1974 Norton Commando 850 MK2A - Swing Arm fix (Part 13) - Swing Arm installation

[@donculp9094]

Hi Mike, When I restored my MK III , I found the swing arm refit to be quite dificult. I actually slightly reduced the diameter of the felt plugs so they would retain more oil. Thanks for the great video.

[@TheMightyGarage]

Thanks for the info Don! Appreciate the tip. Best wishes, Mike

[@snake_eyes_garage]

I really do appreciate your videos. I am rebuilding a '73 Commando from nothing but a frame and lower case - so your great footage is invaluable. You reminded me on this video that I've been told to use the appropriate metal drift for the appropriate metal. I bought a vintage lot of drifts on eBay. Best purchase ever. But they are all steel. I do need to get some brass and aluminum drifts. Speaking of, I am now looking for UK motorcycle tools even though I'm running out of room in my toolbox. :-) BTW I've read that the leaks come from the lip seal rather than the end plug side, so I will probably add some extra sealant on the bearing lip seal side when I do this.

[@TheMightyGarage]

Thank you very much for your note. I really appreciate it. Best of luck with your Commando! Best wishes, Mike

[@cfecgccambrai3231]

Hello Mick , Can you tell me if Old britts is always working and sell spare parts again. i want to find the special kits with felt and full washers. Thanks a lot Pascal

[@TheMightyGarage]

Hi Pascal, Fred and Ella from OldBritts have retired. I sent information via your other comment and via Facebook. Cheers, Mike

[@Cobra427Veight]

The trick to that type of freeze plug , is to sit it on a socket and "press" more cup into it ,with a ball pein hammer this will make the " outside diameter smaller" , then fit it, and with something like a 10-15 mm brass punch, hammer it evenly all the way around , and around , till it looks good , to the point were it is a lot flatter but most of the middle is higher than the edges . Cheers

[@mc2594]

The swingarm is inboard on the Isolastic gearbox cradle so movement is one movement with the cradle, gearbox and engine on the isolastic spindle bushes, that movement is designed in, what you've been doing is removing excess play in the swingarm bushes and spindle beyond the natural isolastic flex. The prototype Commando originally had a conventional frame mounted swingarm but the isolastics would throw the chain off the sprockets under load, Brauer's design was modified so that the swingarm was inboard on gearbox cradle solving the problem. So that very slight flex without any excess play is correct as long as the isolastic units are within their tolerences and the whole drive train moves together. You probably know all that but didn't mentioned the unconventional nature of the swingarm mounting after 14 video's I thought I'd mention it.

[@jojomama4787]

Will be tearing into my swingarm soon and you have a very interesting idea here,I will give this serious consideration.Thanks!

[@TheMightyGarage]

Thank you very much JoJo. Hope all goes well with your project. Cheers, Mike

[@edgeyt1]

Some blue thread lock on all the split collar bolts might be a good idea - you don't want them rattling loose.

[@TheMightyGarage]

Thank you Ed. I will be going in there again soon and will take a look, cheers, Mike

[@pdm2201]

When did Norton stop using the swing arm spindle which has the grease fitting for 140 wt. oil?

[@brucebear1]

Very nice series of videos, Mike (as usual). A few items: 1) Would you consider renting me your drilling locator jig for the sleeve holes? I'll pay a rental fee and the shipping both ways (Oregon -> North Carolina and return). Thanks for considering this. 2) It's a good idea to get plenty of oil in the spindle cavity (and I agree that doing it through the fixing screw is the best way) but it's not necessary to get it over-flowing full; the bushings are a porous material and as long as there's oil up to a fairly high level, they'll draw oil into their inner structure by capillary action and then bleed it out into the bushing/spindle interface. 3) My '73 850 Commando was built with the spindle end plates held by the long, thin screw (or bolt). Will the Welch plugs from a '75 Mk3 fit (along with matching felts, etc.) fit? 4) Your scheme for fitting the rear brake cable is exactly correct. That's the only way to get a straight cable run to the actuator lever on the rear brake; any other routing will put side loads on the cable and cause sticking or rapid wear. 5) Did you ever find out why the monkey-motion oil pipe extension was in place near the oil tank banjo? That's just odd. 6) Not the biggest thing in the world but there's very little clearance between the chain and the back of the inner primary case. I like to put the clip on the master link on the inside (i.e. towards the wheel spokes) to take advantage of the extra clearance between the chain and the gearbox housing area. 7) I have a Don Pender one-piece axle rear wheel and brake assembly for my Commando. I'll be fitting it for the first time in the next few weeks. I hope it goes on as easily as you installed the standard Commando two-piece design. 8) You mentioned that you were planning to block off the chain oiler but you didn't demonstrate how you do it. We weren't allowed to take them off of the factory experimental road test bikes but the riders hated them so we'd put a hose screw clamp ("Jubilee clip") around them tightly enough enough to compress the plastic tubing down onto the felt. That would reduce the oil flow effectively. We called them the "Norton birth control device", if one is flowing oil nicely and the Missus (or a sporting young miss) is riding as a passenger for more than about 15 miles and sees the back of her nice new jacket, you're definitely sleeping alone that night. Great videos, I admire your careful, thorough touch -- we should all be as good to our Nortons. Best, B H

[@TheMightyGarage]

Hi Bruce, please send me an email and we can chat! Best wishes, Mike [e-mail]

[@mofosheee01]

Hello Mike.............Can you comment on including a thin PTFE washer between the bronze swing arm bushing face and the transmission cradle so that the bronze bushing would not be scrubbing against the cradle.

[@TheMightyGarage]

Hi, yes I haven't seen that done before on a swing arm, but it may work just fine. It would be very similar to the isolastics engine mounts. I'm assuming that there is enough room to fit a thin PTFE washer. Cheers, Mike