‘70 Commando Roadster rebuild in GA

Sounds like a great bike to start with all things considered. No hammer smashing required.
 
Been there, done that
‘70 Commando Roadster rebuild in GA
 
I’ll rummage the Andover site for the coil mount. From my modern race builds(heavy tanks), I see the wt. distribution centered near the top section of the frame near the head. I have an image of a support mount over the top of the spine utilizing the existing hardware for mounting the tank front section. I’ll post if I engineer something. Thanks

*edit-disregard my ‘image’ of a tank mount mod, I see in Andover the later models have a ‘fixing strap’ to accomplish this.

Yes.
The yoke pic was original to my purchase, bottom was not very pleasing to the eye, so I ordered replacement. Hopefully no issues to mate the old upper yoke.


Sorry. Wrong picture

Question on the swing arm clamps. Is the key objective to prevent deformation of the housing of the swingarm bushing? Just a reinforcement of a skinny metal tube? Thanks


I did up a 70 Roadster a few years back. It was always interesting seeing the changes that Norton did to improve the frame as time went on.
I can take pictures of mine if you want or need to see a specific part.

John in Texas
 
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I did up a 70 Roadster a few years back. It was always interesting seeing the changes that Norton did to improve the frame as time went on.
I can take pictures of mine if you want or need to see a specific part.

John in Texas

Thanks, John. I’m sure a proper tank mount is gonna be straightforward. But pictures always help. I’m sure I’ll be wrongly routing a few items as I throw things together, as well.

I won’t be diving into the tank until I figure out the harness first.

Just received NYC mail today.
‘70 Commando Roadster rebuild in GA
 
Fiberglass tank or steel tank? Fiberglass won't tolerate ethanol gas... You will need to buy a replacement steel tank if you don't have a pure gas source close by.

Is that the latest copy of Roadholder I see?
 
I did up a 70 Roadster a few years back. It was always interesting seeing the changes that Norton did to improve the frame as time went on.
I can take pictures of mine if you want or need to see a specific part.

John in Texas


Would appreciate any pics of your ‘70 and the mods you’ve done.
 
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Fiberglass tank or steel tank? Fiberglass won't tolerate ethanol gas... You will need to buy a replacement steel tank if you don't have a pure gas source close by.

Is that the latest copy of Roadholder I see?

Yes, the purchase came with the fiberglass bits and I believe the tank was original, but a respray. Was told the metal flake green was a Norton color.

I purchased a metal tank and seat right after acquiring the bike, along with stainless fuel line. Hope I can find all that stuff I stashed away.

I’m sure there are a few upgrades possible for carbs to cope with bad gas. Will continue to research. Did you change any Mikuni parts for dealing with modern fuel or will you get the ‘right stuff’ for the bike?

Yep, grabbed the mail just before leaving for work a few hours ago and opened the clamps on top of the new issue. Cheers
‘70 Commando Roadster rebuild in GA
 
I’ll rummage the Andover site for the coil mount. From my modern race builds(heavy tanks), I see the wt. distribution centered near the top section of the frame near the head. I have an image of a support mount over the top of the spine utilizing the existing hardware for mounting the tank front section. I’ll post if I engineer something. Thanks

*edit-disregard my ‘image’ of a tank mount mod, I see in Andover the later models have a ‘fixing strap’ to accomplish this.

I just noticed your 'edit'. The 'fixing strap' is for securing the rear of the steel tanks instead of the previous 'rubber band' and doesn't support the tank's weight.
 
Carbs are fine with ethanol. Emerald green was an original color, do you plan on re-spraying your black tank?
 
I just noticed your 'edit'. The 'fixing strap' is for securing the rear of the steel tanks instead of the previous 'rubber band' and doesn't support the tank's weight.


Thanks, I looked at the diagram for other model to see that it crosses ‘under’ frame.
 
Carbs are fine with ethanol. Emerald green was an original color, do you plan on re-spraying your black tank?


I’m not going to be popular with a few hard core traditionalists, but I’m going to all black and chrome. Saving the green fiberglass for another day.
 
Just installed the NYCNorton clamps sans spindle, with swingarm disassembled.

Tried to debur inside edges with different sandpaper grits, countersink on outside. Left a raised edge inside, but NYCNorton didn’t think it would be a problem.

While installing swingarm, I noticed the end cap with the oil nipple/rt side does not fit into bushing housing snuggly like the left side.
‘70 Commando Roadster rebuild in GA

I’m thinking compromised oil seal if left that way. Is that cap mounted ON the swingarm material or within the swingarm (cap sides inside swingarm) material and flush with O-ring seal? Thanks
 
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That's how the cap is on mine, pretty sure it was like that when I bought the bike. Not leaking anything currently so I'm fine with it. If I'm wrong you can count on someone to correct me.

I used a fine rounded file to target and smooth the inner hole edges, gather bits with a magnet and clean out.
 
That's how the cap is on mine, pretty sure it was like that when I bought the bike. Not leaking anything currently so I'm fine with it. If I'm wrong you can count on someone to correct me.

I used a fine file to smooth the inner hole edges, gather bits with a magnet and clean out.


I just added a replacement cap to my Andover parts list for my next order. Not necessary if I find there is a problem with inside diameter of swingarm

So you think the cap is not fitting ‘inside’ the swingarm? Yours now sits inside after the filing? Thanks, Pete
 
my cap sits like the one pictured. Maybe it would seal better if I machined down the end of the swingarm shaft so it could sit flush. I honestly never thought much about it.
 
I just added a replacement cap to my Andover parts list for my next order. Not necessary if I find there is a problem with inside diameter of swingarm

So you think the cap is not fitting ‘inside’ the swingarm? Yours now sits inside after the filing? Thanks, Pete

No, the filing was to smooth out the rough edges on the inside of the swing arm tube from drilling holes for the kegler clamps. Isnt that what you were referring to with your sanding etc...?

The left side cap sits flush. The right side is proud of the tube (as you have it in your picture) mine is the same and doesn't leak, I think you are good.
 
No, the filing was to smooth out the rough edges on the inside of the swing arm tube from drilling holes for the kegler clamps. Isnt that what you were referring to with your sanding etc...?

The left side cap sits flush. The right side is proud of the tube (as you have it in your picture) mine is the same and doesn't leak, I think you are good.


Ah, I see. No, the clamp procedures are all done.

It was the final assembly of the end caps and through rod I was unsure of. The left cap fit flush inside, right side not so much.
 
my cap sits like the one pictured. Maybe it would seal better if I machined down the end of the swingarm shaft so it could sit flush. I honestly never thought much about it.


Makes sense that the two end caps would sit the same inside up against the O-ring. Good to know you had no leaks.
 
When I did mine, I just used a small fine machinists file to chamfer the inside edge a bit down the hole, and then some wet/dry in the tube. Came up sweet.
 
They do leak, so anything you can do to make them leak less might be a good thing. Certain people have used silicone sealant when they mount their kegler clamps to help stop leakage there. You could do the same thing with the end caps, except that if you make the whole system sealed then you can't pump the grease fitting (with oil btw, NOT grease) without popping the seal you've created with that silicone sealant.

Maybe this summer I'll look at sealing up that oiling system a little closer. My bike has been trouble free for a while. My ride to wrench ratio has been incredibly high, and I've been enjoying that rather than do the other modifications that are still on my list...
 
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