norton 5 speed gearbox Quaife ?

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Looking for some help to identify what looks to be a 5 speed gear set in a Norton housing... the housing # 040122 & another blurry # 2804

I am going to tear it down tomorrow to check main shaft, count teeth to see if work in my pre commando housing with atlas belt drive setup. it would be cool to have a 5 speed

if not I'm going to check bearings , install new o rings & seal and put it out for sale

Any info would be helpful

Thanks TJ
norton 5 speed gearbox Quaife ?
norton 5 speed gearbox Quaife ?
norton 5 speed gearbox Quaife ?
 
Looking for some help to identify what looks to be a 5 speed gear set in a Norton housing... the housing # 040122 & another blurry # 2804

I am going to tear it down tomorrow to check main shaft, count teeth to see if work in my pre commando housing with atlas belt drive setup. it would be cool to have a 5 speed

if not I'm going to check bearings , install new o rings & seal and put it out for sale

Any info would be helpful

Thanks TJView attachment 7082 View attachment 7083 View attachment 7084

Here's a link to the forum which might be helpful. https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/quaife-5-speed.20286/
 
Things to check are camplate notches, also the main shaft will have needle roller bearings. Contact Mick Hemmings, he is very helpful and would probably be able to tell you from photos.
 
Obviously a road box as first gear has the kickstart ratchet notches


I almost said that earlier, not because of the kickstart itself, but because it limits the first gear ratio due to the space required for ratchet teeth inside layshaft first gear.

But.....back in the days of Commando production racers the kickstart 5 speeds were used. And these days I find quite a few European racers have kickstart boxes fitted.

With clutch starts the lower first gear can be used at least once in a race at most circuits.

When I raced in the '70s I used a 4 speed with Manx ratios and push started in first, whilst those with a 5 speed Quaife cluster push started in 2nd, but remember the 4 speeds in a Manx box are the same as 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th in a period Quaife!

(These day I have a TTi 5 speed and thank god I don't have to push the thing!)
 
When I bought my TTI box, I had not even thought of fitting a low first gear to the 4 speed close ratio box it replaced. There would have been a big step between 1st and 2nd, but it would have occurred before turn one or between turns one and two in most races, when most guys are going slow. The 4 speed close box was excellent everywhere, except off a clutch start. With the one good ride I had with it, I was petrified about the likelihood of destroying the box at the start-line, because of the high revs and getting hit up the rear.
The 4 speed close ratio cluster cost $700 - the TTI box cost $5000.
 
I see quaife makes 3 types of 1st gear ratio's
1.986 race
2.118 road race
2.357 road

maybe some one here might know what ratio I might have
with a 27 / 14 tooth 1st gear

going to drop my gearbox out tomorrow hopefully my main shaft will interchange
my gearbox is a scrambler vs a commando
 
Thanks.... good informative information,

That's what I thought I would get from the members on this form

now just need to get out & back together before we head out to Daytona
 
I see quaife makes 3 types of 1st gear ratio's
1.986 race
2.118 road race
2.357 road

maybe some one here might know what ratio I might have
with a 27 / 14 tooth 1st gear

going to drop my gearbox out tomorrow hopefully my main shaft will interchange
my gearbox is a scrambler vs a commando


By scrambler I assume you mean P11 etc.

So the mainshaft issue is a short shaft for the clutch drum, as opposed to a long shaft for the Commando clutch drum, I am pretty sure you will need a mainshaft from Mick Hemmings to run the different clutch!

Interested to see how they compare.
 
If the sleeve gear does not have the roller bearings then the Norton/AMC mainshaft can be used.
The splined portion of the Quaife 5 speed mainshaft is slightly longer because the sleeve gear is narrower. So there will be a "gap" between the sleeve gear and the splines on the mainshaft.
Mick Hemmings told me that it's a bad idea to use the standard mainshaft because this "gap" will allow the sleeve gear to move inward if the sleeve gear bearing is not a tight fit in the case.
 
Good info...

The sleeve gear, did not have the roller bearings as mentioned .

I assembled the gear set 1st 2nd, 3rd, 4th % 5th gear's appeared to shift & sinc good
With the gearset installed & torqued the shaft does not appear to have any lash
BNR belt drive hub appears to mount correct minus 1/16 shim.

after you comments, I will open it up tomorrow, pull the lay shaft, gears & kick paw, put the cover on & torque the bearing & clutch, get the camera out to see how the shaft lays on the sleeve gear.

The last thing I want to do is pull the bearing out of the housing

coming back to this.....

Ok you got me thinking if the shaft is short I might be able to shim the shaft @ the bearing to get it to sit correctly at the sleeve gear .....just a thought



I do not know if there is a Quaife dealer where I could pick up a shaft in the states
But I can research or maybe, 1 of the member's here has a number or email link
where I could contact if needed

Thanks for your imput
 
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I do not know if there is a Quaife dealer where I could pick up a shaft in the states
But I can research or maybe, 1 of the member's here has a number or email link
where I could contact if needed

Thanks for your imput

Mick Hemmings has retired from general Norton parts supply but he has still been building the Quaife gearboxes and supporting users at the IoM.

I understood he was the sole retail outlet for Quaife motorcycle gearbox parts.

Ask Angie.... http://www.mickhemmings.co.uk/
 
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By scrambler I assume you mean P11 etc.

So the mainshaft issue is a short shaft for the clutch drum, as opposed to a long shaft for the Commando clutch drum, I am pretty sure you will need a mainshaft from Mick Hemmings to run the different clutch!

Interested to see how they compare.

Depends on the intended use for the bike. I have the TTI box with the long mainshaft, so I use a splined sprocket carrier for a single row Jawa speedway engine sprocket which allows the sprocket to float sideways and get chain alignment. As the bike is only used on race circuits, the single row chain is quite OK and it is much lighter than triplex.
 
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