Commando nearly there

Chroming back from Hull and fitted - very nice it is too. Carbs also rebuilt with new slides, jets etc and back on. Only thing waiting for now is for the front brake master cyclinder to come back from machining and the bike is pretty much done.
Put some fresh oil and  a new filter on the engine, and started her up - carbs need a bit of fine tuning but that needs a quick spin to warm up to do that right, but not recommended without a front brake.
Classic Bike show at Stafford next week, so might pick up a few more bits as theres a bit of slack in the budget - new stainless front mudguard and stay as some of the cross brace rivets on the old one have rotted.

Shiny bits from http://www.qualitychrome.co.uk/index.php

Wheres the front master cyclinder?

Shiny bits on, carbs back on, tank on, fuel in and started up

 

 Hopefully not long now and its MOT time followed by going into battle with the DVLA about historic vehicle status to get free tax.

What the hell has he bought now?

A Mercedes van that's what it is. All part of a master plan to be revealed shortly.

The dreaded Norton 'pinch bolt crack'

Noticed that the LH fork slider on the ES2 has cracked at the bottom pinch bolt area - not me i hasten to add as I'm well aware that this is a common failure as the pinch bolt can get over tightened. The recommended torque is something like 15ft lbs, and on the Commando I remember putting a washer in as packing so that it couldn't get overtightened.


You don't want to see this crack on your Norton single. I've slackened the bolt off to make the crack wider and more visible for the picture as you had to get up close to see it.

Anyhow, found a place in Lincoln that was willing to repair it - http://www.paintperfectlincoln.co.uk/ - Only around the corner, had a chat with them and they also have a dip tank big enough for bike frames and have done a number of motorcycle jobs in the past, so might give them a try when its time for the Commando frame etc next winter.


Many LH fork legs end up looking like this - ally weld repair.

Fork leg stripped down o.k, nothing to them really and even more basic than the Commando's. Fork oil changed and replaced with Castrol TQF.
Also did oil change on the engine as I wasn't sure when it was last done, but looking in the drained oil tank revealed a fair amount of sludge so off it came for a clean out before refilling with Castrol Classic GP50.

Been meaning to have to take a look at the pipe joints and drain plug as there's been a bit of oil weeping - copper washers I reckon that had been re-used but not annealed. So a quick blast of the washers with the propane torch and the tank's leak free now, so not so many drips on the garage floor now.

I'm Hungary.....

.....or actually in Hungary for few days with work.

A place called Gyor about 70 miles south from Vienna.

The place itself is quite charming in a central european oldy worldy way and its nice and warm this evening, a lot out and about having an Ice cream or a beer after work as the Europeans tend to do. All very civilised and quite unlike their antics when behind the wheel - the drive down from Vienna airport kept me on my toes I can tell you!!

Also had to faff about getting a vignette at the first truck stop inside Hungary to use the motorway, and also change some euros to Hungarian florints - daft girl at the exchange initially gave me Bulgarian money?? That would have been interesting trying to get a beer if I hadn't noticed.