Why someone started to strip the bike apart in the first place I'm not sure, as nothing appears to have been seriously wrong in the first place. However all the problems I have now, seem to relate to the way the bike was stored. After I split the cases I tried blasting a few parts only to find that the pitting was much deeper than I first thought. Basically every single external engine casting and cover is scrap from a cosmetic point of view. It's as if someone has poured acid all over it!

So began a long process of finding parts from around the globe: I got some NOS crankcases from Phil at Road and Race, a second-hand Desmo head and loads of small parts from Andreas at Desmo.de. A usable barrel and new piston off ebay in America ( thanks to Tom Rolland for sending them to me as sellers would only ship within USA) Various other covers and bevel tower parts also off ebay. Plus other numerous parts from Andy Williams @ Italian Motorcycle Restorations and another load of small parts fom Marc Parfait and various places from the Stafford shows.
       
 
         
 
  All the parts needed beed blasting but now look as good as new. Barrel liner is scrap so I will recover the one from the original barrel. After blasting and washing the cases out numerous times in the bath with clothes washing powder used as a detergent I replaced all the bearings. Basically put parts in an oven until they get hot enough to fry your spit © Andy Farrer ( about 180 to 200ºC I think ) and then they virtually fall out. Replace with new cold ones at the same time. I did this at work where we have an industrial oven but there's no reason you can't use a domestic one ( spouse permitting!)
         
 
Cylinder head re-build