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69Norton
20th January 2010, 21:12
Hi - just thought Id throw this one out there....
Instead of paying $320 for a Norton Dominator Kickstart lever, what other options might I have?

Im 'really, really' struggling to justify spending this amount of money for something as simple as a freakin lever!:mad:

Has anyone ever had success in using non bike specific levers?


ta
Paul

F5 Dave
21st January 2010, 14:43
Bump start
Pretend you are in a Lemans Race
Park on a hill
Buy a set of rollers?

F5 Dave
21st January 2010, 14:45
Or 10 second google

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BURMAN-FOLDING-KICKSTART-CRANK-LEVER+RUBBER-NORTON+AMC_W0QQitemZ120518198330QQcmdZViewItemQQim sxq20100116?IMSfp=TL100116224003r28813

74 squid.

Ixion
21st January 2010, 15:09
The cotter pin type (ie not splined) used to be pretty interchangeable. I've fitted BSA levers to triumphs, and an unknown lever (might have been Matchless) to a BSA. Just a matter of the shaft being the same diameter, and the lever not horribly fouling anything. The shafts always seemed to be about the same diameter (for500/650 anyway) and the second could usually be dealt with by a few minutes with a gas torch.

EDIT : Bugger . I see it's splined. Dunno about splines. 74 GBP probably comes to about $250 with freight - a bit cheaper. Still seems dear though.

69Norton
22nd January 2010, 06:19
I have previously owned one of those 'Burman folding' levers - however I snapped the lever off it by kicking it one morning!
Another option - although not ideal - would be to get it welded back so it would'nt move.

How well does cheap chrome weld together?

F5 Dave
22nd January 2010, 08:43
ok I was only poking fun, my Brit bike knowledge is only formative. $320 doesn't sound totally out of order, but it depends on the quality. You don't want to put something hoady on a nice bike unless it is a munter surely?

Surely there are lots of Norton forums out there that would have a better depth of Knowledge than here?

Ixion
22nd January 2010, 10:41
I have previously owned one of those 'Burman folding' levers - however I snapped the lever off it by kicking it one morning!
Another option - although not ideal - would be to get it welded back so it would'nt move.

How well does cheap chrome weld together?


I take it that the problem is the splines are shot? If so, are you sure it is JUST the lever spliines, not the shaft ones as well?

69Norton
22nd January 2010, 11:08
lever splines are shot as its very soft metal compared to the shaft spline. The shaft spline is in very good nick.....
yeah maybe I should ask around on a Norton forum - prob the way to go

Taz
24th January 2010, 14:11
http://www.burtonbikebits.net/kickstartassemblies.htm

http://www.bmhstore.bmh.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=23&products_id=113

http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Spares/Kickstart/Kickstart%20Rubbers.htm

Paul in NZ
6th February 2010, 08:44
As an ex Atlas owner that ran very lumpy cams and hi comp pistons I heatily recommend NOT scrimping on cheap Norton kick start levers.

Couple of bodges we used (new levers were not availiable then) were...

Pieces of frayed control cable wires (unravelled) laid into the splines and a couple of blobs of arc welding on the end of the shaft / lever. You can grind em off when you want to dismantle the gearbox.

However... I'd really recommend buying new parts... Much better in the long run

Dadpole
7th February 2010, 13:46
That is the sort of dodgy repair that I can relate to.

BIG DOUG
8th February 2010, 17:40
Got to agree with paul on then lever,the spline size on a norton is pretty big and I and I haven't seen anything else that size