'38 ES2

gortnipper

gortnipper

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Nov 11, 2013
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I am looking into a girder hard tail ES2. It has sat idle for at least the past 5 years but was owned by the same guy for a long time before that. His son has had it in the shed since his dad passed.

I am an ES2 novice. What to look out for when looking at these?

 
Looks ES2 to me - has the full cradle frame. My understanding is that, pre-war, the Model 18 had the frame with no "bottom" to the cradle.
But... I've been wrong before!
Cheers
 
It was registered new in NZ in 1938 as an ES2. But, I guess it could have been upsold as one. Would be keen on a more definitive answer.

But, I was more looking for advice on some of the gotchas with these bikes.
 
I don't think there's anything very specific to these bikes.
Under the timing cover has 2 separate cams, the pivoted lifters, the oil pump and the maggie drive - a quick look in there should tell you a lot about the condition and how the bike has been looked after wrt oil changes etc.
An indicator of ring/valve wear is how quickly it will "bleed over" compression with the kick starter without pulling the decompression lever.
A few "brake-on" bounces of the front end - carefully watching - should tell you a lot about the condition of the spring and friction damper system.
Unless overhauled reasonably recently you should expect to have the magneto overhauled ($600ish) to have a reliable starter.
Sorry - if I think of anything else at 2AM I'll post. 👍
 
gortnipper said:
It was registered new in NZ in 1938 as an ES2. But, I guess it could have been upsold as one. Would be keen on a more definitive answer.
But, I was more looking for advice on some of the gotchas with these bikes.
Click to expand...
Hi David, looks like a nice find.
Definitely ES2 style frame, prewar the model 18's shared the sidevalve style "diamond" frame.
Forks have the civilian style damper knob so presumably original.
Norton girders didn't have bushes for the 4 spindles to run on so if the forks wear oval then it is a machinists job to bring them back to life. Ken McIntosh can do it - at some cost. So worth checking the spindle adjustment and any signs of wear.
best of luck
iain.
 
gortnipper said:
Why?

Doesn't the Model 18 front downtube bolt directly to the case, with no cradle tubes running under the engine?
Click to expand...
I stand corrected as the Model 18 retained girders and rigid chassis but had full cradle early post war - 1946 ? - and bike in photo is obviously earlier - instruments in tank or is that the fuel cap ? Doll’s head , etc . Sorry for any confusion I may have caused. Looks like a good find - hope you will keep us informed.
 
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Agreed Iain
Here's a shot of my dad with his brother (Des Craig - astride the ES2) about late forties.
Quite similar - excluding the forks.
Cheers
SCN_0020a.jpg
 
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gortnipper said:
Hopefully it will be a good one and we can come to a deal and i can ride it to the Hawkes Bay rally next year (hopefully see you there). But, I think he has unreali$tic expectation$.
Click to expand...
Come on gortnipper - it’s only money. You’re dead a long time and you can’t take the money with you - plus you will be contributing to the wealth of another Norton owner…😉
 
David, it is a very old photo which I saw 3-4 years ago, I believe it came from Wellington and was a deceased estate.
 
possm said:
David, it is a very old photo which I saw 3-4 years ago, I believe it came from Wellington and was a deceased estate.
Click to expand...
Yes, I was interested then too. It did come from Welly and the son who has it relocated from there afterwards. He's a Ducati guy.
 
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