Norvin nuts go awry
I took the Norvin, not the Goldie, to the Isle of Man (see page 84). Both bikes need a carb tune and I figured the Norvin’s newly-fitted Concentrics would be more achievable than the Goldie’s GP.
They were – and it’s now running well and starting easily. But I had a nasty moment. Stopping for fuel, I noticed the dynamo cap was loose but looking closer the nuts had vibrated from the two long dynamo body screws, leaving the brush and bearing housing end flapping around. This could wreck the dynamo, but is especially bad news on a Vincent. The dynamo sprocket runs jockey-style off the outside of the primary chain; any trouble involving the dynamo or this sprocket can lead to a broken chain and smashed crankcases.
One of the nuts was still in the dynamo cap, but the screws aren’t captive and I didn’t have tools to remove the dynamo and hold them. Although the nut engaged with the threads, trying to turn it just spun the screw. It took an hour to tighten the nut using an electrical screwdriver through the middle to restrain the end of the screw; I edged the nut round using a spike on my old penknife. Best I could do was get the one nut finger tight, disconnecting the dynamo wires so at least it wasn’t subject to electromagnetic forces, before gingerly riding the 12 miles back to base. Lucky I caught it in time – even the dynamo still works. Oh well, back to the Goldie!