Dennis Wilson

Since I clean, polish and paint my center caps, I won't use anything corrosive (lye or acid) as it affects the detail. Especially the tail and mane of the horse. The last set I bought on ebay had been etched for anodizing the crest in copper and they ended up in the trash. I have found that rubbing or medium cut compounds will remove the surface oxidation without harming the details.

Dennis

leperboy

Dennis, the lye is for removing the anodized layer. Once it is removed, you do not use lye, just polishing compound.

Matt

Dennis Wilson

Matt,

I use 600, 1200 and 1600 wet/dry sandpaper on the surface to remove any blemishes, oxidation or anodes then continue with rubbing compound, medium cut and polishing compound. This gives a good upper surface and leaves crisp edges for painting the recessed areas.

Dennis

Fabio421

Thanks Abby. I'll try it. Is whole wheat flower OK or does it need to be bleached/enriched white flour?

dr bob

Bill, it looks like the shift on that Commando is on the wrong side. And the motor hasn't vibrated out of the frame yet either; must be really low miles!


Had a similar/older Commando in my immortal period of youth. Gobs of torque, exhaust note different rom the TR and BSA twins of the time. Locktite was a godsend, since things like little case parts and adjust plugs would "come off". Big rubber engine mounts called 'isolastic suspension' or some such made it possible to ride without body parts going numb. The one you have there looks like it's new or better. Very nice!

Bill Ball

dr. bob:

You know that in 75 Norton swapped the shifter to conform to the rest of the world. To do this there is a long rod going through the cases. I had a 71 in grad school that was the other way and I liked it better. The isolastics on the 75 bike are improved, using threaded adjusters instead of shims. One of our Rennlisters from England was the engineer who developed that improvement. The bike, owned by my deceased brother since new, just broke 12K miles this weekend after a 200 mile ride around some local twisties with 20 other Nortons. It sat unused for 10 years in the back of my garage. 6 months ago, I uncovered it, cleaned it up and started to ride it again. Yes, GOBS of low-end torque (seemingly effortless acceleration from any RPM) and a phenomenal exhaust note, especially with the Dunstall cans.

Anyway, the aluminum cases and other bits polished right up with a little sandpaper to remove any nicks, fine ScotchBrite to smooth the finish further, and then Autosol on a small buffing wheel mounted on an electric drill to get it to chrome-like luster.

Abby Normal

I've never tried whole wheat but what the hay/hey?

hacker-pschorr

My wife is 1/2 Polish

Bill Ball