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Radial needle roller clutch modification

Submitted by robert_tuck on Sun, 11/01/2015
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Heavy Twins

In my box of bits is a conversion kit, would have come from Norville,RGM or Hemmings, now i have the clutch to bits I'll try to fit this. Has anyone else done this? .It appears I'll have to shorten the old Push rod and have the shaft of the mushroom turned down a few thou to go into the Norville rod seal ,---another bit of kit bought long ago. Do any of these improvements fit without a re-design?. Getting into my cluch for the first time in 20 years is akin to opening King TUT's tomb! .Nothing omiss in there but surprisingly dry --don't know how the clutch rollers survive with so little lube.. All a bit sticky from EP 80 from the box. THe chain looks fine and is probably from 1960's , Belt drive? Can't see the point.

Submitted by Xanna_jeannett… on Sun, 11/01/2015

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Previously robert_tuck wrote:

In my box of bits is a conversion kit, would have come from Norville,RGM or Hemmings, now i have the clutch to bits I'll try to fit this. Has anyone else done this? .It appears I'll have to shorten the old Push rod and have the shaft of the mushroom turned down a few thou to go into the Norville rod seal ,---another bit of kit bought long ago. Do any of these improvements fit without a re-design?. Getting into my cluch for the first time in 20 years is akin to opening King TUT's tomb! .Nothing omiss in there but surprisingly dry --don't know how the clutch rollers survive with so little lube.. All a bit sticky from EP 80 from the box. THe chain looks fine and is probably from 1960's , Belt drive? Can't see the point.

Hello Robert the ye old mushroom push rod end part was fitted to the 1951to 1956 dominator models and ES 2 the mushroom end is so designed to not let the clutch outer cover from being out of line, now is lost technology that was better than modern stuff , yours anna j

Submitted by gordon_johnston on Sun, 11/01/2015

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Yonks ago I fitted a radial needle roller conversion to an A10 clutch. All jolly nice but I didn't notice any difference in the action whatsoever. It's still there but really I have to ask myself need I have bothered? With you on belt drive conversions. Not a lot wrong with a chain. Heard a pearl of wisdom regarding expedition-equipped Land Rovers. Just leave them standard - so much easier to fix and get parts when they break. Applies to old Nortons too.

Submitted by robert_tuck on Mon, 12/01/2015

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I'm beginning to think its a case of choose which mod will bring most benefit. I Don't think there is enough room to do both. Looking into which sealant to use on the joint between inner case and rubber, something unafected by ATF.

Submitted by robert_tuck on Tue, 13/01/2015

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Now its appart I can see that the springs are of different lengths and although I had got the clutch spinning true at full lift it would not engage and grip as it should ,also a couple of the non orriginal (Norville?) spring nuts have no nib to lock to the spring . Have ordered new springs and a puller to get the center off( no idea why its stuck).I have decided to go with the push rod seal ,so if someone else wants to try a Radial conversion!.

 


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