WD Motorcycle forum

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Nov 17, 2021 - 12:20PM

Re: Ex military Norton combo??

Ron Pier

"I may have this the wrong way round but didn't the early WD Big 4s have an oil tell tale on the timing cover and the later WD Big 4 s didn't have the oil tell tale?"

It is the other way round Keith. Ron

Thanks Ron.

The sidecar chassis is the SWD version and not the Norton Model 8 type. They were distinguishable by virtue of the SWD type having a bolt on mudguard vertical stay whereas the Model 8 sidecar was a brazed on stay into the axle lug. Further I do not recall the Model 8 sidecar chassis having the foot peg at the front of the sidecar chassis just to the side of the front sidecar spring mounting.

The Norton Model 8 sidecar chassis was used on some WD 16Hs with the standard wd sidecar passenger body as used on other makes.

email (option): keithchandler@clistandchandler.co.uk

Ron Pier

Nov 17, 2021 - 3:45PM

Re: Ex military Norton combo??

Keith you are right about the differences between the Big 4 and 16H sidecar chassis, however they are both Norton chassis. BSA fitted the Swallow chassis for their Model 8 outfits but Norton didn't. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

vincent

Nov 20, 2021 - 11:16AM

Re: Ex military Norton combo??

Captured French Bernardet sidecar coupled to a Rene Gillet.