What is the correct speedo for a 1962 650SS ?

1962 650ss was not fitted with a headlamp mounted speedo it had a 150mph sc3303/46 speedo and rc1309/01 rev counter fitted to a yoke mounted bracket.

Peter. For the purpose of originality, I would suggest you may well be correct in your observation that the 1962 650SS had its speedo in the headlamp shell. A photograph in Roy Bacon's Norton Buyers Guide, and another in a contemporary road test in 'Motor Cycling' show the 650SS with speedo in the headlamp. The text states the rev-counter was an optional extra.

In Morton's Norton Scrapbook on p91 there is a line-up of the last Nortons to leave Bracebridge Street in December 1962, showing650SS's with speedo in the headlamp. Photos of 1963 machines show the separate speedo and rev counter, as Chris describes. It may well be that the change was made for the 1963 model year, when production moved to Plumstead.

Ian

Peter. I imagine you are correct about 1964 models being the first year to have the separately mounted instruments. I have found images of 1963 models still with the speedo in the headlamp. Then, of course, to confuse us, there is always the issue of bikes for a given model year being built from October, or even late September, of the previous year, in the following year's spec., in order to be ready for the Earls Court Motorcycle show in November. I have a 1958 model Matchless 350 trials, for which the engine is stamped 58, but I know for a fact that it was built in late 1957, as a friend has one which is just 6 digits later than mine on both engine and frame numbers, yet was registered in late October 1957..... just to catch out the unwary! I also have 2x 1962 Greeves which were both built in 1961; I have a copy of the dispatch records.

Good fun! Ian

I have a '62 99SS, it has the speedo in the shell.

Sorry Peter I stand corrected,the 62 650ss did indeed still use the MCH61 headlight with the SC 3303/46 150mph speedo in it

Interesting thread. Just to take it further, when ordidNorton fit a 120 mph speedo to the 650ss? as I have seen a number of machines with them fitted.

ATB, Paul.

Possibly, when they realized that, unless race tuned, a 650 as was never going to exceed 120 m.p.h.!

This was covered on an earlier thread. Hopefully this link will work....http://www.nortonownersclub.org/noc-chat/technical2-heavy-twins-forum/131275635

It is a tad confusing, becoming clear at the end.

In fact, you started the thread, Paul!

I have a pair of these which I am reliably informed were removed many years ago from a 1965 Atlas.

Ian

Thanks Ian for highlighting that. Age does not come alone!

Kind Regards, Paul.