Need Help I.D.ing Wideline Frame

Stefan001 · Feb 19, 2015

Hello all
I just picked up a Wideline Featherbed frame.
The only serial numbers on it is 122 47315
It has the early 'bolt up' rear section.
It also has the rear loop for seat/mudguard support.
I'm guessing 1955?
I'd like to know motor this frame originally came with.
I have photos but having trouble uploading them.
Need help with uploading a photo.
Thanks.

Triton Thrasher · Feb 19, 2015

http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Maintenance/NortonEngineNumbers.htm

122 is an 88.

There should be a year code letter before 122.

Rohan · Feb 19, 2015

47315 comes up as early 1953 in the Norton list in a booklet here.
A 1954 bolt-up wideline here doesn't have the year letter, just 122

To upload phots, you need to post them to photobucket or somewhere similar,
and then post here the links to them.

Stefan001 · Feb 19, 2015

ashman · Feb 19, 2015

Looks like a pretty good frame, I just love Featherbed frames, whats you plans for the frame, building a custom bike or caferacer :?:

Ashley

Rohan · Feb 19, 2015

The brackets for your centrestand have been removed.

That means any sidestand fitted has to be good - and stable - in all conditions.
Not so easy to do ?

The tubing in the subframe looks larger than stock ?,
and shorter in the rear loop.
Almost looks, Triumph ?

Stefan001 · Feb 19, 2015

Thanks for the helpful comments.
So this is a 1953 Model 88 Dominator?
It could be the rear section was made up,I suppose.
I would prefer a side stand,and will be careful in selection.
I weighed the frame and it came in at around 45 LBS
Plans?
I have a P-11 bottom end for starters.
The bike will look like a Manx racer with a 750 twin motor
I have a P11 primary cover and would like black swept back
exhaust pipes with black mega-phone style mufflers.
Atlas hubs,alloy rims.
I have a question regarding tabs to be welded on before the frame
gets powder coated,that is tabs for:
Manx racing seat
Manx 5 gallon fuel tank.
Alloy rear mudguard.
What all needs done to secure those items?
Thanks

Rohan · Feb 19, 2015

The tank originally was secured by a strap/and toggle, that came over the top of the tank and held it down.
It comes from the top of the front head steady, and went into the threaded fitting in the tool tray just behind the tank.
Using any alternative system will require some lateral thinking.

The stock seat was secured by 2 bolts going down into brackets on the subframe - you seem to have 2 (smaller) such brackets there.
The racing seats mount onto the mudguard etc in all manner of methods, depending on the maker.

The back mudguard/fender mounted to a strap curving over between the top of the shock absorber mounts.
Could possibly photo some of these, if any help, but they will be stock fittings.
If you wish to manxify it, some of that is making up suitable fixing methods....
Hopethishelps.

norton bob · Feb 19, 2015

Swinging arm looks later, slimline?.

sono · Mar 1, 2015

norton bob said:
Swinging arm looks later, slimline?.

My '56 99 has a torque strap for the rear brake plate instead of the slot we see here. I think the strap may have been standard for the period.

Bernhard · Mar 2, 2015

Stefan001 said:
Thanks for the helpful comments.
So this is a 1953 Model 88 Dominator?
It could be the rear section was made up,I suppose.
I would prefer a side stand,and will be careful in selection.
I weighed the frame and it came in at around 45 LBS
Plans?
I have a P-11 bottom end for starters.
The bike will look like a Manx racer with a 750 twin motor
I have a P11 primary cover and would like black swept back
exhaust pipes with black mega-phone style mufflers.
Atlas hubs,alloy rims.
I have a question regarding tabs to be welded on before the frame
gets powder coated,that is tabs for:
Manx racing seat
Manx 5 gallon fuel tank.
Alloy rear mudguard. What all needs done to secure those items? Thanks

Bolt on rear sub frames came in various guises, the rear loop looks like an add on, but don’t take my word for it. Lack of centre stand brackets suggest that that may have been removed possibly for racing. Brackets for the rear mudguard should be fitted according to which type of mudguard you want to fit. Atlas hubs will require 7 3/8 inch yolks and not the Domi 7 inch yolks.

Rohan · Mar 2, 2015

Bernhard said:
Atlas hubs will require 7 3/8 inch yolks and not the Domi 7 inch yolks.

More bad info from Bernhard about the Atlas and their forks.
Approx near half of all Atlas's built had 7 inch forks.....

Rohan · Mar 2, 2015

norton bob said:
Swinging arm looks later, slimline?.

sono said:
My '56 99 has a torque strap for the rear brake plate instead of the slot we see here. I think the strap may have been standard for the period.

Good call - all wideline dommies had the torque bar to the rear brake.
So did all rigid Nortons, going back into the 1930s....

sono · Mar 3, 2015

Stefan001 said:
Thanks for the helpful comments.

I have a question regarding tabs to be welded on before the frame

Thanks

Atlases have 4 tabs at the front of the motor instead of 2. I had a discussion on the other Norton forum about this. I plan to do the same as you (Atlas in a wideline).

Bernhard · Mar 20, 2015

Rohan said:
Bernhard said:

Atlas hubs will require 7 3/8 inch yolks and not the Domi 7 inch yolks.

Click to expand...

More bad info from Bernhard about the Atlas and their forks.
Approx near half of all Atlas's built had 7 inch forks.....

really :?: :?:
where is the bad advice :?:

Stefan001 » wrote, “ Thu Feb 19, 2015 7:10 pm
Thanks for the helpful comments.
Atlas hubs,alloy rims.”
Perhaps you can tell us all the exact year the Atlas came with the wide hubs and wide 7 3/8 inch yolks :?:

Rohan · Mar 20, 2015

You seem to keep implying that Atlas's only have 7 & 3/8" forks. ?
And have previously stated that.

Whereas only (approx) half of them do.

Dommies (and early Atlas's) all had 7" forks, for quite some years, until 1964 was it (?).
Although the Atlas only appeared in the last few years of that.
Then all dommies and 650's and Atlases had 7 & 3/8" fork centres.

Bernhard · Mar 21, 2015

All Domis did have 7 inch yolks, and then the 500 twins were discontinued leaving only the 650ss and Atlas models. The Atlas model came out in 1962 and as they were for export only, I don’t think any 1962 Atlas were registered in the UK until 1963, hence I have never seen one. Unless they were foreign imports.
Whatever year they changed the yolks to 7 3/8 inch there would have been few Atlas in the UK without these wider yolks.

triumph2 · Mar 21, 2015

Norton's had egg parts??? I think you need to check again. As already stated, partway through the 1964 model year the Yoke centres were changed from 7" to 7 3/8" centres.

annajeannette · Feb 4, 2019

yes early 53 the rear loop to short it should be much longer then this, and 1953 is H-122

t ingermanson · Feb 4, 2019

I've got a '53 bolt-up frame, and it's got no trouser gusset. I believe the first year didn't, as the Manx.

The tab at the top of the head tube will have a month and year stamped into it.

The bolt-up rear section is not original, or maybe just a shortened loop, as is the added cross brace between loops, toward the back of the main frame. I think that was a bit different from the factory. Neither here nor there, if you don't care. I've got another bolt-up subframe if you'd like photos or specs.

Looks like the start of a fun project!

Need Help I.D.ing Wideline Frame

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