This is the lower vertical bevel gear, fitted to all SOHC International and Manx engines and also fitted to earlier DOHC Manx engines. These gears faithfully replicate the original Norton tooth profile and pattern and we have them made for us by a top specialist UK gear manufacturer.

Price is Each. 

Because these have been made with the original (and correct) Norton bevel gear profile, they can be used in conjunction with original Norton crankshaft bevel gears (unlike some other pattern SOHC gears made in past years by others, that required they were always changed in pairs).  However, if required, we also sell the corresponding crankshaft gear in either International (Item 0422) or SOHC Manx (Item 0423) configuration.

Photograph 1 shows the gear from different angles. Photograph 2 shows an original Norton gear on the left, and our gear on the right, as a comparison. Photograph 3 shows the gear fitted to one of our lower bevel gear housings. The gear has our PVN branding etched on the shaft.

Final point - for anyone building a SOHC Norton engine for the first time - shimming the crankshaft and bevel gears is one of the most important tasks to undertake correctly to ensure it results in a reliable and healthy engine.  Although not complex (compared to some modern engines), it needs to be undertaken in a specific order - and some elements of this process can be fiddly and time consuming . . . but it is definitely worth spending that time to get it right.  If you are not sure how to do this (and what parts it helps to have to make this task more efficient), then email us on sales@racingvincent.co.uk and we will try and offer technical advice

This is the crankshaft bevel gear,, fitted to SOHC International (i.e. aluminium crankcase models - not magnesium) and 1930 onwards CS1 engines (not the Walter Moore engine). These gears faithfully replicate the original Norton tooth profile and pattern and we have them made for us by a top specialist UK gear manufacturer.

Price is Each. 

Because these have been made with the original (and correct) Norton bevel gear profile, they can be used in conjunction with original Norton lower vertical bevel gears (unlike some other pattern SOHC gears made in past years by others, that required they were always changed in pairs).  However, if required, we also sell the corresponding lower vertical bevel gear (Item 0421).

Photograph 1 shows the gear from front and rear. Photograph 2 shows an original Norton gear at the top of the photograph and our gears underneath. Photograph 3 shows the International bevel gear on the left, with the shallower SOHC Manx gear on the right. The International gear was fitted to all Aluminium crankcase engines.  If you have a magnesium (M30/pre-Featherbed Manx) crankcase engine, then look instead at Item 0423

Final point - for anyone building a SOHC Norton engine for the first time - shimming the crankshaft and bevel gears is one of the most important tasks to undertake correctly to ensure it results in a reliable and healthy engine.  Although not complex (compared to some modern engines), it needs to be undertaken in a specific order - and some elements of this process can be fiddly and time consuming . . . but it is definitely worth spending that time to get it right.  If you are not sure how to do this (and what parts it helps to have to make this task more efficient), then email us on sales@racingvincent.co.uk and we will try and offer technical assistance

This is the crankshaft bevel gear,, fitted to SOHC pre-Featherbed magnesium racing engines - i.e. M30/M40 and SOHC Manx type engines. These gears faithfully replicate the original Norton tooth profile and pattern and we have them made for us by a top specialist UK gear manufacturer.

Price is Each. 

Because these have been made with the original (and correct) Norton bevel gear profile, they can be used in conjunction with original Norton lower vertical bevel gears (unlike some other pattern SOHC gears made in past years by others, that required they were always changed in pairs).  However, if required, we also sell the corresponding lower vertical bevel gear (Item 0421).

