What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

So last Thursday night, I loaded the bike in the trailer, jumped in the Cummins Dodge and headed the 5 hours east to Prince Edward County, Cherry Valley in particular. I considered riding there, but Toronto is in the way, and cutting north to avoid added at least 2 hours to the journey, and I just wanted to get there. Plus I did not relish doing it solo...

Friday was about 100 miles after breakfast touring the east coast of the county, followed by a BBQ, bevvies, and a bonfire.

Saturday was the Observation Tour set up by my friends Geoff and Marianne Doherty and the CVMG Eastern Shield Section. About 140 miles ridden, touring all areas of PEC, with a stop at an ice cream shop and a winery. All manners of vintage machinery were in attendance - and the weather was perfect. The 3B's were engaged for Saturday night also.

Sunday was pack up day, but before loading the bike, we made an 80 mile ride out and back to Carrying Place for a lovely breakfast. Some in attendance continued from here to home in the GTA. After returning, I said my thank-you's and farewells, turning the truck to the west and down the 401 to home.

Bike worked flawlessly again this weekend, turned in nearly 61 mpg on Saturday, and logged a little over 300 miles.

Looking forward to this event again in 2022!!
 
These tales of hundreds of miles on a Commando make me jealous. For the first time in 46 years, I have lost confidence in my Norton. Electrical and fuel gremlins have got me spooked. I'm no stranger to Norton troubleshooting and maintenance, but the prospect of another $$$ flatbed trip home has me leery about going too far. This coming weekend will be yet another exercise in "I hope this works now". I just want it to be as reliable as it's always been.
 
maylar said:
These tales of hundreds of miles on a Commando make me jealous. For the first time in 46 years, I have lost confidence in my Norton. Electrical and fuel gremlins have got me spooked. I'm no stranger to Norton troubleshooting and maintenance, but the prospect of another $$$ flatbed trip home has me leery about going too far. This coming weekend will be yet another exercise in "I hope this works now". I just want it to be as reliable as it's always been.
Click to expand...
Points ignition
Zener diode's
Lead acid batteries
Are maybe not as bad as we all thought?
 
maylar said:
These tales of hundreds of miles on a Commando make me jealous. For the first time in 46 years, I have lost confidence in my Norton. Electrical and fuel gremlins have got me spooked. I'm no stranger to Norton troubleshooting and maintenance, but the prospect of another $$$ flatbed trip home has me leery about going too far. This coming weekend will be yet another exercise in "I hope this works now". I just want it to be as reliable as it's always been.
Click to expand...
Fingers crossed for you, Dave. It has been a process of constant fettling and regular detailed inspections to get and keep my machine at this stage - knowing full well that disaster could be around any corner...

Plus I watch my voltmeter and oil pressure gauge like a hawk!!

I have my CAA Plus card in my pocket at all times!! LOL
 
baz said:
Points ignition
Zener diode's
Lead acid batteries
Are maybe not as bad as we all thought?
Click to expand...
Still running a Zener... Trispark and a Shorai are filling the other positions.

The two things for me that are indicators of impending doom are my oil pressure gauge and my voltmeter.

The voltmeter especially lately has made the difference between riding home and calling a tow truck. Knock on wood - charging system has been doing well since a broken stator wire repair back in May...

I think I have said it before, but I am also using the voltmeter to govern actions to keep the Shorai in it's voltage sweet spot.... So far so good....

I have not removed my kickstart lever either...
 
They say in divorce all the love turns to hate, and these darlings can drive you to distraction too, sadly. And with fewer garages willing or capable of taking them on, it's down to Joe Muggins to sort as and when..
As with the cars I 'played with' when younger, getting the spanners out is fun when you want to, but sometimes a royal PITA when you have to..
Just spent the morning on my back trying to thread the SU float needle back up it's tube, then trying to push the float pivot back though square, both three handed jobs for someone with more joints in their fingers than mine... and smaller, too!
Then joy of joys, threaded hole in the carb is partially stripped (not guilty, your honour) so hoping that losing a washer and much stud sealant will sort it for now...
Gotta luv 'em..... haven't you???
 
EstuaryBoy said:
They say in divorce all the love turns to hate, and these darlings can drive you to distraction too, sadly. And with fewer garages willing or capable of taking them on, it's down to Joe Muggins to sort as and when..
As with the cars I 'played with' when younger, getting the spanners out is fun when you want to, but sometimes a royal PITA when you have to..
Just spent the morning on my back trying to thread the SU float needle back up it's tube, then trying to push the float pivot back though square, both three handed jobs for someone with more joints in their fingers than mine... and smaller, too!
Then joy of joys, threaded hole in the carb is partially stripped (not guilty, your honour) so hoping that losing a washer and much stud sealant will sort it for now...
Gotta luv 'em..... haven't you???
Click to expand...
One of my Amals wears helicoils where the float bowl screw threads used to be - a story of whoa from last year... thankfully, the trailer was parked a mere 30' away...
 
Derek Wilson said:
Still running a Zener... Trispark and a Shorai are filling the other positions.

The two things for me that are indicators of impending doom are my oil pressure gauge and my voltmeter.

The voltmeter especially lately has made the difference between riding home and calling a tow truck. Knock on wood - charging system has been doing well since a broken stator wire repair back in May...

I think I have said it before, but I am also using the voltmeter to govern actions to keep the Shorai in it's voltage sweet spot.... So far so good....

I have not removed my kickstart lever either...
Click to expand...
Comen
Derek Wilson said:
Still running a Zener... Trispark and a Shorai are filling the other positions.

The two things for me that are indicators of impending doom are my oil pressure gauge and my voltmeter.

The voltmeter especially lately has made the difference between riding home and calling a tow truck. Knock on wood - charging system has been doing well since a broken stator wire repair back in May...

I think I have said it before, but I am also using the voltmeter to govern actions to keep the Shorai in it's voltage sweet spot.... So far so good....

I have not removed my kickstart lever either...
Click to expand...
My comments were just general ones not aimed at you
I think sometimes the original equipment gets a bad rap
I have a BMW boxer type voltmeter on my commando it works very well
Cheers
 

Similar threads

Schwany
What did you do with your P11 today. he he
2 3
Replies
45
Views
1,408
Schwany
Schwany
Shelby-Right
What did you do with your Triumph today .
Replies
10
Views
639
Matt Spencer
M
CanukNortonNut
  • Locked
Ok what are you getting for mileage with your commando.
2 3 4 5
Replies
93
Views
8,813
CanukNortonNut
CanukNortonNut
V
What did you do to your Norton today?
2 3 4
Replies
67
Views
5,571
Richard Tool
Richard Tool
Back
Top