Skip to main content
English French German Italian Spanish

Improved Navigator (spigotted) head gasket

Description of Part Required:-          Head gasket

Model Number required for.:-           Navigator

Part Number:-                                       22936

Also used on if known.                         No other Norton model

Implication of lack of part:-                 A solid copper gasket is available. Difficult to make a good seal

Routes you have tried to acquire the part and response received:-

                                                                  NOC, solid copper only, not satisfactory

Do you have a worn or damaged part available as a pattern?    No

Based on price for similar parts, what would you expect to pay (give range):-     £20

Comments:-  The club sells solid copper gaskets.  The head joint requires a composite gasket (Copper/Asbetos - modern equivalent).  There is no way that the head/cylinder will compress a solid Copper gasket, far too great a surface area.  It might also be worth considering using Klinger PSM/AS Graphite gasket material.    I made one from this material for my Navigator that seems to be working. 

 

 

Permalink

Is anyone using the Navigator solid head gasket as supplied by Norvil and the NOC spares scheme?

Is it working for you?

Got any tips on how to make it seal? And how many miles have you done with it?

Your comments welcome, as it may be the solution.

Peter Holland

Permalink

My Yamaha race bikes have solid copper gaskets and they seal  fine, I re anneal them and re use them too. So no reason for a copper gasket not to Work! 

Permalink

Thanks Dan, I thought those had an aluminium composite gasket originally?

I do not think solid copper for the lightweight head gasket is satisfactory because of the surface area.  Compare the area of the gaskets of your Yamaha's or, say, a Velocette single, to the lightweights much greater area.  Therefore  there is no way a this type of gasket will work properly in a lightweight engine. People who think up these ideas really need to consider the material properties first.

There will be those who say it does work but I  would expect those owners will have "lathered" up the joint with their favourite gasket jointing in an attempt to stop leaks.  Judging by the number leaky lightweights I have seen over the years its not satisfactory.

Head gaskets these days should be fit and forget parts. I have always found gasket material suppliers very helpful, perhaps they should be consulted?  There are plenty of alternatives to the traditional Copper/asbestos type.

Permalink

John

My copper gaskets came from Yamaha, they’ve prob been used half a dozen times after being re annealed. I’m not good enough at applied maths to do any meaningful calculations but the yams have a much higher comp ratio, and only 4 studs. The Norton does have a bigger area but it also has more studs and a much lower comp ratio to retain. Having said that I haven’t tried a copper gasket but I did have problems with a jubilee head leak until I flattened the heads on glass and wet and dry. Ditto the rocker covers and clutch case. 

Proof of the pudding I guess! But I agree that they should be fit and forget, at the moment my Jubilee is remarkably oil tight, (composite head gasket) I can’t believe it will last long though! 

Dan 

Permalink

Peter, copper gasket's not withstanding I would definitely prefer and buy a modern quality composite gasket for my Navigator.   Frankly my experience with solid copper head gaskets has always been disappointing when it comes to making them oil tight on Nortons, Royal Enfield Bullets and Triumph twins.

Good luck with the procurement process!

Nick 

Permalink

I've done a drawing of a gasket for the 1961 - 64 Navigator. These machines have a spigot on the top of the cylinder which engages with a circular recess in the cylinder head.

The bore of the gasket has to fit over the spigot.

Is there anyone out there who has a Navigator cylinder accessible and a digital caliper. Can you give me the outside diameter of the Navigator spigot? I'll add it to the drawing attached and see if I can get some quotes.

Unlike the original gasket, this one is to go under each cylinder head and will allow owners to change one gasket without disturbing the other cylinder. Tooling costs should be less, but you will have to buy two for a top end overhaul.

Thanks for your help.

Peter

Attachments
Permalink

Hi Peter,

According to drawing number 22835 the spigot size is 2.718 - 2.721"

Drawing sent.

Tony

Permalink

Just measured a Navigator spigot, one cylinder 2.716" (68.98mm), the other 2.719" (69.06mm).

Nice idea splitting the gasket!

Permalink

John, thank you for taking the trouble to measure the barrel.  2 23/32 inches in old money.

Tony, thanks for the drawing information. Can you confirm that drawing 22835 is a head gasket for the '61 to '64 Navigator? Not a base gasket? I've got part number 22936 listed as head gasket for Navigator.

The base gaskets are a very close, too close, fit on the long barrel spigots and if my experience is anything to go by, too tight for a head gasket.

Thanks

Peter

Permalink

Hi Peter, I just pulled a Navi barrel off the "assembly line". The spigot measures 69.00mm on both sides - (Tony R. - above - suggests the tolerances were 69.04 - 69.11mm), but I have seen since that this tolerance was amended to 68.99 - 69.11mm. The lower spigot (into the crankcase) measures 69.50mm.

I also checked three NOS gasket sets - 2x Navi & 1x Electra. (see photos) Navi Head gasket - cylinder spigot clearance hole = 69.80mm on both sides. Navi Base gasket - bottom of cylinder clearance hole = 70.00mm on both (Example 2 gave 72.00/72.50mm) - Sadly, I only had 1x Navi Head Gasket to measure.

Electra Head gasket - cylinder clearance hole = slightly tighter at 69.20mm on both sides. Electra Base gasket - bottom of cylinder clearance hole = 74.00mm on both sides.

Hope that helps!

...  thanks for the drawing information. Can you confirm that drawing 22835 is a head gasket for the '61 to '64 Navigator? Not a base gasket? I've got part number 22936 listed as head gasket for Navigator.

Part number 22835 is the barrel for the Navi, drawing has been sent to you for your information.

Regards

Tony

 

 

Permalink

I am pleased to see that this part is now available from RGM. Part 22936.

Many people prefer the composite gasket to the solid copper alternative that has been offered for a few years. 

At £10.90 + VAT this seems a fair price too. 

Sized for Navigator with spigots, it should also fit late spigotless Navigator and all Electra. 

Peter Holland

 


Norton Owners Club Website by White-Hot Design