Workshop Update - January 2026
- Andy Marks
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Welcome to my first 'Workshop Update'. I plan to post these monthly throughout the year to tell you a bit about what we have been up to in the workshop and how things are progressing with Kingpin Components. Inevitably I will be talking about the products I have been making or designing, but I promise it wont be a sales page. Just a place to keep you in the loop and hopefully offer something of interest. Think of it as a monthly newsletter.
Plans for 2026
New year new me? Maybe not. But I do have a lot planned. I have a number of projects on the go; there's this blog, and I'm working towards several new products to add the the Kingpin Components range, so you will start to see the fruits of my labour in due course.
Use Sub-Contractors
I reached the stage some time ago where I couldn't hope to do all the manufacturing work myself, I've been gradually building a small network of trusted sub-contractors. I was determined to get this right, I didn't want to lose control of the process and see a drop in the quality of the end product. Everything I sell is still inspected and, where necessary, assembled by me.
Now that I have built a relationship with these sub-contractors which allows me to stay in control of the products I am selling, I have more time to work on new ideas alongside the parts that I still manufacture in house. Over the coming months you will start to see more parts in the online shop to help you with your projects.
Organisation and Stock Keeping System
Another piece in the puzzle before starting to expand the range was ensuring I will be able to keep up with the orders coming in. When I launched my first website in 2016 I had three items for sale. I knew what they were, where they were and how many I had left at any given time. Now that I have almost 150 products listed, and plans for a lot more, this 'system' no longer works. I have evolved slightly over the years but I still relied heavily on my memory - bad idea. I have been starting to miss things and going to wrap parcels up only to find I have run out of some part or another. Following some advice from people with experience of such things, I spent some considerable time over Christmas setting up a stock keeping system which I am confident will allow me to keep a track of stock levels and fulfil orders faster than before. It will also allow my to get some help with the packing and shipping when I reach the stage where that is necessary.
Closure of the Kingpin Components eBay Store
One last thing before we take a look in the workshop - I have closed my eBay store. The vast majority of my sales now come through the website anyway so eBay was proving too expensive and too much hassle for only a few sales each month. It feels good to see the back of it and as of February 1st 2026, this website is the only place you can buy my products. This will free up more time for me to focus on this site and my products, instead of lining eBay pockets!
What's New?
Back in Stock: Oil Tank Output with Filter and 1/4BSP Thread
These have been out of stock for quite a while and are one of the first parts to benefit from my work with a sub-contractor. The stainless body has been CNC machined to my drawings and I have finished them off with the brass gauze. I previously offered them with a male thread only, but am very happy to now be able to offer them with a female thread as well, this makes fitting in tight spaces with a banjo and bolt a lot easier.
New Arrival: Andre Steering Damper - 2 plate type
Technically these were finished in December, but seeing as this is my first update I'll include them. I've offered the 4 plate type usually fitted to Nortons for several years but I have just finished a batch of the 2 plate type fitted to the earlier Velocettes. These include a lot of component parts, some are made for me but several are still made here - more on the press tools I had to make later.
What's Next?
Norton Single Engine Stands
I sold the last one of these engine stands a couple of weeks ago so these are next on my list to restock. I had hoped to avoid the gap in the availability but I didn't get to them quite in time. I've ordered the laser cutting from a local firm (I usually call in and pick my orders up on my way home from walking the dog). As soon as I have that I'll do the welding before taking them into another local company (on my way home from the gym this time) for powder coating. They should be back in stock by the end of February.
Interesting Workshop Jobs
One of the things I love about working on one offs or new products is the head scratching and figuring out how to do something. Here are a couple of the jobs I've enjoyed doing over the last month.
Andre Damper press tool
The top plate on the earlier type Andre Dampers is cup shaped. I had the blanks laser cut before setting about making the press tools for turning it into a cup. They worked perfectly first time - if only that always happened!
Panther fork spindles
David in New Zealand contacted me to ask about the fork spindles I sell and to see if they would fit his 1938 Panther. After some back and forth with measurements we realised that none of them would, so I offered to make him a one off set. I used to make all of the fork spindles I sold 'in house', but have been getting them made by someone else for a few years now. I enjoyed making them myself again but, by the time I'd finished machining all the squares on the Bridgeport I could remember why I give the batch work to someone else. David has promised me some photo's of the Panther once it's underway so I'll share them with you in a future update.
Customers Projects
No promises that I will be able to include this every month - it depends entirely on what I get sent. But if you would like to see your bike featured here - please send me a picture.
NB: I only include pictures here after I have been given permission from the owner. Any pictures I am sent whilst working on, or supplying parts for, bikes will not get shared without your consent.
Norton International 'Special'
Paul in the UK sent me this picture of his bike. It's a 1951 350 Inter engine in a 1959 Featherbed ES2 frame. No prizes for recognising where the picture was taken! He described it as 'just a bitsa', but I've seen plenty of bitsas and not many look this good. I know Paul uses it a lot, so it must go as well as it looks!
1930 Velocette KTP
Stephen in the USA sent me these pictures of his beautiful Velo with one of my Andre Dampers on it. His was the very first one I sent out from the first batch I made.
He tells me he'd just got the tank back from being repaired when these pictures were taken - I love it with that patina!
Personal Projects & Time Away
I haven't touched any of my bikes in January. My 2023 Honda needed it's first MOT in December but after looking out the window at the rain, I decided to SORN it. I made some new screen brackets before Christmas which have just come back from the powder coaters so I'll fit them, give it a service and get it MOT'd before the spring.
I've entered a few events for the summer so I'll be working thought the winter jobs on my bikes before long. I am determined not to leave them all until the last minute this year! I'm also plan to get my 1934 Norton Inter back out on the road. It wasn't running very well last time I rode it so I put it away thinking it probably just needs the carb cleaning out - that was over 3 years ago now!
Comments