Author Topic: 1965 250GT Continental Rebuild (Read 3032 times)

BritPete · **on:** April 10, 2023, 09:03:19 am

Not sure I have got this in the right place, if not some one will no doubt tell me.

A few weeks ago I joined the forum and said I have a 650 Interceptor and have just been given a 250GT Continental.

The story of the GT is a friend of mine in the early 80s bought 4 REs as at the time nobody wanted them and they were very cheap, amongst the haul was the GT he has given me but also a 350 Bullet and a Crusader Sports.

The bikes were stripped and stored in his garage in pieces and have remained there for the past 40 years.

My strategy, as I have a small garage with 4 bikes in it already is to bring it back in small parcels, refurbish the parts and then get the next lot

Progress so far follows

BritPete · **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2023, 09:08:39 am

The Tank

If I am honest I had written the tank off looking at the bottom but with some brute force managed to clear off all the filler - looks like it leaks but should be OK when it is lined

BritPete · **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2023, 09:11:31 am

For some reason it only seems to want to allow me to upload 1 photograph

BritPete · **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2023, 09:13:34 am

Sure someone will tell me how I can upload more than 1 photo per post - I am on an iPad
Will halt for now and continue when the problem is sorted, as you can see the tank has at some point been painted blue and then back to red

richard211 · **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2023, 10:05:49 am

There is a tab named as "more attachments". Select that and it will allow you to the next attachment and so on.

BritPete · **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2023, 11:12:52 am

So after a brutal sand with 40 grit, then 220 grit, 400 grit and 800 grit - dremelling filling I think the tank has come up well, the red is now the gel coat - off to the paint shop

BritPete · **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2023, 11:26:58 am

This is what I have collected so far, the wheels are now stripped cleaned and polished.
The rims will be rechromed, don’t want to lose the originality of the Dunlop rims, the seat was purchased in the early eighties so is brand new.

The front wheel all the spokes came out, back wheel 4 spokes snapped - next decision is do I clean the spokes and have them replated or replace with stainless.

The bolts, brake cams, spindles etc will go to the platers next week, new bearings already on order.

grumbern · **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2023, 03:21:01 pm

Very interesting. The only thing I never liked about the GT ist that gharstly hungeback buddyseat. There was a [rul=https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/lacuna2/mortons-beta/media/continental05081902.jpg]prototype[/url] with a different seat that would have looked much better and even more, if it was shortened a bit to a single seat. Otherwise, this makes for a very fine bike that came closer to a cafe racer when it was new from factory, as mostly anything else of those modern customs.
Andreas

royaloilfield · **Reply #8 on:** April 14, 2023, 05:33:00 pm

not sure if you are on facebook??? but there is a group on there dedicated to the 250s. It is the old yahoo group. Brian

BritPete · **Reply #9 on:** April 14, 2023, 05:46:25 pm

Quote from: royaloilfield on April 14, 2023, 05:33:00 pm

not sure if you are on facebook??? but there is a group on there dedicated to the 250s. It is the old yahoo group. Brian

Thanks - I am but don't really use it - I will give it a lookup

BritPete · **Reply #10 on:** October 03, 2023, 08:58:34 am

Been a while since I have posted but the restoration is proceeding although slowly

Frame stripped to bare metal with angle grinder and wore brush then I have sprayed it 2 pack black

BritPete · **Reply #11 on:** October 03, 2023, 09:00:41 am

Wheels rims rechromed and rebuilt - used a local chap who is 93 years old and has been building wheels for donkeys years

BritPete · **Reply #12 on:** October 03, 2023, 09:01:34 am

Tin work sprayed

grumbern · **Reply #13 on:** October 03, 2023, 10:55:44 am

Nice!

Captain Bob · **Reply #14 on:** November 01, 2023, 08:20:08 pm

Nice job! I am anxious to see the end result!

Auldgit · **Reply #15 on:** January 16, 2024, 12:43:45 pm

Quote from: royaloilfield on April 14, 2023, 05:33:00 pm

not sure if you are on facebook??? but there is a group on there dedicated to the 250s. It is the old yahoo group. Brian

Been looking for this site on Facebook but without success. Any idea what its handle is? Or name of group? Not very familiar with Facebook so struggling a bit...!

BritPete · **Reply #16 on:** January 16, 2024, 01:51:14 pm

Quote from: Auldgit on January 16, 2024, 12:43:45 pm

Been looking for this site on Facebook but without success. Any idea what its handle is? Or name of group? Not very familiar with Facebook so struggling a bit...!

I found the group and you need to request to join it - I did and had no reply - I then messaged the owners and still no reply so I am thinking it is defunct

Auldgit · **Reply #17 on:** January 16, 2024, 02:43:28 pm

Thanks for letting me know. Maybe didn't get enough support? Anyway that explains why I can't find it... difficult to know where to go for the best info and advice for these 250s. The owners club doesn't seem to have a functioning forum either which is a surprise.

BritPete · **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2024, 03:11:12 pm

Quote from: Auldgit on January 16, 2024, 02:43:28 pm

Thanks for letting me know. Maybe didn't get enough support? Anyway that explains why I can't find it... difficult to know where to go for the best info and advice for these 250s. The owners club doesn't seem to have a functioning forum either which is a surprise.

I had some interactions with the UK RE Owners Club late last year when I was looking for information on the dealer my GT250 was shipped to, basically to get info you have to join, not sure that is right for me as I have classic Triumph, BSA, Honda and Puch plus modern RE

I wonder what is behind the Members Area : https://www.royalenfield.org.uk/

Is there anything specific you are looking for?

Auldgit · **Reply #19 on:** January 16, 2024, 04:12:03 pm

In answer to your question, not a lot behind the paywall tbh. Bit disappointing. I've had 43 years of Moto Guzzis and their site is very useful. Good forum and lots of tech info.

No not looking for anything specific at the moment, early days, just finding my way around a Britsh bike again, first one since 1979...

Cheers Peter

Auldgit · **Reply #20 on:** January 16, 2024, 04:14:29 pm

Correction-- the only thing I'm looking for at the moment is a way to get the bike onto the centre stand without causing my back to rebel....

BritPete · **Reply #21 on:** January 16, 2024, 06:55:05 pm

Quote from: Auldgit on January 16, 2024, 04:14:29 pm

Correction-- the only thing I'm looking for at the moment is a way to get the bike onto the centre stand without causing my back to rebel....

Centre stands are a pain - my BSA C15 is a nightmare and very heavy to get onto the centre stand. My Triumph (21) 3TA is an absolute doddle - be interesting when I get the GT250 back together.

Luckily the BSA has a side stand for when I am out.

The GT250 does not come with a side stand and I suspect the Crusader did not but either RE or a 3rd party made a side stand that does attach to the 250 frames. I have one in the Garage that came with the GT250, it is cleaned up and under coated but will need to wait til the spring to be 2 pack sprayed

Let me know if you want any further info

Auldgit · **Reply #22 on:** January 16, 2024, 09:13:14 pm

Cheers. I'm sure I will as time goes on. AG