1952 ES2 rear light and battery

Hi John,

according to the Lucas spares list, the 1936-1952 Norton ES2 used part number 53428 which was a model 529 "Diakon" lens.

like this:

http://www.feked.com/rear-lamp-lucas-529-type-twin-filament-type.html

there are 11 part numbers that make up assembly 53428 that I can include if required.

in 1953 most Norton models went to the 53432 part number (model 564) lamp.

All the best,

Skip Broliund

Hi John,

much more news & updates for you. It's late now, but will reply tomorrow with much more info!!! Short story.....480 was fitted originaly in '52, 529 was the genuine Lucas replacement after the earlier lamps were out of production & will fin using the same mounting hardware. More Later !

Skip

Hi all,

for 1953 to mid year (ish)55 the Lucas 525 was fitted the 564 was introduced because it has a built in reflector which the 525 doesn't have. The was done for the 1953 Road Traffic (Lighting) act that came in in October 1954. On my early 55 M7 (built Oct 54) it has a 525 with a sepparate reflector below the rear number plate.

The Lucas 480 in original form does not have a brake filament (there may be some that do have it, parts did vary)i.e. it's only a tail lamp. According to the current rules any vehicle made after 1936 must have a brake lamp which is utter crap because that isn't what the rules at the time said! "If it was fitted it had to work" was what the legislation actually says from what research I've done otherwise WHY would Lucas and others STILL be selling illegal lamps as late as 1952?

The proof is all there in the handbooks, there is no stop lamp shown not even in 53 and 54 handbooks. It was only corrected in the 55 books.

Brake lamps only seem to appear with the introduction of the 525 for the 53 season. A repro 480 will be set up to take a twin filament bulb though it is easy to alter an original.

Jim

Hi John,

I know that your bike is MOT exempt but in order to pass one it MUST have a brake light which also must be fitted when using it on the road despite it not having had one when new!

The MT211 will do just fine, no-one will notice it isn't quite right and it should have a twin filament bulb as standard.

Jim

Hi All,

I received 3 emails about my first comment & after exhaustive research I found that all the correct Lucas tail lamps are listed in my '36-'57 Lucas motorcycle spare parts book.On the page of "applications" where each brand & model is listed along with the part number of the correct tail light the original fitment is not listed, rather the available replacement part is listed for the date of the catalog (1957). By '57 the MT110, MT211, MT210 & 480 lamps were out of production & Lucas offered the "Officail Replacement" as the "Diacon" 529, which was available with & without the stop lamp filiment. My Norton books do not show the 529 as stock, but it would have been a Genuine period replacement from Lucas. Oddly, in the Roy Bacon Singles book, he mentions it was the stock lamp on the 1953 ES2 (see page 190 "1953").

My Supplementary spare parts list-1954 for models 1,16H,18,E.S.2 shows 53269A (model 525) as the stop lamp.

My Supplementary spare parts list-1951/2/3 for models 1,16H,18,E.S.2 shows 53269A (model 525) as the stop lamp.

But the Lucas provisional lists for 1951 motor-cycles shows:

"lamp,tail 480 (all models)"

Just a note on the 480, it is nearly identical to the model MT211. The major difference isthe 480 lens tube has 3 perpidicular flanges that slip into the base. On the MT211 there are parallel bayonet fittings. Once assembled & installed, they are difficult to tell the difference from each other.

Most of the reproduction tail lamp assemblys have a dual element bulb holder, so you have the option of having the stop lamp feature. If your bike did not come with a brake light switch, a universal spring type switch will work just fine.

Clear as mud, right?

FWIW (for what its worth) I would highly recomend purchasing a copy of the ES2 parts book available in the spares section of this very website

Skip Brolund

To answer Johns enquiry re gel battery, I find a 6v4amp AGM battery fits well inside the (repo)old hard rubber style battery cases. The size is 70 x 45 x 100 high. This leaves plenty of room to pack soft foam rubber all around to reduce damaging vibration and there is also room for the all important fuse. Coupled with an electronic voltage regulator (I use DVR2) this setup, I find, gives good reliable service.

Also, to easily convet the small MT110 single filament style rear light assembly to a verybright tail/stop light, I have fitted LED light boards in several of my bikes. Motorcycles built after 1934 must have a stop light fitted, visable from 30 metres here.

In todays aggressive traffic, it's best to make yourself easy to be seen by the following drivers.

Paul