ES2 Chain case problems

The sprocket is turning and the crankcase isn't (we hope !) so there definitely shouldn't be a spacer there. The situation is complicated as Norton almost produced a new inner chaincase each year.

Certainly earlier singles had a recess on the rear face of the inner which took a rubber or leather seal.

George's suggestion of the wrong engine sprocket is my suspicion too. There were at least three offsets over the years. The fact that a previous owner has fitted a spacer (which bears on what as it turns ?) suggests that there was an existing problem.

Due to the fact that aout 100,000 WD Nortons were made, most of the parts around are for them and will not be correct for your post-1948 engine.

Have you seen the late George Cohen's 'Norton Singles' website ? On the spares for sale page is a photo of three different sprockets. It is certainly worth mounting clutch and engine sprocket without the chaincase in place and putting a straight edge along the chainwheels to check alignment.

RGM have all three offsets, ask if you can buy one of each and return the ones that don't fit. That's what I did, or rather was going to do but never got around to sending it back!

Any work to the clutch?

i had same as George there were washers fitted as per image making the chain case catch the chain

Barry

Hi David,

Have you got an ES2 sprocket ? The large (inner) sideof the hole should measure just over 15/16ths of an inch (24mm) which is smaller than the actual main-shaft which is 1 inch so the sprocket does not go quite to the end of the taper. The sprocket used on the OHC engines is 1 and 3/32 inch to fit a 1 and 1/8th inch shaft. Just check this isn't the problem. If this isn't the reason there may be a greater problem with-in the crankcase and flywheel assembly.

Regards, Richard.