Norton Villiers F15

Hairyloon wrote:

ETA: I make it 12.7mm ±0.1

So 1/2 inch then.

blue cat wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

ETA: I make it 12.7mm ±0.1

So 1/2 inch then.

You would think so wouldn't you... I think I may be losing my mind because I've tried a few 1/2" sockets and a 1/2" box spanner and none of them are a good fit... not that I can get the over the socket further than 1/16".
It has just occurred to me that the 1/4" drive sockets are significantly thinner. I hadn't thought to try those yet...

It also occurred to me last night that I don't necessarily want to undo that nut, when I actually want to undo the shaft: maybe if I wind another nut onto the end of the shaft, they can be persuaded to lock together to unwind it.
I suspect that'll need a lot of luck or a little welding... It'll certainly need a nut of the right size, which may be a bit optimistic at the moment.

reading previous posts I'm of the opinion that the nut and and the shaft its screwed to are the only means of holding the generator shaft in place, its unlikely the manufacturer would double up on fixings particularly as the engine only rotates in one direction.

Maryalice

maryalice wrote:I still believe a socket or box spanner suitably modified will undo it...

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present a suitably modified socket?



I reckoned there wasn't even room between the nut and the surround to fit a bit of steel sheet... and I proved myself right, but not absolutely so: a gentle persuasion from the implement of slight adjustment got it in.
So, a short ring of said sheet, put into an oversize socket, with a suitably random nut banged inside, hammered atop of the nut in question and voila!
Well almost: I still haven't got the nut off, but the shaft came unscrewed, which was the real point of the exercise.

I've got the engine and alternator separate, just trying to decide what to do next...

Are there any archives where I might glean some information from the engine number?
It would be interesting to know how old it is.
F15.32.20 86706

F15 was made between 1973 and 1978.

blue cat wrote:F15 was made between 1973 and 1978.

It's nearly new then?
Maybe it's not worth fixing if it's broken down already?

I have now got the generator apart and replaced the bearing, but I haven't put it back together yet because I don't want to have to face the same problem with the nut at some time in the future, not even by proxy. Also because I need new springs for at least some the brushes, but that should be straightforward.

I'm seeking suggestions on how best to do it.
My thinking is that ideally it wants a slightly longer shaft and a significantly longer nut, but the easier option is a fat washer to space it off as far as I can.
Does anyone know what it's supposed to have?
I can't believe that what I had was right: nothing fatter than what I put in would have gone, and they just don't make sockets that skinny.

I would suggest that what you have is original and that a box spanner would have been used, they tend to be slimmer than a socket.

Maryalice

maryalice wrote:I would suggest that what you have is original and that a box spanner would have been used, they tend to be slimmer than a socket.

Yeah, but not that slim: it would simply bend.

I would disagree, used properly box spanners would be up for it, the nut doesn't have to be that tight and would tighten through use.

Maryalice

maryalice wrote:I would disagree, used properly box spanners would be up for it, the nut doesn't have to be that tight and would tighten through use.

Oh, I don't doubt that box spanners are up for spannering, I just doubt that they make them out of metal as thin as that. It is less than 1mm, and it was a tight fit.

Hi, without actually seeing what your difficulty is. I wondered if it would be possible to machine the nut head down one size, such that a smaller tube/box spanner would fit. I've seen a number of reduced head size nuts and bolts fitted on bikes and engines, where access or space is limited.

Neil.

Upon further consideration, I am fairly sure that something is missing: that's actually the bearing that the nut is sitting inside. Surely the nut should clamp the shaft to the bearing?
Especially since there appears to be little else holding the back of the generator on...

That doesn't seem right at all.

neil (LE) wrote:Hi, without actually seeing what your difficulty is. I wondered if it would be possible to machine the nut head down one size, such that a smaller tube/box spanner would fit. I've seen a number of reduced head size nuts and bolts fitted on bikes and engines, where access or space is limited.

That could work. Thanks for the suggestion.