Norton script on timing side. (2016)

MikeM · Oct 5, 2016

Norton script on timing side.
Is the script suppose to be blacked out? Seems like it would look good. I have seen it natural and blacked out.
I am tempted.

Nater_Potater · Oct 5, 2016

My '74 came blacked-out from the factory.

Nathan

chrismay · Oct 5, 2016

My 75 850 came from the factory not painted. I bought it new and I have thought it would look better blacked out but I wondered when I polished the cover would I buff out the recessed paint?

Good luck deciding
Chris

grandpaul · Oct 5, 2016

chrismay said:
... I have thought it would look better blacked out but I wondered when I polished the cover would I buff out the recessed paint?

Not if you are reasonably careful...

chrismay · Oct 5, 2016

Grandpaul
that would be relative to the number of gin and tonics prior to the buffing. I don't TT race anymore (tavern to tavern) and don't do any serious wrenching after a certain point but I have been Known to stay in the shop to long. (to quote the wife). Btw I have learned many things from your quotes and knowledge please keep them coming.

Thanks
CHris

frankdamp · Oct 6, 2016

I suspect that painting that logo black would have been one of the minor production tasks that got dropped as Norton were failing. They were in pretty sad shape by 1975.

maylar · Oct 6, 2016

Nater_Potater said:
My '74 came blacked-out from the factory.

Nathan

My 74 didn't. But it's red - was yours black?
I have seen a very low mileage 75 MKIII recently that was blacked and I figured it was something the PO had done. I never knew some of them came that way.

lcrken · Oct 6, 2016

Interesting question. I looked at the Commando advertising brochures from 1970 through 1975, and the only one with a picture showing blacked out script was for the 1975 MKIII, and showed both a red roadster and a silver interstate with black script. On the other hand, I also have another brochure that shows the 1975 MKIII with no black paint on the script. Seems like some came with it and some didn't.

Ken

acotrel · Oct 6, 2016

It is important to have the name of your motorcycle painted in big bold letters. It gives ignorant people important information which they might otherwise never have. I like it when people paint 'Triton' or 'Norvin' on their tank. What do the words 'subtle' and 'understated' mean ?

Nater_Potater · Oct 6, 2016

maylar said:
Nater_Potater said:

My '74 came blacked-out from the factory.

Nathan

Click to expand...

My 74 didn't. But it's red - was yours black?
I have seen a very low mileage 75 MKIII recently that was blacked and I figured it was something the PO had done. I never knew some of them came that way.

Very interesting! Mine is the black/gold-detailed Interstate variant. I'm very curious if there's some ambiguous procedure out there that would have dictated when the script was to be painted, or was it just bored employees whiling away the hours...

Nathan

MS850 · Oct 6, 2016

acotrel said:
It is important to have the name of your motorcycle painted in big bold letters. It gives ignorant people important information which they might otherwise never have. I like it when people paint 'Triton' or 'Norvin' on their tank. What do the words 'subtle' and 'understated' mean ?

That's right, you dont want it to be confused with the anti-virus.

lcrken · Oct 6, 2016

lcrken said:
Interesting question. I looked at the Commando advertising brochures from 1970 through 1975, and the only one with a picture showing blacked out script was for the 1975 MKIII, and showed both a red roadster and a silver interstate with black script. On the other hand, I also have another brochure that shows the 1975 MKIII with no black paint on the script. Seems like some came with it and some didn't.

Ken

I should add that the MKIII without the black paint on the script is also a red roadster.

Ken

gortnipper · Oct 6, 2016

I have a 04/74 mk2 that was a US bike and has black painted script. From the look of the paint, I dont think it was done after the fact - but that is just my guess.

Interestingly, re. the yoke/tripple tree thread - my yokes/trees are black as well - even the allen heads. Again, very well done with similar frame paint. I would think they are original, too, since when I pulled them apart they had the original bearings, so I doubt they had been redone.

texasSlick · Oct 6, 2016

If one has a notion to black out the script (I am not a purist so I would do so), the technique I worked out to paint my Atlas tank badges would work well.

Remove the timing cover .... a flat or level surface is necessary.
Using a tooth pick, apply cosmolene, beeswax, or similar material to the vertical edges of the script, that is, mask off places where paint is not wanted.
Thin enamel with mineral spirits sufficiently so brush marks become self levelling.
Using a stubby artist's brush, paint the script background. Several coats will be necessary with thin paint. Avoid touching the cosmolene mask with the brush, but carry on if you do.
Bake each coat of paint using a hair dryer or place in sun. Do not over heat and allow mask material to run.
When paint is done, wash cosmolene or beeswax mask away with mineral spirits.

Slick

frankdamp · Oct 7, 2016

Another minor point - I don't think the early production bikes (first 6 months or so) had the logo cast into the timing case at all. This was part of the "Green Blob" publicity debacle.

Brithit · Oct 7, 2016

I've "redded" out mine. On my '72 with a red frame. Along with red logs on the alloy tank. But, back to the original post. My MKIII is natural with no black, as is a second MKIII timing cover I have. I have no reason to believe either were stripped of their black, but they came this way.

And, I loved the comment about ignorant people needing to be helped out with what something is. I had my Commando that plainly said "Norton" on the tank, and a guy walking through the neighborhood ask "Is that an old Harley?" Feck!

Saber13 · Oct 11, 2016

My MKIII is clean, but will be black when I put is all back together. Why, because its mine and I like it that way.

Torontonian · Nov 4, 2016

My 76 MK 111 definately had the timing cover logo recess painted black. Stock.

RoadScholar · Nov 8, 2016

I have always thought that in-laying the timing cover logo with brass or bronze, possibly a plastic color matched to the tank/side cover major color would produce spectacular results. I have a new Mk3 timing cover coming for a '73, 750 I'm slowly screwing together and would appreciate hearing from any members that have done this.

I was in Portland, ME last year wearing one of my Norton "T" shirts, a very attractive middle aged lady got right in my face and wanted to know where I got the anti-virus "T" shirt...The Triumph and BSA "T" shirts aren't nearly as effective.

Nater_Potater · Nov 8, 2016

RoadScholar said:
I was in Portland, ME last year wearing one of my Norton "T" shirts, a very attractive middle aged lady got right in my face and wanted to know where I got the anti-virus "T" shirt...

Norton Anti-Virus. :roll: I missed that earlier when Mark said the same thing! I had a young man from my local NAPA ask if mine was a 250cc. "WHAT? WHY?" "Well, it has such a small back tire on it." That's with the 4.00-18. I wonder what displacement the 4.10-19 would dictate it as being?

Nathan

Norton script on timing side. (2016)

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