Photograph 1 shows the gear from front and rear. Photograph 2 shows an original Norton gear at the top of the photograph and our gears underneath. Photograph 3 shows the International bevel gear on the left, with the shallower SOHC Manx gear on the right. The shallower gear was fitted to the magnesium crankcase racing engines - it being shallower, to allow for the Twin row timing side main bearing fitted to this type of engine. If you have an aluminium crankcase Internation or post 1930 CS1 model (with single row timing side main bearing - then we also sell the bevel gear for that engine as well - Item 0422

Final point - for anyone building a SOHC Norton engine for the first time - shimming the crankshaft and bevel gears is one of the most important tasks to undertake correctly to ensure it results in a reliable and healthy engine.  Although not complex (compared to some modern engines), it needs to be undertaken in a specific order - and some elements of this process can be fiddly and time consuming . . . but it is definitely worth spending that time to get it right.  If you are not sure how to do this (and what parts it helps to have to make this task more efficient), then email us on sales@racingvincent.co.uk and we will try and offer technical assistance

- Magnesium SOHC (Manx Spec) Bottom Bevel Casting, as fitted to pre-war Works bike, and occasionally some Pre and Post-War customer (i.e.Gardengate) Manx's, these bevel castings will give your engine a particularly exotic touch, as well as being substantially lighter than their aluminium equivelants.

Made from high quality AZ91E, heat treated magnesium alloy - comparable to Norton's original Elektron material), they are made to exact copy of original castings and UK CNC machined.. The casting is supplied fully chromated (to protect from oxidisation) as per originals, but also sprayed in Duck Oil.

Finally, they are pre-fitted with the plain phospher bronze bevel gear bearing, which has all oil grooving as per original, and is pinned and honed after fitting, just as the original. (

June 2023:  FYI - the last magnesium casting sold approximiately one year ago, and the price of magnesium and machining has risen hugely since pre-covid (i.e. the price showing will be out of date).  Realistically, it is unlikely we will manufacture these again in magnesium - but email if you really want them - if enough interest, we may consider a final batch

Magnesium SOHC (Manx Spec) Top Bevel Casting, as fitted to pre-war Works bike, and occasionally some Pre and Post-War customer (i.e.Gardengate) Manx's, these bevel castings will give your engine a particularly exotic touch, as well as being substantially lighter than their aluminium equivelants.

Made from high quality AZ91E, heat treated magnesium alloy - comparable to Norton's original Elektron material), they are made to exact copy of original castings and UK CNC machined.. The casting is supplied fully chromated (to protect from oxidisation) as per originals, but also sprayed in Duck Oil.

Finally, they are pre-fitted with the plain phospher bronze bevel gear bearing, which has all oil grooving as per original, and is pinned and honed after fitting, just as the original. 

June 2023:  FYI - the last magnesium casting sold approximiately one year ago, and the price of magnesium and machining has risen hugely since pre-covid (i.e. the price showing will be out of date).  Realistically, it is unlikely we will manufacture these again in magnesium - but email if you really want them - if enough interest, we may consider a final batch

- Aluminium SOHC Bottom Bevel Casting, as fitted to all road going Internationals and many racing Internationals as well as some SOHC Manx Nortons. -

As with the magnesium items, these castings are just as per original Norton items, cast in high quality LM25TF heat treated aluminium and fully CNC machined in the UK.

They also include the phosphor bronze bearing with all oil grooving, which after fitting is pinned and honed for the bevel gear, just as per original. As a final touch, these items are polished to a high finish and look really nice when fitted. 

- Aluminium SOHC Top Bevel Casting, as fitted to all road going Internationals and many racing Internationals as well as some SOHC Manx Nortons.

- As with the magnesium items, these castings are just as per original Norton items, cast in high quality LM25TF heat treated aluminium and fully CNC machined in the UK.

They also include the phosphor bronze bearing with all oil grooving, which after fitting is pinned and honed for the bevel gear, just as per original. As a final touch, these items are polished to a high finish and look really nice when fitted. 

- Large gland nut that screws into top or bottom bevel casting. Manufactured in high quality Stainless Steel, CNC'd from billet. Direct replacement for original, but designed to accept modern 'O' Rings (3 per unit) rather than orignal rubbers ring (for improved oil retention).

