Clutch shims on 4 speed Vega

I built my Vega with two shims between the endplate bearing and the clutch itself. It is a Vega clutch with a bronze bush. I didn’t have these shims in my box of bits but I got them under advice from a knowledgeable Vega chap The rationale for the two was that the small one sits on the outer rim of the actual bearing and therefore pushes the larger shim away from interfering with the ball bearings.

The rear sprocket is about 0.50mm above the front sprocket but I was not overly concerned about that.

Anyway, I have just been delving back into the engine because of a slight whining noise (I am pretty certain that it is a tight 74 link IWIS chain catching a bit too much on the LTH tensioner). I have now been advised by another knowledgeable lad that I should only have one shim and that it is J ranges that have two shims but they are different in that they have roller bearings and not a bronze bush.

I am going to go with this new advise as it will align the sprockets.

Has anyone any thoughts on this please?

Hi mate, i'm pretty sure there was talk of this on the facebook pages. I think it might have been Jem that said one shim was used. I'm not 100% on that, i'll have a look asap and let you know if i can find the thread and it's info.

Thanks, David.

I will tell you my experience.
I only have the experience of making two Lui engines. One a 50 and the other a 75.
The two engines when I disassembled them had only one washer between the bearing and the clutch.
In the 50 engine I have put a CP135 with a 75 Crownwheel and a J125 spider. In this configuration I had to put 2 washers, one narrower than the other, because the spider did not come out through the crown and it was blocked, I do not know if I explain myself.

So I had a look on Facebook, I think these pictures are the one's I was thinking of. The original poster asked this question
"Do J range clutch shims and Clutch Nuts fit the Vega please?"
This was Jem's reply





Sorry for the small size pics but I'm struggling with photo host site. I hope this helps you? Perhaps try clicking on the image's, this might then bring them up with the option to zoom in

Thanks, David. Yes, that was actually Jem’s response to me

As I said in the first post, I have now been reliably informed that is only correct for J ranges, not Vegas.

I have a new shim on order. I also am also going to try a slightly thinner gearbox shim. I shall try it and see what I find.

Can't remember what i have in mine - but I just did what Jem told me to do and its been fine for 10 years or so

Thanks, Ed.

Well, I have swapped the two out for the one that Torbay Lambretta sell. It works fine but then so did the two I had in previously. The front and rear sprockets are more aligned though.