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Model 50 spanners

Submitted by john_evans1 on Sun, 04/06/2017
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Nortons - General

i am having problems setting the valve clearances on my m50 as my spanners are too thick to secure the locknut to the pushrods.

Any recommendations as to where to get very thin spanners for this purpose?

Submitted by john_evans1 on Sun, 04/06/2017

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Thanks but that would be a last resort.i cherish my tools so do not want to destroy any.

Many were handed down by my late father hence are 60yrs old plus.

I am happy to do it to a cheap indian type spanner but prefer to get something like the old mod flat plate spanners if possible.

Norton should have made a bigger tappet cover and more space to access the valadjusters..hindsight as they say!.

Submitted by dan_field on Sun, 04/06/2017

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Whitworth spanners aren't too hard to come by, fortunately my collection includes two slim spanners just right for the job! Have a look on amazon.

Submitted by ian_macdougall on Sun, 04/06/2017

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Agreed, I wouldn't want to abuse my favourite tools either but as Dan says you should be able to pick up reasonably priced Whit spanners from a variety of sources. Besides you are not actually destroying a tool, just adapting it for a specific task. I'm quite attached to my tappet adjusting spanner - it was ground down for me by the late Owen Greenwood in his Loughborough shop.

Submitted by andrew_wibmer on Mon, 05/06/2017

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Previously john_evans1 wrote:

i am having problems setting the valve clearances on my m50 as my spanners are too thick to secure the locknut to the pushrods.

Any recommendations as to where to get very thin spanners for this purpose?

I often find cycle spanners work well, not sure of the size you are after though.

Submitted by richard_woolnough on Mon, 05/06/2017

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slimline do a set of combi spanners in whit about £16 for the lot, I have two sets at this price and they work well, kind regards

Submitted by david_cooper on Mon, 05/06/2017

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Car boot sales usualy have cheap old spanners ready to have a new life.

Combination spanners are a fraudulent way to force us to purchase (and carry) twice as many spanners as we need.

Submitted by john_evans1 on Mon, 05/06/2017

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Thanks for the replies.I did not think Williams super slim still existed. these were my first choice but my local factor thought they were defunct.Everything else he offered was thick.

Cycle spanners seem to be metric nowadays but 13mm is close.

I will look at Amazon as suggested.

Submitted by john_holmes on Mon, 05/06/2017

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Ignoring the high quality lie Royal Enfield toolkits get you Whit spanners you can grind away knowing you are not wasting a good UK original spanner.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-HIGH-QUALITY-8-PIECE-TOOL-KIT-FOR-ROYAL-ENFIELD-MOTORCYCLES-BULLET-/152554989007?hash=item2384fc65cf:g:BWAAAOSwrklVCUYA

Spanners are not that bad actually, my really good ones stay in the workshop and these are in my carrier bag, if they drop off no harm done.

Submitted by john_evans1 on Mon, 05/06/2017

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Its certainly cheap..i found no superslim below 25 on ebay etc so they compare well with the 16 suggested.

I really do not need a set as I have lots of bsf.af.whitworth In addition to metric.What I REALLY want is two bsf or whitworth spanners slim enough to do the job.

Grinding is my least favoured option but of course I may have to!!

Submitted by ian_macdougall on Tue, 06/06/2017

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You could ask the seller to measure the thickness. As a guide my ground down spanner is 4.3mm thick (the unmodified end is only 5.2mm). I think you need to look for a spanner under 5mm thick. On my 19S the limiting factor is the depth of the flats on the pushrod rather than the size of the aperture in the rocker box.

Submitted by dan_field on Tue, 06/06/2017

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The spanner is the same as mine in the pic, it fits just, it's 6mm but for that money you could file it down.....remind me how much is the bike worth?!!! ;)

Submitted by john_evans1 on Wed, 07/06/2017

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Thank you for the replies,advice and links.This really is a wonderful club.

I remembered that a recently deceased motorcyclist friend gave me a number of tools before he passed. Checking the bag I found just what I need. It is old and there is no makers name but it fits perfectly and is only 4.7mm thick.

If I knew how to add photos I would but everyone I try to add fails. I am a computer numpty and proud of it!

Submitted by george_phillips on Thu, 15/06/2017

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Thanks Ian. I as just being lazy. Couldn't be bothered to trek down to the garage at that time of night! George

Submitted by Xanna_jeannett… on Thu, 15/06/2017

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HELLO TERRY Spanners can be foundon Ebay the ones for tapes have a long handle hopethis helps. yours annaj

 


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