What to do with Norton name on timing cover

Status
Not open for further replies.

Yellow_Cad

Joined
Apr 2, 2008
Messages
492
Country flag
I guess that it is not a real important thing but I was just wondering whether or not to paint the Norton name on the timing cover black and if I did, whether it is best flat, semi or gloss. Right now, I just have a trace of black. I see some people have it black and others polish it out with no color at all. How was it stock? I can't find a good photo as most of the good shots are of the left side.
 
Yellow_Cad said:
I see some people have it black and others polish it out with no color at all. How was it stock?
Click to expand...

As a rule it was left unpainted, as don't remember seeing any factory brochure photos showing it painted, neither do any other period photos in the various books on Nortons that I've just looked through, actually show a factory fresh Commando with the timing cover Norton motif painted in?
 
The 1975 US brochure which seems to have been a joint Berliner / Norton Triumph publication does show a red Roadster and a silver Interstate with the logo highlighted in black. However, the photos look quite heavily re-touched and I suspect this was added later. The Isolastic photo (which shows 'Electric start' on the side panel but has a drum brake swing arm !) has no black on.

My personal feeling is that these sand castings are not quite crisp enough to get away with this technique.

Such a great looking motor draws the eye without any extra work !
 
I hand painted mine in with Tremclad. It might not be factory original but it's little touches like this that add a little extra sparkle.
 
I painted the logo on my 750 with Testor's black enamel and a small brush, just like GP did. It looks nice. I didn't expect the paint to last very long, but to my surprise it's still hanging on three years later.

If you want the original factory look then you would want to leave it unpainted. You won't have to worry about taking the paint off when you repolish the cover, either (not that it's a big deal).

Debby
 
Mines in red, always thought it left ther factory that way, the inner section on the front brake disc is in the same red. 74 MK2A Interstate.
 
kommando said:
Mines in red, always thought it left ther factory that way
Click to expand...

And there's always the chance that some did, (that's why I said "as a rule") as I've heard it mentioned before about the red painted ones. Although I've never heard of red disc centres though, but some period photos do show discs with black centres instead of silver?
 
I have never seen a stock timing cover inlay painted in any color. I have seen, and done myself, detail an inlay depending on the color of my tank and side covers to match. Purely a cosmetic thing. To each their own!!!
Stan. :D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top