AJS & Matchless Owners Club

I took the case back off... With it off you can see the witness ring where the pinion has sat previously and that's where it sits when popped back on.
You can shine a light behind the pinion and see the key is not fouling.
Thanks for your thoughts... I can't think of anything else. That's the way it is and that's the way it will have to be.

I still think it looks odd

Me too

I saw this in an 350 Ajay overhaul artical in an old Classic Mechanics that I was given...

Probably explains my puzzlement.

At least you have an answer!