Leather gland 65-3087

[Greenfield]

The 1939 parts book for B21 to B26 lists 65-3087 'leather gland' and 65-3088 'sprocket spring ring'. I'm guessing that these were fitted behind the gearbox sprocket perhaps to prevent grit etc flicking off the chain and getting behind the sprocket. These parts appear to be no longer available, but Draganfly shows a leather washer instead of the 'gland', available on back order.
Has anyone had any experience of these parts? Could a felt washer be a suitable replacement as fitted to many later models?

[Rupert]

You're dead right re the job of these parts. The sprocket is a close fit in the gearbox shell as that was the main way of stopping gearbox oil leaking through, hence road muck is best kept out.
The gland is a cupped leather washer retained on the sprocket by a spring band similar to used on rubber garter seals

[Greenfield]

Cheers Rupert. No evidence of one on my B21, probably rotted away sometime last century. I can't see how the leather washer at Drags would do the job.

[Rupert]

It might be possible to form a piece if leather to the right shape by soaking it and pressing it to dry between two halves of a mold to give the right finished shape - probably how the originals were made. I've to solve the same problem on a gearbox Im  building, I was going to look at a thick o ring between the back of the sprocket and the gearbox casing.

[Steve.S]

I'm sure a felt washer would do, but I hope you fitted a double sealed sleeve gear bearing, so anything else is probably unnecessary.
BTW, I much enjoyed your article in the magazine.

[Greenfield]

When rebuilding the gearbox I fitted a sealed mainshaft bearing, but the one supplied was single sealed - it leaks! Fitting a felt washer to keep out dirt from the chain and rear wheel is not straight forward, as the small size would probably result in it tearing itself apart. I got a friend to make a holder for a felt washer, which presses onto the protruding casing and just clears the back of the sprocket. Hopefully it will be durable, time will tell.