What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Bonzo said:
Manufactured in September (or perhaps October - without looking, I can't remember 🙃) 1973 and then shipped off to the US and first registered 1st January 1974, I have today (12th July 2025) shifted the far left tacho digit off the zero.

10,000 miles in 51 years!

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
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I guess that explains the dust🤣🤣🤣
 
Houston, we have a problem. Arnie has sprung a leak😢

After the last couple of rides I’ve notice oil on my garage floor. Just a single drop. It’s on my left swing arm underside and down the left leg of the centre stand, thick and green. Gearbox oil, bugger.

Further investigation finds the spacer behind the front sprocket can move independently meaning I’ve no longer got 80ft/lb torque on that nut, double bugger.

Looks like I’m gonna learn tearing down the drive side sooner than I planned🤣🤣🤣
IMG_7779.jpeg

Matt’s unique spacer to accommodate 520 sprocket/chain
IMG_7775.jpeg

Gave me the chance to inspect, no oil ingress, perfect belt tension. Just needs blowing all that clutch plate dust out.
 
I'm right behind you Bonzo! My odometer reads around 8000 miles so next year I think I will be in the same spot and try to remember to take a photo of it turning 10k.

Bugger for sure Cafe man! Still, you did give Arnie a proper thrashing with all those trips you've done lately. Time for some well-needed tender loving care.
 
I recently rode my Hinckley Scrambler through eighty thousand and eighty five miles, but I was on the motorway at the time and couldn't stop for a photo.
 
Café au Lait said:
Houston, we have a problem. Arnie has sprung a leak😢

After the last couple of rides I’ve notice oil on my garage floor. Just a single drop. It’s on my left swing arm underside and down the left leg of the centre stand, thick and green. Gearbox oil, bugger.

Further investigation finds the spacer behind the front sprocket can move independently meaning I’ve no longer got 80ft/lb torque on that nut, double bugger.

Looks like I’m gonna learn tearing down the drive side sooner than I planned🤣🤣🤣
View attachment 120717
Matt’s unique spacer to accommodate 520 sprocket/chain
View attachment 120716
Gave me the chance to inspect, no oil ingress, perfect belt tension. Just needs blowing all that clutch plate dust out.
Click to expand...
You really gonna strip it NOW just cos of a drop or two when parked?

I’d wait till winter if it were me.

If you use the side stand for long durations, try the centre stand instead. Might leak a bit less.
 
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Fast Eddie said:
You really gonna strip it NOW just cos of a drop or two when parked?

I’d wait till winter if it were me.

If you use the side stand for long durations, try the centre stand instead. Might leak a bit less.
Click to expand...
No, Café au Lait wants to strip it NOW because the sprocket spacer can be moved independently meaning the sprocket itself is no longer tight on the sleave gear which over time will ruin the splines on the sleeve gear. So a wise decision to re-torque the sprocket nut now.
 
Fast Eddie said:
You really gonna strip it NOW just cos of a drop or two when parked?

I’d wait till winter if it were me.

If you use the side stand for long durations, try the centre stand instead. Might leak a bit less.
Click to expand...
Nope definitely not doing it yet👍🏻 already decided it’s a winter job; such a small amount makes no odds to the level but I’ll keep an eye out for sure.

Next is a slowish (to prevent blowback) 10-15 mile run to confirm the source. Tbh there’s been none dripping down the GB case so the loose nut might be a separate issue potentially but obviously needs rectification. Good to know none found its way past the clutch seal, that’s bone dry in there. The bike is running great so I don’t want to waste this great summer. Had a 5 hrs 135 mile run with my club guys on the W800 today, some fantastic roads and proper ‘progress’😉
 
Café au Lait said:
Nope definitely not doing it yet👍🏻 already decided it’s a winter job; such a small amount makes no odds to the level but I’ll keep an eye out for sure.

