What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

I had a nice ride out to Tungenes here on the South-western coast of Norway. Even though it is still summer, it was quite chilly today. But a great ride nonetheless.

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Removed and cleaned up my clutch plates. I was having problems finding neutral, and found the plates sticky with oil - operator error, need to measure primary case oil, not guesstimate. Some things that made the process a little easier:
(1) Mark the position of the shifter before removing primary cover (Mark III)
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Draw an outline of the primary case on a piece of cardboard and punch holes for all the bolts. Replace stock bolts with Allen heads that don't strip out. .
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Most important one is upper central long one for starter motor fit .
Use a marker for shifter position where you foot likes it .
 
Torontonian said:
Most important one is upper central long one for starter motor fit .
Use a marker for shifter position where you foot likes it .
Click to expand...
There is no need to ever detach and remove /refit the shift lever . Simply keep it fixed and when pulling the primary cover off , use it as a handle . Same goes for reinstallation , to the shifting position you want it to be . Enjoy .
 
nortonmargie said:
Use dowels cut to 2" length and shaved to fit to help locate primary cover. Acts as 3rd hand while convincing shifter to get back into positionView attachment 125785
Click to expand...
Never had this need . Simply offer the case to home using the shifter as a fixed handle . Push in as needed with the shifter in your preffered foot position for shifting . Screw cap (clutch ) , is best loosened off whilst cover is on . You need it open to pour in 200 C.C. of 20 W 50 .
 
I installed a single Mikuni manifold on an 850. The gaskets were a poor fit with the Amals and even worse fit with the Mikuni manifold. I took a spare manifold and milled it to about 1/2" thick so I could get a good look at how the manifold meets the head. Very poor. Marked the difference with a sharpie and ground off the excess with a dremel, matching the ports. I went in about 1/4" into the intake and blended "A into "B". Then I put the carb gaskets onto the manifold with yamabond (none on the head side) and bolted it up for 1/2 a day. The manifold was easy to remove and I trimmed off any excess gasket.
I will bet that very few people bother to check the fit of the intake gaskets and almost all of the motors I deal with have the gaskets interfering with the flow. They all run well but it sure can't hurt to check and trim away any excess.
The Mikuni manifold is much harder to see a problem, so I sacrificed a manifold. I bet 90% of all Mikuni conversions have an awkward step at the head.
 
seattle##gs said:
I installed a single Mikuni manifold on an 850. The gaskets were a poor fit with the Amals and even worse fit with the Mikuni manifold. I took a spare manifold and milled it to about 1/2" thick so I could get a good look at how the manifold meets the head. Very poor. Marked the difference with a sharpie and ground off the excess with a dremel, matching the ports. I went in about 1/4" into the intake and blended "A into "B". Then I put the carb gaskets onto the manifold with yamabond (none on the head side) and bolted it up for 1/2 a day. The manifold was easy to remove and I trimmed off any excess gasket.
I will bet that very few people bother to check the fit of the intake gaskets and almost all of the motors I deal with have the gaskets interfering with the flow. They all run well but it sure can't hurt to check and trim away any excess.
The Mikuni manifold is much harder to see a problem, so I sacrificed a manifold. I bet 90% of all Mikuni conversions have an awkward step at the head.
Click to expand...
Yes they interfere , with compressions and age .
The newer phenollic cheapo ones crush and with heat expand a bit into the intake port tract .
If you have the older type insulators , don't throw them out .
Much harder material . no expandings into port tracts .
 
Treated it to a long overdue 'upgrade'... Had these on the shelf for a while, but hadn't the enthusiasm to fit until now.. Chaincase was stubborn, but found a non threatening leverage point (after a few warning shots with the big hammer!!) by putting a ring spanner over the drain plug and levering twixt that and the exhaust pipe :) . Giving blue Hylomar a pass this time, and trying their 'Advanced Formula' gasket goo, though frankly I have no wish to go in there again in this lifetime!!
 

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EstuaryBoy said:
Treated it to a long overdue 'upgrade'... Had these on the shelf for a while, but hadn't the enthusiasm to fit until now.. Chaincase was stubborn, but found a non threatening leverage point (after a few warning shots with the big hammer!!) by putting a ring spanner over the drain plug and levering twixt that and the exhaust pipe :) . Giving blue Hylomar a pass this time, and trying their 'Advanced Formula' gasket goo, though frankly I have no wish to go in there again in this lifetime!!
Click to expand...
Use Loctite 518 as a gasket dressing. No leaks, and comes apart easily.

#Beststuffever
 
Took mine out to see a friend and then road some Norcal roads by tye coast. Still working on getting the carbs dialed, but overall running good!
 

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Finished putting the left side together and then took out for a mile and a half shakedown. No adjustments needed, bike ran great. Going to breakfast next week on Nort
 

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