where would I be without this wonderful resource? Well just as I thought I was on the home straight I have encontered a little problem. Take a look at the photo and you will see that my rear wheel spindle has been altered to pull straight through by being tightened from the off side I assume. Problem is that the nut in the photo has no thread left in it and therefore I assume that the spindle is pulled up and tightens on both frame lugs. Except that it doesnt clamp the left hand frame lug enough when its tightened up on the other side. As it is arranged by turning the nut on the nearside this operates the chain snail cam which is a good thing ( have I got the cam in the right place?) I assume the spacer inside the drum is stopping the spindle being pulled up tight. Anyway, greater brains than me will tell me where I am going wrong. I hope.
maybe I am making the wrong assumptions here. Perhaps the nut on the left hand side still needs to be able to be tightened onto the spacer in spite of the other modification, hence do I need a new nut as a minimum?
email (option): andrew.honychurch@btinternet.com
Hi Andrew..The large nut in your photo secures (or should) the brake drum/ sprocket assembly to the frame on that side. The spindle passes through the stub axle, drum, hub and offside wheel spacer and is secured by the nut on the other side of the bike. This arrangement enables the 'QD' set up to function...when the nut on the offside, spindle, spacer and 3 bolts into the rear of the drum are removed the wheel itself can then be removed, leaving the drum, sprocket and brake plate still in place..secured by that nut.
The spindle has two 'lugs' under the head that engage with the slots in the stub axle on assembly..these allow the rear chain to be adjusted by turning the stub axle and the cam mounted on it, when the offside spindle nut, nearside drum retaining nut and rear brake torque arm nut (on the brakeplate) have been slackened. Adjustment is then made by turning the wheel spindle head..which should have a hexagonal form.
If chain adjustment is attempted after slackening the offside spindle nut only and not the nearside drum nut the force applied in an attempt to turn the stub axle with the drum nut still tightened tends to 'spread' the slot in the stub axle...Then, when the drum nut is removed the opened out end of the stub axle takes the thread out of the nut.
So, you need a new nearside nut..you need to check the thread on the stub axle..if that is worn it should also be replaced. If the thread is OK you have to close in the opened out ends and/or clean them up on a lathe to ensure thier outside diameter is less than the internal diameter of the nut.
Also you need a wheel spindle with the correct hexagon head. It may be possible to repair the old one properly..if not a replacement will be needed as well....Ian 
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Hi Andrew..If you have a dragging clutch fixing that may well sort out the gearchange problem. Check out the technical section of the website...I have written a fairly detailed piece on clutch problems and solutions. The shoes aren't prone to 'sticking' in the drum at all once the bike is in use..they have probably got like that with standing for a long period..Possibly you may have to remove some material from the shoes (if they are new) to increase the clearance slightly. Whether that is needed will become clear when you connect and adjust the rear brake...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com