How do you usually start your Commando?

ashman said:

Since running ATF oil in my primary my clutch plates haven't stuck together and I am still running the original plates as well chain but I do pull my primary case apart once a year to make sure everything is still good as part of general maintenance, I been running ATF in my primary for over 40+ years, took me a while to work out what was causing the clutch to slip and sticking plates.

Ashley

Click to expand...

OK, you might as well have said lizard poop instead of ATF What ATF - there are radical differences!

I usually use ATF-F but couldn't get any last time so just plain normal ATF and works just the same as it has always, no slipping and no sticking done about 2k miles so far.

ashman said:

Since running ATF oil in my primary my clutch plates haven't stuck together and I am still running the original plates as well chain but I do pull my primary case apart once a year to make sure everything is still good as part of general maintenance, I been running ATF in my primary for over 40+ years, took me a while to work out what was causing the clutch to slip and sticking plates.

Ashley

Click to expand...

Must be a diaphragm clutch spring that makes that work with a wet clutch in a Commando. ATF didn't make a difference in my pre-Commando with Barnett springs and plates. Used it for decades, not sure how many though. The plates still needed to be freed up with the kick that doesn't count.

Schwany said:

Must be a diaphragm clutch spring that makes that work with a wet clutch in a Commando. ATF didn't make a difference in my pre-Commando with Barnett springs and plates. Used it for decades, not sure how many though. The plates still needed to be freed up with the kick that doesn't count.

Click to expand...

Barnett recommends ATF. Type F if you want a grabbier clutch.

Dan1950 said:

Barnett recommends ATF. Type F if you want a grabbier clutch.

Click to expand...

Maybe I was using Type F. When I started using ATF, I don't think Barnett was recommending ATF for a P11, the red headed step child of Nortons, but I believe it's possible for a Commando. Doesn't matter anymore. I have a belt clutch in the old turd, so no drag when ice cold.

Dan1950 said:

Barnett recommends ATF. Type F if you want a grabbier clutch.

Click to expand...

From the Barnett site:

As far as what oils to use, we generally suggest following the manufacturer's recommendations. Use good quality motorcycle oils and lubricants.

The main purpose of oils in a "wet" clutch application (as far as the clutch pack itself is concerned) is to act as a coolant. Oils flowing through the clutch plates help to keep the plates cooler, resulting in smoother clutch action and longer life. Using too heavy viscosity can cause plates to stick when cold.

Synthetic oil, by its nature, has extra lubricity. This can be a real advantage for the engine, but a disadvantage for a wet clutch. Synthetic oils can cause a worn clutch to fail. All Barnett wet clutches are designed to be run with synthetic or petroleum based oils. * Remember, the single best insurance you can have for your clutch and bike is to keep clean, good quality oil in it!

BTW, we do not have wet clutches! We are lubricating the chain and sprockets. The clutch should little to no oil in it as it is not bathed in oil and when not pulled in there is no way for oil to get between the plates. Of course, if the primary is over-filled this is not true. Overfilling can happen by human error or crankcase leakage form the crank seal or the three inner chain case mounting bolts.

Barnett clutch packs work great in belt drives where there is no oil.

(Big) Battery powered rollers!

I allways kickstart on its wheels. When riding in the mountains ( like right now..) I like to coast down on longer descents, traffic permitting. When the speed drops too much, I kickstart while still rolling. I prefer that over shifting in gear and let the clutch out, to spare my gearbox teeth.

Looks like I may be on my own in starting on the side stand. The main reason is that I bought the bike back in 1987 without a centre stand and never got around to fitting one. I've had no issues starting this way in over 30 years, the side stand gets unloaded when you kick it so if anyones worried about srength issues, don't be. I only start astride if I've stalled, I don't like doing it much and had a few times where the kickstart rubber ended up flying across the road.

Rich_j said:

Looks like I may be on my own in starting on the side stand. The main reason is that I bought the bike back in 1987 without a centre stand and never got around to fitting one. I've had no issues starting this way in over 30 years, the side stand gets unloaded when you kick it so if anyones worried about srength issues, don't be. I only start astride if I've stalled, I don't like doing it much and had a few times where the kickstart rubber ended up flying across the road.

Click to expand...

Not exactly on your own as there are 10 people on here that voted for kicking on the side stand
Back in the day nobody I knew had a side stand
We all kicked on the side stand,I still do
And as you've discovered the world hasn't ended

I used to start it on the centre-stand for the first couple of years. But lately I've been kicking it astride with no stand. If it's a cold day I might give it a couple of kicks with ignition off to prime the single Mikuni, then put the choke on, turn the key and she'll usually fire up first kick with ignition on. On a warm day just choke on and usually one kick.

