These DOHC Manx Norton type seat cover kits are professionallly hand manufactured in the UK - using a genuine 1950's Manx Norton Seat pan and cover as templates.  The kit consists of the hand stitched cover, with correct red beading and accurate black vinyl, Foam kit, pop rivets and some drawing templates taken from original DOHC Manx Norton seat pan. 

The starting point for this kit was an original DOHC Manx Norton racing seat - which I purchased at a Stanford Hall Founders day relay - and is a fantastic time capsule seat.  It is very rare to find original, unmolested seasts, the autojumbler selling it told me it had belonged to an old retired friend who raced Norton's in the 1950's, and this had sat in his shed since then.  I would estimate it is of the type fitted in the early - mid 1950's and is almost identical to the one fitted to my own 1955 DOHC Manx Norton.

Unfortunately, the original seat cover was too far gone to be used - but did provide a great template for it to be replicated by a UK based specialist vehichle upholsterer, who has done a great job of replicating the cover just as the original.  The kit also includes good quality upholstery foam panels, again, taken from the original (poor condition) originals.

The cover kit also includes wide head pop rivets, which is how the original covers were secured.  The accompanyning photographs shows the original Norton seat pan, with new pop rivets fitted - which should give customers buying this kit the approximate positions of the rivets - if they do not have a seat pan of their own and have to fabricate one.  Note though - in the photograph, our recovered seat use normal pop rivets - the kits will include the proper wide head pop rivets, which are more correct for seat covers.

Finally, I decided against having made the complete seat unit - as fabricating the pan with the distinctive 'bowl' shape rear hump, fitted to earlier DOHC Manx Norton's, was prohibitive.  However, I did try and replicate the dimensions of the original seat pan - and have included these dimensions on A3 paper drawings, supplied with the kit, which should give anyone wishing to create a similar pan a good start.  Again, I have included photographs of the original seat pan here.  You will note that original seat pans had a curved front area, where the DOHC oil tank filler would be.  I would think this would be very difficult to replicate - but instead could be fitted with automotive rubber window beading or similar on the seat pan sheet, which would substitute to stop the cover getting frayed in that area.

Kit consists of the following (as per second photograph):

1. Seat cover ready to fit, complete with red beading and original finish (crocodile like) vinyl coverng, exact replica of original Norton item

2. 2 x Heavyweight foam pieces for base and seat hump - dimensions copied from original (but dissolving) Norton items

3. 2 x Grey lightweight foam pieces.  One fits over seat pan and sides (to stop chaffing on side - as per originals, almost totally disentegrated)

4. Wide pan rivets x 40 - similar quantity to original, and wide pan type to avoid splitting cover - see photos of my own finished cover on original base pan

5. 2 x Autocad drawings on A3 Paper - giving approximate dimensions of original Norton seat pan - in case you do not have original pan and want to fabricate one for this cover kit yourself.  Note original pan was in steel, not alloy

6. CD with approximately 20 photographs of original seat before cover removed, base pan once cover removed and in primer and complete - to assist with fabricating a pan, along with the drawings.  These are higher resolution than the listing shown here 

Final point.  I only have limited numbers of this kit (at time of writing - May 2020 -  6 kits, of which one already reserved) - and although not cheap, the upholsterer has regretfully told me he does not wish to do any more in the future, as they just took too much time and effort to make (he works for professional race car teams upholstering their seats as his main business) - so once this batch has gone, that will be it! - Therefore, as I do not have alternatives at the moment ..  . if you really want a nice quality kit based on the original . . . reserve one now, I cannot see me doing all this again!

Stainless steel shouldered hexagon nut that fits over jet holder on the International and SOHC Manx timing cover (feeding oil to the BigEnd) and cambox on Pre-Featherbed SOHC Cambox's with central Oil Feed. 

These are CNC manufactured in stainless steel so as well as being the correct dimensions - they also look very pretty, as they are in prominent position on the SOHC engines.

