What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

cjandme · Mar 13, 2025

The title of this thread is reminding me of my DOGE requirement for the 5 bullets/things I did last week

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jan nelder · Mar 14, 2025

cjandme said:
The title of this thread is reminding me of my DOGE requirement for the 5 bullets/things I did last week .

for those of us outside the USA, we have a free pass….

Bonzo · Mar 15, 2025

Swapped out the original valve adjusters with some new hex key heads from AN (13.1891)

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

I'm also delighted that AN are now putting a parts description on their packets instead of just the part number. I usually write a brief description on the bags myself so that I have an idea of what it is in there months down the line.

jan nelder · Mar 15, 2025

just started to check a ‘71 frame for straightness: not good news so far. Distances between front and rear Iso Mounts on the two sides are both different to spec, and from each other. And both front down tubes are bowed forward a little, and headstock is pointing to right of vertical.
I shimmed it on garage floor so that rear Iso holes were vertically in line and then measured from there.

Fast Eddie · Mar 16, 2025

jan nelder said:
just started to check a ‘71 frame for straightness: not good news so far. Distances between front and rear Iso Mounts on the two sides are both different to spec, and from each other. And both front down tubes are bowed forward a little, and headstock is pointing to right of vertical.
I shimmed it on garage floor so that rear Iso holes were vertically in line and then measured from there.

Sounds like an excuse to buy a Seeley frame

ashman · Mar 16, 2025

Fast Eddie said:
Sounds like an excuse to buy a Seeley frame

Or a Featherbed frame

robs ss · Mar 16, 2025

Bonzo said:
Swapped out the original valve adjusters with some new hex key heads from AN (13.1891)

I'm also delighted that AN are now putting a parts description on their packets instead of just the part number. I usually write a brief description on the bags myself so that I have an idea of what it is in there months down the line.

What was your rationale for not choosing the mushroom ones?
Cheers

Fast Eddie · Mar 16, 2025

robs ss said:
What was your rationale for not choosing the mushroom ones?
Cheers

What would be your rational FOR choosing mushroom ones ??

SteveA · Mar 16, 2025

Bonzo said:
Swapped out the original valve adjusters with some new hex key heads from AN (13.1891)

I'm also delighted that AN are now putting a parts description on their packets instead of just the part number. I usually write a brief description on the bags myself so that I have an idea of what it is in there months down the line.

I keep a stock of consumables in their little packets, I check the part numbers on delivery....put all of the stuff I don't need immediately in my 'Norton spares' box, then have no idea what I do actually have in stock! Please don't ask how many washers and gaskets I have bought only to find I already had some.....

robs ss · Mar 16, 2025

Fast Eddie said:
What would be your rational FOR choosing mushroom ones ??

Really don't know - was trying to find out. Do you know?

Bonzo · Mar 16, 2025

robs ss said:
What was your rationale for not choosing the mushroom ones?
Cheers

I think the mushroom ones need the rockers removing to fit and I couldn't be arsed.

Happy with the socket heads as regards adjustment. Much easier & more accurate than the standard set up

Bonzo · Mar 16, 2025

SteveA said:
I keep a stock of consumables in their little packets, I check the part numbers on delivery....put all of the stuff I don't need immediately in my 'Norton spares' box, then have no idea what I do actually have in stock! Please don't ask how many washers and gaskets I have bought only to find I already had some.....

Me too, at least when I first started buying - now, the first thing I do is scribble a brief description of (for example) where that washer belongs on its packet and file the receipt in my box file. Popping the part number in the AN search box to find out what I have just shows a picture of the part, not what it's for.

Edit* Blimey! I complicated that. I know what I mean

ashman · Mar 16, 2025

I still have my original adjusters, never had any problems with adjustments, 49 years now, why replace when the stock ones are doing their job.

Fast Eddie · Mar 16, 2025

robs ss said:
Really don't know - was trying to find out. Do you know?

No I don’t. I honestly thought you would given your post, you clearly inferred the assumption that there should be a reason to NOT use them. The none mushrooms are standard after all. So the real question is: why deviate from standard?

But I have my own theory / opinions…

I stopped using them long ago. My logic being thus:

1. I struggle with the idea that the wider foot spreads the loads etc as with both designs, at any point in the lift there is only a small point of contact.

2. Mushrooms have been known to break.

3. Mushrooms cannot be replaced without removing the rockers.

4. They can effect striking angles so should really be checked carefully when fitting rather than being considered a straight forward bolt on.

5. When setting them up in the past I’ve seen the mushroom foot making contact with the very edge / corner of the valve, which I did not like.

I would however be happy to hear the pro mushroom arguments from any experienced pro mushroomers…

Fast Eddie · Mar 16, 2025

ashman said:
Or a Featherbed frame

Why choose second best ??

robs ss · Mar 16, 2025

Fast Eddie said:
No I don’t. I honestly thought you would given your post, you clearly inferred the assumption that there should be a reason to NOT use them. The none mushrooms are standard after all. So the real question is: why deviate from standard?

But I have my own theory / opinions…

I stopped using them long ago. My logic being thus:

1. I struggle with the idea that the wider foot spreads the loads etc as with both designs, at any point in the lift there is only a small point of contact.

2. Mushrooms have been known to break.

3. Mushrooms cannot be replaced without removing the rockers.

4. They can effect striking angles so should really be checked carefully when fitting rather than being considered a straight forward bolt on.

5. When setting them up in the past I’ve seen the mushroom foot making contact with the very edge / corner of the valve, which I did not like.

I would however be happy to hear the pro mushroom arguments…

Okay - I did not know all that.
It was just that when I looked at the AN parts list the mushroom ones were just one part number different (1890 vs 1891) and are about 10GBP dearer.
I haven't hit on a touchy point here, have I?

robs ss · Mar 16, 2025

Fast Eddie said:
Why choose second best ??

Hmmm - I wonder what the pie chart would look like for TT wins to:
1. Commando frames
2. Seely frames
3. Featherbed frames

Bonzo · Mar 16, 2025

robs ss said:
Okay - I did not know all that.
It was just that when I looked at the AN parts list the mushroom ones were just one part number different (1890 vs 1891) and are about 10GBP dearer.
I haven't hit on a touchy point here, have I?

Not with me

SteveA · Mar 16, 2025

Fast Eddie said:
...........

I would however be happy to hear the pro mushroom arguments…

There isn't one.......

Allen key adjusters are a good idea....other than that....standard fit.

Weight saving nuts are also a bad idea.

SteveA · Mar 16, 2025

robs ss said:
Hmmm - I wonder what the pie chart would look like for TT wins to:
1. Commando frames
2. Seely frames
3. Featherbed frames

Since both 'Seeley'and 'featherbed' fames are still winning races on the IoM you may need to be pedantic about your cut off date for 'TT' wins!

And, do you count any MGP, Classic TT wins etc?

You may want to specify who made them? Colin Seeley 'himself', Norton, or countless other copies?

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

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