Vintage triump and norton motorcycle tools

[Ksem89]

Hey guys,

So I picked up a 1971 snap on tool box and in it, along with a ton of tools were what appears to be vintage bike tools. I figured out what most were, but there are a few mysteries. I figured I would share, and if you have any input that would be great!!


It was like going through a time capsule, even the loose change in it was from the 70s and 80s


These are all MCA tool , well the big puller is norton 06 3970, i think for removing bearings. The bearing part says MCA
- p180 - key clutch nut someone fixed an irwin handle to it
-p189 (x2) one new in bag from domi racer - rocker spindle remover
-p190- contact breaker extractor
-p158 - engine pinion extractor
-p170 - norton commando clutch extractor
-p110/68 - tri twin clutch extractor
-p168 - commando clutch compressor

These I cannot find anything on.
E.C. 26 (both left tools have this, the key parts are the same size on each)
E.C. 25
E.C. 21

These are all unmarked and im not sure what they are.

Here is a wizard piston install tool. A wrist pin remover tool, A micro time gauge and booklet from early 70s,Lisle cylinder ridge remover, a degree wheel, two chain tools (one is king ****) and I think a clutch alignment tool.


I cannot find anything on these tools, but they have numbers
- 07086-028301
- 11-21601
- 31860
- 06 4297

These seem to be specialty tool that I do not know!

here are a few puller, an otc, a couple new britains, and one old japan puller.

Just thought I would share, I mean this toolbox was jam packed, tons of snap on, sk, wizard, craftsman etc, but these were kind of the odd ball stuff out of what I usually deal with.

If you know something I dont, please share!

Thanks

kov

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Wow that's awesome!

 

[d42jeep]

When it comes to Norton tools, this thread might prove interesting.

Shelley

Oh not as exciting as vintage destroyed tools, or show me your old cannons, or even boat anchor vises, but a good vintage tool story for you on this nice cold night in November. Robert Samuel Thomas Shelley, ( R.T. Shelley) was born on June the 5th, 1877 at Dodcott-***-Wilksley, Nantwich, the...

www.garagejournal.com

I posted my Shelley DOE wrench on that thread.
-Don

 

[Farmer J.]

The 'ROWE PRODUCTS' tool is a 6 way spoke wrench. Made in Bellflower, California.

 

[slowtwitch73]

I think the one down and rt of the Rowe is also a spoke wrench.

 

[Lassen Forge]

You found my old toolbox from about 35-40 years ago when I was wrenching bikes for a living... or so it seems. Lots of brit stuff, some Japanese stuff, and a couple American entries, along with generica.

The big round clearish plastic thing from Vittorio Martini is a degree wheel - used to set timing, valves, etc.
The rowe products with the 1 3 5 on one side, and 2 4 6 on the other is indeed a spoke wrench - still have one, and use the **** out of it, as truing wheels is like an obsessive hobby of mine.
THe T handled 4 pronged socket ("splline socket") looks like a Oil Slinger Filter nut removal tool for a 60's & early 70's Honda twin (think CB450T). Makes sense as that motor doesn't come apart without that special tool... Again, have 2.
The half round tools with notches are for adjusting adjustable shocks (note one marked "Koni", a noted aftermarket shock mfr in the day). In that same pix are valve tappet adjusting wrenches... Not sure what the big "Y" thing was (some kind of spanner, probably to lock a flywheel or somesuch), I have a couple in various sizes. Oh yeah, lots of flywheel tools there...
Not sure what the big C clamp thing is with the weird butterfly... but in that same group are clutch centering tools.

All in all, the tools are a nice haul if you work on old bikes - Some stuff I wish I had, some I still have, as I still turn a wrench now and again.

 

[Ksem89]

You found my old toolbox from about 35-40 years ago when I was wrenching bikes for a living... or so it seems. Lots of brit stuff, some Japanese stuff, and a couple American entries, along with generica.

