Norton.rider

So far so good got the tank, oil tank, tool box, rear mudguard, footrest, battery carrier, outer primary an bar clamps all down to metal ready for paint all looking really good, seat is going to be a pain lol. done about 80% of the chassis just gotta get the last of the rubbish primer he's used off, gonna do the entire bike then do the wheels as I can move it in an out at the moment while the wheels are still on. Hoping to start red oxiding in the morning an maybe get some paint onto the chassis.

Thanks Eearly that's a pretty cool idea think I've broke it's back so to speak now. Gonna carry on as we are doing for now till I run out of this expensive rubbish haha!

Tell me about it Ron I remember when they changed litho print ink to that vegi stuff was a total night mare! I'll use what I've got left of the nitro then look at getting some different stuff damn that's cool mate. Bet that was epic to see uncovering history like that! Wonder if the lad ever found it again things have an Amazing way of turning up sometimes.

Tell me about it mate!! It's been a total pain! Luckily I found out that a tiny bit of white spirit keeps it activated so it doesn't dry out an do naff all like you say Next time I do any paint stripping I'm gonna have to get some different stuff. It's lifting the paint easy enough just tricky getting the endless layers of primer off that the previous owner has used water seems to help with that after some nitro on it. One interesting thing is it's revealing lots of details like the scc2 on every part and part numbers stamped into stuff like on the underside of the oil tank. Itching to get stuck in come morning gonna be up at 6 haha!

Working on the bike I feel a bit like an archeologist uncovering history! Found remnants of the original paint under all the layers an layers of paint. Scc.2 Brown with the red oxide underneath it thanks to the great advice of you all. I've actually ordered this colour already got scc2 an red oxide which arrived today nice to confirm it! Also spotted the return oil line had a split in it on the rubber right near one of the clamps!! That could have been very nasty so gotta get some new rubber hose an repair that to.

Made some progress for an hour today got 90% of the paint from the petrol tank all seems solid an no filler which is good layers of different colour primer and underneath was some traces of what looks like scc.2 brown or some brown paint around some of the seams camera didnt capture it to well as there was a bit of paint stripper on it at that point on the petrol tank, footrests. Speaking of scc2 my red oxide an scc2 paint should be here early next week so looking forward to that. An some decent patches of brown on the toolbox although my darn phone was flat at that point. The tanks looking in much better condition than I initially thought with the majority of the paint of the sides an the top gonna start on the bottom of it in the morning. Looking forward to stripping the old paint of the frame and primary ready for prime an paint next week an seeing what it reveals gonna do everything then deal with the wheels last. Took the outer primary cover off an was nice to see that all in decent condition. Gonna have a go at slackening the crank nut tomorrow an clutch basket so I can paint the back of the primary as well.

Made some progress today working on a set of very used Wd Norton 16h 1" clamps. One was much better than the other an I've got another top an bottom on the way but managed to save all of these to! Paint should be here next week so gonna start working on getting all the paint removed from the wd16h over the next couple of days ready for priming an her first lick of paint back in wd colours! Next things I've got to sort once my Maria Costello MBE Daytona race bike is sold is, cables, 1" clutch an brake levers inc perches, Bar end caps oh an fuel line. Du42 headlight an blackout (did the original blackouts have any stamping on them?) After that tyres really getting close now. Episode 5 bar clamps

Been reading Jack's book today cracking read thanks for the recommendation on it lads. Picked the Magneto an dynamo up before from Tony Cooper absolutely over the moon with it. Short 1 minute video from today's mini road trip. Episode 4 road trip to collect the mag Ordered the paint from War Paint as well so that should be here early next week! Itching to get started gonna hold off fitting the mag till I've got her painted up which should give me a chance to sort some of the other little bits out that I'm still hunting for.

North africa ww2 bike This was one Rik sent me link to one that's from the same contract as my engine an within 500 or do numbers! If only that other bike was a few yards more forward!

Hi Ron those are awesome pictures! Yep messaged JJ cables. Cracking pictures! Will do any new ones I find I'll make sure to post

Cheers mate I'll try check that out. Few bits came today yay! An my mag dyno is done picking that up tomorrow Gonna order some of my paint shortly then I'm gonna get on with researching cables an fuel lines out. Exciting stuff!! Need to sort complete clutch an brake levers out, end caps for the bars, du42 headlight shell an blackout, exhaust clamps, correct amp meter, an wiring, feels really close now though! Been spending ages hunting for pics or raf sidecar combos like mine would have been and of 8th army bikes around 42/43 an researching the layout of the tank numbers. Pretty sure I know how I'm doing her now. Gonna order the scc.2 in a bit really itching to see her in wd colours.

Thanks or the heads up 11th an Matchless Just bought it looking forward to reading it when it arrives. Just been hunting for pictures of WD Norton's for the past few hours an any North Africa ones I can find + raf sidecar combo ones. The obsession has well an truly set in!

Thanks for the link!

Sounds a good read mate I'll keep an eye out for a copy

Ah thanks Ron here's a better picture of mine. It hasnt got the severe fall off yours has. Got the handlebar clamps now an the 1" Doherty a/r an choke levers on the way. Yep I'm pretty sure the 7/8th one is a Doherty myself got a Doherty grip on it as well.

