What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Looks like a clean set up, were you having issues with the twins? Out of interest, what brake pads and mc are you using?
 
Stevo said:
Looks like a clean set up, were you having issues with the twins? Out of interest, what brake pads and mc are you using?
Click to expand...

Hi Stevo

No massive issues to be honest, though I suspected the pilot jet was blocked, and even though I have Premier's, when there's two of them side by side, it's not a 2 min job to unscrew. Also, as I rarely take it over 5,000 revs, I wanted to give it a try. If it doesn't work for me, I'll switch back.

The pads are Ferrodo Platinums with the 13mm AN MC. Brake feel is much improved over the stock MC, but I'd like to try to get it a bit better.
 
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baz said:
Today I fitted a Rex's speed shop Rita revival kit to my commando
I bought it ages ago to try to save a little bit of voltage at idle as apposed to the original Rita
But when I tried it I found it made no difference to power consumption
But I thought I'd give it another go as it's just sitting on the shelf
I made a small stainless box for it and mounted it close to the original one under the seat
I planned to keep the original fitted just incase
I switched it on and attempted to fire it up on the starter but nothing, didn't fire once !
I thought maybe I'd got the pickup wires crossed so I swapped those and went to start it again and the bike has completely died
I thought somehow I may have blown the fuse but that was fine
The battery is fully charged
Nothing on the bike is now working
I'm really puzzled
Swapping the pickup wires can't short anything out as far as I'm aware
The fuse is still fine
I ran out of time with it this evening but I'm guessing the ignition switch has coincidentally stopped working whilst I was swapping the Rita pickup wires
It's really puzzling
Click to expand...
Well it turned out to be just the ignition switch
It's very odd that it packed up whilst I was fitting a new Rita unit
One of the contacts inside the ignition unit had broken off
It's now running with the new Rita unit
 

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Bonzo said:
Hi Stevo

No massive issues to be honest, though I suspected the pilot jet was blocked, and even though I have Premier's, when there's two of them side by side, it's not a 2 min job to unscrew. Also, as I rarely take it over 5,000 revs, I wanted to give it a try. If it doesn't work for me, I'll switch back.

The pads are Ferrodo Platinums with the 13mm AN MC. Brake feel is much improved over the stock MC, but I'd like to try to get it a bit better.
Click to expand...

Hey Bonz, (is it ok to say that?) :) Hope the single works for you, my bike had a Mikuni when I got it so have no comparison to make. I converted to the same brake set up as you have, so much better than standard, especially when caliper seals are leaky as mine were.
Steve
 
robs ss said:
Why are you changing back to 19" Dave?
Cheers
Rob
Click to expand...
Hi Rob, when I went 18/19 the 18 was a practical decision based on the availability of dedicated rear tyres but when I fitted the wheel I didn’t like the look but thought it would grow on me but it didn’t. Anyway I was in my workshop and looked at the bike and decided it had to go so ordered a tyre and text the wheel builder to order a rim which will be built by next weekend. In a nutshell the aesthetic, in my eyes, had the look of a custom bike and I just didn’t like it.

Dave
 
Dellis said:
I’ll post some pics when it’s finished. I’ve made the outer plates too but I have a better idea that will use the standard small triangular outer plate and a modified boss for the rear foot peg.

Dave
Click to expand...
Right so here are some pics with the brackets mounted and on the bench. The larger of the two is the rear and that will be powder coated black which will make it blend in with the swinging arm and hide it the front will be chrome plated and I’ve done a basic polish to that end. Don’t worry about the brake cable it was just popped out of the way for test fitting.
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?


Dave
 
Dellis said:
Right so here are some pics with the brackets mounted and on the bench. The larger of the two is the rear and that will be powder coated black which will make it blend in with the swinging arm and hide it the front will be chrome plated and I’ve done a basic polish to that end. Don’t worry about the brake cable it was just popped out of the way for test fitting.

Dave
Click to expand...
D'you like living on the edge? Put some rearsets on it now! 🤣 🤣
 
Dellis said:
Hi Rob, when I went 18/19 the 18 was a practical decision based on the availability of dedicated rear tyres but when I fitted the wheel I didn’t like the look but thought it would grow on me but it didn’t. Anyway I was in my workshop and looked at the bike and decided it had to go so ordered a tyre and text the wheel builder to order a rim which will be built by next weekend. In a nutshell the aesthetic, in my eyes, had the look of a custom bike and I just didn’t like it.

Dave
Click to expand...
Amen.
 
robs ss said:
D'you like living on the edge? Put some rearsets on it now! 🤣 🤣
Click to expand...
I’ve become comfortable with the pegs and I’ve just moved the pillion pegs forwards to give Sandra enough room with the panniers on so that ship has sailed :) oh and I have a bike with rear sets I just need to rebuild it…

Dave
 
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cliffa said:
Based on info. gleaned from this thread, I made a narrow "Ham Can" filter setup for my S.U. carb. I've never been really happy with the filter which is bolted to the carb, as they are heavy enough already. I got an old twin carb front plate and adapted it, then got some perforated alloy to make the outer grille. With a very sharp knife I was able to remove the sealing rings on the LX157 filter, and get the total width down to about 45mm. more pics to follow...View attachment 112339View attachment 112340View attachment 112341
Click to expand...
To link the carb to the air filter I needed an adaptor. I looked around, but could only see them for the smaller HIF carbs, so using some scraps I knocked this up...
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Removed the pistons from my front caliper to replace them with stainless steel - only to find they'd already had the change :rolleyes:

A bit crappy in there, so worth sorting...

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Popped to my mate at the tyre centre to blow out the rear piston, and found the rear seal to be a bit gnarly (possibly not lubed enough and so the inner piston took a few bites on the way in?)...

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Was definitely worth a look, was it leaking? Mine did in a similar condition with some corrosion on the pistons, even after a supposedly recent seal change before I got it. 🙄
 
Bonzo said:
Removed the pistons from my front caliper to replace them with stainless steel - only to find they'd already had the change :rolleyes:

A bit crappy in there, so worth sorting...

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Popped to my mate at the tyre centre to blow out the rear piston, and found the rear seal to be a bit gnarly (possibly not lubed enough and so the inner piston took a few bites on the way in?)...

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
Click to expand...
IMHO, if the seal area and the area towards center from the seal is good, then you should be OK. Just make sure the "bites" have no ridge into the piston area. If the piston is scored, change it.
 
Stevo said:
Was definitely worth a look, was it leaking? Mine did in a similar condition with some corrosion on the pistons, even after a supposedly recent seal change before I got it. 🙄
Click to expand...
No leaks at all actually Stevo. As mentioned, I'd already fitted a new 13mm AN MC, but knew it could be a little better. Ive got a new brake line which will help too I'm sure.
 
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Bonzo said:
Removed the pistons from my front caliper to replace them with stainless steel - only to find they'd already had the change :rolleyes:

A bit crappy in there, so worth sorting...

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Popped to my mate at the tyre centre to blow out the rear piston, and found the rear seal to be a bit gnarly (possibly not lubed enough and so the inner piston took a few bites on the way in?)...

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
Click to expand...
Bonz, it is possible that when those seals were fitted that the grooves were not properly cleaned out. They can get hard calcium like deposits in them which need scraping out meticulously, otherwise the new seals stand proud and can cause the pistons not to retract properly.
 
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