Can also be used on Pre-War OHV/SV Timing Covers - see listing for details.

Price is for the nut only - all other components of the quill assembly are available seperately

It should be noted that this nut was also fitted to OHV and SV models (as well as the SOHC models) pre-1936, where it had the part number 9013.  However, approximately 1936-37 the OHV/SV models swopped this hexagon nut for a similar rounded blind nut with a screwdriver slot in it (part no 8750), which was then fitted to OHV/SV models until to the introduction of the plain timing cover in approximately 1938. 

We will shortly be manufacturing the 8750 type - but believe that the type 9013 can still be fitted.  If you wish to enquire on 8750 progress please email sales@racingvincent.co.uk

These nuts are CNC'd in stainless steel and look very pretty - and definitely improve the looks of either your SOHC or early OHV/SV timing side.

If you have a Featherbed SOHC model - the cambox nut on those models was shallower, we also sell that version - Item 0069

.

This felt wheel bearing washer is marginally bigger than the main wheel bearing felt washer (our Item 0311) and I believe was of the type fitted to later metric type wheel bearings (which I think were fitted on later 1960's onwards bikes).  This larger type wheel bearing were also fitted to some conical racing wheels - and the bearing shown here with that felt washer is a roller bearing to fit a late Gardengate/Featherbed Manx Norton 'Conical' rear hub.

The difference between this felt and Item 0311 is only marginal, but if you are using larger wheel spindle spacers, this felt gives a little more room.  The internal diameter of this felt is 25mm (compared to the internal diameter of 15/16" of the normal Norton wheel felt - Item 0311).

However, I have also found this slightly larger felt washer to be a good size fit over the tapered SOHC Norton crankshaft.  This can be useful to fit if you have a competition SOHC machined with open primary chain on the road or track and want to stop dirt from the road and oil buildup behind the sprocket (but if doing so, make sure on fitting it does not get trapped under the sprocket taper, which may stop the taper being fully effective on the sprocket).  Also useful, if you have some wear on the driveside crankcase bearing housing inner face to crankshaft and having some oil leakage there. Note: if using an Inter or magnesium crankcase with the normal roadgoing Norton Oilbath chaincase - then a felt here is not necessary, instead, an oil resistant gasket should be used between the large flat crankcase main bearing housing an the inner oilbatch chaincase

These are the fine thread, screws that fit the Lucas Magdyno triangular front cover in place, as used on most Norton roadgoing singles from the 1930's through to the late 1950's.  Nice shallow curve to the front of the screws, as per the originals. Price is for pack of 4

These are nicely plated steel with the correct slight front curve as the original screws (see the last picture, of an original Lucas Magdyno as fitted to my 1937 Inter for reference)

This is a nice quality reproduction of the spring type clip, used to retain the chromed pressed steel points cover on Lucas Magdyno units, as used on most Norton roadgoing singles from the 1930's through to the late 1950's. It is is a nice quality plated steel version, as per the original.  This was Lucas Part No LU463898

Note - there were various length spring clips fitted to different Lucas (and BTH) magneto models, many looking very similar.  If you are intending to fit this to a different magneto - then it is worth noting this item has the following dimensions:

- Length of pillar, from base of hex to where the spring strip is riveted: 42mm

- Length of spring strip from centre of rivet to the dimple that locates in centre of points cover: 40mm 

Please check this is the correct spring lever clip to fit your magneto before ordering .. . to save having to return it! 

This is a very useful tool, that no workshop should be without - a plastic circular valve/ignition disc, with hole that can be opened out to suit all Norton singles. 

Price is Each

These plastic discs can be attached to the end of the crankshaft, and a piece of welding wire turned into a needle against the circumference - with degrees marked all around the disc - they are invaluable for setting both valve and ignition timing.  Even better if you buy a sheet of alloy plate and glue one of these discs to the plate to make them stronger.  I always keep a couple like this around the workshop.

