Cylinder head removal in frame

Hi Chris

Not trying to be unhelpful, but this is very well handled in the Factory Manual, engine Video/DVD and Technical Digest - Norvil are now selling the Factory Manuals and my guess is that if you're going to go as far as lifting the heads, it's probably wise to invest in one?

If you need a wise old head to talk you through it, had you thought about joining your local NOC Branch?

Best of luck

Peter

The rubber band trick works fine but you can also try stuffing paper towel between rods and bore after they are fully into the head. One important point is to make sure the inlet rods are right up and I find you have to raise the exh rockers so the pushrod end is down to do this. The exh rods will then just about slide in alongside. Use a 2x2" wood block across the barrel to support the head so it doesn't crash down each time you fail to clear the rods from their barrel bores. Even better and for more clearance, remove the front ISO bolt and pivot the assy around the centre stand. Protect the frame rails first. This gives a lot of extra room to manouevre the head. You will find that there is also enough rotation on the head when clear of the studs to insert the rods from the side but you have to be careful you don't bend anything.

Previously wrote:

Has anyone any tips on how to remove and refit the Commando cylinder head with the engine stillin the frame please?

Every thing is straight forward except push rods. When you raise the head be astride the bike and raise the head with one hand either side at the same to run your fingers in under the head at the front/side and pull up the push rods between first and second finger. When they are well up into the head, tilt the head backwards and pull it out one side.

Remantling-have the head in at 90 deg to the barrels in the space where the carbs normally sit. Push the push rods deep up in side the head. As you turn the head forward onto the barrels the push rods would want to fall out into the bores! So again you use the first and second fingers to hold them in the head until the head is over the barrels and the push rods are aligned with their tunnels, drop them down, get the head on but keep it raised by using the two long nuts that go under the exhaust ports between head and block while you fiddle (with bent bicycle spoke) push rods into place. Every thing else should be obvious.

Have fun.

AL OZ