Gearbox oil

There are previous threads on this one, Jonathan. Just type in "gearbox oil" into the search box on the top left of this page and see which query is nearest to yours. George

There isn't a level plug on these boxes. The filler is rather inaccessible and best filled using something like a 'Wesco' oil can.

The oil will drip out fairly quickly whatever you do but the box can tolerate fairly low levels as it is 'upright' and the layshaft gears underneath will pick oil up and transfer it to the rest of the cluster.

I fill my 'Dollshead' (same box but different end cover) until the oil is just visible at the bottom of the filler threads.

The index finger as depth gauge is an essential part of the workshop equipment with Nortons of this era !

Previously richard_payne wrote:

The index finger as depth gauge is an essential part of the workshop equipment with Nortons of this era !

That must make the hob-nobs slide down a treat

Why would anyone want to put Hobnobs in the gearbox anyway!

I have two ES2's, both I fill with liquid grease especially made for gearboxes. Two ways to fill them, both messy. Get a large syringe and fill it with grease and fit a small pipe to the end of it and poke it into the filler hole an seal around the hole with a rag or a tapered plug of your own making. Squirt it in and away you go.

Or, get a large whitworth bolt that fits into the threaded hole, cut the threads short and drill and tap a hole in the top and fit a grease nipple. You can then use a grease gun to fill it with.

Fill it so that the grease is covering the kickstart shaft. That's all you need.

If you like, you can add a little teflon grease such as Active 8 or similar to help with the lube.

It will be MESSY and some will come out of the output shaft behind the sprocket, don't worry, it will find it's own level eventually.

Top up occasionally as needed. It takes about half a pint of grease. You can also add some EP140.

Morris lubricants make a semi-fluid grease for gearboxes.

You can buy60ml syringes - ideal for filling ancient gearboxes and even adding fork oil to Roadholders. Very useful in the workshop.