Clutch options

A Commando clutch on a Dominator would be a big job. The Commando uses a triplex primary chain and the Dominator a single chain. The Pre-Commando clutches have rubber shock absorbers in the clutch hub, which is regarded as a good thing, whereas these were discontinued for the Commando.

A Dominator clutch in good condition works well and is very reliable, I can see no reason to try to fit a Commando clutch to a Dominator.

Hi Peter, I have owned both Dominators & Commandos & I have my Dommi clutch set up properly & works like a dream, but the commando clutch is a better set up in my opinion. Usually the reason some people put a Commando clutch on a Dommi is due to changing to a belt drive which has manybenefitsto a dommie including a new diaphragm Commando clutch. Its not a cheap conversion, but those whom I know who have "converted" all love it, especially the part about having a leak free primary!!!!! I don't know all the companys that offer it but the Norvil kit is 464 GBP for Dominators :

http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/beltdrive.htm

I am sure there are others. It is no small task to do the work, but 2600 kit have been supplied by Norvil worldwide.

Skip Brolund

Hi Colin,

you are right about the cush rubbers in the Dommi clutch hubs, & on the Commando they were moved to the rear wheel. I suppose if someone wanted to to put a Commando clutch on a Dommi, the rear wheel/brake assy. should also be changed unless they also did the belt drive which I assume would provide a little "cush" rather than a chain primary?????

Skip

I put a belt drive on my Dommi cafe racer, and have also added the Commando rear wheel with the cush drive in it, so that i shallstill have a cush drive some where in the system. The Domi cafe racer is still being finished off so i do not know how it will all work out yet, but by the above commnets from Skip that belt drive should be a really good addition. I wasalso thinking of putting a belt drive on my Manxman. Oh i said that dreaded word.

If you look in the Technical section under Heavyweight twins you'll find an article on "belting a Dommie".

I put an RGM belt drive and Commando clutch on my 1963 Dommie and I'm very pleased with the result. If I remember right I think it has a modified clutch centre to suit the Dommie gearbox mainshaft, but you can also put a Commando mainshaft in and use the standard diaphragm clutch centre.

Mind you, I see from my notes at the time I fitted it (March 2009) "Dommie belt drive kit, less plates, pressure plate, diaphragm spring, clutch centre adjuster, compressor, £322. Charged £28 too much and none of it fits anyway", so be prepared for some aggro. The problem as I remember it was getting the front pulley to go far enough onto the crankshaft so that the alternator rotor nut wasn't grinding a hole in the outer cover and also to leave room for the cover to fit over the the stator. Norvil supplied a spacer to fit over the footrest stud inside the cover which helped. I also found the heads of the bolts holding the clutch drum together rubbed on the inner case so I had to grind them down a bit and also put a packing shim on the end of gearbox mainshaft to push the clutch centre out a bit. Chamfering the alternator stator resin encapsulation gave a bit more clearance.

So all in all a bit of a bodge, as usual when fitting non-standard parts. Other belt drives may fit better.

I don't notice the lack of cush rubbers at all.

Skip,

The "Cush hub" was a late addition on the Commando, IIRC 1971. Early Commandos had no cush. Belt drives do not provide any cush. Cush drive hubs seem more likely to cause broken rear wheel spindles.

Keeping the Dominator clutch is the easiest solution.

Previously wrote:

Hi Colin,

you are right about the cush rubbers in the Dommi clutch hubs, & on the Commando they were moved to the rear wheel. I suppose if someone wanted to to put a Commando clutch on a Dommi, the rear wheel/brake assy. should also be changed unless they also did the belt drive which I assume would provide a little "cush" rather than a chain primary?????

Skip

Hi Colin,

I was interested to see your comment regarding cush drive hubs being more likely to cause broken spindles. Whilst on a ride a friend's spindle broke on his cush drive hub Commando, we both had experience of numerous Commandos and hadn't heard of this problem and assumed it was an unusual occurance. Is this more common than we thought and do you have any theories as to the cause?

Regards

Bob Johnson