N15 neck bearing wrench

Can someone tell me the size of the nut that adjusts the neck bearings? I have a 1966 N15CS and it looks like maybe it’s 1 7/16”? I need to go get one tomorrow a mill it down to fit under my top tree

I know yours is a hybrid, but there is a chance it is same as a Featherbed model. The nut on my Atlas measures 1.388" across the flats.

1 7/16" is 1.4375, which is a bit much clearance for a spanner.

Slick

That’s interesting, I kinda figured they would be the same but mine measures 1.400”

texasSlick said:

I know yours is a hybrid, but there is a chance it is same as a Featherbed model. The nut on my Atlas measures 1.388" across the flats.

1 7/16" is 1.4375, which is a bit much clearance for a spanner.

Slick

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that’s interesting, I figured they would be the same but mine measure 1.400” so I figured 1 7/16 might be as close as I could get, or maybe a 36mm or there abouts. I tried to track down the original wrench for the job but haven’t been able to find one

Mine measures 1.400 if I do not get the calipers tight.

According to this Table (which I could not load) <http://www.sat.dundee.ac.uk/~psc/spanner_jaw.html> , a 13/16 W takes a 1.390 inch jaw size. A 35mm jaw opening is 1.38" and would be too tight, but you might grind one jaw a bit to fit. Or, a 36 mm jaw opening is 1.417" and would most likely work as you will not be applying much torque in this application.

Slick

texasSlick said:

Mine measures 1.400 if I do not get the calipers tight.

According to this Table (which I could not load) <http://www.sat.dundee.ac.uk/~psc/spanner_jaw.html> , a 13/16 W takes a 1.390 inch jaw size. A 35mm jaw opening is 1.38" and would be too tight, but you might grind one jaw a bit to fit. Or, a 36 mm jaw opening is 1.417" and would most likely work as you will not be applying much torque in this application.

Slick

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Ya something is different between them, maybe someone has changed mine previously because mine is tight at 1.400”

My 2 OEM slimline nut is 1.392 with rust film, one more is 1.388 , I'll go with 13/16W wrench.
What is a 03-0342 lower stem? Hybrid ? (for sale)

I have a 66 G15. With a venier calipers, I get 1.388 as well for the measurement.

Hmm, that’s interesting. I wonder why mine is different? If it’s not too much trouble could someone post a picture of theirs? I am the second owner of this bike and the original owner was a friend of my dads, the bike appears to be in pretty original condition and I find it odd that this nut would have been replaced

Dccycleworks said:

Hmm, that’s interesting. I wonder why mine is different? If it’s not too much trouble could someone post a picture of theirs? I am the second owner of this bike and the original owner was a friend of my dads, the bike appears to be in pretty original condition and I find it odd that this nut would have been replaced

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A picture, in situ, will not tell you any thing. It is a hex sided nut! The thickness measures (in situ) 0.272 or 7 mm.

Have you zeroed your caliper and checked against a known dimension such as a gauge block?

Slick

The nut on my '66 N15cs is 1.4" Some time ago I bought a spanner from Norvil to fit my Atlas, but it was too small so I had to file it to fit. The nut on the N15 fits this spanner perfectly. Norvil sell 2 types I've just noticed, both labelled as steering head adjusting spanner. One is 1.2 one end and 1.38 the other end, the second one it doesn't specify the size.

I re

texasSlick said:

A picture, in situ, will not tell you any thing. It is a hex sided nut! The thickness measures (in situ) 0.272 or 7 mm.

Have you zeroed your caliper and checked against a known dimension such as a gauge block?

Slick

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i realize i won’t be able to tell the size but it will tell me if mine looks different than others, like maybe a different finish etc. that might suggest mine is afternmarket or something. My caliper is zeroed and check daily as I use it every day for work also

Gilesy said:

The nut on my '66 N15cs is 1.4" Some time ago I bought a spanner from Norvil to fit my Atlas, but it was too small so I had to file it to fit. The nut on the N15 fits this spanner perfectly. Norvil sell 2 types I've just noticed, both labelled as steering head adjusting spanner. One is 1.2 one end and 1.38 the other end, the second one it doesn't specify the size.

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that’s interesting, so there must be a slight difference between the atlas and the N15. Thank you for the info. I will check Norvil and see if I can get one ordered

A hydraulic service wrench like Bonney 1244 1-3/8" "eased out" to the BS opening is what I am going do. The jaws are .25" thick
The after market nuts will accept a 1-3/16" Bonney 1238 as is...
I have an assortment of these sitting on my 55gal drum for use with my waste oil processing machine. They now have a new found second use....norton tool
Not totally "cheap" but I have bought some used ones off ebay

Dccycleworks said:

that’s interesting, I figured they would be the same but mine measure 1.400” so I figured 1 7/16 might be as close as I could get, or maybe a 36mm or there abouts. I tried to track down the original wrench for the job but haven’t been able to find one

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The correct wrench is available from Andover Norton under part no. 13.1734 . Cost £4.95 +sh/h.

-Knut

mdt-son said:

The correct wrench is available from Andover Norton under part no. 13.1734 . Cost £4.95 +sh/h.

-Knut

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Awesome, thank you. I will have to order that....I found a wrench that I was able to make work to adjust my bearings, but I live in southern Oregon and work in a motorcycle dealership as a mechanic. The wild fires here came through town last week and leveled everything including the shop I work at. My house survived but I lost around $55,000 in personal tools at the shop including my new neck bearing wrench haha . Time to start rebuilding and replacing tools I guess

Dccycleworks said:

Awesome, thank you. I will have to order that....I found a wrench that I was able to make work to adjust my bearings, but I live in southern Oregon and work in a motorcycle dealership as a mechanic. The wild fires here came through town last week and leveled everything including the shop I work at. My house survived but I lost around $55,000 in personal tools at the shop including my new neck bearing wrench haha . Time to start rebuilding and replacing tools I guess

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You have my sympathy. I don't think I'd be able to laugh having suffered a loss like yours. Will you be able to recoup by insurance money? I am glad to hear your house survived the fire storm.

-Knut

Thank you. It’s not funny but what else can I do. Roll with the punches and hope for the best. I have turned in an itemized list for all the tools (that I could think of, probably forgot some) and still waiting to see what the insurance will cover. Best case scenario it will all get replaced, worse case I’m on my own. Only time will tell for now. I am definitely missing my Tig welder right now (also lost in the fire) but it could be a lot worse. The shops insurance is still paying my salary so I have been getting to spend a lot of time with my wife and kids and still lucky enough to collect a paycheck so I can’t complain too much. I’m thankful my 3 kids still had a house to come home to and worse case I wills tart replacing the tools on my own (hopefully it won’t come to that). I have also been been thinking with all this down time, it might be time to open my own shop. I have worked for Harley Davidson for About 13 years now and achieved Master Technician level with the motor company. So I’ve started looking for a building while I wait to find out about my tools. Something good could come from all of this. We shall see