Finally getting around to having a look at the 4 speed. Got the side cover off to find this nut sitting on the top of the steel fork. First time for me looking into one of these so not sure if it's supposed to be there. Only thing I notice is it pretty much evens up the length of the fork posts, would there be a reason for this?

One is an early bronze fork, the other a later steel fork. That said, I've never compared the two side by side to see if they're different lengths. I do know that to use the steel fork in an old style side cover there are ends on the fork (shaft) that have to be trimmed off. It doesn't usually leave as pretty of a surface as the one in your photo which looks cleanly machined. Possibly the fork is from some other brand ??

That looks like a repair to me. There was a time when it was near impossible to find steel shift forks. Maybe that one broke off and they machined up a new piece and threaded it in there and used the nut to lock it down.

Interesting for sure.

The lever in the side cover has probably been trimmed to compensate for the thickness of the nut too.

Thanks for the replys guys. Nut is threaded but not screwed on there, just slips on. I reached out to Brewers, they say the steel fork is a modified 71’ and later, no shoulder at the base like the brass one, so the nut is being used as a spacer in case the fork thinks about jumping out. Appreciate the help!

Oh, you post here THEN ask the experts !!!!

That is a strange one for sure because I've been into a bunch of these boxes and never seen that before.
The input looks a little beat up The clutching teeth have had a hard life

Gus

Hey Stanton, I think the guys were one the right track to figuring this one out. Thanks for the help all🍻!