Rikard's 1931 Model CS1 Norton

Rikard bought his CS1 norton new in 1931 at the age of 20 and kept it untill he passed away at the age of 69. The pictures above were taken in 1931, 1946, 1953 and 1969 respectively. Read the whole story on Paul's blog!

The 1929 M18 Norton

I really like this bike; more on Paul's blog.

Parts for Sale

BTH MD1: rebuilt

For sale: BTH MD1 magneto. Anticlockwise, was fitted to a Model 30 Norton. Has been recently rebuilt, rewound and new capacitor fitted. Ready to fit!

Amal 10TTRN carburetter. 27.7 mm bore. In very good condition.

Gear levers; very nice replicas of the levers fitted to Sturmey-Archer gearboxes.

The CS1 Works records

The VMCC archive holds the original Norton works records. These records can be searched for data regarding your Norton's engine and frame numbers. This results in extracts as depicted; the one below is for my CS1's frame (frame No. 446xx), the one above for the engine as currently fitted (engine No. 53742).

Clearly, the engine left the factory in another frame, but, the frame is a genuine 1931 CS1. The engine may be from a CS1 or a M30 International but that's hardly relevant as a later cylinder head has been fitted. The record for the frame indicates that the bike left the factory as a special, sporting a specially tuned engine, foot change and a right hand exhaust. I really like the remark about "tuned for monoplane fuel" which indicates it must have been fitted with a seriously high compression piston. This confirms again that the Norton factory was very easy on what they sold to the public; whatever you wanted and paid for you could have, which makes it hard to define what's 'original' or not.

This must have been one of the fastest Norton's you could buy in 1931 when the M30 International still had to be launched. Unfortunately, someone blew up the engine and it had to be replaced. At least it was used as the maker intended!

Bronze cylinder head

Took it apart, which took some time because I do not have a suitable tool to remove the hairpin type valve springs. To be honest, the valves and guides will last for another season but I should start looking for replacements.

Look at that polished inlet port!

CS1 rockerbox

One of the last parts for inspection; the rockerbox. This is the part that contains the rockers, cams, camshaft and the bevel wheels that drive the cams via the vertical camshaft. Simply remove the rocker spindles and a few screws and the cover comes off. The rockers can now be withdrawn and the oil seals removed.

The cams and camshaft are left in situ; everything looks fine and well oiled. The tunnel that contains the cams is in perfect shape; this is the part that is sometimes smashed in worn engines, resulting in excessive oil leaks (I'm quoting George Cohen here). The 'ear' at the inlet side has been welded; it looks like a repair well done, no cracks visible. No signs of excessive wear except for the rocker spindles that show some marks where they rubbed against the rocker-rollers. I'll see if I can get replacements for the spindles, new seals, clean it all up and fit it back together again.

Taking the CS1 engine apart

Dismantling a Norton OHC engine is not difficult; it takes no more than 8 bolts to remove cambox, head and barrel.

Literature, Manuals, Brochures

Unapproachable...The Story of the Norton by Titch Allen
The Story of the Norton Part 1
The Story of the Norton Part 2
The Story of the Norton Reader's comments

Cammy Norton details and rebuilds
Sorting out the International Norton by Phil Heath
Moore CS1 - Carroll International comparison by Titch Allen
Rebuilding the Carroll SOHC engine by Paul Reed
Notes on reassembly of the Cammy engine by George Cohen
Francis Beart - Hints and tips for the 500cc OHC
Norton - By Jim Sheldon

Road tests
1935 Model CS1 road test
1939 Model ES2 Norton
1939 model 19 and sidecar

Brochures
Pitcher Bros catalogue 1910
Brochure DT Models 1930
The Motor Cycle Overseas Annual and Buyers' Guide 1925, Norton section
The 1920 brochure
The 1921 Leaflet
The 1922 Norton brochure
The 1923 Norton brochure
The 1923 Mc Crae and Pascoe Norton brochure
The 1924 Norton brochure
The 1926 Norton brochure
1926 Norton Achievements
The 1927 Leaflet
The 1928 Norton brochure
The 1928 Norton folder
The new Models for 1928
The 1929 Norton brochure
The 1929 Leaflet
The 1930 Norton brochure
The 1930 Norton folder
The 1930 Leaflet
The 1930 Model 20 and 22 folder
The 1931 Norton brochure
The 1931 Leaflet
The 1932 Norton brochure
The 1932 Leaflet
The 1933 Norton brochure
The 1933 Leaflet
The 1934 Norton brochure
The 1935 Norton brochure
The 1936 Leaflet
The 1936 Norton pricelist
The 1937 Norton brochure
The 1938 Norton brochure
The 1938 Leaflet (abridged pricelist)
The 1939 Norton brochure

