front hub

Untill someone comes along who knows better I would say they were the same. At some time the bearing retaining ring changed thread .

You mainly only see on EBay people selling Norton hubs, Dominator, Atlas, Commando, so I would agree with Robert, probably they were outsourced, perhaps Birmal, they have numbers cast in them too!

I reckon they were the same with minor differences such as thread type!

I got 6 Heavy  twin wheels, and two spare hubs front & Rear so I will check casting numbers hubs and Norton wheels. One Front  is pre 1955 and different, I do know that! If you so wish?

John

This is yet another example of Norton changing the thread on a part and not bothering to let anybody know.

The original Dominator lockring was p/n A2/440 (later p/n 067615) with a 26tpi thread.

Along comes the Commando and the same looking part suddenly gets a 20tpi thread. Ok it gets a new p/n 060363 but I bet lots of people mixed the two up at some point and messed up the thread in the hub.

Well, I was convinced the 8" front hubs had a mark, (casting number), somewhere but can't find one, apart from  2 x Zero,(0), marks one each side, the rear hubs do though, (not much use to you but, (18204).

On my Norton Imp build, I have used the I think 1955, hub that has the cast-iron spider in it, rather than just a shrunk in insert, it's heavier, but I heard in days of yore they were used in amature racing as they cooled better, having more cast-iron too dissipate heat, this front hub came off a Dominator that had been raced, I also have front brake plates with holes and air-scoops, not yet moved to TLS, but I have some Conical hub Front plate and shoes from BSA/Triumphs, 1971/1972 ish and I heard someone had adapted them to fit Nortons, an article in the Victory Library, shows that the BSA/Triumph unit this was a better stopper, than the Commando unit TLS which if of the early type needs strengthening kit plates/parts.

I will modify/substitute better gear, especially in regards to brakes,(over the  originality factor), but that is just me!

John

I have a Sls and Tls Norton brakes in use.  They Both need regular attention to retain reasonable efficiency ,I would not say one is better than the other. The Tls should win out with the wear more evenly distributed  but can grab and need very carefull adjustment. Brake shoe material seems an important factor. Some suppliers material is hopeless ,dangerous even. 

Is the shoe problem due to the removal of the asbestos component, through EU Law?, or just manufacturer's being crap at their job?

At one time if you got Ferodo shoes or something similar the quality and performance was guaranteed, now there is a lot of fake crap out there!

The road tests used to quote 29-32 feet if good @ 30 mph!

John

You can't blame the EEC for outlawing asbestos - our own government did that, and absolutely rightly so. It is evil stuff. Look up asbestosis if you don't believe that.

Regarding brake material,  the 'real' manufacturers of the lining material, i.e. the companies like Ferodo, ATE, Brembo etc have done, and are still doing  a fantastic job of making asbestos free brakes, and have been doing so for over 40 years. Its the 'make a quick buck' brigade's stuff that is usually the dangerous stuff.

Totally agree that the biggest risk is the counterfeit s#@t that is sold, masquerading as Ferodo, Bosch, Brembo etc, quite often via auction sites and online shopping services where the actual vendor can be difficult to trace, and to further complicate matters, not many people can easily tell fake from real just by looking at it. The only real way to avoid this is to buy from trustworthy suppliers, but price differences often make people choose cheaper. 

Add in the relining suppliers, some of whom (by no means all) will happily fit lining material intended for lift brakes to your shoes and it becomes only too easy to get the rose tinted glasses on and reminisce about when AM2 and AM4 actually meant something. 

For me, safety critical bits aren't to be compromised so I only buy known brands from known sources 

Regards, George. 

You say above that you have a 1955 front hub with cast iron, and some front brake plates but be careful the early front hub (1/2 cast iron) had the very flat brake plate that fits just over the hub. BUT the later slightly dommed brake plate (650 SS Atlas etc) does NOT fit. But the drum from the later Dommies (650SS Atlas) that takes the dommed plate does take the twin leader from the early Commando which needs improving anyway. A story in itself.