Essential when rebuilding your engine to ensure that the mainshaft bevel has the correct backlash and position in relation to the lower vertical bevel gear, these mainshaft shims fit between the timing side main bearing and the mainshaft bevel gear.

This shim is used once the crankshaft has been shimmed and you are fitting the lower bevel gears.

This is for a complete set of 5 shims in the following sizes:

- 0.5mm = 0.021" or 21 thou (for some reason the actual thickness is 0.53mm which = 21 thou) 

- 0.3mm = 0.012" or 12 thou

- 0.2mm = 0.008" or 8 thou

- 0.1mm = 0.004" or 4 thou

- 0.05mm = 0.002" or 2 thou

It is common practice to measure float with no shims fitted, then add one or multiple shims to reach the desired final endfloat, measuring each time shims are added or subtracted 

Bagged in DuckOil to protect from corrosion

Essential when rebuilding your engine to ensure that the lower vertical bevel gear has the correct backlash and position in relation to the crankshaft bevel gear, these lower bevel shims fit between the timing case housing and the lower bevel housing

Fitted in conjunction with the timing case shim, the ideal positioning is acheved when the gears are in line and there is a just perceptable gap (backlash) between teeth.

This listing is for a single shim which we can supply in the following 4 sizes :

0.5mm//0.3mm0.2mm/0.1mm/0.05mm. Note - shim steel is now supplied in metric thicknesses, but these are offered in the nearest equivelant to the old Imperial sizes that were commonly used - i.e.

- 0.5mm = 0.021" or 21 thou (for some reason the actual thickness is 0.53mm which = 21 thou) 

- 0.3mm = 0,012" or 12 thou 

- 0.2mm = 0.008" or 8 thou

- 0.1mm = 0.004" or 4 thou

- 0.05mm = 0.002" or 2 thou (but see note below for these)

Put a note stating which size you require when placing the online order.  We also sell complete sets of 5 shims (see listing 0326B)

Note: we do also have a few of the very thin 0.05mm thickness shims - but these have a slightly larger central hole (approx 51mm), which were of the type fitted to later DOHC Coarse Bevel housings.  They are still work just as well.  However, because these are limited in quantity - please email us for availability if you require one of this thickness.  See picture of 5 shims to see the 0.05mm shim

Update Feb 2020: All sizes now back in stock again 

Essential when rebuilding your engine to ensure that the lower vertical bevel gear has the correct backlash and position in relation to the crankshaft bevel gear, these lower bevel shims fit between the timing case housing and the lower bevel housing

Fitted in conjunction with the timing case shim, the ideal positioning is acheved when the gears are in line and there is a just perceptable gap (backlash) between teeth.

This is for a complete set of 5 shims in the following sizes :

0.5mm//0.3mm0.2mm/0.1mm/0.05mm. Note - shim steel is now supplied in metric thicknesses, but these are offered in the nearest equivelant to the old Imperial sizes that were commonly used - i.e.

- 0.5mm = 0.021" or 21 thou (for some reason the actual thickness is 0.53mm which = 21 thou) 

- 0.3mm = 0,012" or 12 thou 

- 0.2mm = 0.008" or 8 thou

- 0.1mm = 0.004" or 4 thou

- 0.05mm = 0.002" or 2 thou (but see note below for these)

Packed in Duck Oil to protect from rusting. with slight saving when bought as set of 5 shims.

Update Feb 2020: All sizes now back in stock again - however, please note: the thinnest shim (0.05mm shim) has a slightly larger hole (i.e. the coarse bevel housing type, which has a slightly bigger centre hole - sold seperately as 0862) - as it is very difficult to produce in this thin size - my shim maker only makes this thickness of lower bevel shim in the one type - they work just as well as the others though in practice, as they locate by the stud holes.

This is for a single lower bevel shim of the type fitted to later DOHC type housings that are fitted with 'coarse' bevel gears - these having a larger central hole than SOHC and early DOHC engines.

