Felt Washer behind clutch

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gunnag

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All, I'm busy putting the primary drive back on my 72 750 Roadster and am having a little trouble getting the felt washer inserted between thesliding metal plates.

Does anyone have some tips on how to get the felt washer inserted?

Alternatley, is it acceptable to use a large "O" ring in this location. I managed to find a 5mm thick "O" ring and it slots niceley in the recess. Since the "O" ring was too long, I cut it to length and the ends butt niceley together when inserted. I'm assuming this approach will stop any leaks from the chaincase and mainshaft?

Just wondering why a felt washer was used originally? Maybe something to do with keeping the mainshaft slightly wet with oil as well as providing a limited amount of sealing?
 
It does a good job of being damp and rusting anything steel it contacts, I massage grease into it which makes it softer and easier to manipulate, plus the damp absorption is delayed until the grease is gone.
 
Soak it in oil and compress it in a vise between two pieces of flat metal, it will hold it's thinner shape long enough to be inserted easily and will then slowly expand to fit the slot.
 
Thanks guys, I've currenty got the felt washer soaked in straight 50 oil and compressed between two plates in a vice.

Will have another attempt tomorrow at getting the bugger in !
 
When you finally get it in place and after you have adjusted the primary chain tension, it's worth removing the primary drive again and ensuring the discs and felt washer are central on the sleeve gear shaft by tapping into position with a screwdriver. This will ensure a uniform seal of the felt ring. It's a bit of a ball ache but relying on the movement of the gearbox when adjusting the primary chain may not centralise the seal leading to potential leaks.
 
gunnag said:
Thanks guys, I've currenty got the felt washer soaked in straight 50 oil and compressed between two plates in a vice.

Will have another attempt tomorrow at getting the bugger in !
Click to expand...

Straight 50? oh oh!
Are you in a warm or cold climate?
I might go with a dyno oil till the felt works in then resoak in syn oil for the long haul.




:lol:
 
Thanks for all the replies guys, they have all been most illuminating and as we speak, my felt washer is still clamped in the vice together with oil. Other commitments probably mean I wont get any time to proceed for a few days so watch this space.

I'm also considering whether to buy a new pair of sealing plates as they are cheap enough. Although the existing plates do move to allow chain adjustment, I have noted heavy rust pitting on the outer plate and a rusty smear on the inner chaincase where there has been movement. I note that the plates are meant to be spot welded together, although I assume they could be drilled and bolted which would make fitting the felt washer simple.

And yes I'm all for synthetic oil, straight 50 is all I had in my oil can at the time :)
 
gunnag said:
I note that the plates are meant to be spot welded together, although I assume they could be drilled and bolted which would make fitting the felt washer simple.

quote]

Pop rivets work really well here with no real need to compress felt in a vice. Just a few minutes oil bath.
Click to expand...
 
gunnag said:
I note that the plates are meant to be spot welded together, although I assume they could be drilled and bolted which would make fitting the felt washer simple.
Click to expand...

Actually, pop rivets do the trick.
 
Biscuit said:
gunnag said:
I note that the plates are meant to be spot welded together, although I assume they could be drilled and bolted which would make fitting the felt washer simple.

quote]

Pop rivets work really well here with no real need to compress felt in a vice. Just a few minutes oil bath.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

I have used four 4-40 x 3/8" pan head screws. Tighten nuts using red Loctite until snug but allowing plates to slide freely. Then if necessary to replace or re- grease washer, the nuts can be broken loose after applying heat.

While you have the plates apart, consider a gasket on the inside of the inner plate as a further barrier to oil which may weep between the plate and inner primary cover. I use 1/16" synthetic cork, but check clearance with clutch basket first. This option requires the screws so the crush on the gasket can be controlled.


Slick
 
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