Down to the frame

    Since the local shop side they'd could look  at the frame on this coming Saturday, I tore into what was left on the old MSS. I suspect that when they look at it, they may change their minds. Its definitely bent or twisted to one side.  However, nothing ventured- nothing gained. I'm not too sure they're equipped for frame straightening. It wasn't a thought to me that it could be bent, so I never asked. Its certainly clear now with so much off the frame. Both the top and down tube have issues; the down tube the most with two cracks and bodge repair.  

    With the engine and gearbox out last night, it was down to the last chore of pulling the rear wheel, fender, front wheel and forks. Most everything went according to Hoyle except the rear axel. At first it didn't want to come out of the wheel, then it didn't want to go back in. The nut that secures the left side hub/brake plate didn't want to budge until the axel was back in an tightened. The wheel nuts posed no troubles, though I expected they would. After a short dance all was released and off the frame. Exposing decades of road grime and grease inside the fender. If its anything like the front fender I'll gain 2 horsepower after removing the 12 pounds of dirt. 

using the 'add a' wrench to pry the axel out; pry a little, add a wrench.

missing parts and munged up threads? no surprise there...

looking to recover extra horse power after cleaning.

broken bolt or stud? you decide.

The Dowty forks came off without much trouble and no spilt oil. They were easy, in a relative way; support the frame, let out the air pressure, take out the two fill plugs and the center stem nut, pull up the upper triple, catch all the ball bearings from the head races.  I did have the fore thought to have a place to hang the forks while the caps were off and no way for air pressure. After which I reinstalled the upper triple, the fill caps and then pumped up the forks.  With a little luck they'll stay pumped up and not leak, Ha!.

So now its a bare frame ready to be brought back to a functional state.