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Mystery tank

Submitted by mel_hadfield on Mon, 28/11/2016
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Nortons - General

I have this tank on my Dominator 88, the frame is wideline 1962 with a 1955 500 twin engine. The tank has two holes for fixing ? knee pads I presume but the holes don't match any that are on the market from the usual suppliers.

Can anybody identify which tank this is? looks similar to a 1955 Inter and also a Manx 40M , would appreciate it if any of you expert Norton men can help out here.

Also, the numbers are strange too, the engine is 61023 K 122 and it does have a SS downdraft head, but the log book has it as a 500 twin.

The frame is 18-103814

Cheers

Mel

Attachments dsc_0011-jpg

Submitted by ian_richtsteig on Tue, 29/11/2016

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The log book is correct. 122 is the designation for a 500cc Model 88. The frame is from a 650 (designation 18) My 1965 SS has frame no 18SS 113XXX

regards

Submitted by robert_tuck on Tue, 29/11/2016

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This bike is a bit of a mongrel, and nothing wrong with that. It can't have a 650 frame as they were not made in wideline so its not 62, unless its is a slimline 62 thats been remade to look like a wideline!, and yes this has been done before. But i think its a wideline that has been re-stamped with a slimline number ,don't think this is legal,but who cares?,unless its nicked!.The engine is an early 88 with an 88/650 ss head. Looks like a fun bike.

Submitted by mel_hadfield on Tue, 29/11/2016

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Thanks for that Rob, I bought the bike as a slimline in the description but the guy that did the resto work swears it's a wideline, I've enlosed a pic if that helps, still puzzled about the tank though, don't think it's a normal '88 tank as have not seen one with screw holes like this?

Attachments dominator-jpg

Submitted by richard_evans on Tue, 29/11/2016

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If it's anything like the one I have on a 1957 Dominator 99 are two tapped holes at the rear which look as though they are intended for rubber kneepads and two tapped holes at the front (different threads). Together they serve to mount the chrome side plates and Norton badge. As you say there are no knee grips available with the correct centres and everyone assures me that the original knee pads were stick on. You may find that the front screw holes have been filled and painted over on the tank you have.

It may well be that it is off a totally different model and therefore non of the above will apply.

Submitted by ian_cordes on Tue, 29/11/2016

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Mel. Robert has it about right. The engine numbers state it is a 1955 500 Model 88, or at least the crankcases are. The frame is a Wideline, probably from 1957-on, otherwise that tank would not fit. The earlier ones had cutaways where the tank surrounds the headstock. Not all Wideline frames are the same; they evolved over the years. The frame has been re-stamped with a 1962 650 number; a bit dodgy, nothing you can do about it, except keep quiet... ahem..

I am sure Richard is correct about the tank, a 1957-on Wideline, when they went from stick-on knee pads to bolted on side panels c/w grips. The round badges screwed through the panel into threaded captive nuts in the tank, which in your case have been filled.

You could go for an earlier styling, by fitting stick-on knee pads and a Norton transfer, as per 1954 back.

Ian

Submitted by phil_hannam on Tue, 29/11/2016

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Mel....can you post a photo of the side of the frame by the gearbox please? There is a hint of an open/lazy rear top loop suggesting a Manx style frame. I would agree that the tank is the version for the Norton Wideline with the front badge holes filed in.

I would also suggest that the front brake has some attention before an MoT is attempted.

Submitted by mel_hadfield on Tue, 29/11/2016

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Thanks Richard, I'll try a very close inspection of the tank and see if I can locate the original tap holes, it does look similar to a 400M tank, also a 350 International but that doesn't have the rear tap holes.

Cheers

Mel

Submitted by mel_hadfield on Tue, 29/11/2016

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Thanks Ian, problem is, as Richard said, the two hole screwed knee pads available today don't have the correct hole centres so possibly from a different model altogether.

Concensus says it's a wideline so thanks for that guys, I shall do a close inspection of the number and see if there is anything dodgy about it.

Cheers

Mel

Submitted by mel_hadfield on Tue, 29/11/2016

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Hi Phil

I've tried editing a pic but can't get the size below 1mb, I don't think it's Manx but if you can open the pic in Windows Gallery then blow it up for a closer look.

The front brake and many other bits have been sorted during a recent restoration, now passed it's MOT with flying colours and runs great. That pic I posted is from when I first got the bike 9 yrs ago. :)

Mel

 


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