What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

armadefuego said:
So was the snooker table brought to hide the lift from the wifey? ;)
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No she has no say in what I buy for the bikes or shed, it was one of the reasons we married as when I asked her for her hand I told her the bikes are number one before anything else, I knew her from child hood as her dad was my dads best friend so grew up with her family she is the oldest of 9 and shortest lol, so she knew before hand the bikes were my life, the last 2 new Thruxtons I brought she didn't know till she had to drop me off at the dealer to pick them up a brand new 2013, then later a new 2016 Thruxton, but now retired the 2016 Thruxton and the Nortons will be to last of any new bikes, the 850 Norton I brought new in 76, a 1960 Manxman project bike and the Thruxton and my Honda dirt bike will see me out, unless I win lotto lol.
 
Ran new clutch cable with revised routing compared to how I received the bike. Achieved a much better straight shot into the cable adjuster.

While I had the tank off I adjusted the valves. They were a bit tight but now on the slightly loose side of 0.006/0.008. The bike runs about the same but I lowered idle speed slightly after the valve adjustment. This one will idle fine at just under 850 rpm per my Digisync.
 
MK 111 loaded up with camping / fishing equip .
Headed to Manitoulin Island via Bruce Peninsula tip , ( Chichimon big ferry ) , via Caledon and Electric Eclectics music festival Meaford . Lavigne Rally an option on return . 2 wks. or so with the wife . Bike running great , CAA card and cash in pocket .
 
Torontonian said:
MK 111 loaded up with camping / fishing equip .
Headed to Manitoulin Island via Bruce Peninsula tip , ( Chichimon big ferry ) , via Caledon and Electric Eclectics music festival Meaford . Lavigne Rally an option on return . 2 wks. or so with the wife . Bike running great , CAA card and cash in pocket .
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Pleases me to see you use your motorcycle a lot.Hope you both have a great time and the fishing is good!
Mike
 
Torontonian said:
MK 111 loaded up with camping / fishing equip .
Headed to Manitoulin Island via Bruce Peninsula tip , ( Chichimon big ferry ) , via Caledon and Electric Eclectics music festival Meaford . Lavigne Rally an option on return . 2 wks. or so with the wife . Bike running great , CAA card and cash in pocket .
Click to expand...
Sounds like a great trip. Inspirational for me as I am planning to spread my wings further with a multi night trip soon. How many miles will your trip cover?
 
Got bike back from mechanic with new seals, new clutch hub, new front sprocket and new clutch cable. Hopefully leaks fixed. However has questions: (1) Has anyone used a Digisync or something similar to synch Amal Premiers? Per Mechanic, getting a Digisync on Amal carbs is difficult. (2) Mechanic thinks that the tach is reading higher than actual RPM. Is this possible?

Took the scenic route home, about 20 miles or so quiet fun road and about 10 miles of stop and go.
 
I have used a 'twinmax' gadget on my Commando, just a matter of pulling the balance pipe off the stubs on the inlet manifolds. Seemed to work OK.

www.aero-parts.eu

TwinMax Carburetor Balancer | Aeronautical Shop ULM TECHNOLOGIE

Improve engine performance with the TwinMax Carburetor Balancer from ULM TECHNOLOGIE. Achieve accurate and efficient fine-tuning for a cost-effective solution in aeronautical maintenance.
www.aero-parts.eu
 
Did an 80 mile round trip up rte 203 and back to go to an incredible feast. Ate a jalapeno popper that I thought was a regular pepper and after the first swallow, I coughed so hard I thought I was going to shoot a tooth right out of my head. Made a full recovery after a few minutes. On the way home I was stopped in traffic waiting at a train crossing so I filtered my way to the front and got pulled over by a local cop for illegal lane splitting. He was super nice and said, I had to pull you over because it's illegal in Washington state. I got a warning and no ticket and was on my way. I tried to keep it under 80mph, but the passing lane opened up a few times so I ducked down behind the fairing a passed a few people... 😏
 
Did an engine oil and filter change using Mobil V Twin 20/50 this time. Had been out on a short run to warm it up so wasn’t much in the crankcase. Less than a thousand miles but looked pretty dirty so now I feel better!
 
Broke in the fresh oil on a 150 mile group ride in mid Tennessee with a great bunch of peeps. Lots of twisties and ups and downs where I was reminded to leave the bike in third gear and just use the great engine braking these bikes provide, while still powering out of bends. Was pleasantly surprised on filling up that mpg was a shade over 49!
Now if only my old knees were more suited!
 
