In loving memory of John
gregory bender

Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, Eldorado, 850 California - Dash and gauges

Other Moto Guzzi resources hosted on This Old Tractor

Auxiliary gauge mounts

Updated: Jun 09, 2008

Frank Granli's auxiliary mounts

Thanks to Frank Granli who sent this information to me in a private communication. In Franks's own words:

There is also a picture showing my extra instruments for monitoring oil pressure and volts. Both are 52mm instruments, placed in car exhaust pipe parts and clamped to the steering bar. Rather cheap and secure way of fitting those instruments, the problem is of course to make them watertight, but that could also be solved by choosing marine instruments :)

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Ron Komoroski's auxiliary mounts

Thanks to Ron Komoroski who sent this information to me in a private communication. In Ron's own words:

When I was doing the resto on my bike I was still employed as a Senior Technician at an R&D Lab, working on Advanced Materials. As such I had access to all sorts of material stock. The mounts for the gages are made from two 3.00" long sections cut from a section of aluminum pipe I found on one of the stock racks. It's dimentions are: OD 2.63" wall thickness about .15". Whether it's a standard size, Where it came from I have no idea. The labs were originally set up in the early 60's by the Babcock & Wilcox Company for their Nuclear development. The length of pipe had some age on it when I used it in the mid 90's, so it may well have been a "drop" from some reactor componet.

UPDATE: After writing the above I got curious & started looking through my collection of "sources" Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company sell "round aluminum tubing 6061T6" in 2 1/4" and 2 1/2" ODs with 7 different IDs & wall thicknesses. It's sold by the foot. I've never dealt with this company, but I got the catalog from friend Clifford who has had good experience with them.

I polished the pipe sections and epoxied them to the front cutouts in my Police dash. I didn't want to drill holes in the dash casting in case the gages didn't work out & I wanted to go back to stock. The epoxy I used was a super-zoot "Meta-Set A4" by Smooth On we had at the lab. (these days I use "JB Weld", it looks ,acts, & smells like exactly the same stuff).I wrapped the gage bodies with beer-can aluminum & aluminum tape so they are a snug fit in the pipe. I made a plate to bolt up to the two all-thread studs on the back of the gages, drilled holes in the plate, & cut 4 lengths of fine all-thread long enough to protrude from the bottom of the pipe sections when bolted into the holes. I cut two plates to go across the bottom of the pipe sections w/holes for the all-thread. using nuts on both sides of the plates w/ a drop of loctite has yielded a set-up that has been pretty much trouble free for about 13 years now. I have always run a fairing, so the bottom of the pipe sections are hidden & don't have to be pretty.

The gage needles do "dance" from the bikes' vibes, & I've had to replace each gage once due to failure over the years/miles. The oil pressure gage is mechanical. I cut, drilled, tapped, threaded & silversoldered a "T" fixture that screws into the block & supplies a feed to the gage an allows me to keep the idiot light sender. The pressure line to the gage is plastic/teflon?, It has failed at the connection to the "T" hose connection. Oil shot out from under the tank & made quite a mess. I ran the replacement pressure hose inside some tygon tubing to help damp vibration, & I carry an extra tube fitting with the hose melted closed to put on the "T" for emergency repair if it ever happens again. I've got a set of high-bux VDO gages on the bench to install the next time I have the fairing off, I'm hoping they'll be more stable than the el-cheap-o Sunpros I've been using. The hot set-up would be gages filled with liquid silicon for vibration damping, but I've never found a silicon filled 2"gage, it's only used in the larger sizes. Readings? w/about 45K on the motor rebuild, the oil pressure readings I get are: 60 psi cold, 50 hot above 1000 rpm & 20 cold 15 hot at idle. I'm running the awsome Greg Field alternator & get a 14 volt reading as soon as the rpms come off idle. If you zoom in on the picture & are curious about the black box between the gages on the front of the dash housing it is a turnsignal beeper.

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Dash indicator light placement - civilian dual gauge

Updated: Prior to Dec 11, 2007

  Position of light from left to right
Top row "H" - High Beam - Red light "N" - Neutral - Amber light
Bottom row "G" - Generator Warning Light - Red light "O" - Oil Pressure Warning - Red light

Dash indicator light placement - civilian single gauge

Updated: Prior to Dec 11, 2007

Position of light from left to right
"Lights" - High Beam - Red light "Dynamo" - Generator Warning Light - Red light "Idle" - Neutral - Amber light "Oil" - Oil Pressure Warning - Red light

