Navigator needle position, petrol tap and seat

The orriginal tap was a ewarts which has an elongated cross piece which contained a plunger with an extended slotted brass nose ,this was a pull on then turn and pull again for reserve.These rarely come up for sale .If you do find one and it needs a new plunger ,I do have a few which I have kept for NOC members only. All the regular spares stockists don't have any ,although they think they do !.Leytons made me a perfect matching light check/mid grey seat cover,I have heard that they ran out of the material but that may have changed.If you need the tap patent number which is stamped on the tap I can find it for you.

Hi Arthur,

As far as I can tell, the Lightweights were only ever listed as having one petrol tap (P/No 22061) until the advent of the Electra, which received tap P/No 024201 (an AMC Number).

22061 was a simple (riveted plunger) Ewarts tap - Push-Pull for ON and OFF, with no reserve. When in the ON position, the tap could be rotated to prevent accidental shut-off. The fuel outlet emerged horizontally on the inside, and the fuel pipe connection was a push-on type.

To renew the cork on these (new corks are available at autojumbles, etc) is simple. After cutting away the old hardened cork, steam the new one to make it pliable, then cut along it with a very sharp craft knife (or scalpel). It will then neatly fit over the plunger and re-insert the plunger back into the tap.

Alternatively - NOC spares sell replacement pungers with new corks already fitted - see picture. You can see from this that there is no 'reserve' facility provided for.

The lack of Reserve was commented on by several testers at the time - and its true - mine does not have one either. When you run out, you have run out! There may be a few drops in the other half of the tank, but don't count on it!.

The Electra tap fitted by AMC may well have a Reserve facilty - but I am unable to discern that from its Part Number.

Having said all the above, its up to you. If you want to fit a tap with a reserve (a good idea), then do it. But, as Robert says, they are very hard to find.

Andy S

Hi All,

This is a modern copy of a tap similar to 22061

The reserve tap i'm thinking of is the one fitted to the 60 dommy which i have seen on lightweights ,its outlet is down which may not work for you.

'As far as I can tell, the Lightweights were only ever listed as having one petrol tap (P/No 22061) until the advent of the Electra, which received tap P/No 024201 (an AMC Number).

22061 was a simple (riveted plunger) Ewarts tap - Push-Pull for ON and OFF, with no reserve.'

I have to say that I find this rather puzzling as my 1959 model Jubilee's petrol tap incorporates a reserve position, as did the Jubilee that I bought 'nearly new' in 1960. Both have/had horizontally-sliding tap mechanisms (Ewart, possibly) with a twist-and-pull reserve available.

Hello Everyone

Given Andys comments can anyone supply a photo or description of the tap used on the Electra (P/No 024201 ). I also concur with Howard in that all three of my Lightweights have taps with a reserve position and side exit.

Stan

I am thinking that the original owners first trip (other than the push home after running out of petrol) was to the local shop to procure a tap with a reserve setting.

Maybe so Michael, but I can confirm that my first Jubilee was 'factory-fresh' when I bought it, including its reserve-inclusive petrol tap.

Well!, after all that I'm still thinking that the reserve tap as fitted to the Dommy would work if you can find one ,and I still have a few of the long reserve new plungers if you find that you need one.

Previously robert_tuck wrote:Well!, after all that I'm still thinking that the reserve tap as fitted to the Dommy would work if you can find one ,and I still have a few of the long reserve new plungers if you find that you need one.========================I am happy to accept that original Jubilee's were supplied with a reserve tap, based on anecdotal advice as above.Indeed, the 1959 Instruction Book does mention a Reserve of about 5miles! See attached picture.I bought my 1964 Navigator in 1972, so it was already 8yrs old then. I defo did not have a reserve tap (still don't) and have run out several times! Luckily most have been next to a petrol station or near a mates house. But one day.....My information comes from the Norton Lightweights Parts Lists (as below):1959 parts list (PS205) - tap (petcock) = P/No 220611960 supplement (PS207) - tap (petcock) = no change1961/62 parts list (PS215) - tap (petcock) = P/No 220611964 parts list (PLN1) - tap (petcock) = P/No 22061Electra (P100)- tap (petcock) = P/No 02.4201The Dommi petrol tap will not work, as the thread up into the tank is larger on a Dommi. For example:1959 (wideline) - tap P/No = 16294 (old number H12-2/285)1960 suppl. (Slimline) - tap P/No = 227021961/62 List - tap P/No = 233051964 List - tap P/No = 23305As you can, the part numbers are all different for the larger bikes, due to the larger screw fitting.

Just to add fuel (pun-pun) to the fire - here is a photo of a 1959 Jubilee - definitely with a Reserve Type - apologies to all.

And here is an Electra picture from 1964, showing the fuel tap. Different again.

Although this picture is from a 1964 Roadtest, and the previous one is from a 1959 Jubilee test - it does not mean all bikes were similarly equipped. Norton were famous for using whatever was available at the time.

Hi Andy, the reserve tap as fitted to the 59 above will most likely use the same plunger as the Dommy reserve tap, which I have some of.