Essential when rebuilding your engine to ensure that the lower vertical bevel gear has the correct backlash and position in relation to the crankshaft bevel gear, these lower bevel shims fit between the timing case housing and the lower bevel housing - Fitted in conjunction with the timing case shim, the ideal positioning is acheved when the gears are in line and there is a just perceptable gap (backlash) between teeth.

We also sell the more normal SOHC lower bevel housing shim (fitted from 1930 to the mid 1950's to all SOHC engines and early longstroke DOHC engines, but later DOHC Manx Norton engines used coarse bevel gears and had a housing with a larger hole.  These shims have that larger hole - this being a fraction larger than  51mm.

It was also not unheard of for earlier SOHC or DOHC crankcases to be modified to fit a later 'coarse bevel' housing, indeed it was for this reason that we originally had these shims made - I found a housing to fit an original SOHC Manx enginethat had been modified to take this larger hole.

If you are not sure what type of lower bevel housing you need - you can email us on sales@racingvincent.co.uk for more detail.

We can supply this shim type in the following thicknesses (please state which thickness you require when placing your order:

This listing is for a single shim which we can supply in the following 4 sizes :

0.5mm//0.3mm0.2mm/0.1mm/0.05mm. Note - shim steel is now supplied in metric thicknesses, but these are offered in the nearest equivelant to the old Imperial sizes that were commonly used - i.e.

- 0.5mm = 0.021" or 21 thou (for some reason the actual thickness is 0.53mm which = 21 thou) 

- 0.3mm = 0,012" or 12 thou 

- 0.2mm = 0.008" or 8 thou

- 0.1mm = 0.004" or 4 thou

- 0.05mm = 0.002" or 2 thou (but see note below for these)

Put a note stating which size you require when placing the online order.  We also sell complete sets of 5 shims (see listing 0326B)

Note: We also have a limited stock of 3 thou/0.05mm shims of this type, but as we can longer obtain them in this thickness - we also sell them with the SOHC lower shim sets, and stocks may be limited of this size.

This is for a set of 4 lower bevel housing shims to fit later DOHC type housings that are fitted with 'coarse' bevel gears - these having a larger central hole than SOHC and early DOHC engines.

Essential when rebuilding your engine to ensure that the lower vertical bevel gear has the correct backlash and position in relation to the crankshaft bevel gear, these lower bevel shims fit between the timing case housing and the lower bevel housing - Fitted in conjunction with the timing case shim, the ideal positioning is acheved when the gears are in line and there is a just perceptable gap (backlash) between teeth.

We also sell the more normal SOHC lower bevel housing shim (fitted from 1930 to the mid 1950's to all SOHC engines and early longstroke DOHC engines, but later DOHC Manx Norton engines used coarse bevel gears and had a housing with a larger hole.  These shims have that larger hole - this being a fraction larger than  51mm.

It was also not unheard of for earlier SOHC or DOHC crankcases to be modified to fit a later 'coarse bevel' housing, indeed it was for this reason that we originally had these shims made - I found a housing to fit an original SOHC Manx enginethat had been modified to take this larger hole.

If you are not sure what type of lower bevel housing you need - you can email us on sales@racingvincent.co.uk for more detail.

This set of shims consists of 4 shims in the following thicknesses:

This is for a single lower bevel shim of the type fitted to later DOHC type housings that are fitted with 'coarse' bevel gears - these having a larger central hole than SOHC and early DOHC engines.

Essential when rebuilding your engine to ensure that the lower vertical bevel gear has the correct backlash and position in relation to the crankshaft bevel gear, these lower bevel shims fit between the timing case housing and the lower bevel housing - Fitted in conjunction with the timing case shim, the ideal positioning is acheved when the gears are in line and there is a just perceptable gap (backlash) between teeth.

We also sell the more normal SOHC lower bevel housing shim (fitted from 1930 to the mid 1950's to all SOHC engines and early longstroke DOHC engines, but later DOHC Manx Norton engines used coarse bevel gears and had a housing with a larger hole.  These shims have that larger hole - this being a fraction larger than  51mm.

