Gearbox cover coming loose

platinumsmith · Jun 24, 2011

My gearbox outer over was leaking & I discovered the screws were loose, 1/4 turn. I tightened those, rode it 80 miles & they came loose again, leaking. Tightened again, spent a day on it, loose again. Flat head (slot) screws. Don't want to strip them. Am I missing something?

pelican · Jun 24, 2011

allens and thread locker will make it easier for you

platinumsmith · Jun 24, 2011

Torque limits?

Josh Cox · Jun 25, 2011

Hand tight generally does it, its the threadlocker that saves the day.

platinumsmith · Jun 25, 2011

I ordered some allen bolts from the fine folks at Old Brits. In the meantime I eased out the bottom one & applied some thread lock. Now I guess I'll check my manual to learn what leaked out & how much goes back in. Thanks Gents.

Hobot · Jun 25, 2011

Hm, gb cover screws coming lose is one of the few fastener loosening leaks I've missed out on. For practicality the allen heads work better than chew up prone cheese heads, but shouldn't be needed just to hold cover oil tight. I don't like to use thread lock on blind threaded holes as the crust builds up and can make screws bind up before their time and even fail to seat from build up in bottom. Actually d/t old Norton experience cover screws are one of the things I use anti seize on.

On the other hand you can't be that weak a twister so I'm wondering if your gasket is just crushing down, though going back over them like ya did should of taken that up.

The worst case is if the case threads are worn out. I had to replace those in TS cover and had success with epoxy thread restorer.

Best level I found for tranny is to peer with light down the fill hole to just see oil covering the top of the cog you can just barely see. If you put in much more it will just lube foul clutch plates till it settles back to this natural maxium level.

platinumsmith · Jun 25, 2011

They aren't stripped. They snug up tight & stop hard. A particular type of oil in there?

Hobot · Jun 25, 2011

I love others Norton miseries I mean mysteries. Proper torque enough and good threads leave me curious on the solution, if it don't involve sealing-locking goops.
I've gobbed sealing locking goops in plenty of stuff to be done with it ok so nothing against it expect why others need it and mine, with destroyed shells and replacements never did. My special will use allen heads, but my factory Combat is my challenge to use slot heads for decent long time of re-use.

I do cheat now of course by only using Racer's Blue High Temp Permatex Hylormar, head to tranny drain plug, which I learned better let sleeping dogs sleep tight as before tranny fluid gets too old there is usually a reason to open cover which of course....

Its been so long since I used the recommended gear lube I forget what grade.

platinumsmith · Jun 27, 2011

I tightened it up, no leaks, but I rode my old triumph today & let my friend ride the norton. Didn't go more than 15 miles, now the Norton is stuck in 4th gear. Shift lever moves very freely. Am I screwed? I'm afraid it's not leaking because maybe it's empty. Haven't looked yet. Had to run to a meeting. I don't know about taking the gearbox apart by myself.

platinumsmith · Jun 27, 2011

Searching some other threads it might be a busted spring? Since my buddy was on it, I don't know what happened when it stuck.

platinumsmith · Jun 27, 2011

Pawl spring? Is that inside the outer cover? I have Allen bolts on the way from oldBrits. Maybe I take it apart then use those handyDandy new bolts when I put it back together.

daveparry · Jun 27, 2011

Is that inside the outer cover?
---------------
Yes it is, you should see the problem once the outer cover is removed,

Dave.

builder · Jun 27, 2011

hobot said:
I don't like to use thread lock on blind threaded holes as the crust builds up and can make screws bind up before their time and even fail to seat from build up in bottom. Actually d/t old Norton experience cover screws are one of the things I use anti seize on.

+1

Anti-sieze on cover screws, not loc-tite.

DogT · Jun 27, 2011

I had mine stuck in 4th the other day. The shift assembly had fallen off inside the outer cover. The 2 bolts that hold the assembly on were not on my torque list, they are now. The shift lever was loose, but really loose and didn't do anything. You'll most likely see when you take it off.

Dave
69S

maylar · Jun 27, 2011

The cheese heads were replaced with Allens on my gearbox and timing covers loong ago. My buddy however, still has slotted screws on his and they don't come loose. I never could understand why some do and some don't.

platinumsmith · Aug 9, 2011

This forum is extremely helpful.

john robert bould · Aug 10, 2011

platinumsmith said:
I hate to brag (too much) but, the last time I rode with a few chaps, one seriously suggested I might be completely out of oil because I hadn't lost a single drop from anywhere. Just sayin'

I bet you proved him wrong and showed him the oil level :?:

singring · Aug 12, 2011

I'm in the middle of changing the layshaft bearing, and in my research have come across a gearbox lube amount as recommended by Mick Hemmings. He adds 1 pint of gear lube, no more, no less.

Gearbox cover coming loose

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