Norton 1927 16H Flat tanker a preservation restoration

Hey everyone hope we are all keeping well I finally got my 1927 Norton 16H flat tanker collected and picked up she's a records matching bike 3 owners from new before me and I've got the original buff logbook original manuals parts books carb manual etc old tax disks lots of old paperwork even back to the original owners records of what months she was on the road etc. Shes got the optional adjustable bars which were specced on the factory record along with original grips n amac carb.

Few little bits that are incorrect like earlier 1920s pannier bags but at least they are period ones the straps were wrapped round to stop them disintegrating any more.

So the plan with her is a very light touch up where needs be to look after her condition wise n get her running there's a few issues the previous owner was having I've already put a few right on day 1 an hopefully next week I'll be giving her a first start up when I've completed my checks she was absolutely filthy so I decided to give her a clean so I could check everything over n mechanically so far she seems sound no play in the forks etc rear wheel bearing needs attention but I'd clocked that when looking at her. Need some new tyres to from a safety point of view.

I'm having a weigh up about the bars currently and the downpipe as I don't want the rust to set in any more on those the tanks been done in the past which I'm glad off as there's a tiny bit of rust trying to come through on the top so at least it protected it up to this point I'll get that done with the correct transfer on the tank n during my use itl mellow down n pick up patina again as I plan on owning her for many years to come n hopefully keeping her in nice fettle for the generations that come after me.
An im certainly gonna be using her n riding her on every run I can get on and local rides as well.

So without further ado here's some pics.

In the van on the way home. Ignore the rubbish photoshop where I removed removed numbers not got a computer currently so had to do it rough on my phone.

An some pictures from tonight ended up having to give her a clean as I was getting covered every time I worked on her.

Ps meant to put this in rebuilds if it could be moved

norton_rider said:

Hey everyone hope we are all keeping well I finally got my 1927 Norton 16H flat tanker collected and picked up she's a records matching bike 3 owners from new before me and I've got the original buff logbook original manuals parts books carb manual etc old tax disks lots of old paperwork even back to the original owners records of what months she was on the road etc. Shes got the optional adjustable bars which were specced on the factory record along with original grips n amac carb.

Few little bits that are incorrect like earlier 1920s pannier bags but at least they are period ones the straps were wrapped round to stop them disintegrating any more.

So the plan with her is a very light touch up where needs be to look after her condition wise n get her running there's a few issues the previous owner was having I've already put a few right on day 1 an hopefully next week I'll be giving her a first start up when I've completed my checks she was absolutely filthy so I decided to give her a clean so I could check everything over n mechanically so far she seems sound no play in the forks etc rear wheel bearing needs attention but I'd clocked that when looking at her. Need some new tyres to from a safety point of view.

I'm having a weigh up about the bars currently and the downpipe as I don't want the rust to set in any more on those the tanks been done in the past which I'm glad off as there's a tiny bit of rust trying to come through on the top so at least it protected it up to this point I'll get that done with the correct transfer on the tank n during my use itl mellow down n pick up patina again as I plan on owning her for many years to come n hopefully keeping her in nice fettle for the generations that come after me.
An im certainly gonna be using her n riding her on every run I can get on and local rides as well.

So without further ado here's some pics.

In the van on the way home. Ignore the rubbish photoshop where I removed removed numbers not got a computer currently so had to do it rough on my phone.

An some pictures from tonight ended up having to give her a clean as I was getting covered every time I worked on her.

Ps meant to put this in rebuilds if it could be moved

Click to expand...

Congrats., it looks awesome !!

Thanks mate

Brilliant just brilliant

Fantastic, you're gonna love that!

Protecting the bars is simple… oily rag!

Protecting the exhaust pipe might be trickier, VHT clear coat perhaps ?

Great looking. I believe it's a Lucas King of the road badge on the head lamp. Is it a carbide acetylene generator in front of the cylinder? Had heard people praising Lucas lights, before they went to electrics.

Looks very good.

Thanks guys yep it is indeed in brilliant condition to considering the age of the light only one tiny dent adds character though.

Mike40M said:

Great looking. I believe it's a Lucas King of the road badge on the head lamp. Is it a carbide acetylene generator in front of the cylinder? Had heard people praising Lucas lights, before they went to electrics.

Click to expand...