The big round clearish plastic thing from Vittorio Martini is a degree wheel - used to set timing, valves, etc.
The rowe products with the 1 3 5 on one side, and 2 4 6 on the other is indeed a spoke wrench - still have one, and use the **** out of it, as truing wheels is like an obsessive hobby of mine.
THe T handled 4 pronged socket ("splline socket") looks like a Oil Slinger Filter nut removal tool for a 60's & early 70's Honda twin (think CB450T). Makes sense as that motor doesn't come apart without that special tool... Again, have 2.
The half round tools with notches are for adjusting adjustable shocks (note one marked "Koni", a noted aftermarket shock mfr in the day). In that same pix are valve tappet adjusting wrenches... Not sure what the big "Y" thing was (some kind of spanner, probably to lock a flywheel or somesuch), I have a couple in various sizes. Oh yeah, lots of flywheel tools there...
Not sure what the big C clamp thing is with the weird butterfly... but in that same group are clutch centering tools.

All in all, the tools are a nice haul if you work on old bikes - Some stuff I wish I had, some I still have, as I still turn a wrench now and again.

Thats awesome, Very Helpful! It truly was a time capsule.

k.

 

[Ksem89]

I think I found what that big c clamp is. A norton, BSA triumph valve spring compressor


And I think the degree wheel and this thing that looks like a rotor is another timing setting tool? It has the same tab as the degree wheel.


k

 

[2oolhound]

Yeeee Haa! What a find! I was big into Nortons mainly but worked on BSA's and Triumphs too back in the 60's, 70's, 80's. I still have my 72 Norton Commando cafe racer and some other Nortons but sadly haven't had one on the road for about a decade. I keep telling myself I'll get them running after I retire when I can devote solid time to it. I don't want to start just working on them a few hours after work or every other weekend because if you screw anything up and grenade an engine you'd be really screwed.

Anyway here's some things I can remember off the top of my head.

Hey guys,

So I picked up a 1971 snap on tool box and in it, along with a ton of tools were what appears to be vintage bike tools. I figured out what most were, but there are a few mysteries. I figured I would share, and if you have any input that would be great!!


It was like going through a time capsule, even the loose change in it was from the 70s and 80s


These are all MCA tool , well the big puller is norton 06 3970, i think for removing bearings. The bearing part says MCA
- p180 - key clutch nut someone fixed an irwin handle to it
-p189 (x2) one new in bag from domi racer - rocker spindle remover
-p190- contact breaker extractor
-p158 - engine pinion extractor
-p170 - norton commando clutch extractor
-p110/68 - tri twin clutch extractor
-p168 - commando clutch compressor

Top Right - Yes Norton crank bearing remover. You will note the bottom portion is the bearing splitter and cool because of the off set lifter bolt holes. Most splitters of the day had those holes midway on the cheeks of the 2 splitter halves but by off setting those holes you provided much needed space to get your fingers in there when you needed to. This was the first splitter I remember seeing like this but snap-on changed to a similar design around that time also. I don't know who was first.
1st the splitter was squeezed in between the outer bearing race and the crank cheek and then the top apparatus was installed to the splitter via those off set holes and then the heavy center forcing screw was turned in against the end of the crank shaft spindle to draw the splitter up and off.

The flat strap 4 point tool beside on the left is the diaphragm clutch spring compressor. I used a kitchen sink drain basin with the bottom transmission stud and some spacers to do the job. I used fine steel wedges before I had a splitter for the crank bearing. Care had to be taken not to let the wedge tips touch the actual crank shaft because right where the bearing sat against the crank cheek was a small radius which if nicked would likely cause a crank failure which these engines were prone to. The 70's was the climatic end of Norton's 75 year evolution where their push rod designed engine was reaching the limits of refinement.

The puller in the center below these 2 tools was a very valuable hard to do without timing gear puller (the largest one in the middle). Us scooter tramps of the day spent hours coaxing these parts off with other cobbled together methods and dreamed of having these tools.

