What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Your new attach method may not work out but the stock method is a right PIA. Bad in daylight beyond hope at night...by the side of the road...in the cold...and rain...etc.
 
Got to use an easy out screw extractor for the first time today to remove a broken stud for the inner gearbox cover. Thought it would be harder than it was but it only took five minutes Piece of cake.
I have an upper gearbox outer screw that is seized in . Will let penetrant sink in before the heat gun action in the spring . If it shears off I will need a smaller s. extractor , with more heat . Off to Nicaragua for 10 weeks of fishing .
 
The weather is clear and beautiful here in North Texas. It's a little on the chilly side in the wind but the sun is warm. I took advantage if the weather to get the Guzzi and the Norton out. The Guzzi I just rode around a local circuit and I did the same with the Norton. I wanted to test a plan I had for the Norton.

If my 74 850 sits for more than a month it sumps up. All my Nortons had done this in the past and it was no problem to drain the sump. Now getting down on the floor is starting to be a problem. I would rather not get under the bike if I don't have to. To that end I got a hand transfer pump at Harbor Freight. It has a hose on each end and I made a pickup tube to go down inside the oil tank. I rode the Norton ten miles or so, pulled into the garage and drained the oil out using suction. I used a very clean plastic disposable, five gallon, water jug to hold the oil and I pumped it out while the oil was warm but not hot. It worked great. Now it won't sump up. I am the only one who rides it so I know to pore the oil back in it (it sitting on the floor next to the bike.) I am all set if the weather turns nasty and I do not get a chance to ride for a while
Just a note on my previous post. Where the garage floor was always spotted with oil whereever the Norton was parked, removing the oil from the tank has cured this completely. I know "duh" right? But I was finding drips in places I couldn't easily account for including trails that ran down the swing arm and another that ran down the center stand leg.
 
I had oil in the same places. I finally tracked it down to a faulty (old) cork seal on the oil tank cap. Might be worth checking.
 
I removed the four outrigger studs, cleaned them up and reinstalled with blue lock-tite. I’m going to do the same on my valve cover studs. Trying to cut down on oil leaks. Removed, disassembled, cleaned and reassembled my single Mikuni. Removed my battery for easier oil line access in order to remove my oil tank. Will be installing new oil lines and clamps.
 
I removed the four outrigger studs, cleaned them up and reinstalled with blue lock-tite. I’m going to do the same on my valve cover studs. Trying to cut down on oil leaks. Removed, disassembled, cleaned and reassembled my single Mikuni. Removed my battery for easier oil line access in order to remove my oil tank. Will be installing new oil lines and clamps.
These are good: https://jsmotorsport.com/product-category/norton-gaskets/
 
I put some gas and stablizer in my tank...
Michigan is looking to be getting some very cold temps this week, and into next.
 
Still waiting for local paint shop to finish painting new steel tank. They said it’s painted, as are the side panels but they can’t get vinyl striping to lay flat on the tank curves, so are trying to contact a guy to paint stripes on! They’ve had it over a month now.
Can’t find any oil weeping from rocker cover studs and haven’t checked torque yet on front cyl head bolts that may be the culprits. Can I ask the hex size of these before I gingerly attempt messing with them. Bike is relatively new to me and I’m still learning.
Thanks
 
Pulled the outer transmission cover ( MK 111 ) on a warm 1 C. day , outdoors . Bike was popping out of first gear , so I had to do something , after cleaning and adjusting clutch before winter . On the bench indoors today I found 2 bad springs , return warpy and hairspring touching both sides when there should have been a bit of a gap up and down movement . Hairpin spring snapped at the coil section when I tried to increase the gap a bit to create clearance . . Shifter bushing seems worn , no O ring found on the shifter shaft as per manual . P.O. did not install one as I can see . Tomorrow I pull the inner cover to observe 1 st . gear bushing play . All if it's a toasty + 1 . C .
 
...no O ring found on the shifter shaft as per manual .

There shouldn't be one as it's an error carried over from the pre-Mk3 manual.

O-ring '19', "04-0079" is in the Mk3 parts book, Group 7, (and AN has copied) but also an error because 04-0079 is the pre-Mk3 ratchet spindle O-ring that fits the gear indicator spindle groove, below...

Pre-Mk3 04-0079 position:
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?


...therefore, not the correct size to fit the Mk3 where it's drawn in the Mk3 parts book diagram and even if placed (stretched!) as shown then it wouldn't do anything!

Also in the "Amendments" section inside the front cover of my Mk3 paper parts book it says: "[Group] 7...[Item] 19...04-0079...Deleted -not required".
 
Good to know and thanks L.A.B. , I'll write that down into the parts manual .
Since we are showing the ratchet spindle , how would I remove and replace the blind bush it rides in ? This is pressed into the outer cover . I'm thinking heat gun and something to pull it out with . Or even grinding it away with a dremel bit . Thanks .
 
Since we are showing the ratchet spindle , how would I remove and replace the blind bush it rides in ? This is pressed into the outer cover . I'm thinking heat gun and something to pull it out with . Or even grinding it away with a dremel bit .

I've not had to replace that bush but I'd probably heat the cover (until the bush dropped out?), cut a thread into it and extract it with a bolt or split it with a Dremel bit.
 
Good to know and thanks L.A.B. , I'll write that down into the parts manual .
Since we are showing the ratchet spindle , how would I remove and replace the blind bush it rides in ? This is pressed into the outer cover . I'm thinking heat gun and something to pull it out with . Or even grinding it away with a dremel bit . Thanks .
Wait!
Last I read you were headed to Nicaragua to go fishing for multiple weeks.
I spent a lot of time being resentful and jealous.
You still going?
 
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