Swingarm spindle conundrum (2020)

Installed a new spindle and bushings kit, and was surprised to see the "notches" already in it. However, for everything to line up as designed, the threaded end would need installed from the primary side ??? Of the eight Nortons I owned, ALL of them had the threaded end of the spindle installed from the "timing" side. As shown in the pictures, if installed from the "timing" side, oil holes on bottom, thread for bolt on top, but "slots for clamps" then face the gearbox. (wrong side ???) Also, it won't go in from the primary side (without some grinding/reaming; and I don't want to do that. It is all NEW parts.) As stated, the spindle installs just fine from the timing side ... but then the "notches for clamps" are on the wrong side. (toward the gearbox) ... I'm a bit confused, as this is NOT the convention I've seen past. Am I missing something here ???

nortriubuell said:

Installed a new spindle and bushings kit, and was surprised to see the "notches" already in it. However, for everything to line up as designed, the threaded end would need installed from the primary side ??? Of the eight Nortons I owned, ALL of them had the threaded end of the spindle installed from the "timing" side. As shown in the pictures, if installed from the primary side, oil holes on bottom, thread for bolt on top, but "slots for clamps" then face the gearbox. Also, it won't go in from the primary side (with some grinding/reaming ... but goes in just fine from the primary side. As this is NOT the convention I've seen past .... am I missing something here ???

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has been made incorrectly??

Did you ring AN and ask?

jan nelder said:

has been made incorrectly??

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My question too ...

Onder said:

Did you ring AN and ask?

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Wanted to ask forum members first.

Yes understood. You just hate to ask a stupid question. But worth asking at the source.

nortriubuell said:

Installed a new spindle and bushings kit, and was surprised to see the "notches" already in it.

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The latest 'long' (and 'short') spindle has the cotter flats and central hole so it can be used with either the standard central bolt cradle or pre-Mk3 cotter cradle upgrade.

nortriubuell said:

Of the eight Nortons I owned, ALL of them had the threaded end of the spindle installed from the "timing" side.

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The three spare 'short' spindles I have are threaded at both ends. Edit: None have the small holes (which are basically irrelevant anyway).

RGM 06-0453 long spindle has 2 slots, 2 oil holes, 1 top location hole and is threaded both ends. Made for RGM, not AN sourced.

I appreciate all the replies, thank you.

I am installing new swing arm spindle on a 1973 750 and have this exact same issue. Since I'm adding the Kegler clamps, I want the bolts to contact the flats rather than the circumference of the spindle. I have done this mod before and am pretty sure those spindles had the correct orientation such that the milled flat spots were to the rear with the threaded end on timing side and drain holes pointing down. This one has the milled flats on opposite side. I went ahead and milled smaller flats opposite those that came with it and used it that way.

What is interesting is that this spindle came from a 13.1744 swingarm spindle kit that I purchased almost 2 years ago from Clubman Racing. From the picture of the packaging you showed, it appears that yours was sourced from him as well. The Andover Norton label on my package is identical to yours, including AN's account code for Clubman: "CLU001". Maybe there was a batch of spindles that were machined differently and Clubman got some.

The ones I've bought from AN in the last year or so, with slots, are fine. Slots to the rear, top screw as normal before the new style, and threaded end to the timing side.