Dash indicator light placement - typical police version

Updated: Prior to Dec 11, 2007

  Position of light or switch from left to right
Top row     High Beam - Blue or Red light Generator Warning Light - Red light Neutral - Amber light Oil Pressure Warning - Red light    
Middle row Left Turn Signal / Turn Indicator - Blue or Green Courtesy Light (Spotlights) - Red or Blue         Push/Pull Switch - kill switch Right Turn Signal / Turn Indicator - Blue or Green
Bottom row Push/Pull Switch - Windshield map light             Toggle Switch - Flashers

Dash indicator light replacements

Updated: Dec 11, 2007

I don't know of any exact replicas for the dash indicator lights. So, sourcing good used ones is about that best a person can hope for if you want to stay completely original. But, the originals can be expensive. Here are some alternatives:

MG Cycle part number MG115; replacement console indicator light set for Ambassador and Eldorado. These idiot lights are complete with bulb. Slightly different than original, but the closest to original that we have seen. Each set includes 1 red, 1 amber, 1 green, and 1 blue. Made for twin instrument consoles on Eldorados, Ambassadors, and Nuovo Falcones.

Thanks to Paul Linn who posted this information on the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group.

Thanks to Mike Jones who posted this information on the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group.

Dash indicator lights - Head light indicator or High beam indicator?

Updated: Jul 22, 2009

Thanks to Patrick Hayes, Carl Allison, Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle, and Carl Krall for investigating this information via private communications with me and for posting the information on the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group.

Patrick Hayes' original post after initial investigation with Carl Allison, Charlie Mullendore, and Gregory Bender

Carl Allison of Oklahoma has produced some lovely, color-coded wire diagram plans for most Guzzi models. These plans are hosted in duplicate at Gregory Bender's "this old tractor" site and also on Guzzitech.com. They are a very handy aid for any electrical diagnostic or modification work.

(CAUTION: Never look at the plans you might find on a "pacbell" server. Carl has been off that account for many years. He can't update or edit or delete those files. Pacbell refuses to take them down or give him access to take them down. They are obsolete but still show up in net searches.)

I have discovered a few anomalies in some of the plans and have been working with Carl to perfect and update the color plans. We have discovered something in the Loopframe Series that seems VERY WRONG in electro/mechanical design and we need further input from end users. To paraphrase Capt. Louis Renault in Casablanca, I'm shocked to hear that there are errors in Guzzi wire plan design! Shocked I tell you!

We are referring to 750 and 850 loopframes. Please look at your parts if you happen to have them opened up. Please look at any library wire diagrams if your bike is intact. Please look at the fuse panel inside the headlamp housing which contains 9 fuses.

Fuse #3 gets a RED power feed wire coming from the ignition switch. That power comes from the battery, through the key switch and into the fuse panel without any fused protection. The fuse block has an internal bridge structure on its back side which connects the tops of all of the fuses from #3 through to #7. So, all five of those 'ganged' fuse positions are HOT on the top side whenever the key switch is on.

Now to the mystery. The TOP of Fuse #4 has a BLUE/BLACK wire which feeds power to the ignition coil. The TOP of Fuse #5 has a similar BLUE/BLACK wire which feeds power to the starter button and starter relay circuit. Both of these feed positions on the TOP of the fuse plate are hot as soon as the key is turned on. AND THEY ARE BOTH NOT PROTECTED BY DOWNSTREAM FUSES!!!!! Any short circuit in either of those wires will result in some serious melting somewhere.

If you have any further information or comment about these two circuits, we'd like to hear it so that the plans can be corrected. If there is some logical electrical reason to design this way, we'd like to hear that so that we know the plans are accurate. We have seen several Loopframe plan variants in books by several publishers. They all seem to agree in this wire anomaly. It just doesn't make good engineering sense. But, if that is truly the way Guzzi designed it, then we want to reaffirm that design.

Marty Ray's input on the use of unfused circuits (Marty sent this to me via a private communication)

You make a big point about unfused circuits in the ignition area, I wanted to point out that this style of wiring is common in older school electrical systems, where typically only the branch accessory circuits are fused. Common unfused circuitry in older vehicles are: lamps, horn, ignition, dynamo, control box. Feel free to rewire as you see fit, but I don't think Guzzi was too far out of normal practice for the time. Perhaps the thinking was to only fuse circuits that were less critical to operation.

Carl Krall's reply to Patrick Hayes

I did notice that the high beam indicator wire is in the wrong place on the diagram I downloaded. If placed where the diagram shows, it is a headlight indicator. Needs to go over to the siamesed connection off the high beam wire.

Will go have a look at those wires you mention, seems like there is ample room for them to be off the bottom row. Some of my fuses aren't protecting anything at all, and I'm beginning to understand why.

Gregory Bender's reply to Carl Krall

There is indeed some confusion as to what that indicator light is really supposed to indicate.

I've seen original wiring diagrams that show both scenarios: as a "lights are on" indicator AND as a "high beam" indicator.

