Last year I purchased a Norton 16. It looked quite original, but while fixing the bike more and more strange things were found. With the help of Rob (wdnorton.nl) I could make a list of the most obvious mistakes. The former owner mixed up several parts,even BSA…
My questionnaires is about the frame. The lefthand side only seems to have one lug for either the side stand or the pillion footrest. Further up the left side of the frame there is a lug, but it doesn’t seem anything is attached to it. Can anyone tell what’s wrong here?
For the early bikes that didn't have a field stand lug. The field stand uses the footrest lug and another bolt-on lug was used for the footrest. I managed to borrow an original some years ago and had a few cast in Bronze. The special bolts and the machining was done by a friend. The peg end on the lower bolt sits under the brake anchor bar to stop the lug swiveling on the frame tube.
I've no idea what that other clip is for, looks like an add on? Ron
The Field stand lug (even where only one lug is fitted) is much stronger than a pillion lug. It remains in use as the stand lug, even when the clamp on pillion lug is fitted (which then sits slightly out of line).
The lug on your saddle stay doesn't look to be welded or brazed. Is it simply a clamp-on lug that has rusted in place. It looks from the location as if it has been used to fit a BSA type field stand. The Norton stand is a particularly useless thing.
The frame is definitely a late one based on the number (checked with others) and will originally have had the pillion lug as well.
Over the years I have come across frames where the pillion lug was removed to emulate a pre-war civilian frame.
You can sometimes find the remains of the brazing.
As noted by Rik, the lug on the upper chain stay is added by an enthusiast, not a Norton fitment.
