Going over the front forks of my recently aquired 650 ,i came across a problem not seen before. A trial fit of axle to forks (without wheel or mudguard ) revealed the axle to not want to go through the offside slider. When i removed it previously it needed a heavy wallop from a mallet to shift. In the interim i checked and adjusted the fork damper rods to align the spindle holes when at full extension as there was some difference, This usually ensures an effortless axle replacement and less struggle with wheels .after attention to brakes etc. In this case it did not improve the fit. The axle just will not pass through the offside and i dont intend to use force . I suspect the alloy slider has been bruised at the outside face by an attempt to fit the axle from the wrong side (aided with a hammer ?) .Looks like i'm going to need a reamer, Anyone had this issue ?.
Hiyah Bob - Remove the…
Hiyah Bob - Remove the mudguard and brackets then rotate the slider through 90 deg and try the axle in the hole from the inside and outside to see which side is damaged. Light work with a three-sided metal scraper should do the job. Has the slider been broken previously at the pinch bolt and welded up ? In which case you may need some carborundum paste and gentle lapping to relieve a high spot. As you know already it does not need a big difference in the damper rod position to prevent the axle sliding in without the need of a mallet when the brackets, mudguard and front wheel are fitted. I do not like the way the front-end weight of the bike can hang on the few fine threads of a damper tube when the forks have bottomed out. Far better that they hang on both tubes simultaneously. Better still that they hang on the bushes when the top and bottom collide and use the dampers for the purpose that they were desiigned. I've digressed - that's another problem when you're racer is going ! cheers, Howard
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Spindle alignment.
Hi Bob,
Does the spindle go through the off-side slider from the wrong way? If it does it's possible one of the stanchions may be bent if the bike has been dropped. You could try turning them in their yokes individually to find an alignment position.
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The mudguard and wheel are…
The mudguard and wheel are removed. the pinch side is perfect . The axle will not enter from the offside whichever way the leg is turned. . The forks are straight . Its a puzzle alright. I wondered if it was a faulty pattern axle ,but no its a chrome orriginal. and mikes up ok. I have tried emery paper and a fine grinding paste . I think the only reason i managed to get it appart was it was all together and braced by having the bikes weight and bench wheel clamp to resist .Imagine being on the road with a brake or a tyre issue !!. Its a reaming or boring job. I dont actually need help but post issues like this to keep the forum going and to illustrate to the next generation of Norton owners what problems they may face with old bikes . Issues that are NOT in the manuals but you have to think through . Also it gives you guys something to do other than watch Emmerdale or the BBC news !. What a shadow of its former self that is.
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Missing washer under spindle nut
I had a similar symptom in an old wreck. The rusty wheel nut had been regularly tightened onto the offside slider. No washer. The aluminium was worn, spindle hole closed, and flat contact face now a cone.
These things need a bit of practical experience to fix. Thanks Rob and others.
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not wanting to teach egg sucking…. but would it not be easier to fit the axle to the outer offside only to see the degree of damage? Rather than a reamer and depending on level of distortion, go for a bearing scraper; find the edge deformation and its depth by inserting the axle. If it’s only on the edge a quick scrape and you’re away. Merry Christmas!