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<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"> Hi eric. I thought i would wait for the shift lever warning and now I have a cracked trans case on the shelf. M.F.</span>
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On 04/05/2021 3:58 PM ducdude via DVNR <dvnr@casano.com> wrote:
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Thanks Brian,
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Can you or anyone direct me to a supplier of the needed specialty tools I will need to service the gear box?. Always room for more tools!
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Thanks ,
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Eric
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<strong>From:</strong>
<a>bsafr@aol.com</a>
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<strong>Sent:</strong> Monday, April 05, 2021 03:02 PM
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<strong>To:</strong>
<a>ducdude@verizon.net</a>
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<strong>Cc:</strong>
<a>dvnr@casano.com</a>
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<strong>Subject:</strong> Re: Commando Lay Shaft bearing
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Hey Eric,
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Since David mentioned my ordeal, I will reply. I originally wasnt going to weigh in because I know others who are more experienced probably would and I am often teased that Im a "Level Three" mechanic.
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I have a '74 Mk2a Interstate home model - Im the second owner (only had 15,000 mi.), so I know it hadnt had too much work done on it. My layshaft bearing failed (catastrophically) while riding it around 20 - 25 mph through a turn. As David mentioned, I didnt even know about that issue, so I thought something was wrong with my kickstart return. Bike stopped suddenly in the turn, but I didnt drop it. Started up and tried to continue but realized something more severe was going on. Dan Sellers Recovery Service came and fetched me home. Did some research and decided to take a stab at it - uring the Old Britts article and also the one Russ references (Old Britts link is in that one). I also consulted the service manual. I did the job with the gearbox in-situ.
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I debated using the ball bearing (Mick Hemmings does) and Steve Collins from Collins Cycle said it would be OK, but everyone else suggested the roller bearing upgrade. I bought both, but installed the roller bearing. I made my own bearing puller (using a gear puller jaw) and you also need a slotted tool (like a 55 drum cap remover) to remove the shaft lockring so you can get the inner case off (I made that out of a piece of matching diameter pipe and cut the two bayonets). It is also helpful to have a thin wall Whitworth socket to get the one lower left inner case nut off easily. I did the heat and freeze stuff to remove the outer race of the disintegrated bearing and install the new bearing. I also replaced the outer bush and kickstart pawl - all the gears looked fine and I didnt remove the main shaft.
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I did find a small crack between the main sleeve gear and lay bearing aperatures, which may now be weeping a tad. I bought a used outer gearbox case in came I ever have to fix that - but was convinced to go ahead as is - I did use some Loctite bearing retainer when I installed the roller bearing to try to mitigate the problem. No difficulty reassembling. And other than the weeping its fine - the gears are indexed fine (I didnt remove the camplate) and I consider it a successful repair.
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Here is a pic of what I found when I opened mine, then a pic of the small crack in an inverted mirror, and a pic of the tools I used - real tools would be better Im sure!!
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Good luck - Im sure youll have no trouble - I wouldnt do it unless I had to.
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Brian
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<br>-----Original Message-----
<br>From: Russ Hunt WQ3X <wq3x@epix.net>
<br>To: ducdude <ducdude@verizon.net>; David Behnken <davidebehnken@gmail.com>
<br>Cc: MYTY <mjtt110@icloud.com>; DVNR Norton <dvnr@casano.com>
<br>Sent: Mon, Apr 5, 2021 11:35 am
<br>Subject: Re: Commando Lay Shaft bearing
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I did mine with the gearbox in the bike following this article:
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<a class="yiv0192131563enhancr_card_8391961608" href="http://doov.com/apps/nortoncompanion/index.php/upgrades-modifications/25-layshaft-bearing-upgrade" target="_blank" rel="noopener" shape="rect">Layshaft Bearing Upgrade</a>
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<td style="vertical-align: middle; padding: 12px 24px 16px 12px; width: 99%; font-family: YahooSans, Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-radius: 0 0 2px 0;"> <h2 class="yiv0192131563ydp6e0bafacard-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: YahooSans, Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #26282a; max-width: 314px;">Layshaft Bearing Upgrade</h2> <p class="yiv0192131563ydp6e0bafacard-richinfo-primary" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0 0 4px 0; color: #979ba7;">David</p> <p class="yiv0192131563ydp6e0bafacard-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: #979ba7;">Of and for Norton Motorcycles</p> </td>
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The article has you heat the case then use the layshaft itself to remove the bearing. It worked out for me, but sometimes the inner race will come off the layshaft and then you will need the puller. I used the fancy ball bearing recommended by Mick Hemmings and ended up replacing a bunch of other things in the gearbox too, like all the bushings and bearings and the mainshaft.
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Good luck,
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Russ in UBE
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On Monday, April 5, 2021, 10:36:54 AM EDT, David Behnken <davidebehnken@gmail.com> wrote:
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Morning Eric.
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</div> I believe Brian Safer's lay shaft bearing in his '74 Mark2a was starting to go last summer and he replaced it. If I recall correctly, his kickstart lever started to show the telltale signs of upcoming bearing failure and Dan Sellers gave him a heads up that it needed attention sooner rather than later. The good news is, as Frank said, it's relatively easy to get to and not like you need to take half the bike apart to make the repair. If I remember correctly, people often replace the ratchet spring and/or gear change return spring and check the kick starter pawl when they're in there but I could be wrong. (?) Maybe someone who knows for sure can chime in. I have yet to tear into a gearbox myself so I have no first hand knowledge.
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David B
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