Best Norton engine builders and machinists

Status
Not open for further replies.
jseng1

jseng1

Joined
Nov 26, 2009
Messages
3,096
Country flag
Lets hear some opinions and see some contact info for the better high end Norton engine builders and machinists (cylinder boring, crank grinding with radius etc).
 
UNfair illogical meaningless question - Unless divided up into old school parts and technology vs new age Non-Norton. My opinion is Texas Big D for major old school shop but a coin toss for one man builders though late Sir Eddie kind of floats to the top in my mind so having to make do with the likes of JMS, Canaga, comnox, Herb Becker, Maney, George Kelly, Brain Stark on and on etc. I'd had 15 yr now to attend a few rallys to know only about 10% of Nortoneering is among online folks.
 
hobot,

I think Jim's intention was to expose those quality guys to the people who are out of the loop. Speaking for myself until I stumbled on this forum it was "read the shop manual, attempt repair, repeat". Improvements were not even an option. I could have the best Norton mechanic right around the corner and not know it. If forum readers give good input on local guys at least I would know where to go for work, especially machine work.

Pete
 
Pete online Nortoneering is rather small part of all the Norton activities world wide so we lucked out a few of the best are bored enough to even bother with us here. A recent example of this is Mr. Edwards writer for Cycle World restoring a Commando last year to world class level using hi end Norton folks in California we've never heard of prior yet not a peep online just in hard print magazine. The introductory Technical thread near top of Commmando area is a gold mine of many world class parts and advice help Ms Peel which preformed beyond belief of me and strangers was accomplished long before I knew any of the famous builders on this or other forums. For about 5 yrs around turn of the century - at least half dozen vendors-builders-shops began answering my calls back as "Hello there Easy Money". Over a dozen world wide vendors not reflexly calling me Easy Money sill knew my name from begging for advice and pointers. Personally I'm out for the most potent performing legal Commando ever fielded with a little help from my friends. Don't let your meatloaf or bottoms wet sump.
 
Three years ago I had my 850 motor completely rebuilt by Jim Mosher of Performance Indian, superb work.

Jim works out of his home shop in the Pecos area outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and built the 159mph Norton Bonneville motor.
 
I have to vote for one of my close friends Kelly George....
From Frames, Motors whatever he touches is fast, functional
and built right. I wouldn't have anyone else do a bike for me.

Best Norton engine builders and machinists
 
Anywhere, there are a lot of good machinests around that know their stuff and I like to know of the ones here in Aussie land.

Ashley
 
The Norton Commando world would not be quite the same if we didn't have Jim Comstock.

In all the years of being involved with these machines I have not come across anyone with his overall technical ability and knowledge.

I often think about how glad I am about the fact that he decided to like and work on Commandos.......

Matt / Colorado Norton Works

www.coloradonortonworks.com
 
There is some very good ones in the North Island of New Zealand , South Island I am not familiar with

Bob Nesbitt in Wellington (all rounder and race bikes)
Brian Kelly in Welcome Bay (BoP) Specialises in head work , precision fit up and assembly
Graham Martin in Napier ( Special lises in cranks and cases)
Tony Stanwell, Norton specialist Hamilton(designer of SBR cases)
Steve Bridges (frames builder and winning on Norton race bikes)Hamilton
Bob Mead (balancing cranks Auckland )
Landon Brothers (machinists and new as in 961 and old Norton engine developers ) Tauranga
Aero Machinists (everything) Hamilton
Missed heaps for sure .
Regards Mike
 
Jim Schmidt asked about great builders and we already know and praise the hi end wonder workers here so think Jimmy might be trying to expand scope of awareness of others. Here's Big D in Dallas Texas area, the place that gave Comstock his Norton focus and start and why Lake of the Pines is his annual Meca trip we get to hob nob sharing spirits and fellowship with all sorts of bikers in paradise.

Best Norton engine builders and machinists

https://bigdcycle.com/
 
CNW said:
The Norton Commando world would not be quite the same if we didn't have Jim Comstock.

In all the years of being involved with these machines I have not come across anyone with his overall technical ability and knowledge.

I often think about how glad I am about the fact that he decided to like and work on Commandos.......

Matt / Colorado Norton Works

http://www.coloradonortonworks.com
Click to expand...


+10. Well said Matt. We all win when Jim's in his shop.
 
Here in England Mick Hemmings is my recommendation. He and his wife Angila have been involved with Norton for decades and they are both charming to deal with at all times, unlike another vendor who's imformous for he's lack of charm should you have a problem (which you probably will). I have also had great service from Norman White in the past and more recently from Steve Maney. All three of these have plenty of past competition success both on bikes and with others on their machinery to leave you in no doubt that they know what they are doing.
 
toppy said:
Here in England Mick Hemmings is my recommendation. He and his wife Angila have been involved with Norton for decades and they are both charming to deal with at all times, unlike another vendor who's imformous for he's lack of charm should you have a problem (which you probably will). I have also had great service from Norman White in the past and more recently from Steve Maney. All three of these have plenty of past competition success both on bikes and with others on their machinery to leave you in no doubt that they know what they are doing.
Click to expand...


Couldn't agree more
 
Ya can also get anything maxed out ya want at Krazy Ken Canaga's Left Coast Racing - 'cepting Ken.

Anyone have work done at TC's shop?
 
Brooking 850 said:
There is some very good ones in the North Island of New Zealand , South Island I am not familiar with

Bob Nesbitt in Wellington (all rounder and race bikes)
Brian Kelly in Welcome Bay (BoP) Specialises in head work , precision fit up and assembly
Graham Martin in Napier ( Special lises in cranks and cases)
Tony Stanwell, Norton specialist Hamilton(designer of SBR cases)
Steve Bridges (frames builder and winning on Norton race bikes)Hamilton
Bob Mead (balancing cranks Auckland )
Landon Brothers (machinists and new as in 961 and old Norton engine developers ) Tauranga
Aero Machinists (everything) Hamilton
Missed heaps for sure .
Regards Mike
Click to expand...

John Saywell in Wellington. He does a lot of the machining work for Nez and is ex British spares. He is in Stokes Valley.

Aero Machinist in Hamilton yes.

And there is a guy on the East coast making one piece crankshafts - especially for AMC twins plus 90 deg cranks. John Saywell knows where to find him. (Could that be the Graham Martin guy??)

And I always go with Mike Hemmings if I need anything from the UK.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top