First Manxman

Hello guys

It has been a while since I posted as I've been a little distracted with other projects!

And now the poor "Shep" Atlas project may need to wait a little longer. Long story short, I have bought a 1961 Norton Manxman, which I understand is the first Manxman. It has engine number 18-93601 and Shop number 7.

I've been reading all your Manxman threads here and on the NOC website since learning about this bike. I have learned a great deal from you all and am grateful for your advice and the terrific information shared!

Attached are a few pictures from today, when my friend @Ronnie and I picked up the bike from the shipping company. I'm sure that I will have tons of questions and I'm also hoping to post a video log of the rebuild and stay actively engaged. My mate @swooshdave is also offering moral support

As you will see from the pictures, it's going to need some TLC, but I'm really looking forward to working on it in the near future.. once I get a couple of friend's bikes out of the garage!

Looking forward to connecting with other Manxman members

Best wishes
Mike


At the shipping Co. this morning


First Glance


Looks okay from 15'... maybe 20'

Might be an optical illusion Mike, but it looks like the frame is bent ...

Fast Eddie said:

Might be an optical illusion Mike, but it looks like the frame is bent ...

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Yes, the frame looks bent.

Thank you Fast Eddie and L.A.B. very much for spotting this! I will remove my rose-colored glasses and take a closer look as soon as possible

Mike T said:

Thank you Fast Eddie and L.A.B. very much for spotting this! I will remove my rose-colored glasses and take a closer look as soon as possible

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Keep on the rose colored glasses, you may need them for a while still...

I was bidding on this as well, and obviously did not get it, but I'm glad it went to someone who will repair it and do it justice.

A few Manxman parts popped up on ebay shortly after the auction and I was disappointed that it may have been parted out. Glad it wasn't.

Best of luck and I'm looking forward to your progress.

Hello well I have been watching this bike since it was unearthed back in 2010 And a number of Norton enthusiast have being to try to buy it and bring it back to the UK but the shipping cost was too high, I do hope you restore her back the factory stock trim, and I will try help you all I can all the Information on these bikes were all done by me, over many years and now I have worldwide contacts and there are about 20 odd owners looking for stock exhaust and there out there in the USA somewhere someone has them and no one in the aftermarket industry as re-produced any as yet, and even I am finding it hard to get some exhaust maker to make some, in the UK but one look At the silencer and No we cannot make these to hard to make, or it cost too much to make, all I get is excuses, and fob-offs my self I have very little cash to play with bills take first priority and In March 10th I will be a pensioner that I am not looking forward to I live alone and have to do every thing myself, even when I am not well, there is no one to look out for me, so its a struggle on the best I can and help those I can, yours anna J Dixon

annajeannette said:

Hello well I have been watching this bike since it was unearthed back in 2010 And a number of Norton enthusiast have being to try to buy it and bring it back to the UK but the shipping cost was too high, I do hope you restore her back the factory stock trim, and I will try help you all I can all the Information on these bikes were all done by me, over many years and now I have worldwide contacts and there are about 20 odd owners looking for stock exhaust and there out there in the USA somewhere someone has them and no one in the aftermarket industry as re-produced any as yet, and even I am finding it hard to get some exhaust maker to make some, in the UK but one look At the silencer and No we cannot make these to hard to make, or it cost too much to make, all I get is excuses, and fob-offs my self I have very little cash to play with bills take first priority and In March 10th I will be a pensioner that I am not looking forward to I live alone and have to do every thing myself, even when I am not well, there is no one to look out for me, so its a struggle on the best I can and help those I can, yours anna J Dixon

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Hi Anna, thanks very much for your note. I also just replied to your comment on the NOC (Norton Owners Club) forum with a little more information about myself and the bike. Yes, it was a very nice surprise to find that it was the first Manxman. I think that helped with the initial shock of seeing the condition of the bike

I do plan to restore the bike to the original look, to the extent I can obtain the correct parts. I have also been chatting online with a few of the guys and they have been really helpful. I haven't had the chance to look at the bike properly yet, but hope to soon once it is up on the bench.

Best regards
Mike

hello mike I am very glad this bike found a responsible owner that wants the bike back to the day it was built, I own number 18-95069, shop 288 and a friend in the US as number 18-95068 both built in December of 1960 you find a date stamp mark on the top edge of the top lugs just at the back of the headstock, where the engine steady fits, there in very small stall stamp marks, it should read M/10/60 I try to find you some parts you may need and help all I can from the UK good luck with it it will be a real show stopper when restored and you should win many trophies with it, so keep in touch and Matt Rambo as never seen one yet, yours anna j

annajeannette said:

Hello well I have been watching this bike since it was unearthed back in 2010 And a number of Norton enthusiast have being to try to buy it and bring it back to the UK but the shipping cost was too high, I do hope you restore her back the factory stock trim, and I will try help you all I can all the Information on these bikes were all done by me, over many years and now I have worldwide contacts and there are about 20 odd owners looking for stock exhaust and there out there in the USA somewhere someone has them and no one in the aftermarket industry as re-produced any as yet, and even I am finding it hard to get some exhaust maker to make some, in the UK but one look At the silencer and No we cannot make these to hard to make, or it cost too much to make, all I get is excuses, and fob-offs my self I have very little cash to play with bills take first priority and In March 10th I will be a pensioner that I am not looking forward to I live alone and have to do every thing myself, even when I am not well, there is no one to look out for me, so its a struggle on the best I can and help those I can, yours anna J Dixon

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I know this is heresy and comes from a mere 650SS owner, but a few years ago I did get to look at an original unmolested Manxman. It was my distinct impression that the silencers were the more usual type (perhaps the ones with the rounded ends) turned sideways so that the seam faced out and with a different bracket. Please forgive me, but given Norton's notorious frugality, and the fact that the Manxman was originally a special put together for the Berliner brothers (US importer), this does make sense to me. OK now I'll cover my ears and slink away.....

