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Outer distance tubes 52052 Electra

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These distance tubes are not available on the spares list.  Mine are too short and pull the top rails together.  Can anyone give me the proper length for these so I can make them myself?

Thanks,  Ken

 

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Hi Ken,

I assume you have a parts list. On mine the part numbers used for Electra are generally in the range 21,000 to 24,000.

If you are looking at the parts list, please confirm your number is right and the description you give it is the same as the parts book.

I can't see the part or description you suggest in section 'Frame Assembly'.

Or a photo?

Cheers

Peter

In reply to by peter_holland1

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Peter,

Thanks for your response.  52052 was a typo.  The number is 25052, and the description is: Center section channel distance tube, outer.  It looks like it is number 18 on the illustration.

Thanks, Ken

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Ken,

I'm looking at Norton Maintenance Manual and Provisional Spare Parts List for Electra publication P100.

Centre section channel distance tube- outer part no. 23110 (split into four shorter spacers)

You must be looking at a later parts list and a better one by the sound of it.

The item you identify on the frame drawing (for an early de-luxe lightweight) as item 18.

What I believe you need is four spacers, 20mm or 3/4ins dia, 17mm long and 3/8 ins hole.

Two spacers go against the centre section, then the frame reinforcement plates, then the remaining two spacers to fill the gap to the frame brackets.

I've just put my Electra into a VAC-BAG for the winter, so these dimensions are not from the bike, but from notes made when making the spacers (in aluminium) in 2000's.

If someone can actually measure these spacers for you, it would confirm.

Regards

Peter

Peter,

Thanks so much for your information. It was very helpful.  You must keep very good records.  I got that number from a reprint "Spare Parts List Electra" publication P107/S.  I do have the P100 booklet, but the print was much smaller, so I was using the other one which is much easier to read.  My Electra is a 1963 engine number EL/855.  Should I be using P100 manual?  Also, there is no plate for the frame in either of these.  I have a manual for Norton Twins, which does have an illustration, but no parts list to match??? Does your P100 manual have a frame plate in it?  I noticed the engine plate is glued in.  Maybe the frame plate has been lost at some point.

 

Thanks again.

Ken

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Ken,

You say the frame reinforcing plates are not mentioned in Electra parts lists P100 or P107/S.

My frame number came about 600 after EL/855. Certainly my bike has reinforcing plates.

The winker indicator relay is mounted on the frame plates, so I suspect all Electras had frame plates although they get no mention in the parts list.

At the headstock the top ears of the reinforcing plates are secured by 5/8ins long x 5/16bsc bolts with slightly reduced height heads. (To clear 21550 headlug cover) Same lower down. 4 bolts total.

The head steady bolt. (Which must be slightly longer than Navigator)

And the two front top frame fixing studs.

The four spacers on these studs are thinner than Navigator 21102 items, by the thickness of the frame plate.

None of this reflected in parts book P100

The four spacers go outside the frame plates, which are against the frame front member assembly.

The electric starter chain tensioner must have been a late addition also, as it's not in P100 parts list.

If you are working on a basket case, this might help.

Peter

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Hi Peter,

I'm afraid we had a misunderstanding.  The 'plates' I'm referring to are pages in the p100 manual.  I have an original with several 'plates' on which are printed the blow-up illustrations.  Transmission, Plate G, is on page 29.  Front forks, Plate DA, is on page 68 and so on.  The engine Plate A is a foldout glued onto page 54.  However, I have no 'plate' showing the frame parts, and I was wondering if it may have been a glued in piece that was lost, but now I notice that the Frame Assembly parts list on page 76 does not reference any plate no., so maybe it never existed.

Sorry for the confusion, and thanks for the reinforcing plate info.  I do have those!

Sincerely,

Ken

'

Hi Peter,

I'm ready to clean the sludge trap in the crank.  There is one small plug and anther larger plug opposite the small one.  Is it necessary to remove both plugs to clean the trap, or just the larger one?

 

Thanks, Ken

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1) The frame shown in any Lightweight Parts Book (Or The Twins Manual) is always the Jubilee D/Lux (bathtub) frame. The parts books identify those parts that are common with a Drawing Ref No, and with a dash if not shown. The Electra frame has many different/additional bits.

2) Sludge Trap cleaning. Its harder work, but better to remove both plugs. That way you are more sure of cleaning it out properly. Having said that, I generally just undo the larger one & shine a torch down to see how I'm doing.

All Electra (to the best of my knowledge) had the strengthening plates (or RSJ's, as I call them). The early ones were criticised for not allowing the exhaust rocker caps off, so were modified slightly. They look crude, like a few scraps of steel welded together - but they do the job of carrying that extra weight.

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Thank you Andy.  After trying to remove the larger plug, I ended up drilling it out and using lye to remove the remaining aluminum.  I decided to leave the smaller plug in, and vigorously cleaned the trap.  It's good to know that the frame shown is not complete for Electras.  I just had the frame straightened at considerable cost, but I was lucky to find someone close.  If anyone in the Midwest needs that service, it is Frame Crafters in Union, Il., not far from Chicago.  Great guy named Randy.

 

 


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