Skip to main content
English French German Italian Spanish

Damaged Commando Clutch in Dommi

Forums

I have a 1959 Dommi with a Commando clutch fitted and  I am stripping it down prior to engine removal. It seems to be damaged in an odd way and I was wondering whether or not anyone could shed some light on what may have happened ? See photo attached. All fibre plates have a similar groove, on both faces, to the one shown. Furthur, I found the clutch to be full of small bits from the fibre plates which look as if they have peeled away from the teeth.

Also the belt is damaged - see photo. Part of every tooth has been stripped off the inside edge to about 1/8th of an inch. Anyone know the cause ?

Permalink

Hi Mike 

 

The elliptical grove in the plates is a standard feature it's there to help move the oil. The chips are most likely caused by indentations in your clutch centre.  I wold think your belt damage is an alignment issue  or tension problem to much play in your clutch drum bearing will exacerbate things encouraging the belt to walk from side to side of the pulleys. Chains are more forgiving IMHO.

Best regards 

Katherine Scott

 

 

 

 

Permalink

The attachment shows classic wear pattern of a belt that has been moving across the pulleys and then rubbing on the keeper plates and/or the alternator carrier. One of the causes of this is worn bearings inside the Gearbox although a similar amount of wear will occur if the box has been twisting in its cradle. A second adjuster fitted to the left side plate will cure this.

This is the Achilles Heel of Norton belt Drive Conversions. If there is any wear in the three main shaft bearings or the box can twist then the drive belt will track outwards during hard acceleration and then inwards when decelerating. It is a very smart move to recondition the gearbox before fitting a belt drive kit. So renew the large sleeve gear bearing plus the two bushes inside. Also change the smaller ball bearing at the kickstart end of the gearbox main shaft. 

 


Norton Owners Club Website by White-Hot Design