classic motorcycle forum

Thanks for the replies.

The only bit of the bike that’s Commando is the front brake and forks (I don’t foresee any trouble with them). The rest is Featherbed, Rocket Three and conical hub.

Thanks for the manual link I did look for one but my googling skills aren’t that good.

I was aware of the stiffening kit but didn’t know it was factory fitted, I was thinking along the lines of it being something invented for people to spend their money on.

I see from Andover Norton’s websites parts list for the twin leading Norton brake that the blanking plates for the air intake and outlets appear to be a standard part, has anyone any idea why Norton would make a brake plate with these features only to blank them off.

 From memory (The bikes been in the back of a shed for 30 years) this is the worst front brake I’ve ever known, it suffered from extreme keenness when damp and extreme fade when hot. I removed the blanking plates when the bike was in use which had no effect on the braking, so I assumed that it was the friction material that was at fault. Has anyone bought new shoes recently and if they are any good where from.

I’m also replacing the wheel bearings, there is a washer in the right hand housing that has been ‘crimped’ in place. I use the word crimped, it looks more like the housing has been bashed with a blunt chisel. This looks like a factory bodge rather than a shed bodge. I’m assuming the right hand bearing is removed from the right hand side and these ‘crimps’ have to be ground away first.

Thanks in anticipation,

Does the frame have the earlier higher seat loop or the lower type and what style seat catch has it got, the over centre clip or the plunger? Both will give a vague indication of frame year if your doubtful of the number, as will the coil mounting under the seat.

Unfortunately I have to agree, making one out of mild steel or brass would be slightly easier but still involve a fair bit of organisation before any machining was done. Another problem would be that to ensure a good fit of the nut, whoever makes one would Be better off having an exhaust stub to use as a gauge.

I read on another forum that  it is 2" 20tpi ,not sure if that's correct

2” x20 TPI is possible though I somehow think it’s a little on the large side.

I’ve looked at both forums occasionally but I cant get on with them. There’s too much going on on the iPad screen, if a wayward bit of hand brushes the wrong part of the screen you could find you’ve married someone from Latvia, male or female! Not that there’s anything wrong with Latvians, male or female. It’s just that the current Mrs Grunt might not be best pleased.

I think I’ll join the Trident and Rocket Three owners club.

I am currently rebuilding my Featherbed framed Rocket Three.

I never did like the way the original builder made the oil return into the tank and want to alter it so the flow of oil can be seen and is above the oil high level point.

I’m assuming that in order to create back pressure so the rocker feed gets an acceptable amount of oil that the exit hole of the return pipe is smaller than the 7/16” bore of the hose. Does anyone agree and if so can anyone tell me the diameter of the hole or size of tube in the original oil tank.

I want to do the tractor tank just in case there are some holes still waiting to be discovered. Both the bike tanks are sound, I didn’t realise it was just the fact that ethanol attracted water which caused the problems. So I shan’t do anything with them.