The labels on the dash and/or gauges don't help matters, either. The single gauge speedometer uses a "lights" label (perhaps to indicate "lights are on") whereas the civilian 2-gauge dash uses an "H" label (perhaps to indicate "high beam").

Then, there is my personal preference to use that indicator light as a "turn signals are flashing" indicator (also known as a "hey dummy, turn off your turn signals before someone believes you and does a lefty in front of you and you earn the nickname 'T-bone' for a very good reason" indicator).

Oh well…I bet Guzzi put them in a variety of configurations leaving the factory. At least they are easily changed to indicate whatever a person wants :>

Patrick Hayes's reply to Carl Krall

I'm looking at the 750 CIVILIAN Ambassador USA wire plan. I see what you refer to. Actually, from the plan and from the descriptive text, Guzzi apparently never intended it as a HIGH BEAM indicator on the Civilian bike, but merely as a HEADLIGHTS ON indicator. How odd! Likely some Italian DOT regulation held over from cars. One would think that in the middle of the night you would be able to tell if your headlights were on or not without the guidance of a little red idiot light! None the less, since Guzzi calls it a "LIGHTS INDICATOR", the diagram is correct and the wire is in the correct (but not best) position.

As you advise, it would be quite easy to relocate the wire so that the indicator bulb only glows when the HIGH BEAM is ON, a much more logical function. The 750 POLICE Ambassador wire plan does relocate this wire as you have suggested so that it does become a true HIGH BEAM indicator and they do call it a HIGH BEAM indicator in the text.

For anyone wishing to make this modification to a Civilian Ambassador, I have posted a simple little diagram here:

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If your wiring is stock, you will have a YELLOW/BLACK wire positioned as I have shown. I can't do BI-COLOR lines, so I only show it here in YELLOW. If you wish to alter for use as a HIGH BEAM indicator as described, just remove this wire from the connector panel in the base of your headlamp housing and relocate it to the new position as I have shown in RED. Your wire colors won't change, I am only using these colors for position contrast.

With permission, here also is a nice, clear photograph of the headlamp housing innards from Charlie Mullendore.

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Note here that Guzzi has included color-coded stickers on the junction block. Conveniently, they show two YELLOW/BLACK positions even though the harness has only one YELLOW/BLACK wire. The left side YELLOW/BLACK position results in a "lights on" indicator. The right side YELLOW/BLACK position results in a "high beam" indicator.

Patrick Hayes' futher investigation into the Italian language

Last week we were looking at some oddities on the loopframe wire diagrams. The wire plan includes one YELLOW/BLACK wire within the headlamp housing which ignites a warning light on the dash panel. The junction block in the headlamp includes TWO possible positions for this wire. On the Civilian bikes, the wire is factory installed in the "I" position and the warning light ignites whenever any headlamp in on. On the Police bikes, the wire is factory installed in the "A" position and the warning light ignites only when the HIGH BEAM is on.

So, what do the "I" and "A" positions mean in the original Italian?

Learned a new word this week. The "I" is for Iluminazione or lighting or lighting system. The "A" is for Abbagliante (ahb-baal-YON-tay). Means dazzling or brilliant and hence High Beam in vehicle applications.

See here for clarification:

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No reason why any rewire project shouldn't move to the "A" position for a more logical application.

Dash rubber isolator mounts

Updated: Dec 20, 2008

Thanks to Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle for sending me this information in a private email. In Charlie's own words:

I sourced the civilian dual-gauge dash rubber isolators from McMaster-Carr for USD $1.49 each. Part no. 9225K63. Fit perfectly.

Dash variations

Updated: Prior to Dec 11, 2007

Numerous dash variations were created for the loop frames. Here is what is out there:

Civilian dashes

Part number

MG# 12501500

Yes, this is the same part number as the dash on the right. Guzzi changed the part but did not change the number.

MG# 12501500

Yes, this is the same part number as the dash on the left. Guzzi changed the part but did not change the number.

MG# 13501500
Pictures

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Top view. The speedometer shown is not correct for this dash. It would have been originally fitted to Eldorado police dashes.Top view. The speedometer shown is not correct for this dash. It would have been originally fitted to Eldorado police dashes.

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Photo by Charles Hamer. This is the correct speedometer for this dash. Note the odd numbering (10, 30, 50, etc).Photo by Charles Hamer. This is the correct speedometer for this dash. Note the odd numbering (10, 30, 50, etc).

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Top view. This is the correct speedometer for this dash. Note the even numbering (20, 40, 60, etc). The ignition switch is not correct.Top view. This is the correct speedometer for this dash. Note the even numbering (20, 40, 60, etc). The ignition switch is not correct.

