Is there a felt seal for the P11 primary.

I can not find any place to put a felt seal on the primary inner cover to the transmission input shaft. Was there ever a seal on the P11's? If so, how do you install it?

Is there two sliding discs riveted or spot welded together? If so, the felt washer is fitted between those discs.

If you want to stop oil migration past the transmission shaft, better to install a lip seal.

See https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/the-last-leak.32993/

Slick

Been a long time since I dismantled mine, but don't recall there being one, though I'm sure someone in the US will be a bit more informed.
Checking out AN's photo shows no hints there might be one:

EstuaryBoy said:

Checking out AN's photo shows no hints there might be one:

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.

andover-norton.co.uk

Click to expand...

I checked out the AN parts photo as well. The sliding discs are present but no call for a felt washer.
The sliding discs appear to be slightly different from the Usual Atlas/Dommy and Cdo type. They don't appear to be riveted or spot welded together, but appear to have a pressed in bronze bushing joining the disc halves together. So, the OP is right ....... there is no way to fix a felt seal, nor is one required.

Fixing a lip seal may be possible by changing over to the Atlas/Dommie or Cdo type discs.part No 06.0769

Slick

Sensitive types will be offended:

No there is no felt. I'm not sure there is enough room for one on the backside in a shade tree engineered cup either. I slid a felt washer over the sleeve gear in the 70's and it lasted about 4 minutes. Even if you could figure out a way to put one in a cup, it would eventually get over saturated and oil would dribble down the backside of the primary.

Only time I am aware of that a P11 primary is not leaking is when it is not ridden, somebody is trying to sell one and saying it does not leak, or they figured out a way to install a belt driven dry clutch. I've had a P11 since 1974 and if oil is used in the primary and it is ridden it will eventually leak. Experts that think they can stop the primary from leaking have never owned a P11. Guys restoring and selling them will say anything to make a sale.

None of those other primaries are close to a direct fit and would be considerable work to install. There is no bronze bushing joining the disc halves. It is alloy and not a bushing.

I've had that primary off many times. It's apart right now.

@Schwany
On behalf of the OP, thanks for the update.
I have found a lot of the primary leaks in my Atlas was thru the transmission shaft (no)seal.Most likely true for the P11 as well.
If a solution can be found, it would be a boon to the many P11 owners out there.
With sufficient thought, incentive, and kilo-bucks, there is a solution to everything. Usually, the supply, or lack thereof, of kilo-bucks is the determining factor.

Slick

The AMC Owners Club sells a kit for the alloy chaincase that consists of two discs and a felt seal. I can find no separate listing for felt seal, but I suspect it would be identical to the one on the Commando. The inner chaincases I have do not appear to be damaged in the seal area, so I just re-use them.

OK, let me amend my statement. While the AMC owners club does offer a kit with two discs and a felt seal, that may not be original, at least not for all the heavyweight AMC alloy chaincases. I just went out to my workshop and of the 4 P11 inner chaincases on the shelf, 3 have the two discs crimped together with no felt at the hole for the transmission shaft , and 1 with the discs spot welded together and the felt seal between them. That one may actually be Commando discs and seal that was installed at some point in its life. I don't know what is currently in my Hi-pipe P11 or my Ranger 750 as they are assembled. The parts manuals only list the inner case "assembled", so I would guess that means with the two discs installed (crimped).

Thank you all for your input. It is highly appreciate. I am sure that some sort of seal can be engineered for the P11 transmission input shaft; however, I do not wish to re-invent the wheel. I will leave that to some one with the desire for experimentation. I will go with the original leaky no seal system. Once again thank you all for your input.