Hortons Norton
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- Joined
- Oct 12, 2007
- Messages
- 2,035
Hello guys, I purchased a gearbox over the weekend at a bike swap meet, Can anyone tell me what model this was from. The shell is stamped with; N 19480 Thanks, Chuck.
I think the boxes changed over to the Commando type kick start return spring in 1963 or 1964. You are correct, in the early box there is a tang on the inner end of the spring that goes into the hole in the inner gearbox cover. The early spring is much smaller and weaker than the later Commando type spring that fits on the post mounted on the inner gearbox cover. I also suspect that some reproductions of the early version spring are made with a shorter tang that fits into the hole in the inner gearbox cover than was original. I believe this explains my personal experience with that end of the spring becoming detached, which can result in a dangerous situation since the kick starter then hangs straight down. Very exciting on right hand corners. DAMHIK. I am not certain, but I believe that you can replace the inner cover on the earlier gearboxes with the later inner cover that has the post for the much improved Commando type return spring. The hole for the inward facing tang on the outer end of the spring (the part that goes into a hole on the kick starter shaft) is much closer to the inner gearbox cover on gearboxes that use the earlier spring. If you do a conversion to the later set up you would need to either use the later kick start shaft or drill a hole in the correct place in the old case hardened kick starter shaft. BTW, temporarily mounting the kick starter upside down on the shaft and using a large screw driver as a lever is an easy way to fit the outer end of the spring that goes into the kick starter shaft. I hope this is helpful.
Since your spring is NOS (are you sure?) and therefore presumably the tang is the correct length, I wonder if the hole in the inner case is worn. I have often wondered if this could be repaired by making a "thimble" out of a pop rivet body or equivalent and using JB Weld or equivalent to hold it in place.just bought a nos kick starter return spring for my norton n17436 gearbox but still popping out of inner case. is there someone that makes longer spring ends to help hold in place to save gearbox modification that bodger has suggested