Gap in front wheel. Spacer missing?

[fendermanz]

First time installing the front wheel on this bike 72 commado. I only see the mini hub spacer, end up with a gap and the axle won't tighten any further. The drum side has no spacer I assume but the other side? I see just the hub cover #38 then there is a spacer 06.7674. Tryingbto decipherbthis exploded diagram. Any thoughts?

 

[L.A.B.]

Tightening the axle nut should pull the head of the axle up against the dust cover/spacer but for some reason it looks like that's not happening.

The dust cover looks as if it is missing its spacer (and appears to be hanging on the axle?) and the axle/spindle already looks like it's too far through the nut on the brake side.

Andover Norton - DUST COVER/SPACER - FT HUB BEARING (DRUM) - NM18551

DUST COVER/SPACER - FT HUB BEARING (DRUM)

andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton - FRONT WHEEL SPINDLE - 06.0362

FRONT WHEEL SPINDLE

andover-norton.co.uk

The head of the axle should be approximately 2 3/4" long.

 

[Interbak]

The axle looks modified, the large shouldered area appears way to short.

 

[fendermanz]

The axle looks modified, the large shouldered area appears way to short.

That's the problem this bike came with a box if parts looks like a mix of models lol Ok so it might be the axyle itself. I will measure. Appreciate the input. Trying to bring this bike back to life. Already had to weld the frame add a proper rear loop.

 

[o0norton0o]

So, I have an early bike which SHOULD have the drum front brake for the model year of my bike, but I have a late model disc brake in it's place. You have an early model drum front brake.

WTBS, I think the mechanism is the same to secure the wheel. On the axle there are 2 diameters. The axle's wider diameter goes through the left slider completely so the shoulder of that wider diameter goes up against the dust cover of the wheel... That leaves the minor diameter to go through the left side dust cover, the left side inner bearing race, the center spacer for the inner races, the right side bearing inner race the right side dust cover, the wheel spacer on the right side, and then the slider...

When you tighten the axle nut you tighten everything from the shoulder of the axle where the minor diameter starts to the nut on the axle. the spacer between the inner bearings secures the wheel so it's under the proper tension without fighting any small discrepancies with the possible variation of the overall spacing of the forks... So, in order to have both the wheel under the proper tension the left side fork slider actually floats on the major diameter of the axle... That float is eliminated and the slider is secured by the last process performed when you assemble the front end. You leave the left fork pinch bolt loose and pump the front forks up and down so the fork slider aligns itself with the path that the fork defines and then you secure the pinch bolt... Now your wheel races are under proper tension secured to the right slider, and your final pinch bolt tightening has made your forks align in parallel so your sliders should move without excessive friction....

The fact that you see space on the left side of the dust cover is because the axle has that dual diameter shoulder that tensions the wheel bearings and the tension is not between the 2 sliders as you might think, it's between the right slider and the shoulder of the axle... Then the left slider is secured with the pinch bolt separately to add the quality of sliders being parallel.

 

[L.A.B.]

the right side dust cover, the wheel spacer on the right side,

Except on a drum front wheel the axle passes through the brake plate not a dust cover and spacer on the right.

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - 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

 

[o0norton0o]

Except on a drum front wheel the axle passes through the brake plate not a dust cover and spacer on the right.

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - 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

Not having a drum front brake on my early bike makes me not so familiar with the drum brake application... The important part of my first statement for the OP to take away from my post, was the way the axle is made so the wheel is secured by the shoulder of the axle to the right fork slider, and the space between the left fork slider and the wheel that he sees is where the potential run out between the axle fixing widths to align the wheel and the bearings is separated as a function from the overall width required for the sliders to be parallel....

I guess it's a hard thing to say in a simple sentence... so as I re-read this attempt at clarification to help the OP understand my post, it doesn't seem any easier to word if you don't already know what I was saying....