1974 Commando with oil nipple?

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ewgoforth

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Hi,

I've seen a 1974 Commando with a 307xxx serial number and an oil nipple on the swing arm. I thought the 1974s had the welch plug caps. It has an RH10 head and a MkIII style kick start. What serial number started the sealed for life style swing arm?

Eric
 
ewgoforth said:
I've seen a 1974 Commando with a 307xxx serial number and an oil nipple on the swing arm. I thought the 1974s had the welch plug caps. It has an RH10 head and a MkIII style kick start. What serial number started the sealed for life style swing arm?
Click to expand...

307xxx (if 307311+) would be very early '74 (built late 73?).

ewgoforth said:
What serial number started the sealed for life style swing arm?
Click to expand...

I don't think we know a number, probably introduced somewhere around mid-'74.
 
My 310XXX came with the nipple, Nov 73 build so the change was after this.
 
I actually studied this a bit. I have a 1974 Mark IIA and I have read from various sources that the Mark IIA had the Lube for Life swingarm while the others did not. Sure enough my Mark IIA has a Lube for Life swingarm. Seeing how the Mark IIA and Mark II were made at the same time, it just did not make sense to me that only the Mark IIA would have this type of swing arm. So I looked at a lot of pictures on the internet and other sources and found that both Mark II and IIA's either had the Lube for Life swing arm or they had the serviceable type. The best I could figure from looking at numerous pictures is that all of the motorcycles with an engine number starting with 314xxx and higher have the Lube for Life swing arm. However, I did see one high numbered 3139xx Mark II on ebay a while ago that had the Lube for Life swing arm. All of the other 313xxx that I have found had the serviceable swing arm. So the best I can figure is that the starting point for the Lube for Life swing arm is somewhere in the high 313xxx numbering range.

Peter Joe
 
Mk2, 316XXX with a born on date of 6/74 came with lube for life
 
My March of 1974 Commando, [HASHTAG]#313641[/HASHTAG] has the nipple on the swing arm.
 
Careful when making assumptions, some bikes have been restored and "upgraded" is several areas. The sealed swingarm spindle can be one of those upgrades.
 
RobinKent said:
313652 has one too.

Still fitting them the day after yours was built.
Click to expand...
Hi Robin, I was told my Commando was purchased new in San Diego, California. I'm in Arizona now. Tell me about your Commando (purchase location, color, current location, etc.) which has a serial number 11 more than mine! ~ Kim
 
Mk2A (Dec 1973 stamp)
311032
Nipple in the right hand end plate only, maybe added by a PO.
 
319xxx Aug 74 MKII, welsh plugs no nipple. Also has the central fixing bolt and I discovered that the swingarm spindle is unique to the MKII.
 
Time Warp said:
Mk2A (Dec 1973 stamp)
311032
Nipple in the right hand end plate only, maybe added by a PO.
Click to expand...

One oil nipple in the RH plate would be what you'd normally expect to find. Why do you think it's been added by a PO?


maylar said:
I discovered that the swingarm spindle is unique to the MKII.
Click to expand...

It was unique to the later Mk2 and Mk2A (with the sealed welch plug pivot) however, the latest 'long' and 'short' spindles sold by AN and others have the central bolt hole and the cotter slots so the latest Mk3 spindle also fits late Mk2/2A.
 
Kim Z. said:
Hi Robin, I was told my Commando was purchased new in San Diego, California. I'm in Arizona now. Tell me about your Commando (purchase location, color, current location, etc.) which has a serial number 11 more than mine! ~ Kim
Click to expand...
Hi Kim.

I bought it from a guy in Benenden, Kent, England in 2001. It was brought over from the US as a spares or repair along with a few working bikes. It had sat outside for years and had been robbed of tanks, seat, side panels etc. What could have rusted had and there was a hole in the frame where the seat latches touch the frame. Engine seized. Total rebuild into Yellow Peril racer using Mick Hemmings big valve head, belt drive, front disc etc which is why I bought a non-runner. No need to replace working parts.

Much admired by others but not so safe on modern roads as you can't see behind you and the Norvil race tank is long even for me at six one so no fun to ride with clip ons!

It is now a yellow roadster but I am toying with one of the really metallic colours of the Seventies perhaps Pacific Blue. Too many here are restored to black and gold.

I will dig out the plate and US export docs. But from memory it's New Jersey. I have never tried to find out more but assume the Berliner Corp records are somewhere?

East Coast would also explain the rust...

Best wishes.

Robert.
 
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