It was also not unheard of for earlier SOHC or DOHC crankcases to be modified to fit a later 'coarse bevel' housing, indeed it was for this reason that we originally had these shims made - I found a housing to fit an original SOHC Manx enginethat had been modified to take this larger hole.

If you are not sure what type of lower bevel housing you need - you can email us on sales@racingvincent.co.uk for more detail.

We can supply this shim type in the following thicknesses (please state which thickness you require when placing your order:

This listing is for a single shim which we can supply in the following 4 sizes :

0.5mm//0.3mm0.2mm/0.1mm. Note - shim steel is now supplied in metric thicknesses, but these are offered in the nearest equivelant to the old Imperial sizes that were commonly used - i.e.

- 0.5mm = 0.021" or 21 thou (for some reason the actual thickness is 0.53mm which = 21 thou) 

- 0.3mm = 0,012" or 12 thou 

- 0.2mm = 0.008" or 8 thou

- 0.1mm = 0.004" or 4 thou

Packed in Duck Oil to protect from rusting

Essential when rebuilding your engine to ensure that the upper vertical bevel gear has the correct backlash and position in relation to the camshaft bevel gear, these upper bevel shims fit between the cambox shell casting and the upper bevel housing -

Fitted in conjunction with the camshaft bevel gear shim, the ideal positioning is acheved when the gears are in line and there is a just perceptible gap (backlash) between teeth.

This is for a shingle shim in any of the following sizes (please state which size required when placing online order) :

0.5mm/0.3mm/0.2mm/0.1mm/0.05mm. Note - shim steel is now supplied in metric thicknesses, but these are offered in the nearest equivelant to the old Imperial sizes that were commonly used - i.e.

- 0.5mm = 0.021" or 21 thou (for some reason the actual thickness is 0.53mm which = 21 thou) 

- 0.3mm = 0.012" or 12 thou

- 0.2mm = 0.008" or 8 thou

- 0.1mm = 0.004" or 4 thou

- 0.05mm = 0.002" or 2 thou

It is common practice to measure initially with no shims fitted, then add one or multiple shims to reach the desired positive backlash, measuring each time shims are added or subtracted  

Sets of all 5 shim thicknesses also available as a set with slight cost saving - see Item 0327B. Packed in Duck Oil to protect from rusting

Essential when rebuilding your engine to ensure that the upper vertical bevel gear has the correct backlash and position in relation to the camshaft bevel gear, these upper bevel shims fit between the cambox shell casting and the upper bevel housing -

Fitted in conjunction with the camshaft bevel gear shim, the ideal positioning is acheved when the gears are in line and there is a just perceptible gap (backlash) between teeth.

This is for a complete set of 5 shims in the following sizes :

0.5mm/0.3mm/0.2mm/0.1mm/0.05mm. Note - shim steel is now supplied in metric thicknesses, but these are offered in the nearest equivelant to the old Imperial sizes that were commonly used - i.e.

- 0.5mm = 0.021" or 21 thou (for some reason the actual thickness is 0.53mm which = 21 thou) 

- 0.3mm = 0.012" or 12 thou

- 0.2mm = 0.008" or 8 thou

- 0.1mm = 0.004" or 4 thou

- 0.05mm = 0.002" or 2 thou

It is common practice to measure initially with no shims fitted, then add one or multiple shims to reach the desired positive backlash, measuring each time shims are added or subtracted  

Packed in Duck Oil to protect from rusting, with slight cost saving over buying individually

Essential when rebuilding your engine to ensure that the upper vertical bevel gear has the correct backlash and position in relation to the camshaft bevel gear, these camshaft bevel shims fit between the camshaft and the front cambox bearing (i.e. in the front cambox well).

Fitted in conjunction with the upper vertical bevel gear shim, the ideal positioning is acheved when the gears are in line and there is a just perceptible gap (backlash) between teeth.

