Norton Commando Engine disassembly (cylinders and timing side)

Disassembling my Norton Commando Engine.

[rl]

The description you were looking for is cam lifters (or followers). To remove the cam sprocket nut, normally you would still have the cam chain and left-hand thread crank nut and gears on the engine. Then you can insert an aluminum (or steel) rod into one of the holes in the crank flywheel which will prevent the crank from turning. Alternatively, remove the pistons and insert a rod through the connecting rod small ends and use wooden blocks on the crankcase to prevent the crank from turning. Then with the proper size socket (preferrably a 6-point) and breaker bar, apply strong force counter clockwise to remove the cam sprocket nut. It is not recommended to use and impact gun, but if all else These are normally torqued to around 50 ft-lbs, but some "mechanics" use the "torque until it breaks, then back off a 1/4 turn" method. If it requires that much force or you have to split the nut with die grinder and cut-off wheel, you likely will damage the camshaft. However you remove the nut, examine the cam bearings carefully and replace if the thrust face is damaged.

[motorp]

Remember when you got your asr cover back it had a pull pin holding in that ball. Use that for your install 😉

[rl]

Be careful not to allow the aluminum connecting rods to bang against the crankcases. Protect them with cardboard tubes (toilet paper rolls) or plastic bottles with the top and bottom removed (or buy some of those plastic mesh protectors). Any rod nicks will need to be polished out before re-using.

[johnAdamson-ukdd]

I have had the same issue, I have to say before I invested in an impact driver, so yours must be tight, I ended up very carefully drilling the nut and spitting with a chisel, I don't envy the job my Commando was/is a 1970 so doesn't have the tacho drive so is just under 1/4" thick and it was easy to see where the thread ended, if you choose to drill and split I would probably source a new nut first so you determine where it is safe to drill.