from my house. My mechanic fella is an eighth of a mile up the road from my house.

Just as a side note, I had a spare set of left side brake pedal lever and footrest and had those powder coated black. The chrome was flaking off so I figured I would do it and see how it looks. They look very nice, but I haven't installed them yet to see how they look on the bike. Thing is, if I did, the left side hardware would be gloss black and the right side would be chrome....a little weird...

Starvingphotog said:

I also found this guy on eBay that sells ready made single port airbox covers. I didn't find this until yesterday when I was looking to get a few replacement throttle cables.

06-8817 NORTON COMMANDO SINGLE CARB AIR FILTER FRONT PLATE SILVER PAINTED | eBay

1 x air filter front plate for pre MK2A Norton Commando motorcycles. Genuine Norton. This plate is for models with one AMAL concentric fitted. Silver painted. I do not know if this will fit any other applications.

www.ebay.com

He has a painted one, in the link, and a stainless steel version available.

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ebay NortonBits is Norvil Motorcycles.

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069767C

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RGM also sells the single-carb front plate:

Thanks for this Les!

Yes, I've come to appreciate the simplicity of a single carb setup. I received friendly scolding by a fellow Norton friend of mine recently for what he called "detuning" the bike by using a single carb. He said that he can't understand why people do that, and instead try to improve the bike and make it faster. What can I say. I'm not racing it and a big fan of simplicity.

Drove her today up to Winners Circle in Markham . Got 2 new air jets at 1.1 and 1.0 sizes . ( To replace the 2.0 size for 2 stroke applications fitted to many Norton single Mikuni setups . ) . Also a cable operated choke kit for the 34 VM even though they could not provide any cable for it . Another future mini project .
On the way there on the ramp to the 401 east an older driver ( Cass 01 plated ) decided he would try to pass me left side on the single lane ramp gathering speed to merge . He clipped my mirror and folded in his car one . He aborted and I gave him the evil eye .

Torontonian you are a brave soul, or got a great big pair on you! For those who don't know, the 401 is the most dangerous highway in Canada. I don't actually know if that's true, but it is a VERY busy highway and full of nutcases in a rush to go nowhere, and this is outside of Toronto. In Toronto it's another level of crazy altogether. I commuted that highway when I worked in Toronto for many years, from an hour away in Waterloo. I would never even dream of riding a vintage bike on that bit of road. You really are a special rider man.

I know this is redundant but be safe out there fella.

Starvingphotog said:

Torontonian you are a brave soul, or got a great big pair on you! For those who don't know, the 401 is the most dangerous highway in Canada. I don't actually know if that's true, but it is a VERY busy highway and full of nutcases in a rush to go nowhere, and this is outside of Toronto. In Toronto it's another level of crazy altogether. I commuted that highway when I worked in Toronto for many years, from an hour away in Waterloo. I would never even dream of riding a vintage bike on that bit of road. You really are a special rider man.

I know this is redundant but be safe out there fella.

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Drove the 401 East with wife and fishing rod and worms on ice , dropped off wife at her Brampton gig , then headed north through plenty of construction as Hurontario St . is getting a new L.R.T. line . Worked my way through the Caledon hills to Fergus and back , avoiding the 401 by using the 400 South instead . Bike ran great , never missed a beat .

Good work

Saber said:

Good work

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At stop signs and intersections I had problems finding first , neutral ,second . So today at home I pulled the outer cover again to realize the new pawl and new hairspring were touching on each side up and down without any gap(s) whatsoever . So out came the pliers and I bent the lower crooked leg a bit to achieve the desired paper thin gap on both sides of touch with the pawl . Reassembled . ( On the street in the hot sun of course ) . Went for the test ride and everything shifted perfectly . So lesson learned , you must fettle/ bend the long delicate spring to achieve this state . A . N. won't tell you this . At least not yet !

Just finished preparing my grp side panels so now off to the painters with the Emgo tank as well

Torontonian said:

At stop signs and intersections I had problems finding first , neutral ,second . So today at home I pulled the outer cover again to realize the new pawl and new hairspring were touching on each side up and down without any gap(s) whatsoever . So out came the pliers and I bent the lower crooked leg a bit to achieve the desired paper thin gap on both sides of touch with the pawl . Reassembled . ( On the street in the hot sun of course ) . Went for the test ride and everything shifted perfectly . So lesson learned , you must fettle/ bend the long delicate spring to achieve this state . A . N. won't tell you this . At least not yet !

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Man, you really are getting, or are, expert at pulling that trans apart with the last few adventures you've had. A road warrior you are for sure. Braving the 400 series highways, and working on the street on your bike

Starvingphotog said:

Man, you really are getting, or are, expert at pulling that trans apart with the last few adventures you've had. A road warrior you are for sure. Braving the 400 series highways, and working on the street on your bike

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Tranny is shifting perfect now . Don't be afraid to take pliers to a brand new A.N. spring , to achieve paper thin clearances to the pawl . No 2 spring arms directly touching it .
I don't know why I rent in T.O anymore as I like to ride countryside better . My wife loves this city . At times I do too .

Hi. Yesterday i fitted a pair of U-Beaut new Icon rear shocks to my 1969 F/Back after 30 plus years on a set of Hagons. Finished the job, turned the rear wheel to make sure no nonsense and it turned by hand then stopped. Turned it the other way and about a 1/4 turn it comes to a soft stop! Did it a couple of times , thinking expensive gearbox damage and walked away. This morning removed joining link to wheel it onto workstand. Pulled plugs ,put it into 2nd and rotated it with kick start. Chain fell out along with 3/8 shockie flat washer! How the hell it landed on the top of the chain right on centre? Could see marks in the centre of washer where the front sprocket tooth had speared it. Why does God always laugh at me?

Made a oil pressure gauge mount today , I machined a gauge cup out of stainless , and cut out some 3mm , and gave it a bit of a polish , tacked in the stainless cup , gauge is a nice fit , glycerin plug can't come out , and it will be plumbed in AN-03 stainless braid , its had a better polish now , still had some light marks in pic

ringydodds said:

Hi. Yesterday i fitted a pair of U-Beaut new Icon rear shocks to my 1969 F/Back after 30 plus years on a set of Hagons. Finished the job, turned the rear wheel to make sure no nonsense and it turned by hand then stopped. Turned it the other way and about a 1/4 turn it comes to a soft stop! Did it a couple of times , thinking expensive gearbox damage and walked away. This morning removed joining link to wheel it onto workstand. Pulled plugs ,put it into 2nd and rotated it with kick start. Chain fell out along with 3/8 shockie flat washer! How the hell it landed on the top of the chain right on centre? Could see marks in the centre of washer where the front sprocket tooth had speared it. Why does God always laugh at me?

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You are not alone!
Mike