Trying to fit a Ceriani yoke on my Commando, help needed

Bought this yoke 12 months ago and finally after 18 months found some Roadholders local to go into it. I have a TZ replica 4LS hub Im using on the front with an axle thats already made for a Roadholders so I thought that that would be the best way to go but no go





I thought the tolerance on the forks would be a bit loose but I could work with it but Its not looking good, they wont nip up that much.
So what to do now? a set of 35mm Cerianis would be best but my chances of finding some here let alone in Australia are slim to none. I can get a set off Ebay US but postage is a killer
What do you guys think I should do?

Hi, Not a straight forward coversion , I would fit the original ceriani 35mm stanchions and machine the stanchion's/ Norton Bush's to suit, the ceriani top nut will require a 3/8 unf thread,but thats no big deal. failing that its going to be a thin sleeve lower tree and a re-work on the top stanchion, machine the taper off and press on a 35mm sleeve

Hi lcgtr

As John says not a good way to go. 35mm yoke 34.5mm fork. Very fiddly.
Cerani was the way to go to improve your fork until John came up with his conversion.

However you have a much simpler way to go. Yamaha rd lc forks good cheap 35mm machine to suit that fabulous drum.

Good luck Chris

Harris bonnie used 35 mm tubes I believe

I'm thinking of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. And beer cans. Used as shims. Then trimmed with a box knife, if you are feeling tidy.

Stephen Hill

What if you bored out (inline)the trees to say 40mm,(or more if parent material allows) then get a series of bushes made that are 40mm OD (or more)and one set of 34.5MM ID another set of 35MM ID and that way you can use the same trees and different diameter fork tubes. may need to slot lower bushes to allow for the clamping of the 1x bolt fit up. Top bushes could have the inner tapered to accept the top of the tubes.
Just a thought!!!
Regards Mike

Ceriani damperinternals are basic. i have a set in the workshop. You will find no advantage fitting these after all the trouble :!:

Chris said:

Hi lcgtr

As John says not a good way to go. 35mm yoke 34.5mm fork. Very fiddly.
Cerani was the way to go to improve your fork until John came up with his conversion.

However you have a much simpler way to go. Yamaha rd lc forks good cheap 35mm machine to suit that fabulous drum.

Good luck Chris

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35mm yoke with 34.5mm fork santions :?:

You really don't make motorcycles for a living, do you :!: :!:

Hi Bernard

To answer your question, no I don't make bikes for anyone but myself.
35mm tomaselli clipons moved on my Norton forks, never played with tape or shims, as I didn't think it was worth the risk.
I would assume that this would be the same with the yokes? Correct me if I am wrong? Bottom yokes take most of the load?
Maybe it is alright to run them but they are a solid yoke & I wouldn't like to over tighten the pinch bolt.

all the best Chris

Chris, I think tightening the yolk onto a 1/2mm smaller stanchion will require some pudding! plus the yolk bore tends to go egg shaped,and there is a good chance of stripping the alloy clamp thread.
If the job must be done,then a shim is better than nothing,its getting one in thats tricky.

Get the Roadholder stanchions plated oversize and make top bush to fit . Always go for the easy option!!

Pantah or early to mid Guzzi forks are 35mm and not hard to get. You could try easy sleeve from a bearing supplier, but I would worry about the integrity of such a patch up. Also the rake and trail may be altered by the Cerriani triples

i would ream the yokes and fit split bushes to take up the play
1 mm bushes should be ok

Funny, I was keelhauled for cutting and welding my stem yet people think it is quite OK to put shims to take up the slack between the triple trees and the fork tubes :shock: I for one would not put shims, I would rather use the whole fork and fit it with different bearings onto the Norton's neck. As mentioned, an RD fork would most likely work better than an old Ceriani.

Jean

Jeandr said:

Funny, I was keelhauled for cutting and welding my stem yet people think it is quite OK to put shims to take up the slack between the triple trees and the fork tubes :shock: I for one would not put shims, I would rather use the whole fork and fit it with different bearings onto the Norton's neck. As mentioned, an RD fork would most likely work better than an old Ceriani.

Jean

Click to expand...

But the RD fork is most likely shorter....

Chris said:

Hi Bernard

To answer your question, no I don't make bikes for anyone but myself.
35mm tomaselli clipons moved on my Norton forks, never played with tape or shims, as I didn't think it was worth the risk.
I would assume that this would be the same with the yokes? Correct me if I am wrong? Bottom yokes take most of the load?
Maybe it is alright to run them but they are a solid yoke & I wouldn't like to over tighten the pinch bolt.

all the best Chris

Click to expand...

Chris, Odd question :roll:

Rob Bailey in Canberra used to convert Norton forks to run Suzuki 35mm tubes and dampers (Norton sliders were retained) which made a significant improvement to their action, and would also make them a slide in fit to the Ceriani yokes. From memory the Suzuki legs don't have a taper fit either like the Norton ones, so they're actually a better proposition in the Ceriani yokes (which have no taper in the top yoke). It was a fairly straightforward job from memory - Ron just machined up new top and bottom bushes and machined the length to suit. Ron moved down the coast a few years ago, but he still dabbles and I'm sure he'd be happy to tell you what was involved. His number is 02 44737066. Bill

Chris said:

Hi Bernard

35mm tomaselli clipons moved on my Norton forks, never played with tape or shims, as I didn't think it was worth the risk.
I would assume that this would be the same with the yokes?

all the best Chris

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Thanks for the info Chris,
You've just saved me a load of cash, I was going to buy a pair of 35mm tomaselli clipons for my Triton.

All the best

Webby

Hi Webby

Tomasselli dont make clip ons for the Norton nowdays.
What I did was buy a set of 33 or 34mm clip ons & had them bored.
I fitted a set of 35mm ones that are multi adjustable 2 plain ones on my race bike. It is these that moved.
I was told by lots of people that 35mm ones would be fine!
Scrutineering bash the levers towards you & the clutch side moved. Paddock law tape your fork legs & tighten up again!
Did not fancy this. I had a clip on come in to the tank many years ago when of all things the pinch bolt on the lower leg snapped.
I was a bit mystified how tucked in I was Luckily this was up hill into the hairpin at Lydden. Again it was the clutch side.

John
Yep starnge question I wondered what I had done wrong?
ps still want to swap my Commando Landsdownes for a Triumph set for my triple.
That is when shmbo allows you out to play
The big boy is ready to go & practice day is approaching fast. I will let you know how a Dommie Landsdowne set works with a Commando engine on the track.

all the best Chris

ps Suzuki Kettle/waterbuffalo forks are longer than Commando & the discs weigh a ton. You can fit later suzuki discs GS which are lighter.
I had 4 inches of fork through the top yoke on the Rickman.
Yamaha forks are perfect for a Commando.

Chris

myjota said:

Get the Roadholder stanchions plated oversize and make top bush to fit . Always go for the easy option!!

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This sounds like an easy option if you still want to retain the Norton stanchions.