Remote purchase of frame

Amongst your local racing fraternity,there is usually somebody who can straighten frames. Before buying a frame on spec. , I would find out who it is. Years ago in Melbourne, it used to be Keith Stacker, but you would not want to watch him doing it.
 
Any one here know how to confirm or verify a level?
I'll save the typing.
 
This thread got derailed at the level crossing!

Take a look at the first picture and see if the welded tab is bent either way on the steering down tube. The tab is a steering stop for the lower yoke which if hit hard enough would indicate the bike would have possibly went down hard.
The fact that there is no certificate label would indicate to me that it was replaced for a reason.....Possibly bent, is highly likely and not parted out. These are very light frames. 28 lbs total without anything on. Easy to prang.
 
Last edited:
acotrel said:
Amongst your local racing fraternity,there is usually somebody who can straighten frames. Before buying a frame on spec. , I would find out who it is. Years ago in Melbourne, it used to be Keith Stacker, but you would not want to watch him doing it.
Click to expand...
If the man does a proper job, why would one not want to watch?

(almost sorry I'm asking)
 
OK, since this thread is on another tangent:

In 1971 the rules in Virginia on getting it done were stricter, so, after a couple required meetings between the doctor, my wife and me the day came. I go to the office (not a hospital, or surgery room) and get my clothes off. The super-model nurse comes in to shave me. Warm shaving cream, manipulating, washing, drying - there's only so many bad things you can think of during that.

So, the doctor comes in with what I called "school scissors", needle and thread, and a needle. I'm armed with a mirror I brought. He tells me I won't feel the cuts but one or both sides may feel like getting kicked. First side, felt nothing, he found the tube, made a loop tied string around the bottom of the loop, and cut the loop. So, the tube was no longer connected but the two free ends were tied. Second side, the procedure was the same, but I swear he ripped my throat out through my sack! Then he lashed the cuts back together (no fine needle work).

The best part was when the doctor and I went to the waiting room. He told my wife that I had to come back in 30 days with a fresh sample to be checked and that she needed to ensure that it was at least the 30th time she had helped me produce one. She was horrified but "the doctor said".
 
jamesp said:
You need to put a straight edge on the backbone to see if its straight. After being hit by a car, I stripped my bike down to the frame, could see a slight bend in the top tube. Straight edge told me it was off by about 1/4”. I considered bying a new frame from AN, but was told by AN I would be better off having my original frame repaired. I then found Wasco and shipped him my frame in a bicycle box, which you can get for free from your local bike dealer. Glad I did. Try to read “World’s Straightest Norton”, then you may want to have any frame checked by an expert.
Click to expand...
Every Norton frame I've seen has a "bent" backbone. Every one of them. It's in the manufacturing process.
Two clues to look for if the bike is complete...are the isolastic pieces in a straight line or are parts pulled out of position front to rear. Up and down could be just worn out isolastics.
#2...is the rear of the primary case too close to the Z-plate?
#3...feel the front down tubes carefully looking for any slight bend.
 
seattle##gs said:
Every Norton frame I've seen has a "bent" backbone. Every one of them. It's in the manufacturing process.
Two clues to look for if the bike is complete...are the isolastic pieces in a straight line or are parts pulled out of position front to rear. Up and down could be just worn out isolastics.
#2...is the rear of the primary case too close to the Z-plate?
#3...feel the front down tubes carefully looking for any slight bend.
Click to expand...
Not "bent" at all, just the distortion from welding performed at manufacturing, as you say. 🏁



In the OP's case, a bare frame, a few pieces of round bar and sighted from a few yards away will tell.
 
concours said:
Not "bent" at all, just the distortion from welding performed at manufacturing, as you say. 🏁



In the OP's case, a bare frame, a few pieces of round bar and sighted from a few yards away will tell.
Click to expand...
Yep I agree ,exactly that
You can't have that amount of welding/heat on one side of a steel tube without distortion as it cools
It sideways distortion to look out for on the backbone
 
If a frame is bent, it really needs to put into a frame jig to get the steering head into the correct relationship with the pivot. They need to be at 90 degrees to each other, and the rake must be correct. The rest is just cosmetic.
 
seattle##gs said:
Every Norton frame I've seen has a "bent" backbone. Every one of them. It's in the manufacturing process.
Two clues to look for if the bike is complete...are the isolastic pieces in a straight line or are parts pulled out of position front to rear. Up and down could be just worn out isolastics.
#2...is the rear of the primary case too close to the Z-plate?
#3...feel the front down tubes carefully looking for any slight bend.
Click to expand...
Did ther inside primary case have a circular mark aligned with the swingarm spindle? Slightly tweaked frame but not the end of the world.
 

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