Commando frame tubing

Thanks gents - Would love to haveNorman White do the work but I am in the USA .

Only discovered bad spot yesterday after washing road grime off frame- this project is now progressing after sitting for 5 years . I need to strip the paint in the area in question to make a better assessment and hope to be able to weld in a patch . The area in question is in a straight section.

i will be getting shipping quotes from Andover and others on a new frame to cover a worst case scenario.

Thanks again - Richard

So I have come to think that it may be best to purchase a new frame . A little history here - I had just begun to tear down my 1972 Combat Roadster nearly six years ago . I built new SS wheels , sleeved the master cylinder, drilled the Lockheed brake rotor and had it Blanchard ground. I had previously gone through the gearbox - bearings , bushes etc .

I live at the seashore and we were hit by Superstorm Sandy - we had to evacuate ( once again ! ) and simply ran out of time to do all the preparations that needed doing . I had only one large lift at the time so my recently completed ES2 went on that - the Commando ( less wheels thankfully) went on an ATV jack - not as high as the lift but it was the best option at hand.

When we were able to return ( 10 days later ? ) I found the ES2 fine but the Commando had been immersed in salt water halfway up the timing chest. A meticulous rinsing /wash in freshwater followed along wth pulling drains in crankcase and gearbox - only oil came out so I was confident that no water had gotten to the internals and my recent disassembly has born that out thankfully but the chassis is another story .

Life got in the way for a bit and I was able to resume work on the Commando exactly 5 years later to the day from our evacuation . I stripped the chassis down and discovered some rust penetration along the bottom of the left side frame loop in the area immediately behind the tab for the side stand . I now believe there may have been some weld perforation from the welding of the tab and this may have allowed salt water to enter the tubing and do it's dirty work.

I planned to patch and cut the tube axialy so as not to require jigging . When all seemed good I realized the corrosion had nearly penetrated the tube along its entire bottom length.

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Continuing in steps here so that I don't loose all- sorry if it is disjointed gents .

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And this showing the depth of corrosion -

I am looking at a frame from AN - It seems the others require 850 yokes while Andover claims theirs will accept my 750 units. Do I gather that these two offerings have different headstock angles and hence the need for different yokes for rake/trail considerations ?

Any input from those more knowledgeable than I would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance to all - Richard

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Thanks John - I have a very good welder that I have great confidence in - I thought of using the entire loop repair piece but now we would be getting into jigging the frame and I would always have concerns about the internal condition of the other side .

Thanks to all for the helpful advice. I have ordered up a new frame from AN - given the advanced state of corrosion from the inside out of the left frame loop I would always be concerned about the right loop and front lower crossmember - as this component has a hole for the side stand spring it most certainly had saltwater enter it . The cost of the new frame including shipping to USA is offset to some degree by the repair and paint cost were I to repair original. I would hate to have to tear it all down again in a few years to deal with more rust issues - by that time I will be 70 yrs old so the smart money seems to be on the new frame . I will post comments on the shipping time and process when I receive it for those who may be curious.

Cheers - Richard

The new frame from AN has arrived in very good order indeed . The ordering process was completed on July 6 . I received notice from the shipper DHL that delivery would be on Wednesday July 11 but as I had to be out of town on that date I took the reschedule option for Monday the 16 . Something went amiss but I did receive it today -Tuesday the 17th. It was very well packed and I am very pleased . Had I not rescheduled the total time from order to my door would have been less than one week - all the way across the pond for something as big as a motorcycle frame so a tip of the hat to all involved.

cheers - Richard

Mike - I assume you meant the new frame - as can be seen the frame itself is completely wrapped in bubble wrap. It arrived in a heavy gauge cardboard box sealed with packing tape and multiple bands of plastic webbing in both directions and saddled at all corners . All voids around the frame were filled with close fitting empty cardboard boxes.

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And this - a very rich and nicely done paint finish in black-if wanted I will post more photos when I unwrap completely.

Richard

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