Over past 2 wks, i have replaced drive chain, sprocket, rear drum, cush rubbers on my 74 850. 20T replaced with a 21T sprocket. New Fedoro brake shoes. Previous was shark toothed as was drum sprocket and chain showing lots of slop...Id put 22k miles on these since getting the bike with 7500 showing on the clock...now its just under 30k. Unknown if those bits were all original.

New extra tooth sprocket is really noticeable...i can easily take it to 45-50 mph in 2nd at around 4k rpm. Previous, id cruise at 4k, 55-ish in 4th....now im down shifting to 3rd at 55.

For the first time in my stewardship, the rear brake is now actually very good...previous, it was always vague, pedal needing lots of travel from start of friction point to point of applying real stopping force...could not adjust that out as drum would scuff well before pedal travel reduced...so put it down to out of shape drum...shoe renewal did not help...now a new drum and fedoros seem excellent..pedal just needs light tap and bike is slowing dramatically.
 
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Tornado said:
Over past 2 wks, i have replaced drive chain, sprocket, rear drum, cush rubbers on my 74 850. 20T replaced with a 21T sprocket. New Fedoro brake shoes. Previous was shark toothed as was drum sprocket and chain showing lots of slop...Id put 22k miles on these since getting the bike with 7500 showing on the clock...now its just under 30k. Unknown if those bits were all original.

New extra tooth sprocket is really noticeable...i can easily take it to 45-50 mph in 2nd at around 4k rpm. Previous, id cruise at 4k, 55-ish in 4th....now im down shifting to 3rd at 55.

For the first time in my stewardship, the rear brake is now actually very good...previous, it was always vague, pedal needing lots of travel from start of friction point to point of applying real stopping force...could not adjust that out as drum would scuff well before pedal travel reduced...so put it down to out of shape drum...shoe renewal did not help...now a new drum and fedoros seem excellent..pedal just needs light tap and bike is slowing dramatically.
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Tornado,
I am jealous of how your rear brake works now. I have a fairly new drum and am experiencing the same problem you had before you changed yours. I am going to see if my local auto parts store can check to see if my drum is out of round as I have changed both the backing plate and shoes and still having a tight spot with way too much travel at the pedal.Drives me nuts!
Mike
 
YING said:
Tornado,
I am jealous of how your rear brake works now. I have a fairly new drum and am experiencing the same problem you had before you changed yours. I am going to see if my local auto parts store can check to see if my drum is out of round as I have changed both the backing plate and shoes and still having a tight spot with way too much travel at the pedal.Drives me nuts!
Mike
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Mike - Do tell us the results of that check - as well as where you got the drum from. I'm considering buying a spare drum for my 520 set-up.
Cheers
Rob
 
YING said:
Tornado,
I am jealous of how your rear brake works now. I have a fairly new drum and am experiencing the same problem you had before you changed yours. I am going to see if my local auto parts store can check to see if my drum is out of round as I have changed both the backing plate and shoes and still having a tight spot with way too much travel at the pedal.Drives me nuts!
Mike
Click to expand...
Ive had EMGO and lastly Girling shoes on the old drum and never had any improvements on rear performance. Adjusting cable to just before any scuffing, meant the pedal had to be pushed a long way down before much stopping force occurred...so mich that my foot was about at its limit of rotation! New drum, Fedoro shoes...cable adjusted to just before any friction felt on hand turning wheel...pedal moved just a tiny bit, barely triggering brake light, wheel cannot be turned by hand...and while riding no more than lightly resting foot on pedal means significant speed drop. I think I will put a little more slack in cable to give a touch more pedal travel...im almost afraid of the rear brake now.
Be sure to apply brake hard, i use a rubber mallet btwn pedal and footrest, before tightening up the rear axle...makes everything properly aligned in the brake.
 
L.A.B. said:
Second time I've seen this but surely you mean Ferodo shoes?
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Ha ha..yes you're right. They were hard to source from my regular suppliers...MotoParts Inc in Alberta, Walridge in Ontario, AN in UK all not listed. Went to British Cycle Supply in Nova Scotia for the first time and they had them. I believe Classic bike Supply and Bonneville Shop in the US list them, but alas i will not be sending my money South anytime soon.
 
robs ss said:
Mike - Do tell us the results of that check - as well as where you got the drum from. I'm considering buying a spare drum for my 520 set-up.
Cheers
Rob
Click to expand...
One thing I noticed when looking at the original drum and the new one off the bike, new had a built up shoulder around the bearing/axle hole...much more pronounced than the original. I wonder if this was a design change due to drum warping or other distortion?
 
Tornado said:
One thing I noticed when looking at the original drum and the new one off the bike, new had a built up shoulder around the bearing/axle hole...much more pronounced than the original. I wonder if this was a design change due to drum warping or other distortion?
Click to expand...
Where did you get your drum & sprocket?
 

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