Slimline dominator frame distance tube. Seat rear retaining Knob / nut / srew / bolt?

Hi:

Sorry, yet another newbie question..... or two.....

I am working on putting my 1962 Norton 650SS project bike back on the road. Things are starting to move along quite nicely. The newly rebuilt engine seems to run well, and with minimal vibration :<)!!! Thank you Jim Schmidt / JS Motorsport for your fancy light weight pistons and rods! So, I am now starting to focus on lesser issues......

1. The other day, while installing the seat, I noticed two tubes, one welded to each side of the top rear of the frame, under the seat, that point towards each other. Following a modicum of research it would seem they should house a "distance tube" and the appropriate mounting rod. Both are absent on my bike. Is it a structural component? Does it serve any other purpose?

2. In order to access the tool tray one needs to remove the seat. Currently the tab protruding from the rear of the seat is secured to the rear fender with a 5/8 bsw bolt. Presumably it should have a knob, wing nut or some other arrangement to make it easy to access the tool tray while away from home. What is the correct securing device? Where can I get one?

Thank you!

Kind Regards,

James

1. The spacer tube is NM21099 See also https://accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/slimline-featherbed-frame-alteration.31420/
2. A Dzus fastener NM23265 This part no. came from 66-68 Atlas list so may not be correct for your 650SS.

edit. The spacer tube #55 and related bits can be found here https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-drawing/304/featherbed-frame-swinging-arm

The slimline had some modifications done to it during its time. Mainly on seat fastening. On the -60 99 I had in the sixties, the front part of the seat was stuck into two pegs going rear from a crosstube. There was two spring clips, which I think clipped over something about where the Girling shocks was. I'm not sure 50 years later. But I clearly remember that the seat disappeared when airborn going way too fast over a hump bridge. On my -68 650SS, same pegs in front. 1/3 back is two rubbers that rests on the frame. 2/3 back is two pegs going down into holes about where the shocks are. To the rear a fairly big Dzus fastener holding down the saddle to the rear mudguard.
Edit: According to the 66-68 part list, same on 650SS and Atlas.

Ah, the thread "Slimline Featherbed Frame Alteration" answers my first question perfectly. Thank you!

the Dzus fasteners described make a lot of sense but would not work for me, (at least not without some mods). I have a funny feeling my rear fender is not correct for a '62. It is a two part item, I'm thinking it may be from a Wideline? Every slimline dominator I have seen has a one part rear fender. If it is wrong it would not surprise me, the previous owners was a bodger par excellence! That said it fits quite nicely, so at least for now I hope to make use of it. The rear of the seat has a central protuding tab that bolts to the rear fender. The rear fender receptacle is 5/16 bsw. the front of the seat has two prongs that stick into a cross tube as described by Mike40M

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Britstuff said:

I'm thinking it may be from a Wideline?

Click to expand...

bitza?

Britstuff said:

would not surprise me, the previous owners was a bodger par excellence

Click to expand...

BINGO!
Tough buying a butchers residue and having to fix everything....LOL

FWIW: Northern New England local forum: https://nneno.org/member-forum

More regarding seat Dzus fastener......


More regarding seat size and mounts ....


Slick

Thank you all. Very helpful indeed. I think I have enough information now in order to make a decision or two.

Bitza? In some ways yes. However, it still has the original frame and engine, not too sure about the gearbox, but the numbers stamped on the case (I think) suggest it is age appropriate, (N24155).

It seems that the ape who made such a mess of things got hungry and decided to go get himself a banana. Fortunately, he apparently got hungry before he had time to ruin everything. Does it make rational sense to restore it, probably not. Trouble is I now have an emotional attachment to the thing and cannot help myself.

Cheers,

James

Britstuff said:

Thank you all. Very helpful indeed. I think I have enough information now in order to make a decision or two.

Bitza? In some ways yes. However, it still has the original frame and engine, not too sure about the gearbox, but the numbers stamped on the case (I think) suggest it is age appropriate, (N24155).

It seems that the ape who made such a mess of things got hungry and decided to go get himself a banana. Fortunately, he apparently got hungry before he had time to ruin everything. Does it make rational sense to restore it, probably not. Trouble is I now have an emotional attachment to the thing and cannot help myself.

Cheers,

James

Click to expand...

I've got 4 slimline projects. & research victims
68 Dunstall atlas 1 of 68,
66 atlas pretty much pure stock,
66 atlas/65 engine bitza hot rod race bike wanabee,
63 slimline rolling chassis as engine test bed. registered/insured ocassionally on road.
Have fun with your project.
Maybe we'll see you at a NENO event or meeting some day?
Dave