ANOTHER MONTESA
Posted by Tony Down at 11/20/2007 9:17 AM 
Categories: Vintage Motorcycles, Vintage Bikes, AHRMA, Motorcycle Trials, Building Vintage Motorcycles
Categories: Vintage Motorcycles, Vintage Bikes, AHRMA, Motorcycle Trials, Building Vintage Motorcycles
ANOTHER MONTESA
After all the fun of the first 348 you can imagine my delight when the new owner takes delivery
and announces he would like me to “tidy up” his 349. He wants a different color scheme but
wants to retain the rear footrests and the lights?
and announces he would like me to “tidy up” his 349. He wants a different color scheme but
wants to retain the rear footrests and the lights?
With the mainstay trials season coming to an end, and temperatures cool enough to venture
back in the workshop the “extreme makeover” begins. The tank appears to have either been
subjected to extreme heat or has been used with racing fuel as all the original paint is bubbled
and is a little outside my capabilities, but I know a man who can!
So this tank and the Cagiva monstrosity are away to the paint shop and the once shiny bits go
in for polish and chrome while I work on the wheels and other alloy parts that I can restore. New
red guards are on their way from the UK and most of the other ancillaries are available locally at
Cycle Gear, Hardrock Trials, or Jed at South West Montesa.
in for polish and chrome while I work on the wheels and other alloy parts that I can restore. New
red guards are on their way from the UK and most of the other ancillaries are available locally at
Cycle Gear, Hardrock Trials, or Jed at South West Montesa.
BEFORE.......
AFTER!
Solvol Autosol, my favorite alloy polish is in full flow and soon those dull wheels are back to
showroom! New IRC’s and tubes are on, bearings are good so all complete there and onto the
motor. Carb off and the inlet rubber to the motor has evidence of a “shade tree” repair with tape.
Put that on Jed’s list, levers are bent, need 2 of those, cables of course, and the throttle has had
the end eaten off by rocks, trees or other woodland creatures. The side straps on the tank were
of an unusual design and certainly nothing that left the Spanish factory!
Dismantle the rest of the engine and all appears good here so just a paint job and major clean
up.
Everything comes back and the polish is beyond superb!
The tank looks glorious, but that horrid little tube, level, optical gauge, or whatever it is on the
outside of the tank is proving impossible to get a replacement pipe in the right diameter that will
fit in the slot. Finally I find one that works and all the new logos are on.
The fender at the back has to be recut and painted in the new red color but all goes well and
the wires are rerouted to provide the lights (I’m not keen) but it’s not my bike.
Not bad!
Come and get it, and bring your check book.
Job Done! Cost is high but again it’s not my bike.
Tony Down
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