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350T

I have started a restoration of a 350T. I have posted a picture of the frame to let people see the shape of the frame. The top frame tube and front down tube are excatly correct. You would think someone bent both. This maybe of interest to members

Attachments IMG_0701%20-1.jpg img_0619-1024x798-jpg
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That's very interesting, I have a pre featherbed es2 500 which has been converted to trials, to give more ground clearance and tighten the steering a section was cut out of the middle of the down tube and the top tube was bent to make the two ends meet. The result is a frame that looks like yours a bow in the down tube and a stronger bend in the top tube. I,m not suggesting that yours isn't genuine, I don't know enough about these bikes but it's interesting.

I,'ll take a pic tomorrow so you can see.

dan

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It looks like it's had a front end shunt to me but you never know with Norton. It may have been the cheaper option to increase trail and ground clearance!smiley

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the top frame tube looks like it is higher where the cylinder head would go then swoops down to the front unless its a trick of the light .

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Previously Dan Field wrote:

This is what mine looks like, you can see the similarity

the top tube has been bent down and has to rise a little at the headstock to meet the frame at the right angle.

Dan it looks a good job. If you read the history of Norton trial bikes on this web page it mentions how the 350T had these "bends" in the frame. The petrol tank is like the road bikes but smaller in size. How does your tank fit onto the frame. the 47 model was an all cast iron head etc, The one I am restoring has all matching numbers and has been traced back to the Norton seller in Scotland. The 350 was too heavy and underpowered and really didnt sell, then they put in the 500 engine (500T). This happened at the end of 47 and the rest is history.

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Previously Dan Field wrote:

Hi Robert, interesting! I'll have another raed of the history pages. I guess who ever did mine back in the 60/70's may have had a look atwhat Norton themselves had done with the 350, which I assume was a modded road frame, the bend on the top of the frame is almost identical to yours. My tank has twostuds brazed onto the top tube to mount the tank but I have just ordered a 500T tank from Terry Weedy as I think that will look better.

Does T Weedy make the 500T tanks. What material does he use. The 350 as indeed the 500T were ES2/Model18 16H based. ernie Lyons etc raced the girder fork 350Ts to no avail in 1947 the forks were replaced by long roadholders, a 500 bottom end machined to take a 350 crank. So as far as I can find out the 350T had a very short production life. Very few of these survived.

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Previously Dan Field wrote:

Yes Terry is currently making a batch of 500T tanks in aluminium, get your order in quick if you want one!

Have you a contact please. What is he charging.

Thanks.

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Hi Robert,

I bought the bare bones of a 1947 B3T many years ago after my mate thought the same as Jim, that it had hit a brick walland didn't want it !It was first registered in February 1947 which was one of the hardest winters in living memory and the frame number is B3T 8111. It looks the same as yours except the front petrol tank lug which is the gull wing shapewhere asyours has the flat top section lug. This was changed during 1947 so yours may have been made later that year. The petrol tank as you say looks like a squashed standard tank and is about 1" shallower, which is about the same amountas the front down tube is shorter. I have seen a couple of these 500sin recent years and I think the club librarian Chris Streather has one. Regards, Richard.

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Previously richard_cornish wrote:

Hi Robert,

I bought the bare bones of a 1947 B3T many years ago after my mate thought the same as Jim, that it had hit a brick walland didn't want it !It was first registered in February 1947 which was one of the hardest winters in living memory and the frame number is B3T 8111. It looks the same as yours except the front petrol tank lug which is the gull wing shapewhere asyours has the flat top section lug. This was changed during 1947 so yours may have been made later that year. The petrol tank as you say looks like a squashed standard tank and is about 1" shallower, which is about the same amountas the front down tube is shorter. I have seen a couple of these 500sin recent years and I think the club librarian Chris Streather has one. Regards, Richard.

Richard, Yes mine is July 47 it was sent to Alexanders in Edinburgh who had it used in trails for a year It then was sold to a private owner in July 48. Mine is 350 not 500. According to the records very few were produced/survive. What do you need to finish yours

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Hi Robert,

I have nearly all the the parts for a complete bike but the the thing I most need is time !! I have several Nortons, most of which need work so along with an old and scruffy house my wife thinks a decent kitchen is a higher priority ( bit of a conflict there ) so will have to wait until retirement I guess. sad sad

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Previously richard_cornish wrote:

Hi Robert,

I have nearly all the the parts for a complete bike but the the thing I most need is time !! I have several Nortons, most of which need work so along with an old and scruffy house my wife thinks a decent kitchen is a higher priority ( bit of a conflict there ) so will have to wait until retirement I guess. sad

I have started to rebuild now so maybe early next year it will be finished. Will put up a few pictures now and again.

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Hi Robert,

It was good to see your bike in this months Roadholder (no 350). I notice you have a later road-going petrol tank, 1950-55 pattern, fitted. If it is of any help, the original tank was a similar shape but had about an 1" sliced off of the bottom which makes it look a lot shallower and gives more clearance between the top yoke. If you need a picture I can load one, but you will have to be patient while I dig it out.

Regards, Richard.

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I have a '52 Plunger frame with similar "bends"producing a steeper fork angle that was linked by Peter Roydhouse many moons ago to the '52 ISDT machines (Reg: KON681 -3). The lugs were all "V" cut and brazed up for added strength and the steering damper mount not fitted. Maybe our Mr Sprayson can shed some light of these some what different builds.

I have attached a pic of the bike as it is now, you can just make out the down tube bendand the "V" in the rear stays.

I will also post one of the ISDT machines in a second response...

Just for interest....

Or maybe no attachment today....

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Initially problem was MS corporating cheated me out of Photo manager on a recent upgrade. I needed to compress...

Now it seems if you use the add another attachemnt on this website it deletes your reply and the first attachment. I tried waiting to see if the down load was slow but hey not this long so the will come one by one...

Tthe down tube with a set in it.

Attachments frame-number-017-jpg
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The bike that Peter felt it was related to... ... three were built for the works effort in the '52 ISDT, next machine was a private purchase.

Note the "V" cut sockets on the rear frame lugs. Engine and tank mount lugs are of the "window" type. Not possible to see the shape of the down tube...

Theoff road machine looks great doesn't it. The gentleman on board ( Eric Wills) rode it to Italy to compete and rode back!!!! (With gold Medal !!!)

Attachments isdt-1952-ericwilson-ex-works-norton-500t-jpg
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Previously Mikael Ridderstad wrote:

Robert, please give us some more photos. The ones in RH350 are so small.

Mike

I will try and get ones up loaded asap.

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Previously richard_cornish wrote:

Hi Robert,

It was good to see your bike in this months Roadholder (no 350). I notice you have a later road-going petrol tank, 1950-55 pattern, fitted. If it is of any help, the original tank was a similar shape but had about an 1" sliced off of the bottom which makes it look a lot shallower and gives more clearance between the top yoke. If you need a picture I can load one, but you will have to be patient while I dig it out.

Regards, Richard.

Richard please up load picture when you can. I had no tank so worked off the picture that advertised the bike by Norton. I had no measurements for the depth. The other measurements were worked out and I got one made. If you can give the measurement from the top to bottom of tank, say at highest point at front and lowest at back. Thank you.

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Previously Mikael Ridderstad wrote:

Robert, please give us some more photos. The ones in RH350 are so small.

Mike

Mike I have added a picture to my first posting. I hope it is OK.

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Previously robert_dixon wrote:

Previously Mikael Ridderstad wrote:

Robert, please give us some more photos. The ones in RH350 are so small.

Mike

Mike I have added a picture to my first posting. I hope it is OK.

 


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