Large right hand thread driveside nut, secures engine sprocket on taper - Fits all SOHC engines and early DOHC engines 

We now CNC machine/mill the hex from solid EN8 round bar, as Imperial higher tensile Hex bars are not almost unobtainable - so they have a nice crisp Hex finish as well as well!

These are the unions that screw into the crankcase behind the timing chamber - it is the smaller 1/4" BSP side that screws into the crankcase, the larger side is 3/8" BSP and takes the distinctive large oil pipes fitted to Norton Internationals.

These are CNC machined in-house by ourselves from good quality imperial Hex brass, to the original Norton dimensions.

As with the smaller breather union, we also offer a cheaper modern alternative using modern AF spanner sizes on the hex, but the hex on those are larger - while the version you see listed here are copied from a pre-war orignal and are made with the correct Whitworth Hex spanner size and indistinguishable from the original.

I have to say that I have seen SOHC crankcases with original unions both in plain brass (like these) and cadmium plated, but I know the pattern we used for this type came from an original SOHC engine and was in plain brass, and did not have chamfers on either end of the hex (unlike modern equivelants which has a much larger AF hex, does have chamfers, and has a more modern looking cadmium plate finish) - so these brass versions shown here I think look much more correct.   Sorry they are not cheap compared to modern AF equivelant - but they are CNC machined by us - not a mass produced modern version.

Fitted to all SOHC Engines (and I believe also fitted to DOHC engines as well), with two fitted per engine (price is each).  We also sell the correct high quality wide red fibre washers to fit these and ensure they do not mark the crankcases (Item - 0112)

This is the Union that fits into International and SOHC Manx crankcases for both Feed and Return. It allows for the standard 3/8" BSP SOHC Norton oil pipes to be connected. It is very close to original but is a modern item, and uses a larger spanner hex, requiring a UNF spanner. This is a cheaper alternative to the original brass union that I have made specially (Item no 0246), but as you only need to screw it in once this is not really an issue - item is still high quality and is cadmium plated. - Price is per each

High quality Red Fibre Washer that seals the oil pipe unions on Inter/Manx crankcases. Also fits behind the A11\878 rear cylinder feed shouldered nut.

Price is per pair

these high quality red fibre washers are particularly wide for their inner bore, and made from a denser material thank most other comparable red fibre washers - they are just right for the main oil feed/return unions that fit in SOHC crankcases (see them fitted with our own brass SOHC unions to a set of SOHC magnesium Manx crankcases).  As supplied to the automotive industry - sorry but more expensive than other lesser quality alternatives

Correct (and as per original) 1/4" BSP 'One Way Valve' - as fitted to all Norton singles, including all SOHC, OHV and SV models - this item screwing into the recess just above the drive side main bearings, allowing the engine to breathe correctly

This special 'one way' valve' looks almost identical to the 1/4" BSP 'straight through' breather that was also fitted to various Norton single cylinder engines, but serves a very different purpose - it being fitted just above the driveside main bearings, and allowing the engine to 'breathe out' but not ''breathe in', which is achieved by the use of small bearing fitted inside the valve.  

This valve was fitted to all SOHC (and DOHC) crankcases (as well as all OHV and Side Valve models) behind the drive side mainshaft casting. On original engines this special valve is almost always badly chewed engines and is now almost impossible to find. They were also fitted originally in bare brass, as shown. This version, like most items I am reproducing, has been manufactured to be indistinguishable to the original, and as normal in this case an original was used as the pattern.

The outer breather union is machined to the same Whitworth spanner hex as the original, is plain brass and has the same thru-hole size as original. It is threaded internally to take a small screw in insert, which retains a small ball bearing (in stainless steel, to prevent corrosion), which provides the one-way breather mechanism.

These should be fitted with the inner screw in section showing uppermost (just in case you are not sure), to ensure the breather allows pressure to escape out - not the other way round.  I get asked by lots of single cylinder Norton customers why their engine may be leaking more oil than normal or not oiling properly - I always direct them first to check if this one way valve has been replaced by a 'straight thru' breather by mistake, or even worse - it is fitted, but is screwed in the wrong way round!

As a final point - like the original Norton Items, our breathers can be stripped for cleaning if ever needed - but it is important to note which way the inner portion is screwed in, as although they look almost identical both ends - they are actually 'sided' with one slightly different to the other.  Once re-assembled, you should always blow through them, to ensure they will only passage of air in one direction

Update July 2023:  Now back in stock - of this popular (and for most Norton singles - very important) part.  FYI - these valves have a lot of setup time and multiple ops - to provide correct dimensions on all parts, including milling.  However - despite the cost of 'Imperial' hex brass bar having almost tripled since we last manufactured a batch 2.5 years - our price increase over that time has stayed far less.  

This is a faithful reproduction of the straight through union fitted to SOHC (and DOHC) cambox's for connecting the cambox oil feed pipe (fitted at top of crankcase and cambox), but also used as a front crankcase breather on many Inters and magnesium racing engines.  Finally it is also fitted as a breather union on the bevel chamber of magnesium racing crankcases behind the inner timing cover (while Inter crankcases instead employ a pressure telltale unit). 

It has been copied from an original item fitted to an unrestored an original pre-war racing (magnesium) cambox - the union looking like it had never been removed, so I am confident it as was as original fitment from Norton's.

This union has a flat end on the side that screws into the cambox and a taper on the end that the oil pipe fits onto.  It also has a slight chamfer on the side that screws into the cambox, just as the original does (I always fits either a red fibre or copper washer on the end that screws into the cambox/crankcase, to avoid marking the alloy - see item 0249).

Sorry these are not cheap, but unlike modern BSP union's (normally mass produced using AF hex and a modern tinted cadmium finish), these are CNC machined in small batch's from brass and use the correct Whitworth hexagon size

Note:  I have seen these unions in both brass and dull nickel plated (often brass being fitted to pre-war engines).  These are brass finish, which I think looks better, but I may be having some dull nickel plated in the near future. Email Sales@racingvincent.co.uk if you want an update on these

This is modern replacement for the straight thru breather used on Norton crankcases and timing cases. (note: it is a breather - not the one-way pressure release valve also used on Norton engines, this is listed elsewhere). It has a slightly larger AF hex than original, however it is reasonably priced if you are not too concerned on originality, is a good quality item and is cadmium plated

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 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