Mounting the Swingarm and Gearbox. (Commando Build Part 6)

Mounting the gearbox and swingarm to my Norton Commando.
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[@576rl900]

Just a head's up. Those gearbox cover screws are 1/4-26 CEI (British thread). Most (not all) thread sizes on the engine and gearbox are British thread form, while most of the chassis fasteners are UNF or UNC.

[@motohomeless9168]

Thanks! I have the proper ones on the way!

[@TornadoCAN99]

Top marks for what I think you got correct...that GB spacer washer (3mm thick?)...which should go between the GB upper mounting lug left hand end and the engine cradle inside. It is very common to place this on the outside of the cradle plate....which results in the plate being deformed when torquing up the top mounting bolt. My bike had this incorrect when I got it back from a pro workshop after a strip down and re-assembly. Also top marks for using the correct oil in the SA....many folks mistakenly use grease for that...which will lead to early bushing wear. Bushings are special "Oilite" material which soak in the oil...but not grease. Have you considered the SA improvements discussed in Norman Whites book? I think he shows a welding mod to the engine cradle SA tube...but another way to achieve same effect is to use some "C" type pipe clamps around the tube and then tap in a single bolt to push against each of the two the SA spindle flat sections. Can be done with bike assembled like I did, but much easier with it all apart. MiTy Garage u-Tube channel shows a video series doing this mod. The lower left side rear shock mount bolt...should be a special thin hex section bolt...the head must go on the outside I believe...as it engages with a mounting bracket on the chainguard...it must slot into the rather narrow bracket. Easy enough to correct once you get to that point.

[@motohomeless9168]

Thanks! I did put the spacer where you said. I did consider the swingarm improvements, but this is my first time ever doing anything like this, so I’m just taking it one step at a time. Perhaps down the road I might modify it, but I’m trying to just not get overwhelmed. I’ve never torn a bike down to the frame and have never done much work to a Norton. As for the bolt, I purchased new ones from Andover Norton, so I would like to think they sent me what I needed. If I need to change it around, like you said, that will be simple enough. Thanks for the comment!!!

[@TornadoCAN99]

@motohomeless9168 went to take a look at my commando. Yes you got the shock lower bolts correctly placed, left one goes with nut outside...so that the thin hex of bolt head can engage with chainguard bracket. You'll see when fitting that. For isolastic rubber, I use dielectric grease, same as silicon grease, to help with fitting. Just squash the rubber with your fingers as they go in...not much drama really.

[@motohomeless9168]

Sounds good. Thanks!!

[@peterrestaino7047]

I bought my shed find rusty rat 1970 commando S for a grand. 500 bucks for ebay items that were missing. Now my Andover shopping cart has 103 items in it at 3000 grand. and I havent even addressed the elephant in the room that is boring the barrels, new pistons, recondition the head. adds up quick. by the way there is a 70 commando S up in Laconia on craigs list for 6500 dollars hmmm No I really am enjoying my time on this adventure.

[@motohomeless9168]

1000 for an S is a great find! Slow and steady wins the race. 6500 for a decent condition S is a good price. It seems the market is down on old bikes right now

[@peterrestaino7047]

I look at it this way Im going to norton school and every body knows it cost money

[@waltmills6105]

Sorry, this is a little off topic, but I’m wondering where you sourced your headlight ears.

[@motohomeless9168]

I think it was Eurotrash Jambalaya. The brand is tommaselli

[@peterrestaino7047]

Is that grease compadable with rubber , if not it may break the rubber down over time and everything may sag and go out of alignment.

[@motohomeless9168]

It is!