A couple of years ago I had a kick lever pawl issue and had to jump start it following a mighty run-push on a flat parking lot. I only recall having to do that once. The new pawl arrived very shortly thereafter and was immediately installed.

Park facing down slope in front of coffee shop.
To leave,
Suit up
Astride & put stand up
Key on
Gas on
Clutch in with 2nd gear engaged
Roll away letting out clutch at nice speed to ease away smoothly and effortlessly... disappointing any Brit hecklers immensely.

Supercat said:

I used to start it on the centre-stand for the first couple of years. But lately I've been kicking it astride with no stand. If it's a cold day I might give it a couple of kicks with ignition off to prime the single Mikuni, then put the choke on, turn the key and she'll usually fire up first kick with ignition on. On a warm day just choke on and usually one kick.

A couple of years ago I had a kick lever pawl issue and had to jump start it following a mighty run-push on a flat parking lot. I only recall having to do that once. The new pawl arrived very shortly thereafter and was immediately installed.

Click to expand...

We are divided by a common language
In the UK "jump" starting refers to jumping a vehicle with a set of jump leads
When you push start a vehicle we call that "bump" starting

baz said:

In the UK "jump" starting refers to jumping a vehicle with a set of jump leads


Unfortunately most of the population don't know how to use them properly .... Been there ... assisted ... explained .. and then been exasperated ... and then regretted my good samaritan tendencies .. Lol !!

Click to expand...

Bump starting, grew up doing that as my / our " field bikes " were so clapped out it was the only way they would start .. but did we care ??
The heck we did it wa all part of the fun .. Lol !!

baz said:

We are divided by a common language
In the UK "jump" starting refers to jumping a vehicle with a set of jump leads
When you push start a vehicle we call that "bump" starting

Click to expand...

Actually, that's what I've always called them and heard them called in the US. However, the US is often divided by a common language!

Depending on the part of the country: Coca Cola/Pepsi/RC Cola = Coke = Cola = Pop = Soda = Soda Pop = Tonic = Soft Drink and almost never their actual name.

There was a thread he a while back on the part at the front of a bike that handles the steering. Yoke = Triple Tree = Triple Clamp. Outside the US it seems that Yoke is most common but inside the US they are all used, and people are vehement about which is correct.

marshg246 said:

Actually, that's what I've always called them and heard them called in the US. However, the US is often divided by a common language!

Depending on the part of the country: Coca Cola/Pepsi/RC Cola = Coke = Cola = Pop = Soda = Soda Pop = Tonic = Soft Drink and almost never their actual name.

There was a thread he a while back on the part at the front of a bike that handles the steering. Yoke = Triple Tree = Triple Clamp. Outside the US it seems that Yoke is most common but inside the US they are all used, and people are vehement about which is correct.

Click to expand...

Yep there's loads of differences
There's a Jamaican bloke where I work,he asked to borrow a crescent wrench!
I had an what he was talking about
there was no way he was borrowing an "adjustable spanner" off of me until he used the correct term!!

baz said:

Yep there's loads of differences
There's a Jamaican bloke where I work,he asked to borrow a crescent wrench!
I had an what he was talking about
there was no way he was borrowing an "adjustable spanner" off of me until he used the correct term!!

Click to expand...

Perfect example. The adjustable wrench from the Crescent Tool Company and others is almost always called a Crescent Wrench here. However, in a sentence it is usually more like: "Hand me an adjustable".

It was not invented by Crescent but became widely available from them and the proper name is adjustable wrench The earlier adjustable wrenches were functionally the same but adjusted in a different manner.

In this case, I guess you all British-ized the name

marshg246 said:

Perfect example. The adjustable wrench from the Crescent Tool Company and others is almost always called a Crescent Wrench here. However, in a sentence it is usually more like: "Hand me an adjustable".

It was not invented by Crescent but became widely available from them and the proper name is adjustable wrench The earlier adjustable wrenches were functionally the same but adjusted in a different manner.

In this case, I guess you all British-ized the name

Click to expand...

We never say adjustable wrench
We only say "adjustable spanner " because that's what it is

Just to clarify
This is what he calls a crescent wrench https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjustable_spanner

baz said:

Just to clarify
This is what he calls a crescent wrench https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjustable_spanner

Click to expand...

It's not what "he" calls it, it's its name

Look at your adjustable spanner and tell us what name is on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescent_(brand) If it doesn't say Crescent, get a proper one

Also interesting: https://www.remodelormove.com/who-invented-the-adjustable-wrench/

Since this is a US site devoted primarily to British motorcycles, I'll let you win. Reply and you'll have the last word - I promise!