Flood Victim

Thank you, gentlemen. I was trying to imitate the stock '73 blue, but the flake was larger than I intended and it took lots of clear to get it covered. Now for some testing/tuning and fix some small issues I let the paint distract me from. 44-year-old fork seals are a bit weepy and the kicker shaft seal that didn't leak before I replaced it has a drip.
 
A likely incomplete list of non-original parts used:
Exhaust system-used crossover header and Campbell's peashooters
+.060 pistons due to major cylinder damage from being frozen tight
1 intake valve that was open and laying in the water on top the pistons
All gaskets, seals and rubber parts (exc, fork seals which are up next)
Fuel tank and paint
Tires (of course)
Headlight bucket and bulb from my '71
Gauge bulbs and running light and signal bulbs
One signal bezel and stalk
Stainless side and centerstand hardware-original-type parts could be sourced
Clutch plates, which were a mix of bronze and fiber, so not original in any case
Gearbox pawl spring
Petcocks and fuel lines
Rear signal lenses and taillight lens-repro items that could easily be replaced with original Lucas
Front fender stay bolts and nuts
All Lucas connectors
Various small rusty fasteners were replaced with leftovers from changing the '71 over to stainless stuff.
Ham can and filter, which were not with the bike when I got it.
Battery and hold-down straps
Drive chain
Half the spoke nipples on one side of the front wheel
M/C and carb overhaul kits
Mk III carb bodies
Rear brake cable
One footrest stud (Involved in an offloading incident)

Still need a good pair of mirrors- the one that came with the bike is legal but useless.
 
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danno are those the original header pipes ? the new emgo ones on my bike only have about 100 miles and are already turning blue (cheap chrome?) ..how many miles on your bike?
 
The pipes are a used set of stock crossovers. They were a bit blued when I got them. It hasn't been run much, so they could get more blue. The SS pipes on the other bike have stayed relatively clear. I always though the tight bend coming out of the head would promote bluing.
 
Something else I noticed I'm missing, from looking at the brochure pics, are the black plastic caps for the bottoms of the clocks. Someone must have disposed of them earlier in the bike's life.
 
Also going to swap out the Mobil 1 syn gear lube for some ATF to see if that helps the kicker shaft seal.
 
Something else I noticed I'm missing, from looking at the brochure pics, are the black plastic caps for the bottoms of the clocks. Someone must have disposed of them earlier in the bike's life.

The covers aren't in the '73 brochure pics and they're not listed in the '73 parts book.
http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Brochures/1970/1973NortonLineUp.pdf

1973
https://issuu.com/sealycycleservice/docs/norton-850_06-5034
https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-drawing/193/instruments-and-police-horns
 
My '73 did not have the covers when I purchased it either. I believe they were not instituted until 1974. That is the bike in my avatar. Original fireflake blue paint. I believe the base was a medium blue rather than silver. At least that is what is on the underside of the tank and the inside of the sidecovers. That may be why the original is a little darker and less brilliant.
In any event, it's a great looking job. You should be proud.
 
I don't think I would put ATF in the gearbox, it's pretty thin. Go to NAPA and ask for an SKF 9815 seal. It will solve the kickstarter shaft leak. You have to remove the retaining ring to install it. Just a bit of heat and it will pop right out.
 
I don't think I would put ATF in the gearbox, it's pretty thin. Go to NAPA and ask for an SKF 9815 seal. It will solve the kickstarter shaft leak. You have to remove the retaining ring to install it. Just a bit of heat and it will pop right out.
Thanks for that tip on the seal. I was searching the forums for alternative lubes and found this:

I have used ATF in my Norton trans for the last 100,000 miles or so.-comnoz

Pretty good endorsement.
 
Thanks, John It was 90% grunt work taking everything apart and cleaning and painting and only 10% putting it together.
 
Danno, your bike looks great.
I had a metalflake Roman Purple for a short time years ago, but your bike just trounces it.
Hope it goes as good as it looks
sam
 
Danno, your bike is a dead ringer for one that I nearly bought years ago, when I was about 18. I didn’t in the end and bought a T140 instead and became a bit of a Triumph-o-phile.

It always left an impression though. And I often wonder ‘what if’ !

Hope you enjoy the fruits of your labour ...
 
I'll likely ride it a bit this Spring and then sell it to finance the next project, whatever that may be. I have an old car that needs cosmetics or I may sell the car and get another bike to play with.
<---That is more fun to ride anyway.
 
Danno, your bike looks great.
I had a metalflake Roman Purple for a short time years ago, but your bike just trounces it.
Hope it goes as good as it looks
sam
I thought about the purple, too, but it wasn't a stock color in '73. I still have the fiberglass Roadster setup that came off the SS Clone. Now you got me thinkin'.....
 
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