Hitchcocks Forum

Calling any S Meteor/Connie owners, could anyone help with tooling for the removal of the large shouldered nut( 1.9/16") securing the gearbox sprocket for my 1960 S Meteor? It looks like the best thing would be a thin walled box spanner to fit over the layshaft. Our hosts sell one but I've was advised by them that it's for Bullets and therefore metric in size. Anyone who could either hire or point in the right direction to buying something suitable would have my appreciation!
Thanks Brian in Cheltenham

As long as the metric one is 40mm it should fit fine. 1 9/16" = 39.7 mm

Hi Simon
I've researched Metpro box spanner sizes (metric) and 40 mm is not made unfortunately, it jumps from 36 to 41 mm (which is close).
I phoned our hosts and asked wether the one they sell for 4 speed g/boxes would work and was told no not for Redditch machines, and their 'will it fit my model' lists says Yes to everything but Redditch bikes.
Perhaps Allan could comment as to what sizes the one's they sell are dimension wise?
Brian
'60 Super Meteor

The other thing you could do is find the appropriate sized 3/4" drive socket in a second hand tool shop and modify it to fit. Whitworth sizes are getting hard to find down here in the antipodes but I remember heaps of them turning up in second hand shops a while back. You can turn out the drive side of a socket on a lathe and braze on an appropriate handle. I've made a few service todos that way.

The other thing you could do is find the appropriate sized 3/4" drive socket in a second hand tool shop and modify it to fit. Whitworth sizes are getting hard to find down here in the antipodes but I remember heaps of them turning up in second hand shops a while back. You can turn out the drive side of a socket on a lathe and braze on an appropriate handle. I've made a few service todos that way.

Amazon list a couple of deep profile impact sockets of 40mm size for about £12. I would have thought they would be suitable.

Westy, there are loads of 40mm impact sockets on ebay. HTH.

hi westy.just changed the final drive sprocket on my super meteor i used an adjustable pipe wrench to undo and do up the nut.these nuts dont have to be dead tight as rhe grub screw stops the nut undoing just put a drop of locktight on grub screw.did this with my clipper no problems.

Hi all, many thanks for all the suggestions, in actual fact the Metpro 41 mm box spanner perfect for the job & also as meteur said as the sprocket nut is secured by a grub screw against the flat of the nut (as against the lock tab of a Bullet) they aren't too tight. Cheers all Westy

An update on this! I'm working on a Constellation at the moment and need this spanner myself. I went to my large local Motor Factors and measured up some of the deep "impact" type sockets they sell as this was one of the suggestions. The 40mm size is just a tad larger than the nut, so a good fit, BUT the depth of the socket is critical. The Twin gearbox mainshaft is longer than the Bullet so maximum depth needs to be 70mm. Sadly none of the ones on offer is this deep, 55mm max. As the box spanner does the job according to Westy, I suggest this is the way to go! You will also need to hold the sprocket as you tighten the nut, I use a length of old chain which I clamp with a set of vice grips.
REgards, Mark