Norton Maintenance Instructions
Maintenance Instructions 1922
Maintenance Instructions 1924
Maintenance Instructions 1925
Maintenance Instructions 1926
Maintenance Instructions 1928
Maintenance Instructions 1930
Maintenance Instructions WD16H 1940
Maintenance Instructions 1950s Models 16H, Big Four, 18, ES2
Service Series 1937-on Model 18 and ES2 engine restoration
Service Series 1935-1940 Model 16H and Big Four
Maintenance Instructions 1938


Norton Tuning Instructions
1925 Tuning Instructions
1920s Tuning Instructions
Preparation for racing; Models 30 and 40 International, 30M, 40M

Norton Spare Parts Lists
Norton Motorcycle Parts for 1915
Norton Motorcycle Parts for 1921
Norton Motorcycle Parts for 1923 - 1924
Norton Motorcycle Parts for 1925 and all previous models
Norton Motorcycle Parts for 1926 and 1927 Models
Norton Motorcycle Parts subsequent to 1928
Norton Motorcycle Parts for Models CJ and JE for 1929
Norton Motorcycle Parts for Models CS1 and ES2 c1929
Norton Motorcycle Parts for Models CS1, ES2, 22 subsequent to 1930
Norton Motorcycle Parts for diamond frame models subsequent to 1930
Norton Motorcycle Parts for diamond frame models subsequent to 1931
Norton Motorcycle Parts for Models CS1 and ES2 (and 30, 40, CJ) subsequent to 1931
Norton Motorcycle Parts for Models 50 and 55 for 1933
Norton Spare Parts List All Models subsequent to 1933
Norton Spare Parts List All Models subsequent to 1936
Norton Spare Parts List All Models subsequent to 1937
Norton WD16H Spare Parts List

Supplementary List of Spare Parts 1933 excluding cradle frame models and 350s
Supplementary List of Spare Parts 1933 for CS1 and ES2 models
Supplementary List of Spare Parts 1934 - all models
Supplementary List of Spare Parts 1935 - all models
Supplementary List of Spare Parts 1939

Norton Instruction Manuals

Driving hints and specification of the military model 1918
Instruction Manual c1933
Instruction Manual c1934
Instruction Manual c1935
Instruction Manual c1936
Instruction Manual 1939


Gearboxes
Sturmey Archer 4-Speed Book of Instructions and Spare parts list
Sturmey Archer 3-Speed Book of Instructions and Spare parts list
Sturmey Archer Parts and Instructions 1916
Sturmey Archer 2- and 3-speed 1919
Sturmey Archer CS type 3-speed gearbox instructions 1926
Norton 4-speed gearbox maintenance and spare parts 1920s
Sturmey Archer CS type gearbox instructions 1928
Sturmey Archer CS type gearbox instructions 1929

Sturmey Archer LS type gearbox instructions 1929
Sturmey Archer footchange 1931

Carburetters
Brown and Barlow folder
Amal TT carburetters
Amal carburetter list for Norton
1927 Binks Booklet
1930 Amal booklet covering 1923-1930
1931 Carburettors
1929 to 1933 Amal Instructions
1939 Amal Instructions
Mills carburetters 1923

Electrics
Lucas Magdyno, Lighting, Ignition 1929
Lucas Magdyno 1929
Lucas Magdyno early 1930s
M-L Maglita 1925
M-L Magnetos 1925
M-L Magnetos instruction book 1927
M-L Maglita 1930
Lucas E3 E25 Dynamo
Lucas Electric Lighting and Ignition Equipment 
CAV magneto folder 1922

Other parts
Best and Lloyd oilpumps 1927
1938 Benton and Stone (ENOTS) catalogue
The Bowden steering damper
Druid forks 1925
Horton hubs c1923

Polson pistons for Norton
Pistons, rings, pins
John Bull rubber 1931

For Sale and Wanted

Contact us by email (rapid.hare@hotmail.co.uk) when you are interested in a deal!

A 1950s Amal Remote Needle TT carb (1 1/16") and an early Binks (1"), both in very good condition to swap (preferably!) or for sale (see below); the RN now has a remote float chamber similar to the one in the pic.

Unapproachable...The Story of the Norton

Click the links below for a PDF of Titch Allen's 'The Story of the Norton'. The files are large so allow some time  for downloads.

Part 1
Part 2
Reader's comments