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Domi distributor spacers

Submitted by bruce_lindsay on Tue, 28/08/2012
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Heavy Twins

Hello folks

I am trying to recommission a 1960 99 dominator which has standard lucas coil ignition. Upon inspection I noticed that the distributor spindle (drive sprocket at one end, rotor arm at the other) when all fitted up with the drive chain etc. has about 1/2" of end float. This end float is only really controlled by the run of the drive-chain and there is evidence of the rotor arm having made contact with the brass contacts in the cap. Upon consultation of my manuals it appears that between the drive sprocket and crankcase there should either be a spacer tube/copper washer assemblyor a bronze thrust washer depending upon year.

Firstly can anyone tell me whichend float controlset-up my bike should have, than possibly advise where I could get the parts?

If both set-upsare suitablethen I will use the best/most readily available.

I would happily buy second hand if anyone has the necessary bits lying around.

I have now removed the distributor and it does have a lot of shaft end-float - is this unusual or typical? Otherwise, it seems fine, and the bike ran ok!

regards

Bruce Lindsay

Submitted by benjamin_gradler on Thu, 13/09/2012

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Sorry about the sparse response to your request for information Bruce. In my case it is because the only Dommie I ever owned with points ignition was a very late Atlas, and I would not say it had the same setup as your early slimline.

I hope you have found your information. If not, and if the bike were mine I would go get some bronze stock, make up some drawings and have a friend with a lathe machine a spacer that would ensure things stayed where you want them, leaving a few thousandths play to let oil between all the moving parts.

I have some Matchless distributor engines from about this era, when I get a chance in the near future I will compare them to what Norton had at the time and see if they are similar and might have some or all the same parts in common....

Submitted by ian_allen on Fri, 14/09/2012

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Hi.

Please see attached photo which shows the spacersfitted tothe distributor. The nylon one goes underthe advance/retard unit against the oil seal. The steel sleeve between the distributor body and sprocket. On my Dommi there was a washer between the sleeve and body which I discarded as it wasn't in the parts list. A week later the a/r unit hit the points back plate andthe distributor self-destructed!!! So, check that you have sufficient clearance between the two when fully assembled.

Cheers.

Ian.

Attachments IMG_7902.JPG

Submitted by robert_tuck on Sun, 16/09/2012

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Previously wrote:

Forgot to add that the steel sleeve is half an inch in length!

Ian.

My Norton info says there is a steel spacer and copper washer on the disributor shaft behind the sprocket , the washer being placed on the shaft before the spacer. Clearances could be critical, mine exploded!!.

Submitted by bruce_lindsay on Mon, 17/09/2012

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Thanks gents for your photos and information. Mines has obviously been quite lucky so-far to have survived without any major coming together of components. There is no tube or washer at-all between the sprocket and distributer mounting body on my bike. My intention is to re-fit it all without the chain and align the sprockets then measure the remaining gap and make up a suitable bronze spacer. I will reassemble again without the chain and test it all by hand before the bike is fired up again to make sure there are no clearance issues.

Regards, Bruce

 


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