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JBugaren

JBugaren

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Jan 9, 2018
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My name is James, and I just bought my second Commando, after having sold the first one in 1988. Glad to be back. The bike is a mk3, starts and runs, but the dreaded PO has much to answer for, as usual! The compression is down one one cylinder, the brakes are dodgy, but guess what? I ride it anyway!

My tech question: it leaks profusely from the shifter. How hard is it to replace that bush and seal? I assume I must heat the cover once it is off. I plan to address it while the head is off for machining. Any advice is sincerely appreciated!
JB
 
You could have your outer cover machined to accept a v-lip type seal - not that expensive if you have access to a machine shop
The cheaper way is to use one of the more modern twisted x-rings instead of the existing o-ring - better seal and less prone to dust/dirt ingress
Works well unless your shifter-shaft is excessively worn where the o-ring makes contact
In that case - replace the shaft and choose one of the above
Welcome and Cheers
Rob
 
robs ss said:
You could have your outer cover machined to accept a v-lip type seal - not that expensive if you have access to a machine shop
The cheaper way is to use one of the more modern twisted x-rings instead of the existing o-ring - better seal and less prone to dust/dirt ingress
Works well unless your shifter-shaft is excessively worn where the o-ring makes contact
In that case - replace the shaft and choose one of the above
Welcome and Cheers
Rob
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Thanks, Rob! Glad to know there are some options. I’m ordering the seal and bush from Andover. But I’ll wait till I see the shaft itself.
 
robs ss said:
You could have your outer cover machined to accept a v-lip type seal - not that expensive if you have access to a machine shop
The cheaper way is to use one of the more modern twisted x-rings instead of the existing o-ring - better seal and less prone to dust/dirt ingress
Works well unless your shifter-shaft is excessively worn where the o-ring makes contact
In that case - replace the shaft and choose one of the above
Welcome and Cheers
Rob
Click to expand...


JBugaren said:
Thanks, Rob! Glad to know there are some options. I’m ordering the seal and bush from Andover. But I’ll wait till I see the shaft itself.
Click to expand...

Assuming by "Mk3" that it's an 850 Mk3 then it should already have a proper oil seal fitted to the inner gearbox cover, not an O-ring in the outer cover as the pre-Mk3 models that robs ss is talking about. There is no outer cover shifter seal unless it's been converted to right foot shift?

https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-drawing/128/gearbox-inner-cover

https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-drawing/128/gearbox-inner-cover#
https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-details/16455/bush-gearchange

However, if you mean it's leaking from the shifter shaft in the primary cover then it's possible that the boss surrounding the shaft bush could be cracked. The shaft also has a proper oil seal 065181 which I assume is the one you've ordered?
https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-drawing/131/inner-and-outer-chaincase-hydraulic-tensioner

Note that the ratchet spindle O-ring 040079 is not fitted to the Mk3 model and the Mk3 kickstart shaft also has a proper oil seal.
 
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Welcome to the global Norton community James.

Cheers,

cliffa
 
Sorry if i've mislead you James - best intentions, etc...
As a pre- MkIII old fart I should read more carefully before replying
Hope you find the right path to "perfection"
Cheers
Rob
 
I tried the X-ring and it did work much better but after a couple of years it started to leak again. I shipped my case off to Matt at Colorado Norton Works for the seal conversion done on both the shift and kickstart shaft plus I stepped up and had them do the show quality polish. The case came back looking so nice that I couldn't bear to put the old scroungy case screws back in so I had CNW send me the hi-zoot shiny replacements. Looks great and hasn't weeped a drop in the last two years.
 
Back in the day if you said, "My Norton doesn't leak," the response would be, "You better check the oil level." ;)
 
Welcome James.
Your problem could also be too much oil in the primary case causing excessive splash over the shaft. Of course the shaft/bushing and seal being old/worn would be the simpler fix.
Check the oil level in the primary case before disassembly to aid in the diagnosis.
Ride On (a Norton of course)
Dave
 
Money to spare & upgrades are available nowadays but oldest school was was fit two tach drive oil rings in there or to put some tin foil, or cig box foil stuffed-folded into groove to compress factory o-ring more, then grease shaft then smear surrounds with sillycone RTV, assemble and leave over night. Machined to accept Honda seals was the rage till last decade. I've done both the Honda seal and foil method to find either one worked a treat with merely film of oil after redlined hours of squid games could not hold hand on gearbox. Sane legal use stayed dry as trailer queen.
 
hobot said:
Money to spare & upgrades are available nowadays but oldest school was was fit two tach drive oil rings in there or to put some tin foil, or cig box foil stuffed-folded into groove to compress factory o-ring more, then grease shaft then smear surrounds with sillycone RTV, assemble and leave over night. Machined to accept Honda seals was the rage till last decade. I've done both the Honda seal and foil method to find either one worked a treat with merely film of oil after redlined hours of squid games could not hold hand on gearbox. Sane legal use stayed dry as trailer queen.
Click to expand...

o_O

I think maybe you should read the thread again? :rolleyes:
 
Just a review of prior drool solutions - not current best option, which means jumping beyond Norton fence here.
 
hobot said:
Just a review of prior drool solutions - not current best option, which means jumping beyond Norton fence here.
Click to expand...


But it doesn't appear to be anything to do with the OP's question, which was....

JBugaren said:
The bike is a mk3,

it leaks profusely from the shifter. How hard is it to replace that bush and seal?
Click to expand...
 
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James, if we are indeed talking about the shift shaft coming out of the primary cover then its a fairly easy job. You can get at the back side of the bushing and knock it out easily and the seal will pop out with a small lever. While your in the neighborhood you should also consider replacing the bushing for the cross shaft 06-5185 and the seal at the inner primary cover 06-5183. AND,,,,,,,,while you have the cover off have a good look at the chain and service the hydraulic chain tensioner. Use the forum search at the top right of this page too find out more about this service.
If you did find more oil in the primary then necessary you may need to disassemble the clutch pack and clean the plates, then determine where the extra oil came from; clutch rod seal and or a blown out main seal from starting a wet-sumped Norton or an over zealous PO.
Lastly (not) the MKIII does not and never did use ATF oil in the primary due to the self fed hydraulic tensioner. I use the same motor oil that goes in the engine, but what do I know? (DO NOT use this as an excuse to turn this into another oil thread)
Keep wrenching, keep asking question and above all else enjoy it.
Ride On
Dave
 
Wow! Thank you all for the great advice. I will check the oil level before taking the cover off. I suppose I should have done already, but since it was leaking, I ASSUMED
 
the level was fine. More fool me! and yes, Mike, the quote is from Austin Powers, my favorite movie!
 
Welcome to the list, always great to get new people into the fold.
Where are you at?

John in Texas
 
Hello good people,

Just wanted to give kudos to the site, as a little poking around with the search button allowed me to find the cause of, and subsequently cure, the clattering from the primary on my mk3 when cold. Just a dirty tensioner. Wham bam. All fixed!

And John, I’m in California, Placentia to be exact. About a mile from Tricky Dick’s place.
 
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