RM370 rebuild

[EL Sammo]

Here's some pictures from the restoration of a RM370 my dad recently finished. I had the RM in parts for around ten years and kept it stashed in the shed intending to "do it up oneday" just like everyone says.

Time got in the way and a couple of years back when i was in australia on holidays i delivered all the parts to Dad as it was unrealistic for me to ever get the time to do it. Good to keep him busy anyway, idle hands and all that.

Anyway a picture tells a thousand words so i will let them do the talking.

RM 370 as found (2) by EL Sammo, on Flickr

[EL Sammo]

1976_RM370_sales1a_800 by EL Sammo, on Flickr

This is how it should look, having wheels would be a good start i will be running wheels for sure.

19-3-14 by EL Sammo, on Flickr

Up on the bench and stripping! Need some bad music and a pole.
19-3-14 by EL Sammo, on Flickr

[EL Sammo]

RM370 by EL Sammo, on Flickr

Here's Dads 370 he had back in the day, i was born circa 1983 around the same time dad sold the 370 to pay for nappies and milk powder. Don't blame me i would have told him to keep it!

I was intending to build the 370 as a gift back to him but now hes restoring it for me to ride, i got the better end of that deal for sure!

19-5-14 (2) (1) by EL Sammo, on Flickr

Frame back from powdercoating, this bike will be a racer so not concerned about factory finishes more about usability.

[EL Sammo]

14-6-14 by EL Sammo, on Flickr

Zinc plating, new foam and seat cover, suspension re hard chromed and setup as per standard, the rear shocks were sent out to be rebuilt and a threaded top section added to make them rebuildable.

[EL Sammo]

25-1-15 by EL Sammo, on Flickr

Looking more and more like a bike.

001 (3) by EL Sammo, on Flickr

The rotational noise making parts.

006 (1) by EL Sammo, on Flickr

005 (1) by EL Sammo, on Flickr

Got some flash gear to go with it, looking cool is very important while you are cartwheeling through haybales.

[Nipper]

El Sammo, kudos to your dad. He is doing a great job ,and yes you sure are getting the right end of the deal.
I have been in the process of rebuilding a 1976 RM 370, and boy have I been dragging my feet on that project.
I really like the fact that he is building it to ride. Well done!

[EL Sammo]

003 (1) by EL Sammo, on Flickr

The tank was pretty beat up, looked like it had been a victim of domestic violence at some point in its career and the tunnel had been spread about 50mm to fit it on another bike. It was cut open along the seams then panel beat back into shape before being welded back together then pressure tested. Man these tanks are light!

20150324_160911 by EL Sammo, on Flickr

Finding a rod kit for this thing was a huge mission, after much searching i got a NOS rod out of canada then sourced a big end pin and bearing from the US.

4-4-15 by EL Sammo, on Flickr

All together and balanced, with a nicely balanced crank and dad also remachined the engine mounting holes in the cases to keep the motor snug and happy in its home.

[EL Sammo]

El Sammo, kudos to your dad. He is doing a great job ,and yes you sure are getting the right end of the deal.
I have been in the process of rebuilding a 1976 RM 370, and boy have I been dragging my feet on that project.
I really like the fact that he is building it to ride. Well done!

Thanks Nipper! You should get stuck into yours! Only big hold up we had parts wise was the rod kit but everything else was reasonably easy to get.

[EL Sammo]

1-4-15 by EL Sammo, on Flickr

The crankcases were powdercoated along with the hubs, cylinder and head painted with high temp paint. Trying the powdercoat on the cases to see how it goes and for ease of cleaning.

001 (2) by EL Sammo, on Flickr

I had a spare engine with broken crankcase flange that supplied a mint gearset and clutch in perfect condition for the engine build, lucky there.

rm2 by EL Sammo, on Flickr

Ticking along now.

[Richo52]

Nice one El Sammo.....doing one myself as we speak...great looking bikes :-)

[EL Sammo]

006 (2) by EL Sammo, on Flickr

The number plate mounting brackets were very difficult to find, eventually one came up at a horrific price so dad bought it and used it as a pattern to make the two we needed, then sold the original OEM bracket on again. Sorted.


003 (1) by EL Sammo, on Flickr

Top end sorted with a new genuine piston.

[EL Sammo]

Nice one El Sammo.....doing one myself as we speak...great looking bikes :-)

Cheers! Yes they are a great looking bit of kit, they look really light and sharp even sitting still.

[Doc]

  sweet!

[EL Sammo]

16-7-15 by EL Sammo, on Flickr

Bars and levers sorted.

001 (3) by EL Sammo, on Flickr
002 (3) by EL Sammo, on Flickr
The muffler was caved in so dad cut open the rear mount, got it back into shape then repacked it and closed it back up. Even freshly packed the bike is still ear bleeding loud. WHAT?

[EL Sammo]

19-7-15 (2) by EL Sammo, on Flickr

Getting there, getting there. This all took around two years but now posting up pictures makes it all seem pretty fast.

003 (4) by EL Sammo, on Flickr

Tank painted and decals applied, Dad put a clear coat over the top so should keep it looking pretty nice and i can spill fuel on it etc without being worried.