design of the Mick Hemmings vernier adjuster for the iso's

I remember reading some where that the inventor/originator of the Mick Hemmings isolastic vernier adjustable collars had proposed a strip of unthreaded bushing against which the setscrew would lock.

i have a set of these vernier adjusters provided by Mick and the thread is continuous, no flat groove for a setscrew.

Anybody have some more detail here?

The supplied grub screws (set screws) have a nylon tip on them. If you don't tighten them too much, they should hold. There's no reason for the adjuster to turn on it's own. I remember reading that some have drilled/tapped larger holes for larger screws. I haven't bothered. It seems to work for me.

Interesting....so the patent was files in 1995. It is significantly different than the vernier setup from Norton seen on the MKIII or were these never patented?
Near the end of the description, it mentions to correctly set, vibrations are monitored by the rider as the vernier is adjusted until vibrations disappear, then the set screw is locked in. Have not heard that method of adjusting while monitoring....

The screws are awfully small. The plastic tip seems to fall off. A ploughed strip in the thread for the tip of the grub screw to land on
seems like a good idea. Ludwig thought them a "waste of money". You can see his point because once you get the whole plot to where
you want it no further fiddling need be done. It is the ease of reaching this point that is in favour of the money being cheerfully spent.
In a way, I think a lot of us eventually adjust our isos in the manner suggested: somewhere between least vibrations and acceptable
handling.

I gave up on the Hemmings adjusters – I found the screws much too fiddly, and turning the adjusters could be problematical. This was many years ago, before I learned the hard way to avoid buying parts from N*rvil, and could afford to experiment – so I bought a set from them. Because the N*rvil items replicate (I believe) the Mk3 method of adjusting, using a tool like a bit of tent peg with a crank in one end (06.6532) to turn the adjuster, and then locking it in place by tightening the through-bolt. A breeze. But as DogT says, there's no reason the Hemmings adjusters should turn, once it's all buttoned up. So maybe the screws are overkill …? I've still got my Hemmings kit, I ought to eBay it …

What I liked about the Hemmings was it was just 2 (actually 4) pieces that replaced 2 pieces on the bike. No machining of the front mount, no changes in the setup of the iso's or buying new iso parts. I found it the simplest to implement and I doubt there's any difference in how effective any of them work, there's about 3 types out there near as I can tell.

NortonMKIIA850 said:

I gave up on the Hemmings adjusters – I found the screws much too fiddly, and turning the adjusters could be problematical. This was many years ago, before I learned the hard way to avoid buying parts from N*rvil, and could afford to experiment – so I bought a set from them. Because the N*rvil items replicate (I believe) the Mk3 method of adjusting, using a tool like a bit of tent peg with a crank in one end (06.6532) to turn the adjuster, and then locking it in place by tightening the through-bolt. A breeze. But as DogT says, there's no reason the Hemmings adjusters should turn, once it's all buttoned up. So maybe the screws are overkill …? I've still got my Hemmings kit, I ought to eBay it …

Click to expand...

Be aware that Mick Hemmings (Norvil) and Les E (Norvil) are two different companies, It was always a pleasure to deal with Mick Hemmings, I think that Mick is in the process of retiring, and has more ore less ceased trading. Don't know if his iso adjusters are still available today.
I have a set of Hemmings adjusters and found these to work fine, the plastic tipped locking srew is tiny indeed. but give me no problems with adjustment.

Mick is still doing engine rebuilds and selling the 5 speed boxes from Quaife.

Norvil is best avoided but has nothing to do with Mick Hemmings other than hijacking the Norvil name by trademarking it, just like they have hijacked the Commando trademark.

Yes, Hemmings and N*rvil could not be more different. Mr E****'s litigious nature alone attests to that. Mind you, I've never called him either a dick or a comedian. The last time I spoke to Angela (Mrs Hemmings), she said they only deal with long-standing customers … which I thought I was! But it had been a long time … Always a pleasure to deal with. We should further distinguish between Mr E's N*rvil and 'Norvil' as in factory-made production racers and parts – although I had a hunt for sources for the latter usage recently, and came up blank. I'm sure others can supply that info, or comment on it more knowledgeably than I.

I recommend the Hemmings vernier iso adjusters. They let you use a softer rubber than comes on the Mk 3 vernier setup. I find them much easier to adjust than screwing around with shims, particularly on the rear iso mount. I have had no issues with the small nylon screw breaking off.

Onder thought" a ploughed strip in the thread for the tip of the grub screw to land on seems like a good idea."
This wouldn't work, as the location of the strip would vary from bike to bike.

This statement is curious: "Ludwig thought them a "waste of money". You can see his point because once you get the whole plot to where
you want it no further fiddling need be done."
Presumably this would apply to both vernier styles. However, the adjustment does not last forever. I like the ability to adjust them on an ongoing basis. I start with a feeler gauge, them move them around from there to get min vibe at the smallest clearance. At the side of the road. Try that with shims.

NortonMKII850 suggested "there's no reason the Hemmings adjusters should turn, once it's all buttoned up. So maybe the screws are overkill". The nylon tipped screw is essential to retain the clearance, once the vernier is adjusted.

Somebody wondered if the Mick Hemmings verniers are still available. Answer is yes, from Mick. More details found here:
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/is-mick-hemmings-still-in-business.24381/

Stephen Hill

Glad someone else said it. Mister Emmeroids. He told me the C3 main bearings were wrong too. Yes the Les E. adjusters are different than the Hemmings. Then there's the MK3 and at least another one. I can't keep up with them. The Hemmings one was just too simple and effective on any bike.