Next is a slowish (to prevent blowback) 10-15 mile run to confirm the source. Tbh there’s been none dripping down the GB case so the loose nut might be a separate issue potentially but obviously needs rectification. Good to know none found its way past the clutch seal, that’s bone dry in there. The bike is running great so I don’t want to waste this great summer. Had a 5 hrs 135 mile run with my club guys on the W800 today, some fantastic roads and proper ‘progress’😉
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Yeah… trouble is… Constant (hNw) makes a good point about the loose nut and spline damage.

I was focused on the leak… I retract my advice now and side with Constant.

Time to get yer spanners out mucka…
 
Maybe. ATM there is no free play in the sprocket. The spacers sometimes turns with the sprocket sometimes doesn’t so it’s close but not proper tight plus there is a tab washer screwed down to prevent the nut backing off.

Edit: having said that, it’s not the biggest job in the world
 
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What wrong with you guys a few hours/day work to fix depends how you go, to fix a small problem before it becomes a bigger problem, just a small weep will annoy me and even something moving that shouldn't be moving would be wise to makes sure it won't turn into a bigger problem down the road, might not be nothing but still, but that's just me, my Norton is showing its age but it don't drip any oil and fixing things is all about good maintenance even if its just something minor, minor fix is better than a major fix in my eyes and if your new to Norton its a good way to learn/know about your bike, I would take the time and fix it to be sure.
 
Since the original poster lives in England there are sure to be a few days when it is pouring rain in buckets "roof weather." Collect parts and tools so that when you get a miserable wet day you will have everything you need to work on the bike.
 
nortonmargie said:
Since the original poster lives in England there are sure to be a few days when it is pouring rain in buckets "roof weather." Collect parts and tools so that when you get a miserable wet day you will have everything you need to work on the bike.
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… except we are having a lot of very sunny weather and a drought !
 
Café au Lait said:
Maybe. ATM there is no free play in the sprocket. The spacers sometimes turns with the sprocket sometimes doesn’t so it’s close but not proper tight plus there is a tab washer screwed down to prevent the nut backing off.

Edit: having said that, it’s not the biggest job in the world
Click to expand...
Cafe,
Have you talked to Matt in regards to that spacer you are describing?Might be worth a call.
Mike
 
YING said:
Cafe,
Have you talked to Matt in regards to that spacer you are describing?Might be worth a call.
Mike
Click to expand...
Oh yes indeedy 😉

Matt is one super guy, seriously helpful, nothing is too much trouble. The spacer in question is an additional one (0.09”) to accommodate the 520 chain.

I’ve just come back for a <40 mph 20 mile ride to see what’s going on having first totally degreased the area.

Pretty conclusive I think. I think the oil is creeping up the spline of the shaft and squeezing out of the ‘gap’ between his spacer and the sprocket. This then drips on the chain (my chain is oil free, I only smear with WD40) which is then flung on the stand, under the swing arm and onto the inner primary sprocket guard which then runs down and drips onto the swing arm.

Time to tighten the sprocket nut but I don’t understand how that could loosen seeing as it’s a left hand thread. Matt completely dismantled the GB before shipping where he found a broken 4 gear tooth so it’s lost its torque in 5k miles, 12 months.

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Left over time this will flow forward as the engine is canted and then drip on the ground.
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
meanwhile, checked if the Mk3 engine had wet sumped after a year standing: removed the small magnetic drain plug and a small amount trickled out. However, the oil tank looked quite low, so pushed the kickstart a bit, then a WHOLE LOT MORE soon got pushed out, which was replaced in the oil tank from very clean drip tray.
 
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nortonmargie said:
Just wait! I am flying in the end of August. The MINUTE I arrive rain will start coming down in buckets!
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Carry on, you could always sleep in @Fasteddies shed as long as you're tidy and like Rhodesian Ridgebacks. It would be my Air BnB highlight if I got to sleep with two Ridgebacks and every time I opened my eyes I saw nice motorcycles. Beats the hell out of listening to my GF snore.:cool:
 


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