I am rebuilding the front end of my '63 650SS and want to replace the two screws for the headstock cover and bolts for the steering stop plate . I have the originals but they are mild steel and have gone rusty. I have no facility for re-plating them. I ordered some new parts from Norvil Spares and the screws they have sent are significantly shorter than my old one and have sent a single bolt with a spacer for the stop plate rather than two bolts that I removed from the plate. Norvil say that they have sent the correct parts but as far as I know my bike has not been modified in any way. I have had it since 1971. Does anyone know how these parts should be fitted and if there were alternatives to the fasteners that can be used. I have attached images showing the old and new screws, the steering stop plate and bolts and the flange on the frame to which it is attached.
Hope somebody can help
Allan Odurny
Hello Alllan. As far as I…
Hello Alllan. As far as I remember the tin headstock cover didn't get fitted until the wider fork yokes got fitted in 1964. All my early slimline Dommies have had the friction damper plate which incorporates the steering stop and probably uses the lower bolt-hole on your frame headstock image. From 1964 the steering stop plate (like yours) was welded to the gusset plate. Yours is problaby the standard steering-stop plate and it obviously bolts to the gusset plate. I should think that there would be spacers between the stop-plate and the frame. I have not noticed the top two holes in the frame gusset on any of mine. I have owned several 1960 and 61 Dominators, 62/63 650SSs and a 63 88SS. All of these had frames like yours. Yours could possibly started life as a De-Luxe Model which may have been different. Good Luck, Howard
Howard. Many thanks for your…
Howard. Many thanks for your reply and helpful comments. According to the DVLA documentation that I have my bike was first registered in August 1963 with frame/engine numbers 106554. This would correspond to a 1963 build. It was sold to me as a 650SS but I take your point about it possibly being a different model. I could ask the club to check their records to see what it left the factory as. While I have had the bike(since 1971) it has never had a steering damper or steering lock but the holes for fitting these are there with the domed steering column nut having a central hole. It is possible that the original owner removed the damper if fitted and replaced it with the part that I have. Not sure why he would have done that as everything else on the bike seemed original when I got it including the mudguards which I stupidly threw into a skip and replaced with alloy in the 70's. The crankcases have also been replaced as the owner before me wrecked the crankshaft, bearings and housings by running the bike dry after an oil pipe burst. He didn't notice the oil leaking.! I have been looking at lots of images on Youtube etc. and on those showing the steering stop, some of these dated 1963, many seem to have two fixing bolts. Some have no bolts at all and these are probably the welded version that you mention. I may have to do more research on steering damper/ no damper versions in order to proceed. Not sure if Norvil will b e able to help me out there.
Thanks . Allan
My theory about headstock…
My theory about headstock covers starts with the observation they appeared on the faired deluxe bikes. When fairings were dropped, they carried on using up the covers. My 1963 88SS has the cover. Screws may well not be original as PO replaced many rusty fastenings with stainless. My stop bolts are not s/s. I don't know if the one with a marked head is a trespasser!
I think your fixings are orriginal.