Emma the 'M' model.

[Frankibaby7]

Sweet alan , that’s how it’s done properly son

[Alan H]

Oh, just wait. This'll be special. Really special.

[Alan H]

Baz needs a 550 points cover, but the only spare I have is for the J - so it's the embossed type. Hmm, I just happen to have a spare embossed Generator cover too......
Just got the wheels back from the powder coaters - metalflake silver alloy GS550 types with discs all round (as you'd expect!) The 'new' forks I got turned out to be 37mm, so won 't fit the yokes, so had to go back.

[Alan H]

Long time no update, so....
Been on the buy for Emma bits. Found these NOS GS750 calipers - same as the ones on Earwig today.
 

Pretty int they?
Got some bearings for the powder coated GS550 ally wheels too, so it looks like I'll actually have to start doing summat about the resto now.
Pity there's no room in the garage........ 

[Alan H]

Moving on a bit at last......
Well, Emma has been sat sitting all lonely for quite some time as the garage is full (3 x GT550s + the Guzzi) and working in there entails getting at least 3 bikes out so I have some space to work in. Most of the original parts are completely knackered, so replacement parts have/are being sourced so something can be moved forward. I dropped on a set of GS550 clocks which seem to work so are in a box ready for that bit of the rebuild, wheels are ready as previously described, the GS550 swing arm was shot blasted & was found to be very light due to lots of corrosion  so I nipped down to DK on thursday to see if there was a better one available. I took the colander one down as a 'pattern'....
Now I fitted a GS swinger on Earwig so I could have 3 discs on, but realised it was about an inch and a half longer than standard so had to get a pair of inch longer Hagon shocks after an arse nip moment in the IOM ages ago. Earwig handling has been much better since!
Anyway, colander was similar, so I ended up with a GS swinger the same length as the original GT swinger. I have some almost new standard shocks to fit it. Of course the GT fork stantions are shot, but I can get a brand new pair for about £170. 
I'll cut the brackets off colander (maybe) & the local Gypsy scrap men can have the rest - plus the original frame which is in a similar state and was butchered anyway. I have another frame available, but it's a K which is very different from an M of course, but is being 'adjusted' to turn into an original type. Nowt straightforrard at all - natch!
Side panel brackets are different and the steering lock/lockstop plate is missing. Got a decent rear sprocket and cut it up to make a new one. Must get some pics to prove it! I've had other - none bike stuff on recently, so I suppose I'll have to do a writeup about that too! I need to sell a couple of 550s to get some room in the garage, but bike sales are very sluggish nowadays.
Ho hum......

[Alan H]

Trouble with the frame swap idea is the amount of bodgery needed to make the K frame into an M frame - pics are on my phone, so maybe later!
The M frame is completely knackered due to sitting in a damp cellar for over 30 years so is completely unusable, and the K frame that was hopefully to replace it needed lots of original bracketry removing and replacements welding on. - and it would never have been 'right' as anyone in the know would have sniffed out a 'ringer' in the future if/when the bike was eventually sold, so it looks like another run down to DK to see what they have. I've asked around, but seemingly nowt much about.
A phone call first of course and probably make a list of requirements too. Last visit down there a couple of weeks ago was very enlightening with loads of GT550 parts available in very different states of usability, but there again, the newest GT550s are knocking on for 50 years old nowadays.

[Alan H]

It appears that I may have access to a 'new' frame for Emma.
Right year, looks reasonable condition - nowt that a colour change won't cure anyway -

Screenshot_20241028-150834_eBay.jpg (109.69 KiB) Viewed 773 times

and the current owner seems to want to work at the sale, so sent a £25 deposit & should be able to 'nip' darn sarf-ish next week for a good look and hopefully fetch it back. Whistle see......
Strange how many differences between the M frame & basically all the other models. Pics to follow on that subject sometime.

After a long drive yesterday from home to Worcester, Dudley & back home - mainly at about 50mph due to roadworks most of the way, the frame is home! Also a couple of decent condition GT550 barrels, plus a later NOS type Borg Warner starter clutch, bearings + clutch basket. Frame is much better than the original and is a correct M frame which I thought were extinct. I can get it stripped, checked, then shot blasted & powder coated ready for the build proper.
Might try a different frame & GS550 swing arm colour like silver. Hmmmm. Should be ok to match the 3 disc setup like earwig, eh?
Just need a pair of nice fork tubes now........