Front mudguard mounting

What fasteners are correct for fixing the front mudguard to the bridge (Centre) stay on a Roadholder forked Norton, particularly an Electra?

I know Commandos used rivets, but I think earlier models used screws and nuts.  If this is the case, what were the screws?  Size?  Head type?  I am trying to do a fairly correct rebuild - yes, I know button head chrome screws are sexy, I have them on my incorrect Commando S, but I want the correct style ones for the Electra.

Hi Colin.

I've looked through lots of original photos of bikes and they all appear to have conventional bolts with washers, passed through from the top side. they are the same size and type as used for the stays to mudguard fixing. They were probably cadmium plated or sometimes chromed, the heads are fairly shallow.

This is what I have found, but it would be nice to get a second view from another member!

ATB

Les H

Previously wrote:

Hi Colin.

I've looked through lots of original photos of bikes and they all appear to have conventional bolts with washers, passed through from the top side. they are the same size and type as used for the stays to mudguard fixing. They were probably cadmium plated or sometimes chromed, the heads are fairly shallow.

This is what I have found, but it would be nice to get a second view from another member!

ATB

Les H

JUST TO BE MORE ACCURATE, WHEN I SAID BOLTS I GUESS THEY WOULD BE "SET SCREWS"...I.E: THE THREAD GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BOLT HEAD.

Thanks, Les.  That would make very good sense.  The mudguard is chromed, so I suppose chrome set screws would look best, if I can find a source of chrome cycle thread screws, maybe Custom Fasteners are still around?  I would think the bikes with painted mudguards, as I believe some home market ones had, would have used cadmium plated screws, which are sadly now "Unobtanium" (Darned 'elf and safety').  My bike will depart from standard with the use of stainless fasteners, which look a bit like cadmium, don't rust, and are available.  Most of the original fasteners are a tasteful rust colour...  A am being very anal retentive about threads and heads though - I want everything to be workable on with Whitworth spanners.

Hi Colin,

Yes I agree about stainless screws and nuts and I intend to use them myself on my Model 7 refurb. I'm not worried about winning a Concours award but I do want the bike looking superb and staying that way without too much fuss. I will probably even use the NYLOC nuts under the guards, rather than spring washers, but they are a tad expensive. I've included a few links which might help.

http://www.polished-stainless.com/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/3534?opendocument&part=2

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/spalding-nut-and-bolt_IMPERIAL-STAINLESS_W0QQ_fsubZ366030519QQ_sidZ130928739QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322

http://www.groveco.co.uk/index1.html

http://stainlessautomotivefastenings.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=119_82_84

There are many suppliers, but it takes some time to compare prices. I might just stick with Ebay.

It might be nice if someone could do the comparisons and post the results here.

ATB

Les H

Yes, Custom fasteners are still going and they have satin and polished chrome fasteners in metric and Imperial threads, including Cycle.  All Bracebridge Street Nortons of the 1950s had chrome external bolts, setscrews, nuts and washers - many were satin-chrome.  E.g. all Dommie engine bolts/fixings/studs.  Yes, the front mudguards on Roadholders were fixed with chrome setscrews, nuts & washers but don't forget you can use anything that's the right diameter - even metric, which are usually cheaper in stainless than equivalent sized Imperial threads!  The mudguards also have a special packing washer that goes between the bridge and the mudguard.  Fred Williams sells them, but I still have my originals from 1959.

I'd be surprised if any bikes used cad-plated external fixings.  The only other type I remember being used generally were BZP.  You can safely use passivated zinc too - golding coloured but all mudguards, even painted ones, would have had chrome-plated bolts as standard

Previously wrote:

What fasteners are correct for fixing the front mudguard to the bridge (Centre) stay on a Roadholder forked Norton, particularly an Electra?

I know Commandos used rivets, but I think earlier models used screws and nuts.  If this is the case, what were the screws?  Size?  Head type?  I am trying to do a fairly correct rebuild - yes, I know button head chrome screws are sexy, I have them on my incorrect Commando S, but I want the correct style ones for the Electra.

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Colin (& others) - Sorry, I have not been monitoring these discussions. For Technical Assistance, you could contact me at <lighttwins@nortonownersclub.org> 

Bolt (centre stay to mudguard) = 2 of = p/no 18709 = 1/4" x 26TPI = shaft is 0.562" long (of which 0.437" is threaded)

(The bolt head is 0.156" high & 0.443" Across Flats

If you write me, I can show you head type & the rest of the details.