What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

ashman said:
Maybe it's just a sign of getting old Greg, I am 67 in 2 weeks time and I still doing everything I have always done, but I do find it's harder to get up off the ground when doing things at that level and not as much strength in the arms as I use to have, I do a lot of walking (never been a runner, unless if someone is chasing me lol) so never short of breath, I go to bed late and always up with the sun, my body clock only sleeps 6 hrs a night and I don't get tired during the day so no nanny naps for me, maybe it's time to take it easy and get that N gauge trains out, stress and worries do have a big effect on health and looks like you have had heart problems before.
Anyway Greg hope things get better for you but just take it a bit easier and recharge the batteries, lifting you Norton off the ground wouldn't have help, at lease you are still breathing and upright, and as you say life goes on.
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Ya, 8 years ago, I was still able to do more than probably 90 percent of 67 year olds. Several near death problems and arthritis in every joint causing the downtime related to two hip replacements, one knee replacement one major shoulder repair, one major foot repair - all caused a lot of recovery and limited activity. And then still needing my other should replaced, my other knee replaced, another foot surgery, and cataracts surgery in both eyes - well sitting will knock you down damned fast.

If you are able to keep moving at the same pace as today for the next 8 years, you will not go downhill much. If things beyond your control get in the way, report back how good you are when 75 :)

I appreciate you saying "just take it a bit easier and recharge the batteries" and everyone who tells me the same - you are all wrong. The easier you take it the faster you'll be done - I've watched to happen to many people! You are certainly right that first trying to stop the bike from falling and then picking it up were pretty stupid. It's probably worse that you noticed because I had the side stand out so when it was on it's side it was on that stand and the tires were in the air so I was picking up much more weight and if the tires were on the ground. Thankfully, most of the pickup damage to me has gone away.
 
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marshg246 said:
Ya, 8 years ago, I was still able to do more than probably 90 percent of 67 year olds. Several near death problems and arthritis in every joint causing the downtime related to two hip replacements, one knee replacement one major shoulder repair, one major foot repair - all caused a lot of recovery and limited activity. And then still needing my other should replaced, my other knee replaced, another foot surgery, and cataracts surgery in both eyes - well sitting will knock you down damned fast.

If you are able to keep moving at the same pace as today for the next 8 years, you will not go downhill much. If things beyond your control get in the way, report back how good you are when 75 :)

I appreciate you saying "just take it a bit easier and recharge the batteries" and everyone who tells me the same - you are all wrong. The easier you take it the faster you'll be done - I've watched to happen to many people! You are certainly right that first trying to stop the bike from falling and then picking it up were pretty stupid. It's probably worse that you noticed because I had the side stand out so when it was on it's side it was on that stand and the tires were in the air so I was picking up much more weight and if the tires were on the ground. Thankfully, most of the pickup damage to me has gone
Click to expand...
 
Yesterday: Spent two hours tightening bolts, checking fluids and cleaning Norton for the big All Brit ride today. Put Norton on trickle charge

Today: Pulled Norton out of garage, tickled carbs, turned on key - click click click. Checked all settings: click click. !@#$%^!! Pushed Norton back in garage, pulled out the 2014 Triumph and beat feet to the ride start. Got there on time, and started taking photos and benchracing. Someone was selling T shirts for $5.00. I put my helmet down on the table and perused the T shirts. Decided to buy one, put shirt in pack - and noticed my helmet had disappeared. Several friends and I started looking for my helmet. Came upon the person who bought a T shirt before I did. He was holding MY HELMET, with his T shirt stuffed inside it. I demanded my helmet back. Got a rather confused explanation about how he is used to walking around with a helmet and there was a helmet on the table, so it must have been his. Also got my helmet back and an apology.

It was a beautiful day, in the low Seventies, and the ride organizers had laid out a great 75 mile route and gave everyone a map. One person had a stuck float bowl, but it un-stuck after a little fiddling. An unwelcome barger on a Yamaha (Brit Bike Only ride!) stalled out at a stop light. We all passed, making unkind comments. The ride finished up at a Mexican restaurant where we continued catching up on auld acquaintance and benchracing

Rode home. Found my multimeter, pulled Norton out of garage and connected multimeter up to tricklecharge pigtail. Turned on key and hit button. Norton started making start noise, so I disconnected multimeter, tickled carbs and hit button. Norton started. Grrr. Did some poking around. The battery is a year and a half old. The tricklecharge pigtail wire looks a little compromised. Plan is to remove it tomorrow (too bushed today) solder up and replace. Also order new battery.
 
So today I beefed up the battery charger pigtail, reassembled the wires to the battery, and plugged Norton in. Two hours later, pulled Norton out of garage. Norton started right up, ran great for over twenty miles. I stopped at a coffeeshop. After a half hour of coffee and munching, Norton started right up and ran great for 15 miles all the way home. I have no idea what is going on.
 
IMG_5064.jpg
There's a few things going on there and it all didn't happen in one day. Evolved over a couple years.
How many can you spot?
1. Carbs, single pull gantry with rubber mounted Mk 2 manifolds.
2. Obvious E-start.
3. Dave Taylor Head steady.
4. Drilled intake rocker shafts, eliminating the cross over line.
5. Modified/Shortened WW domed bolt for oil line cap.
This all took place over a couple years as there was an engine overhaul in the middle of all this.
 