Heresay or not that’s an astute observation. If some has an original it wouldn’t be hard to validate.

Bodger said:

I know this is heresy and comes from a mere 650SS owner, but a few years ago I did get to look at an original unmolested Manxman. It was my distinct impression that the silencers were the more usual type (perhaps the ones with the rounded ends) turned sideways so that the seam faced out and with a different bracket. Please forgive me, but given Norton's notorious frugality, and the fact that the Manxman was originally a special put together for the Berliner brothers (US importer), this does make sense to me. OK now I'll cover my ears and slink away.....

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Hehe, thank you Bodger. Much appreciated! It's going to be fun getting to know the little idiosyncracies of this bike. Cheers, Mike

I believe the biggest differences between the early 650ss and the Manxman are the names, the tank and the seat. I've also seen that same tank on some very early 650ss. It's a bit smaller than the regular 650ss and Atlas tank plus has that curve at the front bottom.
It looks like you have the correct tank and , of course the name, the seat shouldn't be too tough.
That seat base may well be correct.
I have a friend who owns a showroom condition Manxman which came to him as an original in tough shape.
If you have any questions I could run them by him .

Glen

worntorn said:

I believe the biggest differences between the early 650ss and the Manxman are the names, the tank and the seat. I've also seen that same tank on some very early 650ss. It's a bit smaller than the regular 650ss and Atlas tank plus has that curve at the front bottom.
It looks like you have the correct tank and , of course the name, the seat shouldn't be too tough.
That seat base may well be correct.
I have a friend who owns a showroom condition Manxman which came to him as an original in tough shape.
If you have any questions I could run them by him .

Glen

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"The difference between an early 650ss and a Manxman is the name on the tank!!!"
Now you're in trouble!!
Wait until Anna sees this!!!

I know!
Head down, waiting.

Glen

worntorn said:

I know!
Head down, waiting.

Glen

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More like bend over and grab your ankles...

The difference between and Norton Manxman and 650ss is 9 months the 650 Manxman came first , and it is not just the tank and seat that the difference pistons are different for one and they have inlet cover breather and silencer where made in house at Bracebridge street workshop only made for the Manxman and nothing else the have inlet port sleeves and 4.00x18 rear the 650ss is a 350x19 rear and some small 2.1/2 gallon tank where fitted to the odd export singles all 650ss were fitted with 3.1/2 tanks any 650 with a 2.1/2 gallon tank come from a Manxman or es2 export or early atlas 750, from engine number 20- 101350 April 1962 some parts may have changed from model to model over the years this does not mean they where standard to this model,

Are you saying that the Manxman requires a different replacement piston than a 650ss?
I would be pretty surprised if that's the case.
I don't see any point in trying to make the restoration job appear more difficult than it really is.
If the bike needs needs new oversized pistons, Mike can fit the same ones that I would fit in my 650ss for an 8.9 or 9 to one ratio, true?

Then it gets down to the tank, which appears to be correct now, and the seat which may just need a new squab and cover if the base is correct.
If not, Leighton's will make one for you.
Get some blue paint in the correct shade and you are pretty much there as far as Manxman specific stuff.

worntorn said:

Are you saying that the Manxman requires a different replacement piston than a 650ss?
I would be pretty surprised if that's the case.
I don't see any point in trying to make the restoration job appear more difficult than it really is.
If the bike needs needs new oversized pistons, Mike can fit the same ones that I would fit in my 650ss for an 8.9 or 9 to one ratio, true?

Then it gets down to the tank, which appears to be correct now, and the seat which may just need a new squab and cover if the base is correct.
If not, Leighton's will make one for you.
Get some blue paint in the correct shade and you are pretty much there as far as Manxman specific stuff.

Click to expand...

Well the Manxman pistons are a different piston number to the SS As the pistons where BHB not Hepolite and at 8.9:1 the Hepolite piston are copied from BHB and the oversized started with 10 thou over the 20 and 30 thou after this is was a resleve, the Norton Manxman piston number are 23270rh and 23271lh or 23268rh and 23269lh and very early 650s had a one piece oil ring like the model 99s had but then they changed this early on to a five piece oil rings and the early atlas has the same type of oil rings the 650ss numbers are 24022rh and 24023lh and take photos of your wheels for the way the spokes are fitted and you need to measure the off set of the front and rear the rear wheels is a wm3 18 rims so is best to remove the spoke one by one and galvanised spoke are much stronger with brass nips chromed do not fit stainless steel they can be problems with them some spokes had known to break early on, and some have known to come lose to not good is it, the mudguard off ebay made in india are good and solid but they have not fitting the bridge pieces front and rear and the rear has no holes drilled and no wire tags for the rear wiring harness to the rear light, if your going buy some get the none chromed ones and do these fitting first and drill the holes were they need to be then have them nickeled and then chromed and when fitting use rubber grommets were they need to be and rubber washers on the stay fittings as for the paint its in cellulose metallic but first there is a lot of work building the base coats up the last base coat is Gold metallic with no lacquer then Lotus Pacific Blue Metallic sprayed in light coats over the top of the gold then do the same with the lacquer and dry at 70f in a low bake room 16 hours or more is the cure times and work very very clean no dust any where, use the right type of paint masts and work safe alway happy restoration and you need to check out the internet for manxman silencers there out there somewhere abig batch of part was set out To the USA in june 1961 so some old Dealer has them tracking them down should be fun ,

Hello guys,
Finally getting around to making a first video of the Manxman and the beginnings of a restoration project. Thanks again for your help and I'm sure that I will more questions as I discover what lies beneath the rust and bondo!
Cheers
Mike

The only thing under rust and bondo is more money.