What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Hmm...oil filter too? It also looks like you prefer the VR1 20w50. The previous owner of my bike used the same brand. I switched to Castrol Classic 20w50. Both have (high) zinc.
I wonder if you guys think that it's a good idea to replace the oil arteries from time to time, like I'm seeing here in this photo by knock4times. I don't know the age of the oil lines on my bikes, and tend to think that they may suffer the same issues as our own arteries and develop clots and blockages that could obstruct oil flow. An easy and inexpensive service with hugely positive (preventative at the least) gains I think.
 
Starvingphotog said:
Hmm...oil filter too? It also looks like you prefer the VR1 20w50. The previous owner of my bike used the same brand. I switched to Castrol Classic 20w50. Both have (high) zinc.
I wonder if you guys think that it's a good idea to replace the oil arteries from time to time, like I'm seeing here in this photo by knock4times. I don't know the age of the oil lines on my bikes, and tend to think that they may suffer the same issues as our own arteries and develop clots and blockages that could obstruct oil flow. An easy and inexpensive service with hugely positive (preventative at the least) gains I think.
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Yes oil filter too. Just wasnt in photo. Replacing the homemade previous owners setup.
 
Starvingphotog said:
I wonder if you guys think that it's a good idea to replace the oil arteries from time to time, like I'm seeing here in this photo by knock4times. I don't know the age of the oil lines on my bikes, and tend to think that they may suffer the same issues as our own arteries and develop clots and blockages that could obstruct oil flow.
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Not so much block but they harden, and can develop splits or pieces break off at the ends, so yes, it is a good idea to replace them every few years:
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Very good gents! I this will be the next project for me to do on my 850, and likely the Combat sitting in the house. Gotta keep the blood flow nice and free and debris free!
 
A couple weeks ago I took the leaky float bowl off and put it the vice with some aluminum soft jaws to straighten a deformed tang from me hamfistedly over tightening it, and then I used some wet dry to see if it was truly flat.

Also cleaned out the inline fuel filters.

Today took the beast out for a blast to clear out the cobwebs and try and help Norluck. No luck with Norluck.

No more leaky bowl. The ride was good. Except for the last 5k when it absolutely pissed down. Then I got home and was blue sky.
 
On a ride of 150 miles yesterday with some friends on moderns: We were in a bad rain on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I heard a high pitched scream and looked down, my French made tach was doing a death dance, it was going all the way around back to the peg. I pulled over at the next opportunity and disconnected the tach cable at the gauge, hoping it was not destroyed. Ride continued without issues. After getting home I removed the tach and shot some lube up into the works through the light hole. I could feel the binding by turning the spindle by hand. After a few shots of oil the binding smoothed right up. I reinstalled the tach and ran the engine. All seems well now. I am amazed and thankful it still works. Is this a issue with the French gauges? Should I lube the speedometer too? By the way the ole girl (Mk III) kept up purty good even in the rain. But I did "wring her neck" a few times. Cheers
 
Steve, that's a good question. I'm not sure what sort of maintenance the gauges need from time to time. I know the cables need to be inspected every now and again and kept lubed, and the speedo gear at the back wheel, but not sure about the tach.
 
Dropped in the new battery . After 10 days in prime season dicking around looking for slow shorts. The ( Chinese ) battery 1 1/2 years old was the issue. Slow shorting out. I'm on the road to a cottage south of Detroit tomorrow with fishing rod and wife on the back. Yay !
 
Made a big mess but learned a lot. Appreciate everyone who helped out today.
 

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Torontonian said:
Dropped in the new battery . After 10 days in prime season dicking around looking for slow shorts. The ( Chinese ) battery 1 1/2 years old was the issue. Slow shorting out. I'm on the road to a cottage south of Detroit tomorrow with fishing rod and wife on the back. Yay !
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Even new batteries can fail, vibrations are the biggest killer of batteries.
 
CanukNortonNut said:
Walridge Motors, there are vibration pads available. padding on the back of the battery would help too.
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I'll ask Mike about that. 82-8091 ? Off to a cottage below Detroit. I'm wondering if a pad loaded with tiny springs might be even better than rubber . Or even suspend the battery from springy things . Just thinking. When I started up the bike with the new battery tied down It still shook like a leaf . So let's look at a battery isolastic system.
 
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Torontonian said:
I'll ask Mike about that. 82-8091 ? Off to a cottage below Detroit. I'm wondering if a pad loaded with tiny springs might be even better than rubber . Or even suspend the battery from springy things . Just thinking. When I started up the bike with the new battery tied down It still shook like a leaf . So let's look at a battery isolastic system.
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The goal is to cut down on vibration to battery. Hence my new motor to be fitted with Carillo rods and Wiseco short pistons this winter.
 
I put NOS indicator lense on after loosing one on the road last week. Heres a pic of the new one. Where does the black round seal go?What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
davamb said:
Moved the ignition switch up onto the top triple clamp. Made what is basically an extension lead rather than hack the loom so it is completely reversible.

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Hi,
What possessed Norton to stick the ignition switch in such a god awful position in the first place?
Not only is it awkward to access but faces directly into the slipstream.
To make it worse they mounted it in nasty plastic shroud that has more in common with a prophylactic than an important part of an expensive high performance motorcycle.
As for the nasty little flap that serves as a cover, when the motorcycle is under way in the pouring rain, the flap is held open by the key.
I think the Mk3 was a big improvement
Alan
 
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