The Frame
The frame appears to be sound with light rusting here and there. I decided to strip the paint by hand using chemical paint stripper and wished I hadn’t, it’s slow, laborious and filthy. Better to find a shot blaster but you need to blank off the headstock and swing arm bearings to avoid filling with shot sand. The swing arm bearings appear to be ok with no play.
The wheels.
The wheel rims and spokes are completely rusted out on all four wheels so I have cut all the spokes and taken out the hubs. These are ok internally, externally they and the trim discs and brake plates, indeed all the alloy parts, are white with alloy corrosion. The front brake was seized in the hub but five weeks soaking in diesel and judicious tapping got the thing apart. The alloy parts need to be bead blasted. The brake shoes and linings appear to be ok.
 |
| Scrap wheel rims |
 |
| Stripped hubs |
The Front Forks
The front forks are not Panther but a leading link design which may be home made. Again the angle grinder was needed to get them apart. The pivot for the swing arm is totally rusted away leaving the swing arm attached only by the shocks. The shocks are also quite rusty and further investigation is needed to see if they can be disassembled.
 |
| Dismantled forks |
The Tinware.
Most of the tinware is badly corroded. The petrol tank is scrap with large holes where the knee grips were and with the bottom virtually gone. One petrol tap fell out with a piece of tank attached. The badges and taps may be salvageable.
 |
| Petrol tank, beyond repair? |
The front mudguard was non-Panther and rusted out. It was also cut in half as we tried to get the bike into the van. The rear mudguard turned out to be a Panther front mudguard with a short length attached to make it long enough. I have an original steel rear mudguard somewhere so can make up a pair.
The tool boxes are both rotted away at their lower extremities. Since they are identical and one is mounted on the bike upside down relative to the other it may be possible to cut and shut and make one from the two. Whether my skills are adequate for that is debatable.
 |
| Shredded tool boxes |
The rear chainguard has been fitting with a steel plate but looks ok. Headlight is ok complete with speedo, ammeter and panther’s head badge, as is the rear number plate. The tail light is missing.
The Primary Drive
The primary chaincase is complete but white with corrosion. The complete clutch was found in the sidecar boot and is fairly rusted. It has been derusted in a tank of water and washing soda by passing in an electric current. I’ve not used this process before but it appears to work quite well. Search Youtube for "electrolytic rust removal" for instructions.. New chains and an engine sprocket will be needed.
Sundry Fittings
Many of the fittings came out without too much trouble apart from the lower rear sidecar fitting which is locked immovably in the boss on the rear frame. It can stay there! Other loose studs, bolts and spacers etc have been cleaned with a rotary wire brush and will be zinc plated for reuse. Damaged fittings will be replaced.
The Gearbox.
So far I only have the kickstart case off but the internals look to be in good condition although again the alloy case is white with corrosion. The short clutch pushrod was noticeable by its absence. Further investigation is required.
The Engine.
That’s another story for another day!
No comments:
Post a Comment