Tools You Have Made to Maintain your Norton

Its and interlock for attaching a ramp to get the bike back on the ground.
Good guess, but nope. I lift the bikes off and on using my engine hoist - I work alone most of the time, couldn't possibly get them off and on using a ramp. See: https://www.gregmarsh.com/MC/MMCT.aspx

Hint, on a Triumph, a concrete floor, piece of wood, and a big hammer would be the only tools needed in most cases.
 
It seems like there might be a reason for the angle of the picture. Perhaps it is related to something that can be seen from above?
 
I honestly don’t remember if this has been mentioned yet but a magnet ( or even better a pair) makes removing clutch plates very easy. Mine come from old computer hard disks- if you pull them apart there’s a pair of powerful rare earth magnets for free. Also great for lots of other tricks as well ;-)
 
It seems like there might be a reason for the angle of the picture. Perhaps it is related to something that can be seen from above?
No, it's used straight on. Hints: Can be resolved to solve three problems. Two of those problems are easist done if you have an old fork tube.
 
I honestly don’t remember if this has been mentioned yet but a magnet ( or even better a pair) makes removing clutch plates very easy. Mine come from old computer hard disks- if you pull them apart there’s a pair of powerful rare earth magnets for free. Also great for lots of other tricks as well ;-)

Our seattle##gs who makes and sells the petcock tool made me a clutch plate removal tool. It is a squared off "U" made of wood with a small strong magnet in each side. Works great. Not sure if he's making/selling them but if you do a lot of clutch work, it sure is nice.
 
No, it's used straight on. Hints: Can be resolved to solve three problems. Two of those problems are easist done if you have an old fork tube.

When I saw it I thought the 5/16" bolts seemed to match the footrest to Z-plate fastener positions and with "an old fork tube" could it be used to straighten them when they're bolted to the bench so could perhaps be either one or two out of the three uses?
 
When I saw it I thought the 5/16" bolts seemed to match the footrest to Z-plate fastener positions and with "an old fork tube" could it be used to straighten them when they're bolted to the bench so could perhaps be either one or two out of the three uses?
We have a winner!

It seems like most of the bikes I build/fix have been dropped on one or both sides and most rear brake levers have had all kinds of damage. Norton rider footrests are difficult to hold while trying to straighten and they are chromed so cannot be hammered back into shape. My mobile worktables with a bike sitting on them are very stable. You mount the footrest on the appropriate side without the rubber installed, put the old fork tube over the foot peg and apply force in the direction(s) needed - quite easy to accomplish. For the rear brake lever (pre-MKIII), you mount the drive-side footrest with brake lever installed and use padded tools as required to grip it and straighten - often in two directions. Since the footrests are mount link on a bike, it is easy to see when properly straightened.

The aluminum plate you see is replicated on the other side of the wood. The aluminum is not for strength, it's to keep the footrest or bolts from digging into the wood. I could just as well of mounted this on a normal work bench as long as it was stable enough to withstand the pressure applied when straightening.
 
Ok, not really a tool, but a hack. And only because my glasses are prescription and it is a sunny day and I need my sunnies to ride.

The arms rubber cover delaminated from the metal core yesterday. Need new ones.

Tools You Have Made to Maintain your Norton
 
I have a pair of 30+ year old Vuarnets employing the exact same fix.
Must have something to do with Norton owners. ;)
I wore Vaurnets since the early 80s until my eyes got bad enough in about 2004 that I had to go prescription. I think I still have my clear frame pair somewhere.
 
Clutch spring compressor. Cast iron pipe cap, made this 40+ years ago.

View attachment 78192

I also have a home made exhaust ring spanner, but no photo.
Here is some of my home built Norton tools
Clutch spring compressor made from drainage pipe and plywood cap with a large steel countersunk centre washer and of course a decent exhaust nut spanner
 

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