Is It A 348?

[spokerider]

Thanks for posting the pics. It's a production model and not a works bike. It is a very early number and I agree that it is strange that it found its way to Canada.

Check the welds at the point where the 2 frame tubes come up from the engine and meet the steering tube. They were known to crack there. Later models had a triangular gussett plate welded in there. I will try and post a picture.

Also, the tranmissions on some of the early ones had lots of neutrals. Re-shimming the trans was the cure.

Keep the chain well adjusted because hitting a big step with a loose chain will actually cause the front c/s sprocket to skip a tooth and it make a hell of a noise. Later models had a case guard installed to avoid this. I think the also moved the sing arm pivot point.

Also check the inside the rear hub for cracks around the bearing. Later models had more webbing.

The forks may NOT be bent or mis-aligned. Older Montesa have stuck forks often. The bushing on the damper rod swells up (dissimilar metals reaction) and cause the damper rod to stick in the forks tube. When you take the forks apart you can pound it (damper rod) out with a broom stick, be careful.

It looks like the rear shocks mat be silver Betors. They were a common upgrade from the standard Telescos. Keep them if they still work well.

You have a bit a work to do but the bike is well worth saving and while it is not #1, low numbers always help in a vintage bikes' value.

Where are you getting you parts? Steve Odell in BC or Jed Bates in AZ?

Good Luck, Martin Belair

Martin,

Thanks for all of the valuable info on this old bike. It appears that there are many small differences between the early ones and later ones.

Due to time constraints, I'll not be getting to restoring it any time soon.....so it'll have to wait.

I've been getting some parts from Steve.