Valve Cover Finish Quality

Sgt80

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Do they all look like this these days, as far as finish quality is concerned? I decided to buy a banjo-less one and this is what I received this past Saturday. Before I get af1 racing customer service involved, I wanted to find out from all you gentlemen if I should just live with this "level of finishing" from Norton.
Valve Cover Finish Quality

Valve Cover Finish Quality

Valve Cover Finish Quality

Valve Cover Finish Quality
 
Definitely not! That’s pretty bad. Must have slipped through the unfinished cracks. That’s unfortunate. Send it back for sure.

Sorry to hear. I’m sure its a mistake and they’ll just send. Replacement.
 
My OEM cover is not pretty but not the bad. I'm going to put it on a buffing wheel when I retorque the head bolts. I'm sure it wasn't cheap so if you have the time send it back.
 
Definitely not! That’s pretty bad. Must have slipped through the unfinished cracks. That’s unfortunate. Send it back for sure.

Sorry to hear. I’m sure its a mistake and they’ll just send. Replacement.
Thank you Richard for your input! Just to let you know...the * shaped images you see in some of the photos is a ceiling fan reflection. The rest is all 100% Norton Quality!
 
Yes , send it back. I have a banjo-less cover I am waiting to install and its not as bad as yours. It needs another trip to the buffing wheel !
 
Another idea:
The rough finish does provide a certain vintage distressed appearance to cover.
 
Another idea:
The rough finish does provide a certain vintage distressed appearance to cover.
I would refer to it as an "Olde English Rustic Junkyard" finish. Almost gives the impression the valve cover was a lucky NOS "Barn Find" part!
 
I had my tank off recently to change the battery and plug leads and generally have a look-see.

My rocker cover is also not perfectly polished in all the nooks and crannies, in fact, probably the same as yours.

But unless I’d taken the tank off and deliberately looked at it, I’d never have noticed.

I think that yours looks worse because it has polish residue (that black stuff) all over it. I reckon it would look perfectly ok if you cleaned it up with acetone / thinners / petrol or similar to get all the residue off.

Of course, you shouldn’t have to do this on a new part, but it just might be a lot less hassle for you than sending it back and arguing and waiting and getting stressed out etc!
 
Did you already pay for that part?
May be you can get a deal with Norton for a discount and you use this money for a good buffing job?
Just an idea...
 
I had my tank off recently to change the battery and plug leads and generally have a look-see.

My rocker cover is also not perfectly polished in all the nooks and crannies, in fact, probably the same as yours.

But unless I’d taken the tank off and deliberately looked at it, I’d never have noticed.

I think that yours looks worse because it has polish residue (that black stuff) all over it. I reckon it would look perfectly ok if you cleaned it up with acetone / thinners / petrol or similar to get all the residue off.

Of course, you shouldn’t have to do this on a new part, but it just might be a lot less hassle for you than sending it back and arguing and waiting and getting stressed out etc!
I didn't want to mess with anything, such as the polish residue, until I get an answer from af1racing/Norton. For now I will just leave it with the beautiful, factory fresh finish!
 
Did you already pay for that part?
May be you can get a deal with Norton for a discount and you use this money for a good buffing job?
Just an idea...
Actually I did mention to af1racing that if Norton would like to pay me to finish their job, that would be okay with me.
 
AF1 Racing has informed me that all the valve covers look like this. Time to get out the Dremel and start up the buffing wheel and finish the job that Norton couldn't be bothered with.
 
AF1 Racing has informed me that all the valve covers look like this. Time to get out the Dremel and start up the buffing wheel and finish the job that Norton couldn't be bothered with.

I disbelieve this. Ask Simon, he is on here.
 
Like I said previously, I’d start by cleaning off all polish residue with solvent, you might be happy with it then perhaps.

In fairness to AF1 racing, I already said that I don’t think my brand new bikes cover is much different to yours. The main difference I can confirm is that mine doesn’t have the black polish residue.
 
AF1 Racing was just stating the truth as they know it. In all my contacts with AF1 they have been efficient and courteous. Right now they are assisting me in ordering a bunch of parts for my SE. The bike and I both went down a couple of weeks ago while avoiding a head-on collision with an uninsured, just out of jail drug addict who was in my lane and who made no attempt to move out of it. Unbelievable. You can't make this stuff up! The sturdy Norton actually ended up in better shape than I. We will both be back on the road soon!
 
AF1 Racing was just stating the truth as they know it. In all my contacts with AF1 they have been efficient and courteous. Right now they are assisting me in ordering a bunch of parts for my SE. The bike and I both went down a couple of weeks ago while avoiding a head-on collision with an uninsured, just out of jail drug addict who was in my lane and who made no attempt to move out of it. Unbelievable. You can't make this stuff up! The sturdy Norton actually ended up in better shape than I. We will both be back on the road soon!

Wow!
Glad you came out relatively unscathed.
 
AF1 Racing has informed me that all the valve covers look like this. Time to get out the Dremel and start up the buffing wheel and finish the job that Norton couldn't be bothered with.
Mine was replaced also with the one you have. The banjoless type. Honestly, I went and had a better look. Mine looks just like it, and on the bike, you don't really notice it. It looks like it belongs. Most of it is covered. Hope this helps.
 
This might be slightly off topic but yesterday I sat down for the first time and polished my ally outer cases in anticipation of riding her next week.... it was a real pleasure as the alloy that Norton use does take a good shine, unlike the alloy on my Thruxton which refuses to buff up no matter how much elbow grease you use.
 
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