72 750 Combat Roadster project

Scout63 said:

That single is about as good looking as a bike can get Rick.

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I concur.

I don't know about all of that, but it sure gives rise to feelings of desire and mechanical lust.... Great eye candy too. That would be the centerfold for six consecutive months in the imaginary PlayBike Magazine in my humble opinion..... In my favorite color also.

An old friend, now put away by family, with dementia whilst they sell off his collection was so very meticulous as new life was breathed back into his choice old loves. Hopefully it all winds up with folks that truly appreciate it for the history rather than potential profit.... I admire your work RT.

Thanks everyone for the compliments - all the more flattering coming from knowledgeable enthusiasts like yourselves. The ES2 was a quest of mine after seeing one in Don Morley’s neat little photo book of Nortons which I found on the bargain table at one of the big chain booksellers years ago. Pre - internet days for me
( the Luddite) . I subscribed to the UK based newspaper “Old Bike Mart” . Lots of stuff to dream about in there, believe me !
If you were searching for certain things that may have been rare or a bargain they were usually gone by the time I got my copy here in the USA. The internet has changed all that so I had to plunge headfirst into this century. I found one from a dealer but I started to see red flags in some of the communications so we mutually called the deal off. I took down the picture on the fridge and tossed it but next day it was back up - my bride had rescued it and put back up - I guess my moping about gloomily had the desired effect.
Now midwinter - snowed out of work and internet capable- I found another and pulled the trigger as this dealer took credit cards. It came over on a container ship to Port Newark/Port Elizabeth - importing this was quite a lesson - everyone from the Government on down had their hands out & palm up all along the way.
The dealer was very honest - the bike was far more complete than any I had seen . I got it running easily and rode it for a few years - had the magdyno rebuilt and fixed a dodgy key in the half time pinion - the source of increasing clatter emanating from the timing chest.
Then one day I just dove in and took it to bits and spent 4 years redoing it . The only thing that didn’t come apart was the crankshaft as the big end was fine. Mike Pemberton from Pushrod Performance in the UK is the ES2 motor guru and was very generous with his time and knowledge - coached me all the way through my first ever total engine rebuild via e mail . Although it didn’t exist at the time , he now has a video available through the NOC. Did the gearbox using the John Hudson video also from NOC.
Lots of firsts for me on this one - first engine & gearbox rebuild - including static crank balancing- first ever wheel building - first ever nickel plating with the Caswell home setup.
When the bike was done I took it to the AMCA meet in Oley PA to be judged . They start you at 100 points and then start taking away as they find things they don’t like . I lost 1/4 point for leaving the print on the high tension lead - another 1/4 point for the Lucas reflector on the rear fender - and 1/4 point for having the odometer rolled back to zero when I had it rebuilt . I thought that odd but this judge liked to see miles on them for some reason.
So 99 1/4 points out of a possible 100. Not too bad. Acetone and a rag took care of the high tension lead issue - removing the reflector for judging would solve that issue - and I’ve racked up some miles on it but I have never had it judged again.
I’ll put up a couple more pics I took of it when it was fresh from the rebuild .
Thanks again everyone for the interest and flattery .
Cheers-RT

Some more pics -

wow wee

So what does it feel like when you pitch it into a corner Rick?

Scout63 said:

So what does it feel like when you pitch it into a corner Rick?

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Quirky - some bump steer because the only things that that keep the rear axle square across the chassis in the horizontal plane are the cast aluminum axle carriers. The big steering damper knob is your friend.
Addendum - the axle carriers can move independently of each other slightly - it is only the axle itself that ties them together. Someone likened it to a swinging garden gate and the name stuck .

It is an honor and privilege to be abused by such a machine... An enrichment of soul. The same may be said of an old Commando because you have one at the very least... You see those which had English bikes in their youth searching them out so they may fulfill that learned need of abuse all over again..... Remember the fellow who loved his Mercedes so much he was buried in it.... Well?

jbruney said:

Remember the fellow who loved his Mercedes so much he was buried in it.... Well?

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Well I sure don’t want to be buried with it - but even more so , I don’t want to be buried because of it

I would be more concerned with the warriors on 4-wheels than that fine machine.

Back to the original subject - some more progress on the Commando . Parts from plater installed - waiting on some Stainless fasteners here and there but largely done . New low clubman bars from Flanders arrived and installed - Tight squeeze here and there but I think all will fit.
Wiring nearly complete - waiting on new lamp sockets / leads for the speedo and tach . Much to my delight all seems to work . I had a moment of deep depression when I discovered that I had no power to the coils until I realized the kill button was not connected - seems it works by opening the points circuit rather than shorting ignition .
The new Corbin seat has arrived and the original sold . I may start on the fiberglass work this coming week . I set the tank on to check the fit of Medusa's hairdo underneath - all seems ok so far .
Clutch cable on and seems good . Throttle and air slide cables tomorrow.
When the seat cowl is completed I need to strip out the old tank liner and do a new one . Need a warm sunny weekend for that - then fuel tank , side covers and cowl off to the painters .A couple months more I guess. While waiting on that I hope to wrap up the exhausts and stands.
Thanks for looking in - RT

Lookin’ goood!

what is the seat cowl that you are referring to?

Fast Eddie said:

Lookin’ goood!

what is the seat cowl that you are referring to?

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The hump back on the Corbin seat is upholstery - I plan on making a rigid one in fiberglass and painted to match tank .

Do not do not do not waist your time trying to salvage an old fiberglass tank as it will not end well. Even if you do have luck it will be temporary. When it starts to disolive in to the fuel it will do so without you knowing it is happening until either the carb slides stick or the valves stick. You are doing to nice of a job to scimp on a fuel tank. The POS fiberglass tank should go onto the shelf

That's going to be a very shiny girl.

bill said:

Do not do not do not waist your time trying to salvage an old fiberglass tank as it will not end well. Even if you do have luck it will be temporary. When it starts to disolive in to the fuel it will do so without you knowing it is happening until either the carb slides stick or the valves stick. You are doing to nice of a job to scimp on a fuel tank. The POS fiberglass tank should go onto the shelf

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Bill, his tank is steel. I believe he was referring to a seat cowl? Right??

Yes - fuel tank is steel with an epoxy liner that I put in years ago . I will dissolve it and re coat with new before re painting tank . I have run several bikes for years with their tanks lined with the epoxy systems from Eastwood with no ill effect.
The fiberglass I referred to was indeed the seat cowl . I plan on using lightweight cloth in two layups with West Systems Epoxy .

He said tank liner not cowl. I took a closer look at one of the pics and it is a steel tank. Than strip out the liner and fix it RIGHT if it is reparable not with some POS liner. If is Swiss cheese from rust than spring for an emgo replacement.

Richard Tool said:

The hump back on the Corbin seat is upholstery - I plan on making a rigid one in fiberglass and painted to match tank .

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You’re a braver man than me sir, hacking up a perfect looking and expensive Corbin like that!

But, when you’ve got something in your head, you gotta do what your gotta do. I get that.

You got the disease bad Richard !

Fast Eddie said:

You’re a braver man than me sir, hacking up a perfect looking and expensive Corbin like that!

But, when you’ve got something in your head, you gotta do what your gotta do. I get that.

You got the disease bad Richard !

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No hacking up involved - seat will be taped and then wrapped in kitchen plastic wrap - heavily waxed as a release agent - and glasswork done directly over seat using the seat itself as a male mold .
Cowl will be removable and Seat unaltered if all goes well - or -