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Can anyone tell me if there is suppose to be a rubber or foam gasket behind the tank badges on my '57 Norto model 77 (with the chrome panel)? The badge curve does not seem to fit well to the chrome tank panel, I am sure it will crack if I continue to tighten it. I may heat the badge then try to form it.
Hi Eugene, No, there was n…
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Hi Eugene,
No, there was no rubber originally but if you have bought the new re-issue badges they won't fit the orginal sized recess on the tank panels. They are about 1/8" bigger in diameter. I spoke about this to Fred Williams a few years ago so he started making tank panels with larger recesses to take the new size badges - he usually listens to me! If you have the large badge with small recess then it's much safer to put a rubber backing in. I'd guess at between 1/16" to 1/8" thick? Some people use the earlier flanged rubber backings which originally went on the 55/56 models. Originally the badge sat in the bottom of the recess on the flat part so that its edges were well supported and not prone to bending when tightening.
Don't forget that the two tank badge screws also act as part of the panel retainers at the front - what a daft idea that was! So they need to be reasonably tight but the badges are expensive if you break them! When I bought mine about 8 years ago, at a Bristol Show when it was still in Bristol, almost all the bike stands had them - includinh Triumph, BSA & Arial specialists - and they were £8.50 a pair!! Then they disappeared for a few years until they came back at around £25 and steadily crept up in price since then! I wish I'd bought two or more pairs at the time!
Good luck,
Lionel