Rear fastening for slimline fuel tank

Frame fitting ? o;d coil mounting?. I use elastic tent ties from the camping /caravan shop,

I use a Hoover drive band.

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

I use a Hoover drive band.

This could be the start of a really usefull thread!, What other non Norton parts have members incorporated into their bikes?. Fibre plumbing washers seal the slider/damper bolts. Clingfilm seals the seat foam under that new cover. Duct tape will work as a rim tape.

The original fastener was a large thick o-ring. I get replacements from a local hydraulic repair shop and use two at a time for extra strength.

Gentlemen,

Any idea what size 'O' ring (s)? Currently using bungee cord for ute / pick up cover tie downs, works fine and its black too but probably similar to the camping option? Also doubled up with a reef knot!

Thanks

Steve

AN have the o-ring part # NM16237.

I have done it this way:

Fritz

hello the O-ringof slimline tanks is 1.1/4 inch in diameter and fits on a bobbin under the rear of the tank the bobbin is fittedthe a down looking bracket in the mid way of rear cross tube looking forward and there should be two rubbers for the rear of the tank to sit on , yours anna j

Any chance of a picture, Anna? Mine is like Fritz. ..but like Robert I use a Hoover drive band 'O' ring and no need for the twist. Been there for years and never worried about it.

I find the O ring from old car oil filters work fine.If too big,just arrange them in a figure 8. Never had one fail.They are black and unobtrusive. Best of all they are free!

Thanks Anna,

That's the information I was looking for, just need to source a bobbin now. That should do away with some of the sharp edges which seem detrimental to the life of a rubber band.

Thanks to all for suggestion for replacement rubber bands.

Best regards,

Chas

Thanks Anna,

That's the information I was looking for, just need to source a bobbin now. That should do away with some of the sharp edges which seem detrimental to the life of a rubber band.

Thanks to all for suggestion for replacement rubber bands.

Best regards,

Chas

Thanks for the description, Anna. My 1963 had the two spikes but no bobbin and as far as I know there is no bolt hole to carry one. Was this a design change I wonder? The spikes hold the seat so they'd save money by using them for two purposes.

HI, all, my 1963 650ss has the2prongs on the frame crossmember underneath and atthe rear of thefuel tank,pointing rearward, these locate and hold the front of the dual seat in position, fitting into rubber D shapedbobbins that are fitted into metal clips that are part of the underside of the seat base. The 1/4" rubber ring simply fits round the two prongs and over the clip at the rear of the tank.

Hope this helps. Terry

Hello All well My Norton Manxman650 is not like this at all it has centre bobbing the forward side of the two prongs on A-shaped bracket the tank has a centre hook fitting rear of the tank 2.1/2 gallon tank two bolts fit in the under- side at the front of the tank 5/16 Whitworth thread the seat fits more forward than a dominator one does, in brightred with white piping around the top edge the seat fit up to the two prongs on its rubbers mounts the rear of the seat has a white Screw knob fitting to hold the rear of the seat in place has I dumped the silly Dzus fitting So I have now fitted a nice White Knob with a 1/4 Whitworth screw fitting plate under side of the rear mudguard , and I fitted a Kawasaki ZZR 600 chrome side stand by making my own stainless steel brackets which bolt around the rear engine plates and the bottom frame tube so it's going nowhere I was not going to pay out £130 for a Norton side stand next up I make my own out of stainless steel tube along with a set of stainless steelengine plates there easier to clean and will not rust , I do ride my Norton Manxman 650 in the rain at times so a few improvements will not go a miss Yours Anna J

Some interesting theories here regarding the rear tank fixings on a Slimline Dommie. I will assume that the Mercury has a coil mounting like a 1961 Dominator.The two prongs are inserted into rubber bungs that are fitted into two clips welded to the seat base. The prongs are also used to locate the rubber ring that goes over the flat hook on the rear of the tank.So far so good. If the frame rail has a bracket welded to it with a hole through it then the hole is nothing to do with the seat mounting. It is to receive a P clip, which fits between thetwo smallside cheeks on the bracket,that holds the ignition coil. The coil is mounted so that it lays across the frame not fore and aftalong the main frame tubes like a Commando. HTH. The Manxman with a small US tank? I have no idea how that lot goes together.

I presented my Atlas for MOT with the tank secured at the back with a Hoover Belt.

The very thorough examiner took hold of the tank, wobbled it, and made acomment about it not being very secure.

Since then I have adopted a (fairly substantial) blackplastic-tie, which goes over the tank bracket, round the seat securing prongs, and under the frame bracket. I just cut and replace.

It is very secure.

Some interesting theories here regarding the rear tank fixings on a Slimline Dommie. I will assume that the Mercury has a coil mounting like a 1961 Dominator.The two prongs are inserted into rubber bungs that are fitted into two clips welded to the seat base. The prongs are also used to locate the rubber ring that goes over the flat hook on the rear of the tank.So far so good. If the frame rail has a bracket welded to it with a hole through it then the hole is nothing to do with the seat mounting. It is to receive a P clip, which fits between thetwo smallside cheeks on the bracket,that holds the ignition coil. The coil is mounted so that it lays across the frame not fore and aftalong the main frame tubes like a Commando. HTH. The Manxman with a small US tank? I have no idea how that lot goes together.

