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16h crankshaft end float excessive?

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Is this amount of crankshaft end float excessive for a pre war Norton 16h? and what is the likely cause please?

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End-float should be .005". There is something quite seriously wrong here..Perhaps a missing spacer from between the drive side bearings, assuming a post-1934 engine ?

The military manual includes details on crank installation.

 

https://www.wdnorton.nl/Downloads/16h%20M&I%20manual%20200dpi%20by%20courtesy%20of.pdf

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Hi Gary,

   What type of bearings are you using, ball, plain roller or lipped roller, and are they a good fit in the in the crankcases ?

In reply to by richard_cornish

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This is my set up - the bearings are new but the larger one on the drive side slides back and forth between the outer bearing and the flywheel - is this normal? there is one large spacer with oil holes in it which I have put in the drive side casing after the outer bearing - is thta correct? where should I place any further spacers please?

Thanks for any advice.

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Hi Gary,

   The best set-up is to have a lipped/shouldered roller bearing on each side and a ball bearing on the outside of the drive side, so yours need swapping around. The lip on the outer side of the roller bearings control the end-float along with the use of pen steel shims for fine adjustment against the flywheels. If you don't have lipped bearings this will be your problem. You can get away with this on the drive side by fitting a spacer between the 2 bearings that is the same width as the outer spacer which will mean any movement will be controlled by the ball bearing. If you don't have a lipped bearing on the timing side this could possibly allow the crank to break the thin aluminium wall by pushing the inner bearing through it. You have 2 options with this, you could get a lipped bearing (more expense?) or buy another ball bearing (not so much expense?) and this will control the the timing side thrust. To make the best job you should get the lipped ones.

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Hi Garry,

   The NOC shop have these bearings on page 9 in the singles engine section. If you want to look else-where try the racingnorton website or your local bearing factors, the RHP Bearings number is LRJA1J and the dimensions are 2+1/4" outer x 1" bore x 5/8" width.

   If you want any advice setting the end-float, just post here again.

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Also, there is a small hole at the bottom of the crankcase, drive side bearing mounting - is that for a screw or something please?

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Hi Gary,

   No, sorry I put the wrong page number, it should be page 8 number A2/32 17702 8858. The photo shows the open side, so might be best to send an email to be double sure they have the lip before you order.

   The small hole is a timed breather, but it's main function is to lubricate the outer ball bearing. If you look at your drive-side mainshaft you will see a corresponding hole to feed oil mist between the 2 bearings by crankcase pressure through the hollow mainshaft, so you might get the odd drip of oil when you park up.

 


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