1986 Canadian Armstrong MT500 Motorcycle

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

"Military Biker", do you have a name? Most of us here have been posting here since 1998, and we prefer to know people for who they are, rather than for who they "opt" to be...

Geoff

[Craig S.]

Military Biker -

Just returned to work this a.m. from leave and looked up your bike. There are a total of 85 Armstrong MT500's listed, but there may have been more than that. Here's the other info I could get:
-1986 MT500 Armstrong Motorcycle Medium 485cc
-Serial No. MTEC0080
-CFR#78573
-ECC 120104
-Acquired 08 August 1986
-Original UIC 2478, 5 CFSD
-VMO No. DP350343, 24 May 1995
-Disposed of 29 May 1995 as Serviceable
-Last holding notice 27 Sept 1995

Not much detail as I've seen on other bikes - maybe yours was sitting at 5CFSD it's entire military caereer. I'm not sure about the answers to your other questions regarding manuals, pictures, etc.
As it so happens while surfing for M-37 pic's recently, I came across another MT500 at a museum in the states (Indiana?) that was in the background of a photo on the site. On the fuel tank's left side was '78559' in chalk. Turns out that it could be the CFR for MTEC0066. I haven't contacted the museum yet to ask if that is in fact what they have (or if it is still there) as the photo was in 2005. I'll inquire about manuals, etc., when I talk to them. Perhaps they may be of some help. How many km's on your bike by the way? The one they have, if it is ex-Canadian CFR#78559, is listed as having only 668km at time of disposal from 3 CDO. Cheers,

Craig

[DanJahn]

Hi

I'm looking to add a Canadian army MT500 to my collection of dispatch bikes. If anyone knows of one for sale please contact me.

Thank you

Dan my email: dt969b@gmail.com

[Military Biker]

Thanks Craig for the excellent info . Present kms are 3298 w/ this machine having new tires fitted front / back & new gators on the forks . Except for
some surface rust on the exhaust it's in excellent shape for a machine of its age . As the CF system seems to have a manual /pub for anything wheeled or with a serial # it'd be strange if there wasn't one for this machine besides the small Armstrong supplied manual that I have . Look forward to any further pics or info you or anyone else can find .

OC MLU :
Sir , Have been lurking here for many years enjoying the info / information,
talents of the many individuals around the world thru your site . Bravo & thanks to you for it .

Terence McGaughey Aka Military Biker
Loc: Prince Edward Island , Canada

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Military Biker

... As the CF system seems to have a manual /pub for anything wheeled or with a serial # it'd be strange if there wasn't one for this machine besides the small Armstrong supplied manual that I have. ...

In the late 80's and early 90's, there was a Technical Library at FMC HQ in St Hubert. It was the repository for exactly what you said. That was 20 yrs, 3 Army transformations and a couple of base moves ago. I would suggest you need to politely address questions to the Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) (ADM (Mat)) at NDHQ, Major General George R Pearkes Building, 101 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1? ???. You don't want a "communications" answer. You don't want a historic answer. You are a serious researcher. You might ask that your letter be forwarded to the Director of Land Equipment, and to someone with corporate memory of the move from St-Hubert and who knows where those manuals wound up. Once you've found the right question to ask, explain that you will go through Access to Information.

[rob love]

I ran across one of my ring binders of military motorcycle manuals yesterday. It is mostly parts manuals and modifications for the older Can Am 250s, but there is the military parts manual for the Armstrong MT-500.

Off of that we can get the EAC of 30905. Using that, the CFTO numbers can be deduced. The parts manual is C30-905-000/MX-000. All manuals for the Armstrong will start with the C30-905-000/ and just the rear portion of letters will change with the various manuals. For instance, MA will be a data summary, MB the users manual, MN the maintenance manuals, and CF will be any modification bulletins. Some of these could even be online in the CF system.

So basically, if guys are looking through their tech libraries, keep an eye out for anything in the C30-905 series.

I have another binder somewhere with more military motorcycle manuals, but it has thus far eluded me.

If anyone is interested in parts manuals for the can am along with some of the mod instructions, I have a number of those as well. I don't foresee me getting another mil motorcycle anytime soon. I also have 2 or 3 manuals for the old triumphs as well if someone is interested.

[mike mckinley]

hi rob
i'm interested in both the can-am and triumph manuals. please pm me with price, your address, ect. thanks and cheers!! mike