What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

[NORTSTER1974]

After a brief (6 month) interlude I've managed to migrate my Combat motor into the frame.

No point rushing these things.

With a following wind it should be ready for the road in time for spring.
Which spring is anybody's guess...

Hey Andy, don't forget to install the horn!

 

[Fast Eddie]

Hey Andy, don't forget to install the horn!

You do not ‘install’ a horn on a Commando…

You start with a horn… then install a Commando on it

 

[Starvingphotog]

Well, the weather has been warming up here in Michigan this past week and probably would have been warm enough to go for a ride. But then I remembered what one of you fellas said about brine on the roads. So, I put it up on the lift to start my spring shakedown, and crossing my fingers that my Matt might send me my electric start kit, just maybe it will show up this spring....Heck it's only been almost 3 years since I ordered it. Can't rush quality, right?......

Oh, and I have this bit of jewelry I'm installing as well...

 

[batrider]

Love the sock on the muffler!

 

[Nortoniggy]

On Sunday, had a ride out to break in newly refurbished front brake. New disc, pads, caliper pistons and braided hose. Stopped near Eastham, Worcestershire to look at the snowdrops.

 

[YING]

On Sunday, had a ride out to break in newly refurbished front brake. New disc, pads, caliper pistons and braided hose. Stopped near Eastham, Worcestershire to look at the snowdrops.

Iggy,
Nice looking motorcycle!
Mike

 

[Andy Higham]

That's a big lump in front of the steering axis, It would probably be better on the right, behind the fork leg.

 

[Nortoniggy]

That's a big lump in front of the steering axis, It would probably be better on the right, behind the fork leg.

When the bike was new, and my only transport, I rode it all year in all weathers. Riding around town in heavy rain you could see the water hitting the fork leg, then running round it and draining into the caliper behind the fork leg. The brake wasn't great in those circumstances. Then the Mk111 came out with the legs reversed and I read one of the reasons was to stop the caliper getting waterlogged. I swapped mine over then and it did make a difference. I couldn't detect any detrimental handling.

Over the years I improved it further with the decent racing caliper and then a sleeved master cylinder. Both made a significant improvement. Also with the larger caliper making a stay for the mudguard would be messy if it was behind the fork leg. Only benefit of being behind the fork leg would be aesthetics I reckon.

You also have a fairly big lump of wheel in front of the steering axis that you can't do anything about.

 

[Starvingphotog]

Quick question fellas. I'm looking to install this on my exhaust to prevent the rose nuts from backing out and wonder if you guys have had luck with these widgets, or whether safety wire is more reliable. I have safety wire on there now and once it has failed me. Any pitfalls to look out for when I install them?

 

[B+Bogus]

Lock wire every time here.
I believe the lock rings are unpopular because they allow the collar to rattle around and damage the exhaust threads. No personal experience as I've never used them

 

[Fast Eddie]

Quick question fellas. I'm looking to install this on my exhaust to prevent the rose nuts from backing out and wonder if you guys have had luck with these widgets, or whether safety wire is more reliable. I have safety wire on there now and once it has failed me. Any pitfalls to look out for when I install them?

View attachment 123984

They are bad news.

They do not ‘lock’ the nuts, they simply stop them backing off.

That means they will allow a nut to loosen just enough to allow vibration and fretting to destroy the threads in your head!

Lock-wire (done properly) is by far the best as it will keep the nuts in tension, maintaining the torque.

But you don’t need that really, so long as they’re tightened properly and nipped up in the first few hundred miles (just like the head fasteners) they’ll be fine.

You need to tighten them A LOT, you can’t really over tighten them.

A great trick from Ludwig is to tighten them when hot and the engine is running, the vibration acts a bit like an impact wrench !

 

[Mart UK]

I had those lock washers. After a hundred miles or so, they failed to keep the exhaust tight. I unbent them and tightened the exhausts up (while hot and mallet on spanner tool tight) and made the mistake of re-bending the tabs. Of course, after a few more heat cycles, the exhausts needed one further tightening. This time the tabs were too weak and broke off.

I was left with tight exhausts but an annoying tinkle from the loose washers. I couldn't bear to remove it all again, so I bodged it. I put a couple of dollops of high temp RTV silicone mastic in the gaps to stop the washers moving and let it cure. That was 5,000 miles ago and all is still tight and quiet. So, I can't recommend those lock washers. I can recommend getting it all hot and applying some force to tighten it, but don't go stupid, you can always do it again.