What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Getting some serious miles on the ol' 850. Just this week I've done three, 150-200 mile rides. Clock ticked over the 18,000 mile mark at mid-week. Done nearly 2.5k miles this Summer. Not a drop pf oil leaking since replacing the rocker feed banjos with spigotted types and fresh air brake line last week. Everything seems to be running very well, better in fact than I've ever had her running since acquisition 5 seasons ago. First kick starting 90% of the time (seemed to dramatically improve after switching to non-resistor caps/plugs). Holding idle consistently after 4 or 5 minutes from cold start. No pops or bangs. Got a new TriSpark ign to fit but the Vape-Wassell unit is just running so well, will leave it for next year.
 
Tornado said:
Getting some serious miles on the ol' 850. Just this week I've done three, 150-200 mile rides. Clock ticked over the 18,000 mile mark at mid-week. Done nearly 2.5k miles this Summer. Not a drop pf oil leaking since replacing the rocker feed banjos with spigotted types and fresh air brake line last week. Everything seems to be running very well, better in fact than I've ever had her running since acquisition 5 seasons ago. First kick starting 90% of the time (seemed to dramatically improve after switching to non-resistor caps/plugs). Holding idle consistently after 4 or 5 minutes from cold start. No pops or bangs. Got a new TriSpark ign to fit but the Vape-Wassell unit is just running so well, will leave it for next year.
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Why change anything when its running so good, leave the ignition system the way it is, its when you change things that you will have problems, but then I did change my old Boyar EI after 32 years on the Norton and it was still going good, but upgrading to the Joe Hunt maggie was a great upgrade for my Norton, but having no need to rely on a battery to start is what I wanted and the Joe Hunt produces such a bigger spark.

Ashley
 
Completely missed the Classic Lightweight race (but listened on the radio), and unsociably, didn't catch up with Cliifa & the Cliffhanger gang or Mexico Mike, but I'm sure they'd understand that I got 'in the zone' ;)

Anyway, got it back together :D


What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?


I'd forgotten just how wonderful that Candy Apple colour scheme is in the sun :)
 
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Bonzo said:
Completely missed the Classic Lightweight race (but listened on the radio), and unsociably, didn't catch up with Cliifa & the Cliffhanger gang or Mexico Mike, but I'm sure they'd understand that I got 'in the zone' ;)

Anyway, got it back together :D


What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?


I'd forgotten just how wonderful that Candy Apple colour scheme is in the sun :)
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So what's it riding like?
 
Actually just needs oil & fuel now but I'm off out to watch the Classic Senior after a cuppa & a shower.

It's not that I'm too scared to kick it over, honest :rolleyes:;):):D
 
Well guys, I installed the Premiers from Greg and the bike is running now. Not quite tuned correctly but close. I still have some tweaking to do on the carbs and not sure what to adjust without really seeing how the plugs look after a longer ride. If I had a vacuum gauge and the color tune plug kit, I suppose I'd be able to hit the right tune but I don’t have these things. Overall I'm quite pleased with the Premiers and having my bike ready to ride again!
 
kn0ck4times said:
Working on a new ignition cylinder bracket to go with my Mikuni. I have your basic garage shop tools and this so far is what I have come up with. Still need paint but autoparts were out of what I wanted. Any suggestions
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I love the colours on this bike! Looks like the paint job on my Sonor drum kit, except mine is a copper colour but with the same sparkles!
 
Starvingphotog said:
Well guys, I installed the Premiers from Greg and the bike is running now. Not quite tuned correctly but close. I still have some tweaking to do on the carbs and not sure what to adjust without really seeing how the plugs look after a longer ride. If I had a vacuum gauge and the color tune plug kit, I suppose I'd be able to hit the right tune but I don’t have these things. Overall I'm quite pleased with the Premiers and having my bike ready to ride again!
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Well just follow the Amal guide card asetup procedure that came with your Premiers. I was able to get pretty close with balance via the drill bits method and feeling for slide position at wide open point. Then for idle and mixture, feeling exhaust pulse pressures lef/right the same; no rpm stumble just off idle (too lean).

Get yourself the Morgan Carbtune vacuum gauge. Nice tool for a good price. I have a colourtune but haven't used it much due to its limitations.
 
Retorqued my head and checked valve lash today. I then went on a 105 mile ride flirting with a rain storm. The rain caught me about 2 miles from the shop and it didn’t take long to get soaked. As I pulled up to the shop I saw my buddy Bill standing at the man door. Next thing I know the roll up door is going up and I cruised right into my usual parking spot. Perfect timing! Usually whenever I get back from a ride the shop is locked and alarmed so it takes a couple minutes to get in so Bill saved me from getting more soaked. Thanks Bill. Safe riding all.
 
Had it out up the mountain today:

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?


On the way back down, stopped up at a scenic lookout. An elderly gentlemen walked up and started chatting. Apparently he used to run the Norton distributor site in Calgary in the '70s. I told him he may have sold my bike as about the only history I have on it was that it was own by a retired judge who had it restored at a Harley dealership in Alberta in the '90s.
Anyway we chatted for quite awhile and was great to see him grinning as I fired it up and went on my way.
 
That's pretty awesome Tornado man! From one fellow Canuck to another. I grew up in Waterloo Ontario, and left in 2006 to the US of A.
 
Starvingphotog said:
That's pretty awesome Tornado man! From one fellow Canuck to another. I grew up in Waterloo Ontario, and left in 2006 to the US of A.
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Use to make a run up through the Kitchener / Waterloo area at least once a year just to stuff myself at the Stone Crock in St Jacobs .....oh ya , and they had some nice roads to ride as well ..except for all the horse dung
 
Big_Jim59 said:
I love the look of that High Rider tank but I couldn't deal with the loss of range.
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I'm pretty used to it. Can get 80 miles reliably. It does get sketchy coming down hills like I did today if there's less than about half a tank and only drawing from the main petcock. Had it sputter and die in situations like that. Switching to reserve and flat ground I'm good to keep going another 40 miles.
I do have a Roadster tank ready to go but i'm enjoying the svelte HiRider look so much this season.
 
Rode my bike to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) to renew my license plate sticker. $41.00 per year, not too bad. Rode a total of 98 miles today. I’ll be back on the bike tomorrow as well. Safe riding.
 
Renewed my annual licence fee - £0 as it’s over 40 years old. :cool:

last night I went a local bike night. A bit of a waste of time there were very few in attendance. Mostly HD along with a nice Vincent and a Rough Superior. (Definitely rough). Tonight is another I hope it will be better. You will know tomorrow.
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
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