From the ashes

[trifire]

The fire damaged MT350 has returned from the Exeter Trial and has been stripped and soon it will be going to the paint shop following blasting.

The stripping wasn't too difficult, well all the plastics were destroyed by the fire. The frame looks pretty straight, with no visible cracks, it seems quite sturdy. I'm sure these bikes were designed for a tough life in the Army. The bearing in the swing arm took a bit of effort to get out and I spent an age getting the dipstick out of the frame. At one stage I was lying on my back with the thing on top of me, wriggling it about like I was wrestling it. It took a barbecue fork to spear it and bring it to the neck and a screwdriver to prise it out.
There was a lot of surface rust and more deeper corrosion that was probably lurking there before the fire. If I can get the frame powder coated it will be a big morale boost.

[Yoof]

Wow
Good luck im glad you have decided to rebuild it.
Must have got incredibly hot looking at the rear wheel rim and the handlebar clamps!

[skippy1970]

Hi Sam
so glad you are going for the rebuild route
it would have been a shame to lose this bike
it will be nice to follow the rebuild as it takes shape
all the best Paul

[westy]

good luck with the rebuild, i was marshaling the exeter at rill path the closing car told us there'd been a bike fire didn't know it was a mt until i got home i've got the headlight plastics you can have all the best see you on the hills

[surfermick]

rising from the ashes, all the best to you trifire
http://youtu.be/67xXbTaQlKI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Peakrider2012]

Keep going. It will be worthwhile and I wish you every success. Make sure you do not get any MT promises.

[ellrider]

The bearing in the swing arm took a bit of effort to get out

Did you try heating it up?

Good luck with the renovation, it's good to see it's not dead.

[trifire]

The bearing in the swing arm took a bit of effort to get out

Did you try heating it up?

Good luck with the renovation, it's good to see it's not dead.

Yes, it wasn't too difficult. I suppose with the rest coming apart easy it just seemed to take a long time.

[trifire]

Progress has been slow with other commitments. I missed the deadline for the frame blasting but the swing arm needed a bid of work doing to it anyway. The centre stand stop bracket was bent, I think thats why the side stand and centre stand were rubbing against each other making an occasional annoying squeak whilst riding along. Following adjustments it broke away from the swing arm. I will weld this back on, I may put it back so I get the squeak, just to remind me that its still the same bike!
The engine has had a bit of a clean down, there is damage to the generator. I haven't managed to get this off yet, but its definitely knackered. Could the cover be stuck to all the melted wire inside ?
I hope to do a bit more this weekend and post some more photos.

[arceye]

Best of luck with this.
Any chance you can post normal size, its a pain moving the page side to side to read it.