N2, a quick winter clean up.

[mick858]

I got this just to put me on when the rebuild of the LC had stalled, (rdlccrazy.proboards.com/thread/43546/mot?) something ready to go and use whenever I wanted. It was a real good ten footer, very nice at first glance but with a few blemishes. It did go well though and soon became my go to bike and was a regular at the Thursday night chippy run, clocking up nearly 4,000 miles in just over a year.

I didn't do much to it, just replaced the rear muddy and indicators,

An LC2 top yoke and flatter bars replaced the clip ons and that was it.

It started life as an F2 and whoever converted it to an N2 looky likey did a decent job by fitting the correct clocks and bracket, and the N2 headlamp bracket. It was let down by the frame having been touched up with a brush and Smoothrite and the flaky engine paint, so as the LC was finished and tucked up safely in the dining room come November last year it was time to treat it to a quick tidy up and soon looked like this.

Bits sorted out for powder coat.

Gloss,

Satin,

And because I think there was just too much black on it, this little lot will be silver,

The frame came back devoid of brush marks,

The forks lowers came back silver and were rebuilt with all new parts,

I'd had another set of fork tubes shortened to better fit with the LC2 top yoke, and back on the frame.

A little more relief from too much black,

reshod,

and the old girl was back on her feet.

[Yogi]

Looking good Mick,keep up the good work

[mick858]

Clocks back in the bracket. I have got the decals for the idiot lights but being a ham fisted type I'll put that job off as long as I can.

Switchgear refurbed,


Unusually the loom was in good shape. The only bits that had been altered were the sidestand switch being removed and linked out, and the replacement fusebox wiring had just been crimped. New fusebox fitted, soldered and wrapped.
Before,

After,

New brake pads fitted,

[mick858]

Time to turn to the engine. It had always been a good reliable motor. Smooth and quiet but a run on the dyno at Mutt's dyno day last summer showed it to be a bit lacking in power as it only made 46hp, with the power valve seals also leaking a tad. Anyway, a couple of miles from home last November it suddenly lost power and started to smoke really badly. I know strokers are supposed to smoke but this was in an embarrassing way. I'd intended doing just a top end refresh when it was off the road but a full strip was now in order.
The crank found itself at Bryan's and was deemed fit to use as a boat anchor, the main bearing surfaces being pitted. A replacement was sourced and rebuilt by Bryan, and like everything that leaves his place is as good as new. More thanks to Bryan.


The bores and pistons were checked and found to be ok, no rebore needed so just new rings,

Frame ready for the engine to go back in,


Engine in,

and treated to a blingy billet gear lever,

And that's where I am now. Just waiting on a few things. Oil pump to come back from Arrow, new silencers for the exhausts which will hopefully be soon and of course the old favourite, the paint set. Should be picking that up the week after Easter.

[yamark]

Great work Mick, you've quite a talent for restoring.

Brilliant photos as well, thanks for posting.

Cheers, Mark

[mick858]

Thanks, I'm just a beginner at this game. I did learn a fair bit doing the LC and this ones been a pretty straightforward job.

[Mr Kipling]

Looking very tidy indeed A+ , Bravo...

[LC_BOTT]

Looking a lot nicer now, Who is this 'Bryan' guy, seen his name mentioned a couple of times lately

[donkeychomp]

That is very impressive. For a 'first' build and excellent job.

Alex

[andy748]

Nice one Mick, i really like the bar conversion. Andy.

[1966baz]

Good job there Mick. I've always liked the N2 model.