Timing cover seal

The spring should NOT be visible.... it should be on the inside of the hole it sits in....REASON (for your confidence)

The gator spring always faces the oil pressure it is trying to seal against. The more pressure the harder the seal tries to close on the shaft it is sealing...If it was the other way round it would open up and release the pressure.

The oil in the timing cover flows under pressure from the relief valve to the back of the seal and then into the end of the crankshaft to feed the big ends....so the spring must face this flow and hence the spring is on the inside of the hole....the PLAIN side of the seal is visible held in by the circlip ....

Les

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Indeed, the seal on the cam has the garter visible from inside the cover.

Red ones are best !

Yes. Looking from the inside of the cover the lip of the CRANKSHAFT seal is pointing into the pocket and away from its retaining circlip. The spring is not visible as it is on the underside of seal inside the pocket thus oil is contained in the pocket and forced (sometimes by not much admittedly) through the crankshaft.

The CAMSHAFT oil seal looking from the inside of the cover is fitted with the lip and spring facing towards you however to prevent oil from inside the timing case escaping into the area which contains the points (or electronic trigger system if modified).

The use of a cheap and simple special tool (listed in the manual) smeared with oil is best way to prevent damage to this seal when fitting cover as it has to expand over the end of the camshaft. The crankshaft seal has no such issues but check the end of the crankshaft for any sharp edges that may damage the seal during fitting these must be carefully removed and again smear oil on the end of crankshaft to help assembly.

Visualise it this way (take your pick):

Les

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On most Nortons....the Double 'O' Rule applies when fitting oil seals.

That is the Open side, of the seal, always faces the Oil. In which case, those seals with the springy rings to hold them firmly on shafts will also generally also face into the oil.

Like all Golden Rules there tends to be exceptions. Check out the attached 961 Sport photo which shows fork oil seals (gaitors?) with springs on the outside (exterior). Also, those of you with keen eyes will spot the rust oozing out of the front wheel spindle of this brand new, just delivered bike.

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Hi Phil...I would imagine the visible fork seal on the 961 is to act as a dirt scraper to keep the stanchion wiped clean of dirt, the main oil retaining seal is probably below this and would be fitted the other way up to retain the oil. It's funny how our fickle minds think bare fork legs look so nice when it's vastly inferior to having shrouds or gators fitted which must be better at keeping the dirt off the sliding surface....However the wheel spindle "rust" is almost certainly brown grease......

Les

PS...Still amazed that the penny hasn't dropped with the new Norton people that they would sell loads more bikes if they produced a Roadster version...similar to the original 70's Commando Roadster....As far as I know, the Triumph "Bonneville" is and has been, the biggest seller for Triumph for years.....Oh yeah, the Norton still has the rear springs upside down...