If I say so myself, these look lovely (and actually I think much prettier than the original ones).  Really set the engine off, when combined with our stainless vertical tubes.

7/7/2020:  Just had a new batch of these made, and have kept price increase to just £1 more than the last batch 5 years ago. (March 2024: out of stock again . . . new batch being manufactured . . . but price TBC as stainless cost has risen so much)

Copper/mineral filling Washer (traditionally called a Copanda washer - has heat resistent crushable material inside) used with SOHC and DOHC Bevel Union Nut on upper and lower castings.  Should normally be replaced each time nut is refitted to avoid leaking

Originally, at the time Norton was manufacturing these Cammy engines, these washers were commonly filled with an abestos type filling.  However, as abestos is now recognised as a hazardous material - these modern versions are filled with mineral heat resistent material.  They 'crush' slightly on tightening the bevel nuts, and provide a good seal.

We have had the tooling made for producing this crushable washer, and do not supply these to any other supplier.  Although they look simple - they are manufactured to work as the original's - which includes ensuring they look the same as originals once tightened (i.e. visually they are centralised as per the originals, in line with the bevel nut lip, as they are very visible on the timing side of the engine).  It is normal practice to replace them each time the cambox is removed.

They are flat on one side, and slightly curved (crushable) on the other side.  I normally fit the flat side on the Bevel Housing casting side, and the curved (crushable) face on the nut side.

Price is each.

Update March 2024: Unfortunately the manufacturing cost of this copper/mineral washer has doubled since last ordered 2 years ago!! (partily the material cost).  We have only increased the retail price by a fraction of this amount.

 This listing is for a SOHC Vertical Shaft, of the standard Norton type, fitted to most 500cc CS1 and International models from 1931-54, to accept normal SOHC Oldham Couplings. 

But see bottom of this listing for important information and ensure you are fully clear on their specification before ordering - as the price shown is a discounted price for this batch only

It is CNC manufactured to a high standard of finish and accurate tolerance, using an original Norton International 500cc vertical shaft in excellent condition as a pattern.  It is hollow through its centre (as per the original for oil drainage from the cambox), and the oldham coupling slots have been machined to a high tolerance, to accept the original size width and depth oldham couplings - to a size fit. 

Overall length of these shafts are 9.250" (234.95mm), which we believe is the commonly accepted 'Standard' 500cc length (they were also made in other lengths for 350cc and 600cc models - and we may consider other lengths for future batch's - email us at sales@racingvincent.co.uk if you have a specific requirement)

In the accompanying photographs you will see (one of our) Oldham Couplings fitted into the slot - and this was a very nice 'firm push fit in'.  They are manufactured from EN36 steel.  Please read detail listing before ordering to fully understand background and details of these shafts. Price is for the shaft only (oldham couplings sold seperately - Items 0683 and 0684)

Please Read Carefully Before Ordering:  Update Nov 2021 - Although beautifully manufactured - this initial batch of shafts we have had made has one difference from the original specifaction - the outside 'flats' on either end of the shaft have been milled in parallel to the Oldham Coupling slots, rather than being at 90 degrees to the slot, as most original shafts were. 

The purpose of these outer flats is not fully clear (i.e. they are possibly for making centralisation of the oldham coupling when fitting them easier - although they self centralised when fitted in the bearings anyway, they are possibly to help hold them with a spanner, to stop them from rotating - particularly when tightening the camshaft nuts, or to further help drainage).  However talking to some other learned SOHC people - the view is, although not as original pattern, it should not have any adverse affect in use.

However, because of this difference - we are offering the remainder of this first batch at a discounted price of £140 - which is substantially cheaper than the normal retail cost for these (we are expecting that given current material costs the next batch will be £200+ each).

As at Nov 2021, over half this batch has already sold (to friends, colleagues and myself!) but we still have a few remaining.  But please satisfy yourself that you understand this difference to standard spec before ordering and are comfortable with it.