When offering the rear wheel to my 1972 Combat Commando with newly installed cushions I have difficulty getting them to seat on the prongs of the brake drum. Of course when the wheel has been been in use there is no problem as the prongs have been seated into the cushions enough to use the right hand spacer between the right swinging arm and the hard speedometer drive that allows the wheel hub to be secured to the prongs on the brake drum by tightening the axel.
This is not possible when new cushions are used. My method is to use washers with their ID the same diameter as the OD of the axel. I can then use the washers to begin pressing the hub to the brake drum prongs. This takes quite a while as more washers have to be added by removing the axel by removing the axel and adding more washers until the spacer fits. I always lube the prongs and cushions with a bit of STP.
I have owned this bike since it was new in 1972 until now after accumulating ~ 84,000 miles and am familiar the the care and feeding of Commandos. I am inquiring to find out if other Commando owners/mechanics have found a better way to handling the 'New Cushions in the Rear wheel hub' procedure.
John Morrissey in the Colonies
NOC 402598
Just replaced my Cush Drive…
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Even with old rubbers I find…
Even with old rubbers I find it difficult to fit the rear wheel into my 1974 850 Roadster. It is only out by a small amount but with both feet pushing the tyre and one hand pulling the swinging arm I could often manage.
Technique that I now use (probably no use for new rubbers where there is more of a problem) is to fit the wheel with long spacer without the speedo gearbox and tighten the spindle, thus pushing the wheel into the rubbers. Put chocks under the tyre so that the wheel will not move when the spindle is removed. Remove spindle and spacer, insert speedo gearbox, replace spindle and spacer.
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Just replaced my Cush Drive rubbers and used some rubber lubrication, the wheel went in to the rubbers enough to get the spacer and Speedo drive in. I wouldn't suggest it was an easy operation though!
The old 'rubbers' that were in the wheel when I bought it I would say the were more resilient plastic than rubber.