Robert My 1961 dominator has ewarts tap with reserve, but in either position, it drains the tank, not certain the innards are correct (see attached picture) as soon as the plunger is pulled to the on position, the reserve port is opened.

Could you post a picture of the correct innards, plunger and cork, thanks

Slightly off topic but still referring to petrol taps. For some reason I thought the tank of my 650SS held 4 or 4.5 gallons when in fact it only holds around 3.5 gallons. When I went to the Donington bash in 2009 luckily I called at the petrol station before going to the meet and was shocked to find the tank almost bone dry! Subsequently I bought a new petrol tap with reserve from the club spares scheme to hopefully give me some extra miles to refuel if necessary. However, when I checked it out the tap gave no reserve at all. My reasoning for this occurrence is that the tank has quite a thick boss into which the tap screws and this has the effect of lowering the tap below the level it needs to be to give an effective reserve. Consequently I can't see how any normal tap can give a decent reserve supply with my tank. So I just have to be on the ball regarding my mileage since the last refuel. Having had the trip meter fixed so I can zero it has helped!

Just had a light bulb moment! I could possibly extend the length of the reserve pipe by a small amount if I can find a suitable piece of pipe though I would also need to extend the filter mesh somehow. And of course my tank is full at the moment too! A good excuse for a few trips out!

Previously george_young wrote:

Robert My 1961 dominator has ewarts tap with reserve, but in either position, it drains the tank, not certain the innards are correct (see attached picture) as soon as the plunger is pulled to the on position, the reserve port is opened.

Could you post a picture of the correct innards, plunger and cork, thanks

Your tap looks odd at first glance - where the 'outer knob' is not connected to the plunger. Weird.

The plunger itself looks correct, as the selector track (governed by a small grub screw - not shown) moves out to release full, then is rotated & pulled out further to release the reserve supply. With the knob being disconnected, I find it hard to understand how the plunger can be pulled out.

I will find my secret stash of taps shortly (lost temporarily in last house move) and report back.

Hi George, Your tap is a mixture of parts from different taps ,the reserve plunger is very different ,and yes the tap body is correct. The reserve plungers have a long brass nose (farthest from the knob) which is slotted to only allow the reserve to come into play if the knob is pulled on again and turned. I have not learned how to post fotos and am still wondering about those new fangled cameras that take film rolls of more than 12 shots!. To increase the reserve capacity is a good idea as you only get a few miles. Extending the tube is possible as its only a push fit or soldered in.The filters are availiable on E-Bay but are not fully effective and an in-line one is also needed, What is the pat no on the side of your tap? .Send me a PM and a stamped addressed envelope and I'll send you a Plunger ,BOB. PS, the steel washer will do you no favours as fuel can go down the threads!.

Hi Robert thanks for reply, I did have another plunger and knob in among my spares stash, but plunger is not attached to knob, now realise this is the wrong knob for that plunger because it does not have reserve groove or reserve mentioned on knob. See picture 0534

Any idea how I can attach longer plunger with reserve facility to correct brass bit with normal and reserve groove?

Second picture 0533 shows patent numers etc.

Steel washer is actually a dowty seal, and was leak free, I also have in line fuel filter fitted

Robert can only attach 1 picture so 0533 attached here

Hi, the 0534 pic shows the correct plunger and its spindle with the square end is normally lightly riveted to the knob. You will also find that the slotted brass end can go two ways ,and only one is right!. Its also possible to slightly squeeze the cork which makes it barrel shape and too big. If I remember right you have to unrivet the assembly to renew the cork.If you are unsucessfull in your ministrations I can give you a new plunger .

Hi, the 0534 pic shows the correct plunger and its spindle with the square end is normally lightly riveted to the knob. You will also find that the slotted brass end can go two ways ,and only one is right!. Its also possible to slightly squeeze the cork which makes it barrel shape and too big. If I remember right you have to unrivet the assembly to renew the cork.If you are unsucessfull in your ministrations I can give you a new plunger . I can't see the square end on the spindle on yours !! .

Previously robert_tuck wrote:

Hi, the 0534 pic shows the correct plunger and its spindle with the square end is normally lightly riveted to the knob. You will also find that the slotted brass end can go two ways ,and only one is right!. Its also possible to slightly squeeze the cork which makes it barrel shape and too big. If I remember right you have to unrivet the assembly to renew the cork.If you are unsucessfull in your ministrations I can give you a new plunger . I can't see the square end on the spindle on yours !! .

Robert yet another picture!! you are correct I will need a replacement plunger there is no square on the end, and the plunger is not long enough to come through knob and be riveted over.

It might even be too long! ,in which case you could cut off to length and file the end square ,not sure if your knob has a square hole in it, but keep the bits . I will send you a new old stock plunger which has its own knob. I do find that the type I have can be a bit hard to get a good grasp of as they are not much bigger than the tap body.The cork will need a hot soak and a lube with a bit of bar soap which also helps to fill any cork cavities. I also clean out the tap bore with a little very fine carborundum paper .