MichaelB said:
View attachment 122424
There's a few things going on there and it all didn't happen in one day. Evolved over a couple years.
How many can you spot?
1. Carbs, single pull gantry with rubber mounted Mk 2 manifolds.
2. Obvious E-start.
3. Dave Taylor Head steady.
4. Drilled intake rocker shafts, eliminating the cross over line.
5. Modified/Shortened WW domed bolt for oil line cap.
This all took place over a couple years as there was an engine overhaul in the middle of all this.
Click to expand...
I like the dark blue/blackened pipes. Caning it as was intended. 🏁😎👊🏻
 
Took advantage of a warm day in Michigan yesterday. Did a 35 mile round trip to Czapskis in Milford What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?for coffee and a delicious Golabki with fresh bread.
 
gpzkat said:
That's a tricky one, such a tight space. You can use a normal ratcheting strap to lower, but it is a bit fiddly, one click at a time, very carefully. I have some are easier than others, still don't think I'd chance it. Once when I was garage-challenged, I used a neighbor's kids' swingset and the hoist, bike on its side. Maybe there's a playground nearby? :p
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Today took the rebuilt J.S. motor downstairs ( no head on ) to the bike ,on the street , using a hand-truck . 5 C. out , nice . Lifted it up and into place easily and my neighbour tapped the top subframe bolt into place . On centerstand , this bolt is the fulcrum point . Covered up and tomorrow the front iso goes into place to tap in the top bolt only . Another fulcrum point , final bolts later .
 
Today did something different. Usually I ride Norton to breakfast. Today it was foggy in the AM, so I rode Norton to lunch with friends. Bike started, but battery made some concerning sounds on cold start. After lunch, Norton started right up and ran with no issues. 90 plus miles in total. I decided not to trust that battery any more, so wrote a note to self to install the replacement I bought a couple of weeks ago.
 
I put 1 ounce of two-stroke oil in the gas tank, as well as a half ounce of stable fuel stabilizer. Was just about to run that through the carbs when a snow squall came up. That'll have to wait for another day to run it in.




What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Ty, House of Kolor Apple Red over silver base.
Cheers to Don Morton and Gary Cole. Masters at their craft.
 
concours said:
I put 1 ounce of two-stroke oil in the gas tank, as well as a half ounce of stable fuel stabilizer. Was just about to run that through the carbs when a snow squall came up. That'll have to wait for another day to run it
Click to expand...

concours said:
I put 1 ounce of two-stroke oil in the gas tank, as well as a half ounce of stable fuel stabilizer. Was just about to run that through the carbs when a snow squall came up. That'll have to wait for another day to run it in.




View attachment 122643
Click to expand...
Nice set of bikes. And a ladder for each one.
 
Saturday: Decided to replace battery. Old battery has only been in the bike a year and a half. but it refused to start the bike once and was barely able to get bike started another time, although fully charged. I am keeping this battery as a backup and a way to power my strobe. Pulled side cover off, carefully removed all the wires (in addition to the many wires that go to battery, I have a pigtail to plug a charger into) tied all the ones that go to the positive terminal together and all the ones that go to the negative terminal together, eased old battery out, eased new battery in (there is NO battery clearance on a Mark III) connected all the negative wires up and connected all the positive wires up. Positioned piece of truck innertube over battery to avoid accidentally touching frame, strapped battery down and buttoned everything up.

Then went over bike with a cleaning rag and chain lube, checked a decent assortment of bolts and made sure there was oil in the primary case and in the gearbox. I check engine oil everytime I come back from a ride. Finally, plugged in new battery to the charger. The charger display was wonky. I tried a second charger, same thing. Considered options, decided it was not going to get better with age and took the seat and the side cover off. Found that despite all care, the negative ground of the pigtail had slipped away when I was removing wires. Bolted pigtail wire to battery and replaced the seat and side cover a second time. This time the charger display looked like it should and I left the bike to fully charge while I got some lunch.

Sunday: Chilly but sunny. Layers, riding suit and helmet on, bike out of garage, hit starter button, Norton fires right up and sounds good and off to a pleasant 97 mile loop on twisty country roads.

Happy New Year, all
 
nortonmargie said:
Saturday: Decided to replace battery. Old battery has only been in the bike a year and a half. but it refused to start the bike once and was barely able to get bike started another time, although fully charged. I am keeping this battery as a backup and a way to power my strobe. Pulled side cover off, carefully removed all the wires (in addition to the many wires that go to battery, I have a pigtail to plug a charger into) tied all the ones that go to the positive terminal together and all the ones that go to the negative terminal together, eased old battery out, eased new battery in (there is NO battery clearance on a Mark III) connected all the negative wires up and connected all the positive wires up. Positioned piece of truck innertube over battery to avoid accidentally touching frame, strapped battery down and buttoned everything up.

Then went over bike with a cleaning rag and chain lube, checked a decent assortment of bolts and made sure there was oil in the primary case and in the gearbox. I check engine oil everytime I come back from a ride. Finally, plugged in new battery to the charger. The charger display was wonky. I tried a second charger, same thing. Considered options, decided it was not going to get better with age and took the seat and the side cover off. Found that despite all care, the negative ground of the pigtail had slipped away when I was removing wires. Bolted pigtail wire to battery and replaced the seat and side cover a second time. This time the charger display looked like it should and I left the bike to fully charge while I got some lunch.

Sunday: Chilly but sunny. Layers, riding suit and helmet on, bike out of garage, hit starter button, Norton fires right up and sounds good and off to a pleasant 97 mile loop on twisty country roads.

Happy New Year, all
Click to expand...
I also need a new battery for my MKIII. Tried starting it the other day and got about three ugga duggas only. Curious to what brand and part number battery you chose? Mine is currently on a Motobatt 16 amp hr., but I fear it has given up the ghost.
Thanks
 

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