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Big 4 spokes and rims

Submitted by simon_amos on Wed, 26/10/2011
Forums
Singles

Hi All,

I'm a new member and a proud owner of a -54 big 4! Found a real beauty with only 13 000 km on the clock and I also have pretty much the full history so it (at least the clock) is genuine and very much original.

My first touch with Norton was in the early -70'ies when my big brother had a Model 50 -56 which also I had the pleasure of using pretty much!

My aim is to get the Big4 into an original condition and at this point my biggest - well, most likely the only problem is the spokes.

The originals are painted at some point so here is the 1st question:

What are the original spokes like in terms of surfacing (Chrome? Zink? Or even Cadmium (as someone suggested).

2nd question: Where from (if needed) can I get (buy) new spokes which are close enough to the originals ? AND bearing in mind that the -54 model is the only year with the 8 inch brake which obviously means that the spokes are also a bit special!

the 3rd question is about the rims: Should they be painted or chromed (mine are painted ( 'silver' with a red stripe)?

Any bit of history of the Big 4 later years would be very interesting and appreciated.

I live in Finland but I've also lived a few years (in the -90'ies) in Coventry, England. I would so much love to come to the UK on the Big4 and see some places including my friends and meet other Norton people! Remains to be seen - maybe already next summer!

All answers are higly appreciated,

Pauli

Submitted by svein_marken on Sun, 30/10/2011

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Hello, I think they are Cadmium,try Central Wheel Components, they can help you with the butted spokes.I have used them many timesand they are very helpfull.Just send the sample spokes. I owned a 54 ES2 and this rims was chromed with silver center lined red. CWC can also help you with chromed and painted (silver/red)rims.Excellent parts!! If you order rims take with english crome,they are beutyfull!!!!!!

Regards from Svein.

Submitted by simon_amos on Mon, 31/10/2011

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Many Thanks Svein!

Cadmium! So the replacement spokes should be Zink as Cadmiun has been banned for decades. Or maybe unpolished stainless steel.

As to the rims - having now had a closer look I believe they have been crhomed until someone at some point has painted them. Hence I'm seriously thinking of purchasing new ones as they are quite reasonable prized.

Pauli

Submitted by richard_tool on Tue, 01/11/2011

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Pauli-Hello- If you get unpolished stainless spokes and glass bead blast them they will look very similar to cad plating- I have purchased painted and lined rims from CWC and had problems with paint adhesion - don't even think about protecting them with masking tape when spoking as the paint is likely to come off in spots- perhaps they don't use etching before paint over the chrome or perhaps I just got unlucky - Good luck ! -Richard

Submitted by simon_amos on Wed, 02/11/2011

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HI Richard,

Thanks for the reply and for your kind advice!

So do you think, believe, know what the original rims are like (painted and lined)?

Any possibility the rims could have been chromed?

Pauli

Submitted by richard_tool on Wed, 02/11/2011

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Pauli - Roy Bacon's book " Norton Singles " lists the 1954 model Big 4 as having chrome plated rims with silver painted centers with red lining. This is a great book to have as it has sections that list all changes throughout the years for all models. I believe it is still available. If you can't find one I will be happy to look up anything that you may require. I would try a UK source as I found my copy that way ( I'm in the USA )- also I believe the NOC librarian can research things as well but I imagine he or she is very busy. I'm happy to help in any way I can. Richard

Submitted by simon_amos on Thu, 10/11/2011

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Many thanks Richard,

This has all (above) helped a great deal!

I managed to get my hands on the 'Roy Bacon's book' and have also been in contact with CWC (they say that thy do etching) and have even an offer for the lot (rims & spokes).

Not very cheap - but then again, what is?

;)

Submitted by simon_amos on Sun, 22/01/2012

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Previously wrote:

Pauli- Glad to help- keep us posted on your progress-Richard

Hi again!

Haven't been here for a while.

Managed to get the old rims chromed locally and the new spokes are on the way (from CWC) but now there's another 'problem':

Can anyone give me exact information how the coachlined rims are painted:

- how wide is the silver area totally

- colour code for the silver?

- how wide is the red stripe and where is its exact position from the silver area's edge?

If anyone could send detailed pictures that would help a lot too!

Apparently the rims have been similar for quite a few years and used in other models too, definitely on 16H anyway.

Thanks

pauli

 


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