What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

today it was time to get the feet-forward Commando fixed up for Shelsley Walsh meet-up: that was supposed to be final adjustment of new twin headlights in the fairing. However, when turning on the ignition to check beam height, plenty of petrol ended up on the garage floor, as the fuel pump to carb pipe had split. Luckily, some suitable ( and better) pipe was in stock!
 
Last time I had Norton out it was coughing a bit. Pulled the drain plug off the Premier Amals, both float bowls had significant amounts of what looked like very fine black sand in them. Checked the filters, both looked good, and both were clean. Sprayed carb cleaner into the air intake, waited until it drained out, buttoned everything back up, put fresh gas in the tank and went for a short ride. The coughing cleared up after about 10 miles. Next week I need to drain the float bowls again to see if there is more sand. If there is, I think I need to pull the bowls off for a thorough clean.
 
nortonmargie said:
Last time I had Norton out it was coughing a bit. Pulled the drain plug off the Premier Amals, both float bowls had significant amounts of what looked like very fine black sand in them. Checked the filters, both looked good, and both were clean. Sprayed carb cleaner into the air intake, waited until it drained out, buttoned everything back up, put fresh gas in the tank and went for a short ride. The coughing cleared up after about 10 miles. Next week I need to drain the float bowls again to see if there is more sand. If there is, I think I need to pull the bowls off for a thorough clean.
Click to expand...
Do you have any rubber in the supply side to the carb? I found black particles in an old SU carb (Triumph car), traced it to a perished rubber sealing washer.
 
Mart UK said:
Do you have any rubber in the supply side to the carb? I found black particles in an old SU carb (Triumph car), traced it to a perished rubber sealing washer.
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There are rubber O rings in the float bowl. Possible that one has started to disintegrate. Will check if I find more particles when I drain the float bowls next weekend.
 
Enhanced preride before heading to the office included (in addition to the usual airing of the tires and general inspection) adding a few ounces of engine oil, tightening the side stand pivot bolt, snugging up the tachometer drive and reattaching the head steady ground I had apparently removed at some point and neglected to do back up. That is now attached at the spindle cover rather than than the head steady.

And rotated the shift lever by one spline.
 
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Packed and ready for the off.

NOC National Rally, Bristol. 😀

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
UK readers: I bought a Yuasa battery from Halfords: it measured 9.4 volts in the shop ( they store them filled with acid, but uncharged and mine was 7 months old according to stamp on box) Warning: it took a long time to charge it back to full capacity, and mostly on an old style 1.5 amp charger…..whereas the local bike shop said theirs are supplied ready charged.
 
Dellis said:
Washed mine then took it for a run round North Wales, it was windy as hell. Only casualty was the rear left indicator dropped off but was saved by the wire, now back on with a drop of thread lock to help it stay there.

Dave
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I changed the oil and filter
Polished some aluminum
Fitted up the interstate trim
Found a ton of amazing parts I had hidden from myself
 

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Just got back from a great weekend away at the NOC National Rally in Keynsham, Bristol.

The weather was variable to say the least but I only got a soaking once when we rode out to Cotswolds Airport Cafe nr Cirencester. Such was the heat that when the storm past I quickly dried.
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?


On the return ride I flagged down our Chairman to blag a ride on his 650 SS and a lovely little bike it is; I can certainly identify my bikes DNA in that machine. He of course had to ride Arnie. When we swapped back the grin on his face was priceless 😂😂😂.

“I need to have a talk with you when we get back” was all he said.

Richard has owned and ridden a Commando since he was 18 yrs old but he said he’d never experienced one like this, “all the attributes of an 850 and some, a Commando on steroids”. “So tight and so we’ll set up and not just a bit of bling.”

The previous days ride was to Williams Autos who are a Morgan main dealer but now also sell Nortons

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

This stunning mk3 owned from new and has clocked over 85k miles!

The event came to an end yesterday evening with the usual award ceremony, Arnie blushes again😊

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
RAF Kemble as was, and once the home of the Red Arrows. I remember a small bar / cafe at the back of the airfield, where the aeroplane breakers yard is? and a more upmarket restaurant / cafe on the opposite side of the airfield?
 
daveforty said:
RAF Kemble as was, and once the home of the Red Arrows. I remember a small bar / cafe at the back of the airfield, where the aeroplane breakers yard is? and a more upmarket restaurant / cafe on the opposite side of the airfield?
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Yep, just as you described. There’s a parked Gnat there too. We watched a Spitfire land and take off again which was fab, the same aircraft I saw at Blackbushe a few weeks back; the pilot told me then that he was off to the Cotswolds, now I know exactly where he meant. Probably the only engine sound that beats the Commando🫣
 

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