This is for a single shim in one of the following sizes - state which size required when ordering:

- 0.5mm = 0.021" or 21 thou (for some reason the actual thickness is 0.53mm which = 21 thou) 

- 0.3mm = 0.012" or 12 thou

- 0.2mm = 0.008" or 8 thou

- 0.1mm = 0.004" or 4 thou

- 0.05mm = 0.002" or 2 thou

It is common practice to measure initially with no shims fitted, then add one or multiple shims to reach the desired final positive backlash, measuring each time shims are added or subtracted  

Essential when rebuilding your engine to ensure that the upper vertical bevel gear has the correct backlash and position in relation to the camshaft bevel gear, these camshaft bevel shims fit between the camshaft and the front cambox bearing (i.e. in the front cambox well).

Fitted in conjunction with the upper vertical bevel gear shim, the ideal positioning is acheved when the gears are in line and there is a just perceptible gap (backlash) between teeth.

This is for a set of 3 shims in the following sizes :

0.2mm/0.3mm/0.5mm. Note - shim steel is now supplied in metric thicknesses, but these are offered in the nearest equivelant to the old Imperial sizes that were commonly used - i.e.

- 0.3mm = 0.012" or 12 thou

- 0.2mm = 0.008" or 8 thou

It is common practice to measure initially with no shims fitted, then add one or multiple shims to reach the desired final positive backlash, measuring each time shims are added or subtracted  

Note: The A11/788 back distance piece is sold seperately - see Item 0329, as can these shims in the individual sizes (Item 0328).  The back distance piece is not used for shimming the camshaft bevel gear - it is for setting distance of cambox back bearing correctly.

Please note - Oct 2022 . . .in the past we used to get these made in 5 different thicknesses - but now only available in 3  most common sizes . . . but you may find it prudent to buy more than one packet or some additional individual shims - I normally keep a small tub of them, to ensure I can make up the right combination for correctly shimming the cambox I am making up, as over the 30 year period these cambox's were made, it is rare to find two cambox's with the same shimming requirement! 

In the accompanyning photographs - the second photograph shows our shims on one of our camshafts in the position the shims would fit before the camshaft is slid into the cambox - the shims being fitted between the camshaft shoulder and the front cambox bearing (i.e. adding more shims pushes the large bevel gear out from the bearing more).

The final photograph shows a genuine pre-war (Manx) camshaft . . . having just been stripped for the first time in 50 years, and original Norton shims still in place (and a similar photograph is also shown in the listing for Item 0329, as the distance piece is also in situ in that photograph)

This is the distance piece that betweens the cams and the cambox back bearing.

It ensures the back bearing inner cage and rollers are sititng centrally in the outer bearing (which is located in the cambox rear cover).

Assembly Note: This distance piece has been copied from an original pattern - taken from a very original pre-war SOHC M30 (magnesium) racing cambox, which has not been apart for at least 50 years before I stripped it down - and as you see here our distance piece looks just the same as the original.  However, you will also notice that the spacer has a slot to feed over the camshaft woodruff key, that retains the cams.  

I am not sure why Norton's did this, as it is normal for the the spacer ring to be fitted between the cam and rear cambox bearing (i.e. before you get to the woodruff key), however what is most important is to ensure the cams are running as close to central under the rockers - so I assume that Norton's did this because there may have been some variations, whereby it was possible to fit this ring behind the cams if necessary - to ensure they are central to rockers.  However, for initial assembly - I always follow the 1948 Spare Parts list exploded diagram and fit it initially between cam and back bearing.You should always check that the cams are acting on the rockers close to central and not fouling the other rocker.

This distance piece is @60 thou thick, which I find to normally be correct, but you should check yourself that this thickness locates the bearing in the correct position, as this can sometimes vary as there were many slight variations over the years. To help with this, place thick high melting point grease in the outer cage of the back bearing, then trial fit the back cover, you can then see from the marks in the grease if the inner race is in the correct position.

Note:  This distance piece has nothing to do with setting the camshaft/vertical bevel gear mesh - for those shims, see Item 0328 and 0328B