These I cannot find anything on.
E.C. 26 (both left tools have this, the key parts are the same size on each)
E.C. 25
E.C. 21

The 2 on the left I think were for timing cover inspection plug removal. I'll see if I can post a photo of the cover and what the plugs look like.

It worked! This really is a great web site!
The curved wrench looks like it could be for the Norton rear center cylinder head nut. It was recessed deeply between the 2 cylinders. The air box was close behind so only a very short wrench would reach in there but it was torqued to 35 ft lb. A long curved wrench would curve around the barrels and give you the leverage needed to loosen or tighten that nut. You'd only get a few degrees turn back in there before you'd need to slip the wrench off and reset it to the next tooth for the next turn on the wrench.
Not sure about the long knurled tool is on the right.

These are all unmarked and im not sure what they are.

The one above the spring compressor I think is for the fork leg retaining nut (big round nut with 2 indents).

I cannot find anything on these tools, but they have numbers
- 07086-028301
- 11-21601
- 31860
- 06 4297

Damm, some look familiar but can't place them.

These seem to be specialty tool that I do not know!

Yep, Lassen Forge nailed it, top 4 are shock tension adjusters. The 4th one is from the Norton tool kit and it also has e chain case inspection plug flare on it for those. Some of the larger inspection plugs could be loosened using the back side of the arsed end. (we used the back of a large thin spanner back in the day).
The blackish pressed metal wrench near the bottom right is a Norton tappet wrench from the tool kit. Big end fit the lock nut and the small end fit the tiny square headed bolt that passed through the end of the rocker arm and contacted the valve.

here are a few puller, an otc, a couple new britains, and one old japan puller.

Just thought I would share, I mean this toolbox was jam packed, tons of snap on, sk, wizard, craftsman etc, but these were kind of the odd ball stuff out of what I usually deal with.

If you know something I dont, please share!

Thanks

kov

 

[bobg03]

Very impressive haul, interesting to see the amount of tools needed before computers took over the world and mechanics had very usable skill sets.

 

[driftpin]

I have an acquaintance who is a retired Miami-Dade County FL firefighter, he has a collection of Triumphs and Nortons, BSA's too. I bet he could name every one of the British bike service tools.

I also have a couple of boys in western NYS who grew up racing Triumphs, BSA's, Nortons, and Spanish bikes like Bultacos, Montesas, and OSSA's. Their parents were dealers and they raced and worked on those bikes. They would know what most of those were.

Those specialty tools are probably already owned by those who use them occasionally if not frequently, but for someone who wants to work on those marques, that is a treasure trove.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yup that's a treasure for those old bikes!

 

[RTM]

The 'ROWE PRODUCTS' tool is a 6 way spoke wrench. Made in Bellflower, California.

The single box end wrench under the Rowe looks like a tool that came with an electric Mini Mac chainsaw (McCulloch?) . I think it was used to change and tension the chain, the far end was a screwdriver.

Could also be used as a bike tool as well I imagine.

 

[humber2]

Does the Microtime gauge have the thread to go where a spark plug goes and then get used to observe piston arriving towards TDC for tuning?

 

[Provincial]

Does the Microtime gauge have the thread to go where a spark plug goes and then get used to observe piston arriving towards TDC for tuning?

Yes.

 

[Ksem89]

Yeeee Haa! What a find! I was big into Nortons mainly but worked on BSA's and Triumphs too back in the 60's, 70's, 80's. I still have my 72 Norton Commando cafe racer and some other Nortons but sadly haven't had one on the road for about a decade. I keep telling myself I'll get them running after I retire when I can devote solid time to it. I don't want to start just working on them a few hours after work or every other weekend because if you screw anything up and grenade an engine you'd be really screwed.

Anyway here's some things I can remember off the top of my head.




