1962 Model 88; previously 1957 basket case value?

[Bomber]

It is so that overhead singles will fit in the frame particularly Model 19's as they had taller barrels

[Kiwi]

Thanks Bomber

So was it normal for the frame to be generic so to speak? One frame fits all for a time in Nortons history?

[R]

The Model 19 engine was never fitted into a featherbed.
And the Manx engine was not fitted into a slimline, nor into roadbike frames.
Not from the factory, anyway.
And other slimlines don't all have that flat there.
ES2 and Model 50 (single cylinders) will though.

We can't quite recall the finer points of this earlier thread - does the frame number match the engine no.
If not, this bike might have some single cylinder history to it ?

Or, maybe we need someone with this particular year and model of frame to comment...

[Kiwi]

The numbers are matching and the frame is very clean, the swage? is clearly factory made and as far as I know it is a slimline feather bed frame?

[R]

It most definitely is a slimline. (Can you amend this thread title ?).

Maybe someone with that year and model can confirm if their twin cylinder frame has that flat.
Other years and models don't - this 61 Manxman for example
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODk5WDE2MDA=/z/uykAAMXQlgtS5WF6/$_57.JPG

Single cylinder models will though.
Another puzzling Norton inconsistency ?

P.S. Can we see a view of the front engine mounts, or is there a previous view.
The front engine mounts are different between singles and twins.
Maybe Nortons used up frames initially intended for singles if stocks ran low ?

[Kiwi]

Hi Guys

I tried to change the subject line some time ago but it didn't stick, I will have another go.

Does this picture work?

[Kiwi]

Could you re send the manxman pic it didn't open for me, applied myself and changed the title of the thread! (not so hard)

Cheers

[R]

Looks like you'll have to cut-n-paste the link into your browser.
Ebay have made it hard (deliberately ?) to link to pics.

[Bomber]

Yes your right R, classic case of engaging mouth before brain was in gear... 

[Kiwi]

Thanks R

Tried the cut and paste, no matter I get the picture so to speak. Motor is nearly done just waiting for the pistons to arrive, the head is done with 3 new oversize guides and one custom fitted due to previous bad fitting and a small crack repaired. Put in unleaded friendly seats and black diamond vales all to standard specs.

[Kiwi]

The assembly process is now under way, pistons have arrived, $400.00 AUD landed here. New valve springs, retainers, collets and rocker adjusters.

The engine and gear box is in the frame and will fit the barrels and head tomorrow

More photos to come

[R]

All sounds like very rapid progress !
Did the pistons match the bore straight out of the box - for clearance.
And the sludge trap in the crank was clean and unobstructed ?

[Kiwi]

The bore is being matched to the pistons today, they took a little longer to get here than I thought they would.

I did the sludge in the crank way back and the mechanic did it again just for good measure!

I am on a roll now and as soon as the rear hub is bored and sleeved we can lace the wheels, so watch this space!

Have a cloth wiring loom coming and the mechanic had an original main switch in his cupboard not to mention the genuine Lucas tail light! 

[Kiwi]

Progress Photos

I learned a valuable trick from my mechanic that I am sure most of you experienced people already knew, fitting the pistons by putting them in the barrels first and then fitting the gudgeon pins from underneath the barrel is a great time saver and far easier than risking breaking a ring, not to mention not having to disassemble the ring compressors from underneath the barrels!

Even after having done conventional car engines I am ashamed to say I don't think I would have considered this method!

[beng]

The oiling system with the above setup keeps equilibrium up to 4500 RPM I am told.
The enlarged oil feed galley prevents cavitation usually caused by installing a higher volume pump.
Pressure fed top end in a dominator requires Commando guides with seals and plain spindles to prevent excess oil burning as you say.

    This shows that just because somebody has been doing something a long time does not mean that they know what they are doing.
 
     The only reason that excess oil would collect in the bottom of a Norton twin is if more is being sent to the engine than is returned to the oil tank.  If fitting 6-start gears onto an early Dominator with and "S" pump puts too much oil into the sump then either the big-end shells are really loose, or the oil return inside the oil tank needs to be opened up a bit to let more oil into the tank and less to the top end.
 
     I have put many thousands of miles on early Dominators fitted with the large pump and fast gears with no excess oil collecting in them at all, and that includes a stock bike with no other modifications anywhere.
 
     For a touring bike like a single-carb 88 or 99, any correctly installed new parts will improve the oiling system.
 
     As far as a slimline Dominator having a single cylinder frame goes, after half a century it is anyone's guess as to what the bike has been through. If you get a close-up photo of the numbers stamped in your frame I can compare their script to the several original Dominator and single frames I have laying around here. In the meantime here are photos of both original single and twin slimline frames for you to compare to each other yours, notice the difference in the front engine mount and how the kink in the top tube is put in the single:
 

    Twin:
 
       
 

     Single:
 

     
 

     For more photos of these frames and the bikes they belong to go to:
 
     https://www.facebook.com/pages/Norton-Manxman-SportSpecial-and-racing-motorcycles/187441501303123