My Norton 16H spat back and caught fire twice with all the fuel that blows back on the oil tank. Both times I was quick enough to slap it out with my hand in my thick gloves. I then thought enough is enough and fitted a gauze fire trap bell mouth off an ES2. It still spits back occasionally with lots of fuel over the oil tank but luckily no flame.
They fitted those fire traps as standard to Royal Enfield's (another good idea from RE that not not many of the others adopted). But I've also seen them several times on 16H's......Were they ever retro fitted during the war?
I wouldn't use any of the pictures from Owen Wrights book as a reference They are just pictures of someone elses "restoration". Ron
It is certainly a good idea to fit one and I'm sure people did, but would the army have any kicking about they could use if most bikes just had an open bell mouth? They work on the same principle as a miners Davy lamp, the guazes stop the flame passing so won't ignite the fuel the other side.
It's got a larger diameter than the standard bell mouth and I'm sure the rivit counters wouldn't fit one