These Red Fibre Washers are a smaller diameter than 'normal' 1/4" BSP washers - but then pre-threaded by us - so they are a good fit on those Norton fittings that used 1/4" BSP thread, but have a groove behind the thread - e.g. Norton pre-48 Oil Sump Plugs and some breather union fittings. 

This listing is for a pair of washers (i.e. x2)

Background:

For anyone that is familiar with Norton single cylinder models (and earlier twins) - they will know that it was not unusual to make some oil and petrol fittings with a 1/4"BSP thread, but with a groove machined between the thread and the rear face of hex spanner head.  Added this, often the hex was not very wide (what you will see referred to as 'Reduced Hex' by us throughout this catalog for Norton specific fastenings), so there was little hex face for the fibre washers to seal against.  

The two best examples of this are the Pre-48 style 1/4" BSP Norton Sump Plug (in all its guises) and some breather unions (see photographs - some Unions had grooves, while others did not).

Therefore, if you try and fit a 'normal' 1/4" BSP red fibre washer to this type of sump plug or union - it will go on easily, but when it gets to the groove - it will wobble around.  Then, when the sump plug or union it tightened, the wobbling washer will normally move over to one side - and there will be a very good chance it will leak, or just crush and break up when tightened.

In the past we have sold this size of 'tighter fit' washer - telling customers they will need to be prepared to use some force to wind the washer past the thread - but franky - the best quality red fibre washers are very hard, and extremely difficult to wind onto the thread!

Therefore, as part of work we did in early 2022 to replicate most Norton sump plugs, we also looked at how we could make this easier - and eventually have come up with a jig process to pre-thread these washers with a 1/4" BSP thread - as shown here.

So, although not very thick - if you look closely at these washers you will see they have an intenal thread cut into them (see also the taper tap we use for this process) . . . and that means that, although still tight, they can now be carefully screwed onto a 1/4" BSP thread by hand - but will be a 'Size' fit on the groove behind the thread - therefore giving a much better chance for the washer to seal properly!

If trying to tap a single washer, it will normally just crush the washer, but with experimentation and a jig, we have come up with a process to manualy thread these washers, so they will just 'screw on' by hand.

This may sound like a simple issue . . . but actually most proprietary 1/4" BSP washers are actually quite loose on a 1/4" BSP thread (see our Item 1111 for 1/4" BSP washers that are a good fit!), but good quality red fibre washers are normally much harder than cheap washers - the washers we use are supplied by one of the best (and most expensive!) washer suppliers - and therefore require this pre-threading process . .. trying to screw it on without doing this is almost impossible.

Sorry these washers are so expensive for what looks such a simple and cheap looking thing - but hopefully you will understand that the jig and time it takes to manually thread them is what results in the extra cost - but definitely worth using if you prefer the original type Red Fibre washerer, rather than modern Dowty (nitrile/steel) washers.

We also sell these as a bag of 5 (Item 0249), or close fitting 'normal' 1/4" BSP washers (Item 1111) for those unions and tap fittings which dont have a groove behind the thread 

These Red Fibre Washers are a nice close fit on 1/4" BSP threads and are useful for many Norton fittings - such as those breather unions and petrol taps that have a 1/4" BSP thread that comes up close to the hex or shoulder.

We bring thsese washers in specially for this purpose.

Price is per pair.

Although it may sound obvious - good close fitting 1/4" BSP red fibre washers are actually quite difficult to find these days - most washers advertised as 1/4" BSP are actually a slightly sloppy fit on that thread - resulting in only a limited amount of material actually sealing when the washer is fitted (we know this - because we have looked at those supplied by many manufacturers over the years!

These washers are a good close fit to the thread and work best where there is no groove behind the thread - allowing the washer to be as effective as possible, i.e. the non shouldered breather unions (our Item 0248 - as shown in the listing pictures) often fitted to Norton single models.

These are good for things such as Norton single models - crankcase One Ways Valves and those breather unions which do not have a groove behind the the thread, and of course things such as 1/4" BSP fuel taps.