Reminds me of one of the story's from the old boy I was apprentice to
He claimed you got a brighter light if you pissed in the carbide lamp than if you used tap water!!!!!

I really like the wicker top box, nice touch.

I do have to wonder about the efficacy of 94 year old springs on the girders...

gortnipper said:

I do have to wonder about the efficacy of 94 year old springs on the girders...

Click to expand...

The roads in 1927 was not very good so I believe the springs will cope with modern roads. Though the Druid forks was never good handling and Norton finally changed to Webb forks a couple of years later on the 16H.

It's funny you should mention that Baz one of the lads who I know who used carbide lights mentioned that to haha!

Yep if you look at the photo's of the roads back in the day shocking compared to what we have, also the Druids were favoured by some in original articles from a stability point of view hands off at 60+ vs the Webbs which they didn't want to try that with although the Webbs offered a superior turn in and especially those at Brooklands although as Mike says the Webbs did end up on alot of the Norton's later on.

Really interesting stuff. The forks are in brilliant condition probably been gone through at some point no clicking etc when tested.
Should be an exciting week n hopefully have her fired up!

WOW!!!!

norton_rider said:

Hey everyone hope we are all keeping well I finally got my 1927 Norton 16H flat tanker collected and picked up she's a records matching bike 3 owners from new before me and I've got the original buff logbook original manuals parts books carb manual etc old tax disks lots of old paperwork even back to the original owners records of what months she was on the road etc. Shes got the optional adjustable bars which were specced on the factory record along with original grips n amac carb.

Few little bits that are incorrect like earlier 1920s pannier bags but at least they are period ones the straps were wrapped round to stop them disintegrating any more.

So the plan with her is a very light touch up where needs be to look after her condition wise n get her running there's a few issues the previous owner was having I've already put a few right on day 1 an hopefully next week I'll be giving her a first start up when I've completed my checks she was absolutely filthy so I decided to give her a clean so I could check everything over n mechanically so far she seems sound no play in the forks etc rear wheel bearing needs attention but I'd clocked that when looking at her. Need some new tyres to from a safety point of view.

I'm having a weigh up about the bars currently and the downpipe as I don't want the rust to set in any more on those the tanks been done in the past which I'm glad off as there's a tiny bit of rust trying to come through on the top so at least it protected it up to this point I'll get that done with the correct transfer on the tank n during my use itl mellow down n pick up patina again as I plan on owning her for many years to come n hopefully keeping her in nice fettle for the generations that come after me.
An im certainly gonna be using her n riding her on every run I can get on and local rides as well.

So without further ado here's some pics.

In the van on the way home. Ignore the rubbish photoshop where I removed removed numbers not got a computer currently so had to do it rough on my phone.

An some pictures from tonight ended up having to give her a clean as I was getting covered every time I worked on her.

Ps meant to put this in rebuilds if it could be moved

Click to expand...

Well bought ! You didn’t really want an Inter anyway ...

Thanks guys in the end Richard I decided it'd be to close in experience to what I've already got so decided a pre 30s hand shift was the way to go! N I do like sidevalves from an ease of impatience point of view so when she came up was a no brainer.

I had a '60 model HD Servi Car which had the tank shift(3 speed w/reverse) and really enjoyed the smooth slow performance and total reliability of the side valve motor. Remember that having a machine which gets you there with a smile is always best..... What you've procured would keep me grinning for the remainder of my time in this world.... 'Wow!' has to be the understatement of the year.

Not many like that around here. I'd love to have one, old world.
Good luck with the project.

Thanks guys I always fancied a harley side valve at some point JB

Exciting news she's now running got a few things to sus out on the float chamber n the rear wheel bearing before I can take her for the first ride. Looks to me n a friend that it's an amac with an amal float chamber on it. I'll post some pics of the carb shortly the Norton parts list for 27 just lists Amac Special Norton Pilot Jet Carb.

Went through the bike fitted the new carb cables put the correct amount of oil into the engine casings then drained and cleaned the oil tank, an refilled it after that I checked all the oil lines n cleaned the oil n fuel lines the fuel one was all gummed up.

Fitted a new spark plug as the original was bust.

Fresh fuel n she actually started 2nd kick which was great sounded really smooth to which was nice itching to ride her next job is to sort the rear wheel bearing n inspect the brake linings.

Hope you all enjoy the mini video

That sounds so sweet !