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Outer Oil Excluding Band on N Clutch Sprocket

This is from page 85 of the Edgar Franks 1949 Norton Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair.
Also referred to in Bruce Main Smiths, Norton Motorcycles 1928 to 1955 as an Oil excluding Ring pressed on to the sprocket extension of the clutch. Page 37
​​​Can anyone please shed some light on this, how effective it is, part number, please.
Would it be any use on clutches after 1955?
This is NOT the sealing band around the outside of the primary chaincase

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Tim, I have just recently worked on the clutch of my 1956 ES2 and it doesn't have it.

I can't say whether or not a previous owner removed it or not, but it works without it. 

Don Anson
Melbourne 

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I got sick of it coming loose, so I threw it away about 50 years ago without any ill effects!
John
 

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I suspect that the fact that Norton deleted it tells us everything.  But they did claim that new friction materials (rather than cork) were oil resistant.
The rubber sealed chaincase was only from 1935.  Did they have the steek ring before that?
The WD manual describes it as "clutch plate cover" 

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Thanks all
Your comments make sense. Photo's in the old books are good but can't make it out as a separate part.
Have got my 650ss primary side apart to repair the back primary metal and fit the felt washers and Commando pair of metal discs, as mentioned in the forum.
Thought I'd go back to the original designer,Edgar Franks (with Mr Carol) to see if I could pick up any more tips.

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My Model 50 had one. When I renewed the clutch sprocket (thus outer basket) the band couldn't go on again, as the fit was now very loose around the new basket.

This disturbed me, but after some research as described above, I felt safe to leave it. It didn't give negative effects. To be honest, I suspect that any stray oil can now be flung off more effectively.

Iv've used it for a couple of years that way without any problems. Last year I remembered that motorcycle engine oil has additives to prevent clutch slip. That's why you can't use general car oil. So I made a point of topping off the primary case with modern 10W40 motorcycle engine oil, just for the sake of it. It might put your mind at ease.

 



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