English French German Italian Spanish

new navigator owner

Submitted by Xanna_jeannett… on Sat, 01/02/2020
Forums
Light Twins

Hello Noccers -  Today I’ve  been out to rescue a Norton Navigator after its 30 years in a barn  looking sorry for its self.  Now it’s in my nice warm shed awaiting rebuilding back to it’s former glory.  She was built in June 1961, registered in the London area and somehow ended up in North Yorkshire in a barn for 30 odd years.  It’s seized up with standing that long,  but despite some parts missing like the rear chain guard and silencer it's mostly all there and untouched - so it will be interesting to see what lies beneath the thick dust and oily grime.  Yours  Anna J   

Submitted by mikael_ridderstad on Sat, 01/02/2020

Permalink

Nice to know that you will have no problem how to spend your time. Would it be to much to ask for a photo or two? Just to see how it is now. And sometimes in the future another one, showing how it became. And maybe something in between on your progress.

Wish you the best of luck, Mike

Submitted by andrew_wibmer1 on Sun, 02/02/2020

Permalink

It will be very interesting to see what you do with it and how you work with the top end (pushrods and tunnels), I had a lot of pleasure working on mine - learning heaps from lots of people on the way. I found it to ride well but vibration is a bit high over 45 or so despite an effort at crankshaft balancing - matching con rods etc. Having read some of your comments, I know you are a keen engineer and would be interested to see what improvements you make.

All the best

Andrew

Submitted by Xanna_jeannett… on Sun, 02/02/2020

Permalink

Hello well, I  had 3 Lightweight Nortons In the past when I was a lot younger and have rebuilt many British and Japanese rebuilds  and can list them all  starting with a BSA C15 and B40 Matchless G80S  Norton model 7 1953, Norton Model 99SS 1961 NSU max 250 Yamaha yl1251972  1960, honda CB500four and Honda Cb750KZ 1978,  Suzuki GT550 1977 Suzuki Gt750 1973  Suzuki GS750 1978 Norton Model 88  1954  Norton Manxman 650 1960  And some people do not think I am experienced as an Engineer   At 16 I was working on a strip down and rebuild of a Doxford J type  7 cylinder,  they only stand some 30 foot high and worked on a number of steam locomotives as well, along with many other marine engines like Kelvin j type four and Gardner 8L3  Ford 6 Barracuda along with Lister K6 Lister J3 and j2  and Armstrong AS3  along with Detroit V8 2 stroke diesel  and worked on some of the biggest ship afloat in the world in my time, and an acomplished welder in gas arch and mig/tig and hot riviter and trained blacksmith and fabication trained and skilled machinist  and a trained and skilled auto paint sprayer,  if I am not experienced by now then I never will be  But I never stop learning  until the day I go in my box,  Yours  Anna J

 

Submitted by nicholas_clarke on Sun, 02/02/2020

Permalink

Congratulations Anna, in my humble opinion the Navigator is a much under rated bike.   Carefully  rebuilt with electronic ignition and a 12v conversion it should be a real joy with great handling and brakes, lively performance for a 60's 350, a lovely sound and great looks!   Enjoy and keep us posted on progress.  Nick  

Submitted by Xanna_jeannett… on Sun, 02/02/2020

Permalink

hello, nick thank for your support well the ignition and lights  I was going to try something new with CDI ignition and lighting from spartrex  D102  made for Triumph twins from 350 upward along with BSA A65 twins and some Norton Twins now for the wheel sizes I was going to go with size 18 rims front and rear Are anyone gone down this route the gearing with have to be compromised to suit the wheel size, but the hardest to find is the tank badges no one seems to make lightweight tank badges well I just may give this a go and set up a mould and crucible and mini smelling Furness, made out of an old caler gas bottle and fire clay-lined and see how thing turn out.       keep you posted  but this may take some time to set up and do,        yours  anna j

Submitted by bruce_firth-clark on Sun, 02/02/2020

Permalink

Very good luck with that one Anna - though with your “pedigree” I suspect luck won’t come into it!  I’ve got a spare RH reasonable condition badge which I’m going to be experimenting (at home) with bead blasting, zinc, copper then nickel plate to see how effective that will be as a finish rather than continuing with getting my originals chromed as no-one (so far) seems to want to do them!

hello  yes well I am going to have a go at making some I am setting up a furness made from an old calor gas bottle  and fire clay lining it out  and fitting a blast pipe for air and gas and make a lid for the top as we need to get heat up to 1200 degrees  to melt alloy pot metal I can make the sand casting drag boxes and can by casting sand from eBay along with a crucibles  in different sizes and we need a few sets of fire tongs  and skill and patience,   and a bit of good luck,   yours  anna j    

Submitted by nicholas_clarke on Sun, 09/02/2020

Permalink

Sounds adventurous and exciting stuff Anna - good luck with the home smelting and casting!   After much research I decided on the Pazon 12 v electronic ignition, they do a purpose built, very comprehenisve and sensibly priced kit for the Navigator / Electra / Jubilee which fits nicely, is incredibly easy to time both statically and with a strobe once you have set up appropriate markers and works perfectly.   It has transformed the performance of my bike from tick over to flat out and the engine is lot happier thanks to the accuracy of timing and the well crafted advance curve.    Good luck with the rebuild!  Nick     

Submitted by Xanna_jeannett… on Sun, 09/02/2020

Permalink

hello guys along with slimline badges not been available  there some of the  small tinware parts not being made  like lower fork shrouds and rear chain guards  and mid-frame covers  we have to see what I can come up with to make some of these parts  I am making a seat pan and fittings for the navigator is seem to be that bit shorter to the big twins  so now I am looking into this fitting so it sits and looks right  and fits perfect     keep you  guys posted     yours  anna j

Submitted by dave_holmes on Tue, 10/03/2020

Permalink

Hello Anna - I have just dry-assembled a 1961 Navigator and am thrilled that it still has all then original undamaged mudguards and tanks. I envy your knowledge and clearly your determination, but will be following your rebuild with interest. My barrels are a bit scored so they will go to an engineering shop for a rebore and sleeve - the pistons are fine. All the best for your rebuild! 

 

 

 



© 2024 Norton Owners Club Website by 2Toucans