Heinz Kegler, some memories

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Heinz Kegler made and fitted his first servo clutch on my Commando as his test mule around 1998.
It was purely experimental as I had no particular need for anything other than the stock clutch.
Heinz made the clutch basket of aluminum in his shop, we knew it would not last very long as it was not a proper hardened kit. I remember the squared plate tangs being a problem as they had to be trimmed to slide in the new degreed servo format.

Just an aside, I still have Heinz's very first set of his prototype aluminum swing arm rings in my Commando, along with his first pre Mark3 adjustable threaded ISO design that Brian Tyree created.

The first sets of Hemming's adjustable ISOS had the allen head set bolts too small diameter and they also could bear down on the knife like edge of the threads which of course destroyed the little bolts.
Heinz's solution was to mill away, remove part of the threads so the securing bolts for the ISO adjusters bore down on a flat surface, along with fitting larger set bolts.

I loved spending time with Heinz in his Albuquerque, New Mexico shop. I miss him so much.
I remember laughing with him as he lurched in a drunken manner around his garage mimicking what he viewed as the way a Commando handled corners like a "limping camel" as Heinz said.
He was very much a Featherbed man.

Heinz was born in east Germany and left his home to ride to England on his International to get some parts. He called home a week or so after he got there and his family told him he could not return as the Berlin Wall was being erected dividing east from west Germany. He got a job with the Norton factory as a test rider and eventually joined Norton's USA east coast importer, Berliner. He told me about the problems the early frames created by breaking and that he refused to strip the bikes and weld the frame fix and so the bikes had to be shipped back to England for that.

He later moved to Albuquerque and joined Cummings Diesel as a lead mechanic. I met Heinz here
around 1994 and spent many happy hours with him in his shop hearing about his Norton experiences. He was always thinking, always planning and building upgrades for both Featherbeds and Commandos. I admired Heinz very much.
 
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I never met Heinz Kegler or Rick Simms, but I appreciated the postings in the NOA. Mostly how to make what you have work.
Dry Molly film coatings on gears and Gear Kote on the pistons come to mind along with repairing the master cylinder with it.
Now we buy newly available parts that were un-obtainable years ago
 
My last memories of Heinz was when he was holding my laptop pc so I could see it [imagine that!] while I was diagnosing my non-sparking Norton at the Norton FLOG.:)
 
I look forward to installing my shiny new NYC Norton Kegler clamps to further improve this most excellent machine.
Thanks Heinz!
 
Heinz Kegler made and fitted his first servo clutch on my Commando as his test mule around 1998.
It was purely experimental as I had no particular need for anything other than the stock clutch.
Heinz made the clutch basket of aluminum in his shop, we knew it would not last very long as it was not a proper hardened kit. I remember the squared plate tangs being a problem as they had to be trimmed to slide in the new degreed servo format.

Please tell us how this design is supposed to work. Do you have a picture?

-Knut
 
Not currently on their products page, but this description and pics might help explain the purpose. shows installed in third pic.
(Many people have fashioned them for much less cost)
Removed broken link
 
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If I remember correctly The INOA Norton News had a write up and pictures in it of the clutch set up.
 
Please tell us how this design is supposed to work. Do you have a picture?

-Knut
I have a picture of it. As I understand it when Heinz was working at Bracebridge Street he got some un machined clutch hubs and machined the splines at an angle, that allowed the clutch to be a 2 finger operation. The powers that be decided that that would be a good way to reduce the number of plates which negated the improvement. Years later he and Brian Tyree decided to try and modify the clutch basket instead of the hub as shown in this picture. Brian has many thousands of miles on the clutch with no reported problems.
John in Texas
Heinz Kegler, some memories
 
the clutch assembly looks similar to the Bob Newby setup being sold through lowbrow customs. how did the single chain standup?
 
Thanks, Bernhard. An intriguing concept.

-Knut
 
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it looks like a great upgrade. i would guess that any norton with 20,000mi would be a candidate for replacement clutch cntre and out hubs, due to the spline wear.

so since 2012 when the original post went up nobody has taken up the challenge, id be interested in buying 1 maybe 2.
 
Heinz Kegler, some memories
Heinz Kegler, some memories

Loren Kegler has this for sale.
COMNOZ, MDT_SON, MADASS and others who manufacture parts might be interested in this.
He can be reached at lkegler87059@gmail.com
 

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Heinz Kegler, some memories
Since one set of plates is driving and the other plates are driven, would they not have to be opposite hand?
Clutch hub to clutch Basket.
Also the Commando Clutch
 
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