recent postings about levers have hooked me in completely. Most bikes I work on a newish ones from the '60s and '70s where levers are pretty straight forwards. But now I've become fascinated with older ones and I know very little about the chronology of levers - brake/clutch, advance, decomp etc. Is there a source of good information on this topic?
attached are some images of my current levers which are solid type and I believe these to be correct for my '41 WM20. I also have a very similar looking one that is made from sheet metal and pressed into shape. You can see the seam in the image. Can anyone help confirm or otherwise if the ones on my bike are correct?
Been learning how to powdercoat and am at the stage where sometimes my work is almost acceptable. I can't seem to get chrome right but they sure come out close to WD dull chrome...
Cas your first pressed steel lever is similar to the the pressed steel levers made by Doherty for late war Norton 16H's, except that the Doherty seam at the back is wider.
Just an observation but I'd say your twist grip is a post war repro item. Your choke lever clamp part with the single screw pivot looks original but the lever itself is post war repro. I'd suggest if you moved it down the bar a bit further towards the first bend, you could mount it on top and put your horn button where the choke is now.
Hi Cas, I would say your front brake lever and mount are Norton 16H, looks just like the one on my Norton.
Getting lever fever is a bad illness and can take a long time to cure and it's not cheap unless you're lucky
Thanks for the info Ron. The perch and lever do not quite look the same though. I haven't tried but I reckon the one in primer would fit onto the perch on the bike. Also, what does the correct choke lever look like? Is it longer and brass like this one?
Horror, thanks too for the info. Do you or anyone else have an image of the correct early WM20 lever as a guide?
Hi Cas, I would say your front brake lever and mount are Norton 16H, looks just like the one on my Norton.
Getting lever fever is a bad illness and can take a long time to cure and it's not cheap unless you're lucky
OH NO!!!!!!!!!! I'm now getting an uncontrollable urge to count rivets. Please, if I turn into a rivet counter, take me to the vet and have me put to sleep?
Here is a scan from a 1944 M20 parts list showing the standard Amal levers. The choke and mag levers are curved and have a ball end and not the flat end. Ron
Hi Cas, I would say your front brake lever and mount are Norton 16H, looks just like the one on my Norton.
Getting lever fever is a bad illness and can take a long time to cure and it's not cheap unless you're lucky
Just returned from Wuxi in China today and the first of two packages was sitting there with four sets of NOS levers. When I receive the rest I will contact all parties whom requested some. They are covered in thick grease but I will leave them for the new owners to clean up.
Just returned from Wuxi in China today and the first of two packages was sitting there with four sets of NOS levers. When I receive the rest I will contact all parties whom requested some. They are covered in thick grease but I will leave them for the new owners to clean up.
AAHHHH, I must be drunk Amazing find, I would be in the queue if I hadn't a spare set.
These levers work great, especially the valve lifter, much and much better than that stupid little thumb lever that pricks into the tank.