Haha! Sure I could find somewhere for that an a 303. Cheers lads, 3 generations back from dad our entire family is Scots did all the family history over the past few months. Jacobites as well managed to got back to 1650 direct line. Then one the daughter of a Bruce /halliday family married a bro of from memory my 9th great grandad got it all writen down interesting stuff What was weird was we had printers further back in the family that we had no idea of both dad an I were in print till our family print company went. Just on a career break at the mo sussing out what to re train in. Great grandpa was in the 1st Manchesters ww1 Bef. My Gramps was ra gunner in the 8th army then raoc. Bit of great progress today my throttle grip came yay! An the canvas grips. Got the other clamp on the way as well so I'm gonna be able to fit the bars! Hoping the weather gets a bit better towards the end of next week so I can start to paint gonna order it on Monday in the hope's the weather picks up over the next week or so. Next jobs I'm gonna tackle are taking the timing cover off to double check the oil pump seal etc out. Need to research where to get a fuel line from an get some control cables ordered. Last bits to find now are, 1" bar end plugs, clutch an brake lever assy, any switches/buttons for the bars, sort Eventually a field stand, bash plate, carrier an racks. One thing I was wondering on the pic I've seen of one 500 or so numbers from my engine contract. It had the Norton logo and the c next to that an the contract number underneath. When did they bring in the divisional markings in? So say for 8th army the crusader logo and the 7th armoured (believe some ra were attached to them) on each side or one or the other? Cheers, Tom

Made a bit more progress on her today, The exhaust came an I gave it a test fit all seems ok just working out the clamps thanks to Ron for some pictures of how they should be. An cheers to everyone that's been helping out with bits and endless advice. She's really starting to come together now. Should have my new magneto in 20 or so days! Can't wait to get that fitted. One of the lads advised me that the headlight brackets are different between the du142 and the du42' anyone know the way to tell the difference. Got one 1" clamp on the way a lead on another top an bottom if the guy comes back to me decomp lever, advance lever, choke lever as well an canvas grips an a throttle assy! Next things to sus out are fuel lines, bar end caps, cables, tyres, (got old firestone one's at the mo) horn button an dipper switch do they have a kill switch on them? (looking at an old picture) Exhaust paint, field stand and a skid plate. Then looks like she's mostly there! Really excited at how fast she's coming together. Going to order my paint tomorrow for the bike an get going at that. Then I've gotta sus out the best way to paint the numbers on the tank. Just wanna thank you all for all the advice so far very much appreciated.

Thanks Ron! I'll have a look at those

Anyone got any recommendations for a spray gun and compressor just weighing up other options to cans

Was thinking that mate the one on Milweb looks like the one a dealer had that had the later frame an earlier number on the frame when I looked the number up in forces motorcycles. They never sent me the frame number picture when I asked so I discounted it as I couldn't confirm anything more on it. Ended up with the right one in the end though

I'm planning on getting a second once the Maria Costello MBE Daytona race bike sells an my rd250c then my dad can come with me to events!!

Had another workshop day today Hope you all enjoy the short video. Currently hunting for a full set of 1" handlebar clamps. Sorted on the magdyno front now, Got a throttle grip on the way an decided on the paint colour. https://youtu.be/wtJhqfWfW0w

Legend cheers Ron 🙂 great information. Another thing I love about the 1" bars is how chunky they are I've got litho printers hands haha so quite big the smaller ones on my 650ss have always irritated me a little. Feel great the 1" bars! Next step is to hunt a set of clamps down on with getting the mag sorted this week.

Hi Jenikov, Thanks for the message 🙂 the bar bend seems really strange on the 7/8th bars fitted like they are not Norton bars think they are actually upside down. When the right way up they will almost feel like a set of drops, was interested In the levers as I dont know what's right or wrong yet style wise hence me posting pictures think they are the right style but not sure about them. From what I've seen finding the correct set of 7/8"wd bars will be very hard to find so I'd sooner go with the 1" bars which I know are the correct bend an they used them for a longer period so hopefully theres more 1" bits out there and box all the 7/8" parts until I find the complete set. From what I've read on Robs excellent Norton side the 7/8th stuff came in at the age of my chassis started doing 7/8th I'm 44 if on remembering correctly. I'm actually doing her according to the engine which is 42' for sentimental reasons and not being able to find the raf tank numbers. My grandpa was in the 8th army ra as a gunner from 41-44' and raoc after that 8th army again. Rik showed me a picture with a hand written note saying North Africa 43' with an contract number on the tank about 500 numbers from my engines which was made 42'. Not concrete enough evidence I know but good enough for me to approximate 🙂 From what I understand 1" bars, 6" du42 headlight would have been correct for 42' and then they got the pannier racks and rails which I'm fitting onto mine for practicality as I'm gonna be going all over on her hopefully. Gonna box and keep the du142 8" headlight as once I've done my 16h I'm hoping to sell a few more of my Japanese classic bikes rd250c etc and get a second wd bike. So my dad can come with me on rides do everything together he usually follow me when I'm out on my Norton 650ss on his gsxr. + it's his 60th this year a few days before d day so would be nice to suprise him with the use of one 🙂 oh yep think I'm gonna do her scc2. brown as well. the du142 headlight was an earlier wd one wasnt it? comments advice tips opinions I'm always open to them because I really enjoy learning about all this stuff. So keep them coming Everyone.

Hi Ron yep really am over the moon with them. They really do look great love the 44' stamp on the battery case to with the age of the chassis. Just got the mag off totally wrong one looks like it's a 35' pre war msl1-10. Good thing is 98% seems to be wd so far 🙂 Apart from the mag an bars. shes definitely had plenty of work done judging from the amount of nice grease everywhere an the insides of the engines all looking good the more I'm working on her. hopefully once I get the new mag sorted an the bits for the bars I wont be to far away from getting her fired up which is a nice suprise. Attached some pictures of the levers an throttle that's on it grip does say Doherty 🙂 sure Rik did mention pressed levers on the later ones but I might not be remembering right. 20200222_172717-01 by norton.rider, on Flickr 20200222_175920-01 by norton.rider, on Flickr 20200222_175931-01 by norton.rider, on Flickr