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Rear Hubs

Hi,

Is there a difference between a Commando rear hub and any other rear hub from a Heavy twin?

Many thanks

John H

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The later Commando's have a cush drive in them, or from 1971and the Mark 3's are different to the earlier ones. You can fit a cush drive hub and wheel into a featherbed frame, if you have a belt drive withno cush drive in the clutch. I did this on my own cafÃ? racer. I put a Commando rear wheel into my AJS 33CSR and it fitted ok. The only difference that I can see is that the Commando rear wheel has a different off set for the rim.

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Thank you!

Are there also any casting number differences and thread differences?

Someone has informed me that my supposedly Dominator rear hub is in fact probably an early Commando unit and this came about as a threaded part of a speedometer drive would not fit!

I will try and get more information tomorrow!

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If you look at the parts books for the Commando and the Dominator for the rear hubs then the different part numbers should tell which components changed between the hubs. That rear hub was used on Dominators and Commando's up to 1970. All the internal bearings would be the same, as well as the oil seals and bearing spacer. The left hand thread for the speedo drive would I suspect also be the same. If it is not broke why fix it was the factories mantra.

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Anthony cheers;

Next I need to find out what length a Featherbed Swinging Arm is? I asked for a Swinging Arm to be fabricated an Inch longer, to give greater rear tyre options and adjustment for handling with closed end loops as on the Gold Star, Ariel's and Royal Enfields, never liked open-ended Clevis type Swinging Arms, always seemed like a fundamentally bad design idea to me!

The thing is my Norton rear sprocket hub has been modified to take a bolt on sprocket, so that tooth number and size and replacements can be added removed as necessary. Having a fixed non-renewable sprocket/Hub unit was another fundamentally, bad design idea too as far as I am concerned!

As the brake sizes on the Dominator and Commando were the same I guess the width, circumference,e.t.c are the same!

John H

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My rear axle is set 15 1/4" from the swing arm spindle. It's not far from the middle of the slot.

Not sure why looped rear is so much better. How often do wheels fall out of the back?

And the brake drum with sprocket worked in practice for decades. So there was no reason to change it..thus adding cost and cutting sales. Also design change brings immediate reliability issues. Bolts to come loose etc.

"If it's not broke, don't fix it" has always been a good plan!

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Hi David,

Thanks for the information.

Just me perhaps never liked the idea if it all "God forbid" the rear wheel came loose", only your a rear chain and brake arm would be holding the wheel in!

Lots of competition bikes went for closed- loop Swinging arms..BSA, Royal Enfield, Ariel, I guess it is me, at least with a closed loop, there is an extra safety dimension with a closed loop design, I know, it is a belt and braces approach!

What happens when your sprocket wears out on a fixed application? Complete costly, new rear unit?

Now, with better fixings, dare I say Nylock nuts and maybe better steels, a bolt on Sprocket shouldn't be too much off a problem!

"If it is not broke don't fix it", works to a degree, but I propose that this was taken too far and hence we have through lack of thought, insight, investment, Research and Development and determination lost most of our automobile industry!

I think I once read that Honda invested 17% plus into his company year on year and I guess Honda shareholders, if there are any, are happier that those that invested in BSA or AMC!

Cheers

John H

 


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