Okay, time for an update.
Between all the stuff that's been going on out here in the desert southwest, I've been flummoxed by this balky engine. Try as I might to sort the clutch and tranny, it seems like I can't get more than a thump and a half out of the lump with my best kickstarting efforts.
So, I decided to "go in" one more time. Here's what I've found:
- Crankshaft will just start to rotate past high compression at about 10-12 ft/lbs of torque
- I checked to make sure the clutch basket wasn't rubbing on the backside and it's definitely NOT. Splined shaft length is .85", basket female splined socket is .73"; so, there's no way it's bottoming out on the backside before the shaft bottoms out in it's socket.
Just for grins, after removing the primary assembly, I did a test pull on the kickstarter to measure resistance in the tranny's kickstart circuit - 7-1/2 lbs. produces shaft rotation. Nearly all of that is in the return spring.
Before I yank thge engine out of the chassis, I'm going to investigate the camchain & oil pump, but with only 10 ft/lbs on the crank nut to turn it, I doubt the power unit is where the resistance is happening.
If anyone reading this has an N15, G15, P11 or other late 60s 750cc Norton engine with the primary off, I'd sure appreciate you measuring the stuff I measured and see where I stack up here...