Top Right - Yes Norton crank bearing remover. You will note the bottom portion is the bearing splitter and cool because of the off set lifter bolt holes. Most splitters of the day had those holes midway on the cheeks of the 2 splitter halves but by off setting those holes you provided much needed space to get your fingers in there when you needed to. This was the first splitter I remember seeing like this but snap-on changed to a similar design around that time also. I don't know who was first.
1st the splitter was squeezed in between the outer bearing race and the crank cheek and then the top apparatus was installed to the splitter via those off set holes and then the heavy center forcing screw was turned in against the end of the crank shaft spindle to draw the splitter up and off.

The flat strap 4 point tool beside on the left is the diaphragm clutch spring compressor. I used a kitchen sink drain basin with the bottom transmission stud and some spacers to do the job. I used fine steel wedges before I had a splitter for the crank bearing. Care had to be taken not to let the wedge tips touch the actual crank shaft because right where the bearing sat against the crank cheek was a small radius which if nicked would likely cause a crank failure which these engines were prone to. The 70's was the climatic end of Norton's 75 year evolution where their push rod designed engine was reaching the limits of refinement.

The puller in the center below these 2 tools was a very valuable hard to do without timing gear puller (the largest one in the middle). Us scooter tramps of the day spent hours coaxing these parts off with other cobbled together methods and dreamed of having these tools.




The 2 on the left I think were for timing cover inspection plug removal. I'll see if I can post a photo of the cover and what the plugs look like.

It worked! This really is a great web site!
The curved wrench looks like it could be for the Norton rear center cylinder head nut. It was recessed deeply between the 2 cylinders. The air box was close behind so only a very short wrench would reach in there but it was torqued to 35 ft lb. A long curved wrench would curve around the barrels and give you the leverage needed to loosen or tighten that nut. You'd only get a few degrees turn back in there before you'd need to slip the wrench off and reset it to the next tooth for the next turn on the wrench.
Not sure about the long knurled tool is on the right.


The one above the spring compressor I think is for the fork leg retaining nut (big round nut with 2 indents).


Damm, some look familiar but can't place them.



Yep, Lassen Forge nailed it, top 4 are shock tension adjusters. The 4th one is from the Norton tool kit and it also has e chain case inspection plug flare on it for those. Some of the larger inspection plugs could be loosened using the back side of the arsed end. (we used the back of a large thin spanner back in the day).
The blackish pressed metal wrench near the bottom right is a Norton tappet wrench from the tool kit. Big end fit the lock nut and the small end fit the tiny square headed bolt that passed through the end of the rocker arm and contacted the valve.

WOW!! Fantastic information with experience! I appreciate you sharing your knowledge of these tools.

k

 

[Ksem89]

Does the Microtime gauge have the thread to go where a spark plug goes and then get used to observe piston arriving towards TDC for tuning?

 

[Tostal]

I might be wrong in this but iirc some of those piston travel gauges can be used with different size spark plug threads - see if the knurled ring (arrowed) can be unscrewed revealing a 12mm? thread size (there also seems to be possibly? a 10mm size thread next to the plunger).

 

[Ksem89]

I might be wrong in this but iirc some of those piston travel gauges can be used with different size spark plug threads - see if the knurled ring (arrowed) can be unscrewed revealing a 12mm? thread size (there also seems to be possibly? a 10mm size thread next to the plunger).

Sure does!

k

 

[B Halverson]

My father was a dealer/racer of British motorcycles in the 50s and early 60s, And I and many of my friends and family members rode and worked on Norton and other Brit bikes back in the day. I have all of the tools shown that are Brit bike specific, collected by my father and myself over the last 60+ years. I think everyone has got most of the uses for the tools covered so I will not comment. I am sure you will find a nice home for the tools with someone who needs them.

Here is a photo of my father on a Matchless scrambles bike, a marque which he raced and was a dealer for, he passed away aged 87 three days ago;

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Great pic! Sorry to hear he passed, sounds like you and your dad had a lot of fun with bikes.

 

[d42jeep]

I forgot to post this wrench.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice. Here's my old norton tool roll

 

[B Halverson]

Probably half or more of the tools laying around marked "Triumph" were from the automobiles of that name.