WM3 rim as per Dunlop recommendations: this gives a greater road tread contact area.
Correct shimming is essential. Rear springs are 126lb standard wear, 150lb springs have hertz known to
improve matters Weight should he kept as for forward as possible by living low or flat bars; a tank top hag
or Swagman pannier hog is ideal for touring. Tri-point screens have an adverse effect while a small
handlebar fairing has been known to improve matters. That is about all 1 have come across (VIVE LA
FEATHERBED).
Commandos are not the only bikes to show this phenomenon hill a little attention to the above details
could improve your situation. You can fit a steering damper.
Finally, overheard at a Tim and Mary Stevens coffee evening: "Does your Quackersicki weave at high
speeds?" "No, but it is quite good at knitting around town."
SWINGING ARM: The later 850 type is reinforced around the junction tube but the real problem is the
very poor location of the spindle in the gearbox cradle. The spindle is held by one ;in screw--in fact this
one screw holds the back wheel in. ( know because l once lost that miserable little screw at speed and
the spindle came out. Don't ask me what happened--we managed to stay between the Armco barriers--
and if you look in the hedge about 20 miles this side of Vienna you'll see an ash tree with a branch
missing. The repair held till we got to the long suffering German Norton distributor in Darmstadt. An
oversize spindle is available-Part No: 064077. It is 0.005in oversize (0.13mm) and by the time you find
the hole is too big, five thou is usually about right although you may have to ream the centre of the cradle
as the wear occurs mainly at the ends. If you can't get an oversize spindle have the old one hard
chromium plated and ground down to the size you want, When it fits the centre tube properly you can
hold it in place more firmly using a good strong pair of car exhaust clamps--the type which are made of a
thick U bolt and a steel pressing. Fit these round the tube and with any luck you will be able to compress
the tube onto the spindle and hold it in place. Not a proper engineering job, but then again neither is, it to
start with. -l he bronze bushes should be reamed to about 0.0005in (0.013mm) clearance together using
a sharp reamer. Then they will he better than new. Possibly a better way is to obtain a new (?) gearbox
cradle or to install a second hand one that isn't worn, should you be able to find either of these items.
Any attempt to alter the piddly little 5BA rod which holds the end covers on would be an improvement--
exercise your ingenuity but remember the result must be oil tight. Grease will clog the bushes. EP90 is
the stuff. or 140 if you can find it.
JOHN HUDSON: f do not quite agree with Tim on this although I always respect what he says. The
largest bearing area was provided by the original spindle and bushes and there was nothing radically
wrong with the piddly little rod retaining the end caps. What was wrong was the fitting of a grease nipple.
They did not even stamp the word "OIL" on the outer end cap and naturally anyone seeing a grease
nipple is going to use a grease gun and a high pressure one breaks the pin.
From the centre bore of the spindle a 1/16in hole at each end feeds oil downwards to each bush in the
rear fork, both spindle and bush is plain-no scroll--so that once grease enters the tiny holes they are
blocked until the spindle is withdrawn and thoroughly cleaned out. Anyone finding grease in here should
remove the outer end cap with rod. take out the 1/4in UNF locating screw in the centre of the cross tube
in the rear engine plate and try and withdraw the spindle to clean it. If it has not already seized it will
probably come out fairly easily by screwing in a spare front isolastic mounting bolt
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