1956 G3LS - Flywheel Driving side Axle

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chappers1962
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1956 G3LS - Flywheel Driving side Axle

Post by chappers1962 »

Hi all

This is my 1st post on this site, as I've acquired a 1956 G3LS which I'm restoring. Currently stripping down and found that the spline on the Flywheel driving side axle is damaged (see photo). can this be replaced at home with the parts from Jam Pot spares or does the flywheel need to be resent to a specialist engineering shop to have sorted? If the latter, is there a company who are familiar with Matchless (I'm based in Lancashire)?

Many Thanks
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chappers1962
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Re: 1956 G3LS - Flywheel Driving side Axle

Post by chappers1962 »

A better photo attached !
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Rob Harknett
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Re: 1956 G3LS - Flywheel Driving side Axle

Post by Rob Harknett »

This does appear to be damaged and not worn. Any idea how it got damaged? Any sigs of other damage? Sounds like you have never stripped down an engine. You could DIY but this could prove costly if you do more damage, just getting the engine . Perhaps even more damage if the job has not been done correctly. Check out Trade Services adverts in Jampot magazine .
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chappers1962
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Re: 1956 G3LS - Flywheel Driving side Axle

Post by chappers1962 »

Thanks for the reply - The bike was a shed find and not run for 20 years, but remarkably good condition (the years of sloppy hand painting has preserved the metal underneath). Agree with your view and will get the item replaced by a professional. Being new to this (1st restoration project - a retirement present, but aircraft engineering trained), still finding my way!!
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Re: 1956 G3LS - Flywheel Driving side Axle

Post by SPRIDDLER »

Welcome to the Forums, David.

Scalloping wear on the splines is not unusual but on yours it's severe.
The wear and damage; a crack towards the left end of the spline and breaking up at the other end makes it u/s I'm afraid.
I would venture to say that it isn't possible to replace the axle satisfactorily, if at all, without splitting the flywheels/big end as the axle nut is between the flywheels. It's a specialist job unless you have a substantial press, the necessary tools and the skill to rebalance the flywheel and big end assembly. Both axles' nuts and the big end nuts are (should be) seriously tight.
Timing axle snip 2.JPG
Come back for more (!) advice if you need it.
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clive
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Re: 1956 G3LS - Flywheel Driving side Axle

Post by clive »

Being experienced in shaft wear, having ridden a single with a fully laden Busmar double adult sidecar for thousands of miles i would suggest that the strange wear is the result of a new shaft being matched to a worn cam. This tends to result in hammer as well as slide on acceleration. I tended to leave it all alone until the splines wear was more than 50%. I did manage to totally break one set of splines though. Not sure how easy you will find the shaft but if you get a new one definitely fit a new cam.
clive
if it ain't broke don't fix
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Rob Harknett
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Re: 1956 G3LS - Flywheel Driving side Axle

Post by Rob Harknett »

I think you have given a possible answer to my question of how the damage may have occurred Clive. It did not look like fair wear and tear to me, suggesting something else should be looked for that caused it. Which if left to an expert, who should discover and correct the cause of, lets call it, damage. I recall the old boy that worked in the army repairing WD bikes. I was at least a couple of hours with him. He gave a lot of explanations as to why some used parts I was about to buy, still had life in them. One part was what looked to me as being well worn out was a drive axel. The axel he had looked worn, it did not look hammer and crashed, if you understand my meaning, as seen on the shaft here. The so called wear looks very different.
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Duncan
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Re: 1956 G3LS - Flywheel Driving side Axle

Post by Duncan »

clive wrote:Being experienced in shaft wear, having ridden a single with a fully laden Busmar double adult sidecar for thousands of miles i would suggest that the strange wear is the result of a new shaft being matched to a worn cam. This tends to result in hammer as well as slide on acceleration. I tended to leave it all alone until the splines wear was more than 50%. I did manage to totally break one set of splines though. Not sure how easy you will find the shaft but if you get a new one definitely fit a new cam.
Hi David, with my optimistic hat on if the premature wear is because a new shaft has been fitted that probably means that the big end may have also been done at the same time so may be one less thing to be an issue.
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Re: 1956 G3LS - Flywheel Driving side Axle

Post by matg80s »

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Mick D
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Re: 1956 G3LS - Flywheel Driving side Axle

Post by Mick D »

Hi and welcome David

As others have said, the shaft is toast as will be the cam. Replacing the shaft is not a task I'd attempt at home, I don't have the tooling, (large press and means to support the crank shaft between centres), Ken De Groome is highly thought of in the engine department.

I'm not sure about the new shaft / old cam hypothesis - it's more likely the cam was replaced and not the shaft, the result would be the same and it's the easier route, it's difficult to comprehend someone going to the trouble of replacing the shaft and not the cam.

As an ex aircraft engineer you'll have no difficulty in getting to grips with this engine just download the Owner's and Parts Manual for 1956 and the 57 - 64 Workshop Manual from here:
http://archives.jampot.dk/book/
And take it easy.

Using the forum search facility will take you to the answer for the majority of questions that will crop up but don't be afraid to ask if it doesn't.

Regards Mick
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