That chain oiler is interesting. The oil feed to the guides makes me think it's a shame to fire them up the first time, but the sound coming out of the mega makes it worthwhile. Not that it matters, but just curious...was that carb spacer used originally or does it fall under the category of as raced?
Anyway nice work and you get extra points for breathing life back into that mag.

 

The oil feeds to the guides - The pushers on this engine are 2 thou oversize and have been hand finished and so are a perfect fit. Much off the oil one sees on the top end of a Norton result from oil passing the pusher. The oil feeds have a very small hole only in the fitting that screws into the cam box this restricts the amount of oil to the guide.

The manifold is a long type, length is the same as those fitted to "works" bikes in 54/55. I believe it a genuine works part - John was a works rider for Norton in 55 so he was a close as you could get the the works dept. I guess you could call it "as raced".

List of differences to over the counter bikes;
1. Alloy front fork shrouds
2. Alloy rear shock shrouds
3. Front brake air scoop.
4. Conical Revcounter (this was works only in 55)
5. Lucas 2MTT magneto (this was works only in 55)
6. Chain oiler (works only from 53, never fitted to over the counter bikes)
7. Works Inlet manifold which is a long type and 2" mounting centres for use with early long snout GP1.
8. Cylinder head has been works prepared (seats bored and port shape altered).
9. Works type drive side main bearing and flanged timing side main bearing (works only until 56).
10. Extended gearbox change lever.

Note the lighthouse tower bevel drive was added circa 1959 and is the only significant mod not reversed. BUT I have recently purchased bearing, bevels, drive shaft and couplings, once I find some housings I will convert back.

 

I seem to be stuck in the pre pusher days. Your note about the alloy fork shrouds reminded me of these. I haven't done any research on them, but assuming they are garden gate variety Inter. I've never seen another pair on this side of the pond and guessing there aren't a bunch of extras over there.

 

Those top shrouds are standard long road holder with the headlamp ears cut off. Garden gate manx shrouds are steel - I sold my last pair of these, original, a few years ago. They also have “L” shaped brackets low at the front to fit a number board.

 

Thanks. Good to know. There isn't any remaining evidence of having ears at one point, just two holes where it looks like a bracket was riveted on. In that case it strikes me as odd that they would use alloy. The casting is quite thick and the alloy ones without the ears are only 16 grams lighter than the steel ones with ears.... so unmolested, the alloy ones would be heavier.

 

I think norton realised making in alloy wasn’t cost effective, I can tell you steel manx items weigh a lot less than alloy. Those alloy items are a thick casting. The top of the casting looks like it’s been machined so wouldn’t be surprise if the casting has been machined over.

Got to remember a 7000rpm garden gate manx is quite a destructive experience so no point making everything super light. In fact most riders would remove all this non essential cycle stuff and chuck it in the nearest ditch.

 

I'm still temped to use them on an garden gate Inter bitsa. It is a real collection of odds and ends so it will send the rivet counters into vapour lock anyway. I'm just slowly collecting and horse trading for the last few bits. Just about there. Gearbox is done. Cam box is ready to go together. I have my sack of shims and corks. This one had a lot of the cycle stuff tossed. The only thing I really miss is the rear fender flap. All of the other stuff that I want can be had relatively easily by comparison.