New to me 56 Domi 88.

N0rt0nelectr@

N0rt0nelectr@

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I should learn to keep my hand down and not volunteer. A close friend traded a bunch of Panther parts for a 56 Domi 88. So here I am working on a bit of a basket case. The previous owner had purchased a lot of new parts so that has taken the sting out of rebuilding the old girl. Still some of the replacement parts are questionable. The rear sprocket doesn't fit over the rear hub and hangs up. I need to get it to a machine shop where they can remove a few thousands off of it. Right now, I installed a later drum sprocket until I get that done. The cost of plating has gone way up. I'm told the bike came out of Indonesia and the chrome is in terrible shape. And of course a lot of parts were plated that never were originally.
 

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Well some progress is being made but I have a question. What is the easiest way to install the center stand spring?
Only 1 video and that shows a guy trying time and time again to install it at the top and says not to do it that way. Do I remove the stand and the after it is hooked reattach the stand?
 
I got some advice to lengthen the spring using coins between the coils. Bend the spring forward, install coins, bend backward, install coins, etc... Sorta worked, but only in conjunction with installing the spring then the pivot bolts.

Obviously, the shortest distances are at fully extended and fully retracted so wrestling it into place with a pry bar of some kind (wooden hammer handle?) at those positions works best.
 
What weight fork oil would you recommend for the Roadholders on my 56 Domi?
Brand?
 
Here is what I have for my 1950 Garden Gate ES2 with Roadholder forks .
New to me 56 Domi 88.


New to me 56 Domi 88.

New to me 56 Domi 88.

Be aware that there were long and short Roadholders - I don’t know if capacity was different for each - and the capacity listed in the text above is Imperial measure . Hope this helps .
 
Thank you. I don't have that book in my library.
I do think I will use a modern 20w fork oil though.
 
Swapping Panther parts for a Dominator 88 sounds like highway robbery to me. Some people really have stupid ideas - Panthers are extremely pedestrian. I can see how somebody might think they are good, but they are not. When I was a kid, I bought a 1955 Tiger 110 for 30 pounds. You could not have given me a Panther.
 
The guy who wanted the Panther parts came to my friend. So, it is all on him.

Back to the project. While cleaning the heads. This project came with 2. I noticed that the casting numbers weren't the same.
Both had T2225 cast into the head above the intake rockers. But one has T2225 U, with the U at a 45-degree downturn. I checked the list of known heads and variations posted by Atlantic Green Nortons. Didn't see a thing. Any idea what this might mean?
 
I got a reply from Dyno Dave at Atlantic Green Norton. He says the U is just an identifier for the casting at the foundry. So, that has nothing to do with Norton.
I'm waiting for a set of oil gallery bore brushes to clean out and swarf that might be left over from grit blasting. I will also need to chase out all of the threads in the heads. I have a soda blaster to go back over what was grit blasted, there is still some baked-on grime between the fins.
 
It's been raining here in North Texas so no soda blasting has been done. I have been in touch with Comstock about the crank and who he uses. He uses Mile High Crankshafts in Denver, So I would have to ship it.
Any one on the list that lives and has used a local machine shop in the DFW area?
Thanks in advance for afy help you can give me.
John in Texas
 
I called around and found a machine shop in Haltom City so about 50 miles. The job that Standard Machine Shop did a great job on the crank and they checked the rods to make sure they were round. So, now the crank is back in the cases, and I need to soda blast the pistons and the heads. The bike came with an extra head. I don't have a shop book for the 56 and I'm not sure of how the timing gears are set up. Anyone have a drawing of how this all goes together? Thank for any help you can give me.
John in Texas
 
Two photos of 1956 Model 99 timing chest from Roy Bacon‘s “ Norton Twin Restoration “

New to me 56 Domi 88.


New to me 56 Domi 88.


Captions from above photos.

New to me 56 Domi 88.


Hope these help - RT
 
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