Commando front wheel spindle

hi chris I've'got a 1977 850 e/s, here's some info you may find of use

axle/nut torque =60 lbf

spindle pinch nut= 10lbf

front wheel has two chrome plated spacers/dust covers of different lengths, the longer boss goes to the disc side

I've got a plain spindle nut and use a plain washer to avoid chewing up the aluminium slider , could be worth checking that the wheel bearing spacer is still in place ( had a z550 once some prat decided removing the spacer was cheaper than replacing the bearings)

my axle slightly protrudes the nut by an eight of an inch or so

I hope this is of some help

steve

Chris, the Norton system does differ from many more recent designs. It's well worth obtaining a workshop manual (and not just for the front wheel !)

Briefly, you need to slacken off the pinch polt and then hold the spindle by inserting a tommy bar. Tighten the nut on the disc side then give the forks a couple of bounces to make sure that the pinch bolt leg has centred itself before carefully tightening the pinch bolt. A corroded spindle or a burred leg might cause the leg to be pulled over in which case it will need to be removed and cleaned up.

You should see with everything tight that the shoulder on the spindle has pulled up against the bearing spacer and that the pinch bolt leg is not pulled inwards . On my Mk3 there is about 0.60" between leg and spacer but this is not so critical as that the leg is not pulled out of line.

The spindle should engage the nut fully. There is no locking system but it is a special nut with a reduced section to clear the recess in the fork leg. If the two chromed spacers with integral dust covers are present then I don't think that they can be wrongly fitted as the disc would contact the fork.

Chris, it might not be a bad idea at this stage to take the front wheel bearings out for service, and make sure everything is as it should be. The bearings should be cleaned and re-packed with grease form time to time anyway. Inspect everything and make sure it is correct, and you should be all set. As others have written, a factory workshop manual and parts book are essential, and you should be able to order these easily. Don't buy the Haynes of Clymer manual, get the Norton one.

Just to add my two penneth, There is no washer fitted under the nut, also the pinch bolt does not have to be particularly tight as it only has to stop the bottom of the fork leg moving from side to side. They are often either stripped or the lug is cracked from over tightening. Either way it then needs a proper repair and welding fork legs is fraught with problems.

The American INOA "tech notes" are well worth the money from this website shop I believe and complement your workshop manual. Worth getting a parts list as well.

It's a good while since I sold my Commando, but shouldn't there be only one dust cover, just like my Domi? Also, as mentioned above, be very careful not to over-torque the pinch bolt on the bottom of the fork leg. Gordon.

Chris, in the meantime, before your parts book arrives, the Andover Norton web site uses parts book illustrations for spares ordering.

http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton%20Website/norton/parts-list.php?Model=n850_e&Plate=022

I don't know if the link will work (and can't preview to check) but it's straightforward enough to navigate their site. You can see the two spacer-dust covers fitted to the disc brake models (with a drum, the brake plate is effectively the spacer).

I have a Dommie, not a Commando but I think it's a similar set up. When I got mine the spindle didn't protrude fully through the nut either, which I found a bit unnerving. Actually, I have since seen several bikes like this, both Dommies and Commandos, with the same thing. Trawl through a few magazines and you are bound to come across some. I didn't know if this was supposed to be like this, but a phone call to Mick Hemmings resulted in a new spindle which now protrudes a few threads out of the nut and makes me feel a lot safer. Sorry I can't comment on your other queries, hope you get it sorted.

The Commando spindle fits a Dommie (I have one in mine). The nut tightens only one the same side - the other fork end is stopped from slipping about just by the pinch bolt. Another issue is my bike came with a very smart stainless steel spindle - but the pinch bolt couldn't get a grip on the shiny metal. I can't measure any difference in diameter... and as above I didn't wan to break the clamp - hence I bought a new spindle.

I just noticed a mistake in the Mk 111 parts book, that I'm sure most have realised.

Front wheel section describes both of the wheel spacers as disc side, granted they still have different part numbers but pretty easy to make a mistake and put the same spacers either side, which incidentally one of my bikes has !

sam