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Norton Big 4 piston

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Will someone please kindly let me know whether a split at the front of a Big 4 piston is correct. The split is at a slight angle to the piston, looks like it has been cut rather than being a crack and has a hole drilled at the top, it finishes about 1/4 inch before the piston rings. Thanks, Ken

In the absence of any more informed information from others I can only say that it is not an original B4 piston.  My own 1952 B4 has a Heplex SW10890 piston which is slightly domed and without the slots shown above.

I have however come across pistons with a split skirt similar to the one shown, the photo below being from a Mike Pemberton re-built 19S engine that I have, but never used.  (available for sale should anyone need one).

The slot is to allow expansion of the piston without altering its diameter.

19S Piston MP

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Thanks Peter.  That's set mind at rest.  It seemed odd to have slotted top plus slit skirt.  The slanting angle makes sense.  Otherwise it would tend to leave an upstand witness mark inside the bore.

 



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