Navigator steering stops

Previously patrick_mullen wrote:

What you need is a steering lock stop plate - part number 23378 -. This bolts on to the two threaded holes and the part is available from the NOCshop. You will have to remove the welded on bit as it simply should not be there. The steering stem should now fit properly without the bolted on 'buffers'.

I wonder why someone welded on a steering stop. Maybe it was raced where it is common practice to reduce the amount of steering lock to a minimum. You need to be careful not to distort the steering head bearing track.

Patrick

Thanks Patrick, that just what I needed to know.

Steve

Previously patrick_mullen wrote:

What you need is a steering lock stop plate - part number 23378 -. This bolts on to the two threaded holes and the part is available from the NOCshop. You will have to remove the welded on bit as it simply should not be there. The steering stem should now fit properly without the bolted on 'buffers'.

I wonder why someone welded on a steering stop. Maybe it was raced where it is common practice to reduce the amount of steering lock to a minimum. You need to be careful not to distort the steering head bearing track.

Patrick

Thanks Patrick, that just what I needed to know.

Steve

Previously Peter Holland wrote:

Previously steven_tyrer wrote:

Firstly hi from a new member; I have a 1964 Navigator Std and am starting to renovate it. Currently working on the forks and have found the steering stop has been bodged. On the bottom of the head tube is a poorly welded stop and on the bottom yoke there are two what looks like bolt on buffers. Can you please tell me what it should look like. Please see the three photos. Thanks Steve

Hi Steve, Welcome to the fuzzy world of Norton lightweights.

Norton Navigators made before mid-'63 had Roadholder forks with 7 inch centre distance between the fork legs. The lock stop on the frame downtube was a bolted-on bracket which has been described by some of the above. The forks had two stop steps on the lower yoke casting.

After mid 1963, the wider 7 3/8 ins Roadholder forks were introduced across the range. (except Jubilee which has it's own style of forks). The Electra and Navigator lightweights adopted a brazed extension to the lower steering cup as in your photo. This engages with the stop steps on the 7 3/8 lower yoke. It is fairly common to find later Navigators and Electra's which have had the brazed extension on the lower steering cup knocked off altogether. Look for dents in the front of the tank from the fork ears. You were right about it looking a bit weak.

I can see you have a later frame section. It looks fine. Are you trying to marry this with earlier 7 inch Roadholders? Do you have a steering lock in the top yoke? If yes, you have the wider forks and all should fit together OK. I hope this clarifies things for you.

Peter

Thanks, Peter for the clarification, the yokes are 7 3/8" centres and I have a steeringlock hole in the top yoke, so it looks like the correct arrangementjust poorly repaired. Again Thanks Steve