Note: we also sell special 'Pre-threaded' tight fit 1/4"BSP fibre washers for those Nortin fittings that do have a groove behind the thread - i.e. orgiinal pre-48 Sump Plugs and some unions - see Item 0249 and 0941

These Red Fibre Washers are a smaller diameter than 'normal' 1/4" BSP washers - but then pre-threaded by us - so they are a good fit on those Norton fittings that used 1/4" BSP thread, but have a groove behind the thread - e.g. Norton pre-48 Oil Sump Plugs and some breather union fittings. 

This listing is for a bag of 5 washers

Background:

For anyone that is familiar with Norton single cylinder models (and earlier twins) - they will know that it was not unusual to make some oil and petrol fittings with a 1/4"BSP thread, but with a groove machined between the thread and the rear face of hex spanner head.  Added this, often the hex was not very wide (what you will see referred to as 'Reduced Hex' by us throughout this catalog for Norton specific fastenings), so there was little hex face for the fibre washers to seal against.  

The two best examples of this are the Pre-48 style 1/4" BSP Norton Sump Plug (in all its guises) and some breather unions (see photographs - some Unions had grooves, while others did not).

Therefore, if you try and fit a 'normal' 1/4" BSP red fibre washer to this type of sump plug or union - it will go on easily, but when it gets to the groove - it will wobble around.  Then, when the sump plug or union it tightened, the wobbling washer will normally move over to one side - and there will be a very good chance it will leak, or just crush and break up when tightened.

In the past we have sold this size of 'tighter fit' washer - telling customers they will need to be prepared to use some force to wind the washer past the thread - but franky - the best quality red fibre washers are very hard, and extremely difficult to wind onto the thread!

Therefore, as part of work we did in early 2022 to replicate most Norton sump plugs, we also looked at how we could make this easier - and eventually have come up with a jig process to pre-thread these washers with a 1/4" BSP thread - as shown here.

So, although not very thick - if you look closely at these washers you will see they have an intenal thread cut into them (see also the taper tap we use for this process) . . . and that means that, although still tight, they can now be carefully screwed onto a 1/4" BSP thread by hand - but will a 'Size' fit on the groove behind the thread - therefore giving a much better chance for the washer to seal properly!

If trying to tap a single washer, it will normally just crush the washer, but with experimentation and a jig, we have come up with a process to manualy thread these washers, so they will just 'screw on' by hand.

This may sound like a simple issue . . . but actually most proprietary 1/4" BSP washers are actually quite loose on a 1/4" BSP thread (see our Item 1111 for 1/4" BSP washers that are a good fit!), but good quality red fibre washers are normally much harder than cheap washers - the washers we use are supplied by one of the best (and most expensive!) washer suppliers - and therefore require this pre-threading process . .. trying to screw it on without doing this is almost impossible.

Sorry these washers are so expensive for what looks such a simple and cheap looking thing - but hopefully you will understand that the jig and time it takes to manually thread them is what results in the extra cost - but definitely worth using if you prefer the original type Red Fibre washerer, rather than modern Dowty (nitrile/steel) washers.

We also sell these as a pair (Item 0941), or close fitting 'normal' 1/4" BSP washers (Item 1111) for those unions and tap fittings which dont have a groove behind the thread 

These circular kneepads are circular with a central single fixing screw (if required, the hole is actually blind as supplied) - and of a generic style often fitted to 1920's flat tank models and early 1930's. 

However, they are also very similar to the circular type fitted to the Norton range in 1929

They are circular in design and have an outside diameter of 85mm.  The central fixing hole has a steel washer at the back and is suitable for 0.250" fixing screws (see our item 1203) - but will easily go out for 5/16".  Note though - as supplied, they rubber in the centre is not broken - which lends themselves to being glued to a petrol tank if required, rather than screwed to a tank.

Nice quality, Price is per pair