Which way round do I assemble my flywheel to the cheek plates?

Previously wrote:

I've acquired a Commando Flywheel and the two cheek plates, disassembled. I've had the big end journals nicely reground, thoroughly cleaned all three components and purchased an expensive set of studs and nuts to facilitate reassembly of the crank.

I've realised there's nothing to stop me putting the cheek plates back either way round and can't see any marking to indicate which way round the plates were originally installed. I've had a read of the workshop manual and am still non the wiser.

Can anyone point me in the right direction so I assemble the crank correctly??

Many thanks - Leigh

hello is there any punch marks on the side on the fly wheel edge ?

Hi Leigh. I raised a similar question just a couple of maonths ago, but it was becauseI didn't trust the former owners rebuild for many reasons evident with his engine building ability. I had taken photos before the strip down.I was happy to learn that a crankshaft mark (an X in my case) has to be showing to the RHS of the engine (timing side). This actually proved that the flywheel was correctly assembled, more by luck than judgement I would imagine (50:50 chance).As far asI know the later Commando engines do not have a mark. Did you take a photo? You should have known to have positively marked the webs and flywheel to facilitate a correct rebuild and it seems you must have forgotten to do so. I know it is sometimes easy to forget this sort of thing in the heat of the momentso I'm sympathetic.

Try to look very carefully for scratches and dents that appear to coincide on the surfaces, perhaps even a colour shade. Unless you are confident the best way would be to take it for rebalancing.

Les

I think that you've got problems Leigh. Correct practice when dismantling is obviously to centre punch or otherwise mark adjoining faces.

In theory, the flywheel is not handed so we're talking here about machining tolerances. Unfortunately, by the time that they made the Commando, it's true to say that the newness had rather worn off Norton Villier's machine tools.

Are there any 'witness' marks on the components that might indicate how it went togther ? Do you even know if they are from the same engine ?

If you haven't got V-blocks and dial guages to check the alignment then my inclination would be to have it checked over by someone who has, such as one of the better Norton engine builders and maybe even consider having the crank balanced too.

Les,

If you took the time to read the original thread, you see that Leigh aquired the crankshaft dissassembled so it's hardly his fault that the webs and flywheel were not marked to facilitate re-assembly.

Dave E

Ok David,I openly confess, I did make a mistake with my reading of Leigh's post, but I don't know why you have got so out of your pram about it! I did not redicule or blame Leigh, I simply said "have you got a photo etc etc? "you must have forgotten to do so" and then sypathised with him. obviously, if I had not missed the word disassembled I would not have said that. Yes I misread things...I'm sorry... No damage done was there? I then went on to givethe best help and advice I could think of as I had been in the same position only a month ago. The help was still completly valid.

It's funny you have only taken the time to make a big deal over nothing, rather than give some help yourself. As someone who rarely posts here with help and advice,you have taken the trouble to take a pop at me, for what reason? Please cheer upDavid and turn off the aggression and perhaps be more constructive. We can all make mistakes, oh ...sorry....perhaps you never do!

My appolgies to Leigh if you also became irritated. Sorry.

Les