Rear Guard Help 69/70 (pics included)

hi guys, i was wondering if anyone could help me out, ive taken some photos of my rear guard and ive spoken to some other guys on here and theyve said some early guards are continously rounded all the way around and some have a minor flat spot where they bolt up to the bike? mine has the minor flat spot but my major question is, has the rear guard been chopped or is it normal how it is, have a look at the first photo and youll notice a mounting spot but the rear guard doesnt make contact with it, is it for something else or has my guard been modified, i cant really tell from the metal as it looks really neat, thanks heaps?

PS it also has the 2 indents for where the pump is located which are not shown in the photos and its hard to make out the flat area where it attaches, main concern the lonely screw hole.

Adam

I should have also noted: the bike currently has the wrong battery tray and oil tank on it (which i have the original already to changeover when i pull it down), just thought id mention incase it could be related to a different attachment of the battery tray, etc?

Adam

looks to be the same length as the one on my "70".
Al

thats great news, i thought it was but wanted to confirm, Dave said ud know as u have the same one, thanks Al.

Does anyone know the best way to repair a drilled hole in a chromed guard, previous owner at some stage must have drilled holes in the wrong spot for some reason, can they just be welded and sanded down and rechromed?

Adam

Welding sheet metal is an art to be appreciated. When you get sheet metal red hot, it expands and never seems to go back to it's original shape. The guards were probably cold formed in a press. I have filled some holes in sheet metal, not pretty, you need to put a piece of copper on the side you are not working on and fill it with weld, but it looks like crap on the inside and grinding off the weld leaves holes and usually thins the metal too much. You must have a sheet metal antique repair person there in OZ that can do it. I know of one in Canada if you can't find one.

Could you expand on that last picture, I don't understand the mount. Nothing like mine.

Dave
69S

That mount (last picture) is different from the other mount (second picture), in the last photo that mount is fixed onto the guard on a flat spot thats been pressed flat/indented flat on the guard on one small spot, il take some better photos of that area for u tonight and post them for u Dave, i had someone over on the weekend who said that mount was only on the 's' types but im thinking maybe the 1970 only and the 69 may have been different cause ur original guard doesnt have a flat spot on it anywhere, but mine and possm's so and there both 1970, what do think maybe? il take some better pics tonight.

Adam

I hope others with the early bikes come up to the plate here. sidriley (near me) has a June 69 rear mudguard that is like yours and possm's. Mine is Apr 69, so I am not sure when things changed or if they just had 2 assembly lines. I have been intrigued with this rear mudguard with no answers!!

Dave
69S

In the years that i have played with Nortons i have come to believe especially in the early 70's they fitted what they had on hand, an example is a friend with a very early combat built late 71 disc front brake but with an early style rear taillight fearing with chrome ringed reflectors that he tells me was origonaly metalflake silver.
Al

Well i spoke to the guy from British Spares today and he stated he thought that the rear mudguards changed ever so slightly every year, that may explain the small differences in some, some being 68, some 69, some 70, and so on....

Adam