Norton Rigid 1936 ES2

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Jul 2, 2017
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So I have been lurking on the Triton section but being a case for treatment, the Triton has build been shelved and I could not resist this 1936 ES2. Not period correct and claiming to be an ex race bike, it had that look I was after with the chance to make some mods once the winter / cold weather arrives.
Having picked it up and got it home a basic general look round then onto trying to start it....so decompressors and technique still need some honing.... but a brief run up the road revealed the clutch needed some attention. Clutch stripped and cleaned and throw adjustments made all looked fairly good - the starting honing still needed some improvement so to give my leg a rest it was in the back of a van and round a mates to use his starting rollers. Once started more runs up the road but soon the clutch drag was back, and the engine would not pull revs. Time for a re think, so back home and a further look at the clutch, turns out the Dolls Head box had more side play than the clutch had adjustment....
I don't do well with half a job so I am having trouble raining in my its got to be right approach, don't get me wrong its going to be right but I can see the summer running out and no biking so keeping this in mind the plan is being hatched to do just enough to find out what else is wrong.....
The gearbox is in need of some tender loving so this has been removed and is off for a rebuild.
The Tank which is not standard looks to have been treated with some sealer so this has to go so a new tank has been ordered and as part of seeing what my be causing the rev issue the Amal carb has been treated to a full clean - nothing untoward. New petrol pipe and fuel taps along with the new tank should cross this off the list of potential fuel related issues.
The oily rag condition looks to be a bit more rag than oily but I am loving working on something this old and really looking forward to getting the engine running to its full potential - not sure on the ex race bike claim but on its brief run its got bags of pull, guess it I will have to see.
More update to follow in the coming weeks / month depending on how I get on....
 
Sounds like a great find, but this post is desperately crying out for photo's.
 
Work is progressing on the ES2 - trying to resist taking it completely apart...…..
Gearbox has been rebuilt and I have a selection of parts which were removed and not correct for this box, not got to ride the bike yet …. but snicking the box through the gears it seems so much better ,the box has now been re -installed and primary chain all in place.
We have been modifying the foot pegs mounts as these are in a more reset location and one had been badly repaired we have also made the new footpegs and added new rubbers.
The mudguards were not in the best of shape not bad but we wanted to change the fitment and it seemed a good chance to upgrade to some aluminium ones - these will be gloss black in the end.
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We have also fabricated new mudguard stays and a top mount for the front guard.

Here it is at present - new guards - modified seat to narrow the front and repair some general wear and tear & the tank in its final location.
 
Working away crossing jobs off the list here's the rear brake already had the swiss cheese effect I have added the foot stop plate.
 
For many years, I collected parts for a bike like that, however I could never get enough to build it. I'd really love to find one as complete as your's. - I've still got a few bits - upright gearboxes, oil tank, forks - but not girder.
 
I’m not knocking it, you have a bike that a lot of us would like to own, but I noticed that the front brake arm is slightly too far up, when at rest, it should be at 90 degrees when the brake is ON.

You may need to make some brake shoe “slippers”!
 
Many years ago, a friend of mine had a CS1 Norton. He used the motor in a three-quarter midget racing car, and modified the frame to take a side-valve Indian motor. I always coveted the girder front forks which had the drop springs. I chased the motor, but could not get it. He died of prostate cancer and I don't know where the frame went. I have always loved rigid frame cammy Nortons, and an ES2 is not all bad.
 
Thanks for all the comments - will look at the front brake lever....

Latest update is a modified seat which has now been covered along with the bum seat
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What are you going to use it for ? It looks too good to be used in historic races. - Rallies ?
 
Hope to ride it down the local Norton meets to racing round the track and everything in between
 
Its been a couple of interesting weeks with the Norton, the fishtail exhaust has moved forward having rolled and then welded Ali sheet into the connector pipe but fitting it means cutting about the rest of the exhaust so I need to make my mind up which way I want to proceed. Starting this bike is a challenge and I have been learning by trial an error mostly error what it wants to start but in the quest for this I made up a new HT lead the tank has been changed + new fuel taps and petrol pipe - carb stripped and checked over. Its getting easier ( or I am learning ) but I can still get a bit hot and bothered before something meaningful happens.....
I wanted some new handlebars and ended up with some which are a bit more swoopy also new Doherty levers.


I have managed to get some original water slide Norton tank transfers so the next stage will be tank an oil tank re paint and maybe a hand pin stripe job, then get the other half out for a ride and see what she makes of the bum seat...….Oh and take it to our next Drag Racing meeting in October and see how we get on - wish me luck.
 
All you need now is a DOHC short stroke 30M Manx engine from Works Norton. If we were all billionaires we could do really good stuff. I chased bits to make a garden gate international for years - got close sometimes but a lot of people want them. . I still have an oil tank and a couple of upright gearboxes. If I thought about it for long enough, I would probably sell them.
 
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