I am not going to prolong this discussion beyond this Anna and so this my final contribution, BUT the original question posed to the gathered throng by Chas wasrelated specifically to a Norton Mercury, which I believe IS a coil ignition machine. Hence my reply.

Your comments about the magnificent (tongue in cheek at this point) Manxman are perhaps interesting to some but not at all relevant to the original question. Perhaps if you had answered the question that was actually asked, rather than the one you would prefer to have been asked, then your reply might have some relevance.

Have yourself a nice Nortoning day.

Interesting MoT experience Malcolm. The whole point of the rubber loop rear mounting is to allow some movement. If the tank is rigidly mounted, vibration fractures will surely follow.

Hi, this thread is not current, but as I have been researching the same issue - how the rear of the tank is restrained - in anticipation of commencing rebuild of a currently very non standard 650SS, I thought that the following may be of interest. Both Roy Bacon's 'Norton Restoration' and the Dominator'Gold Portfolio' show pictures of the rear tank restraint system, though the pictures are used in other publications too. One picture is of a deluxe and the other of a standard bike and both can be seen to have a coil mounted on the frame cross member bracket that hangs down at an angle behind the carbs on the bike's centreline. In both cases a rubber band is mounted around the bracket (apparently before the coil is installed) and up around the back of the cross tube to the bracket on the back of the tank. The seat locator prongs are definitely not part of the intended restraint. Equally, there is no evidence of a 'bobbin', though I would agree that it would be a neater method of attachment if one could be found to fit. Scouring the various published factory parts lists for the period gives no hint of a bobbin, and they all call up the same parts for the Dommies in this area. Hope this helps someone in the future...

Hi, this thread is not current, but as I have been researching the same issue - how the rear of the tank is restrained - in anticipation of commencing rebuild of a currently very non standard 650SS, I thought that the following may be of interest. Both Roy Bacon's 'Norton Restoration' and the Dominator'Gold Portfolio' show pictures of the rear tank restraint system, though the pictures are used in other publications too. One picture is of a deluxe and the other of a standard bike and both can be seen to have a coil mounted on the frame cross member bracket that hangs down at an angle behind the carbs on the bike's centreline. In both cases a rubber band is mounted around the bracket (apparently before the coil is installed) and up around the back of the cross tube to the bracket on the back of the tank. The seat locator prongs are definitely not part of the intended restraint. Equally, there is no evidence of a 'bobbin', though I would agree that it would be a neater method of attachment if one could be found to fit. Scouring the various published factory parts lists for the period gives no hint of a bobbin, and they all call up the same parts for the Dommies in this area. Hope this helps someone in the future...

Hi, this thread is not current, but as I have been researching the same issue - how the rear of the tank is restrained - in anticipation of commencing rebuild of a currently very non standard 650SS, I thought that the following may be of interest. Both Roy Bacon's 'Norton Restoration' and the Dominator'Gold Portfolio' show pictures of the rear tank restraint system, though the pictures are used in other publications too. One picture is of a deluxe and the other of a standard bike and both can be seen to have a coil mounted on the frame cross member bracket that hangs down at an angle behind the carbs on the bike's centreline. In both cases a rubber band is mounted around the bracket (apparently before the coil is installed) and up around the back of the cross tube to the bracket on the back of the tank. The seat locator prongs are definitely not part of the intended restraint. Equally, there is no evidence of a 'bobbin', though I would agree that it would be a neater method of attachment if one could be found to fit. Scouring the various published factory parts lists for the period gives no hint of a bobbin, and they all call up the same parts for the Dommies in this area. Hope this helps someone in the future...

Hello, this website posted this twice again !!!

These threads are becoming a mockery.... How does a thread on Mercury tank fastenings become another lesson on how not to upload messages about Manxman folklore ?? I would have gladly paid extra to eliminate this diatribe - as would many members, I'm certain. Stupidly, morbid curiosity causes me to read the inputs from her. I can't take it for much longer..........Regards, Howard Robinson

You actually read them? Masochism indeed.

My 650SS, which I have owned since 1964, only ever had a rubber band like a Hoover drive belt that fitted over the bracket that points downward and over the hook on the tank. I suspect the bracket is there to carry the ignition coil on bikes that don't have a mag. There is no bobbin (please note the spelling).

On a similar front, can nobody punctuate these days? In 95% of cases, adding just an s to the end of a noun makes that noun plaural. Please note, no apostophe. 's at the end of a noun denotes posession . (eg Dave's Norton Dominator.)

My word, I feel better after that little rant.

My 650SS, which I have owned since 1964, only ever had a rubber band like a Hoover drive belt that fitted over the bracket that points downward and over the hook on the tank. I suspect the bracket is there to carry the ignition coil on bikes that don't have a mag. There is no bobbin (please note the spelling).

On a similar front, can nobody punctuate these days? In 95% of cases, adding just an s to the end of a noun makes that noun plaural. Please note, no apostophe. 's at the end of a noun denotes posession . (eg Dave's Norton Dominator.)

My word, I feel better after that little rant.

These threads are becoming a mockery.... How does a thread on Mercury tank fastenings become another lesson on how not to upload messages about Manxman folklore ?? I would have gladly paid extra to eliminate this diatribe - as would many members, I'm certain. Stupidly, morbid curiosity causes me to read the inputs from her. I can't take it for much longer..........Regards, Howard Robinson

The village you left some time ago must have had quite a difficult task replacing you...... Cheers and Goodbye. When did you say your subscription expires ? Howard