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Photo by David Ramby. Doubtful if additional holes are factoryPhoto by David Ramby. Doubtful if additional holes are factory

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Top view. These are the correct gauges, indicator lights, and ignition switch, including placement.Top view. These are the correct gauges, indicator lights, and ignition switch, including placement.

Number of instruments 1 1 2
Windshield cut-outs No No No
Ignition switch hole Yes Yes Yes
Mounting holes 2 fore and 2 aft 2 fore and 2 aft 2 fore and 2 aft
Holes for indicator lights 0 0 4
Lip height Lip for the speedometer is very short - comes up just higher than the ignition switch platform Lip for the speedometer is a little taller - comes up about 3/8" higher than the ignition switch platform N/A
Usage V7 / V700 models Early Ambassador models Ambassador and all Eldorado models

Police dashes

Part number MG# 12501540 MG# 13501540 unknown

MG# 13501541

Yes, this is the same part number as the dashes on the right. Guzzi changed the part but did not change the number.

MG# 13501541

Yes, this is the same part number as the dashes on the right and left. Guzzi changed the part but did not change the number.

MG# 13501541

Yes, this is the same part number as the dashes on the left. Guzzi changed the part but did not change the number.

Pictures

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Top viewTop view

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Top viewTop view

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Front viewFront view

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Front viewFront view

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Left viewLeft view

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Right viewRight view

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Photo by Paul Linn. 1Photo by Paul Linn. 1

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Photo by Paul Linn. 2Photo by Paul Linn. 2

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Photo by Paul Linn. 3Photo by Paul Linn. 3

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Photo by Greg Barratt. 1Photo by Greg Barratt. 1

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Photo by Greg Barratt. 2Photo by Greg Barratt. 2

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Photo by Greg Barratt. 3Photo by Greg Barratt. 3

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Photo by Greg Barratt. 4Photo by Greg Barratt. 4

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Top viewTop view

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Ear viewEar view

No photo yet available. The spare parts catalog shows this without windshield bracket cut outs.

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Top viewTop view

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Ear viewEar view

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Photo by Keith Ruff. 1Photo by Keith Ruff. 1

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Photo by Keith Ruff. 2Photo by Keith Ruff. 2

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Photo by Kim Schick.Photo by Kim Schick.

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Photo by David Ramby.Photo by David Ramby.

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Top viewTop view

Number of instruments 1 1 1 1 1 1
Windshield cut-outs No Yes No No Yes Yes
Ignition switch hole Yes Yes Maybe - photo is unclear, but it appears to have a non-factory ignition switch hole No No No
Trip meter reset hole No No No No No Yes
Mounting holes 2 fore and 2 aft + 2 additional holes inside the foremost holes 2 fore and 2 aft + 2 additional holes inside the foremost holes 2 fore and 2 aft 2 fore and 2 aft 2 fore and 2 aft 2 fore and 2 aft
Holes for indicator lights 0 0 5 - photo is unclear, but it appears to have a non-factory hole on the left side 10 10 10
Additional mounting box Yes, attaches to the front of the dash with four bolts Yes, attaches to the front of the dash with four bolts No No No No
Usage Very rare; probably most common on V7 / V700 and Ambassador models. Very rare; probably most common on Eldorado models. Very rare; probably most common on V7 / V700 and Ambassador models. More common; probably most common on Eldorado models. More common; probably most common on Eldorado models. More common; probably most common on Eldorado models.

Dash wrinkle paint

Updated: Jul 22, 2009

Application technique

Thanks to Marty Ray for sending me this information via email. In Marty's own words:

This one relates to the use of wrinkle finish, I have experience applying this to both loop frame dashes and the much larger dash assembly from early MGB cars. The following tips should help people:

  • Yes, practice on some other item first to get the feel, especially for the heat lamp tip part below.
  • Shake the paint really really well. Take your time. warm the paint and the part, use the sun, heat lamp, or heat gun.
  • Apply two relatively thick coats, but try not to get it to run of course.
  • Leaving the part to dry in the hot sun can help, but what's best is to create and control the wrinkling process using heat from a non-blowing heat source. This way you don't have to wait forever to see the wrinkles form, and you can add extra heat to areas that don't wrinkle well enough initially.
    • I don't think applying a heat gun, with air blowing out of it, is a good plan at all.
    • What I always do is to use a heat lamp, you can simply use the type of inexpensive halogen work light sold in auto parts stores. I like to use a small floor lamp rather than a large pole mounted one, you need one that you can hold in your hand and move around easily. I'm sure that more expensive types of lamps could be used as well. The one I use has a rather long thin type of bulb, this bulb cannot be touched with your fingers when you install it, the oil from your fingers will potentially cause the bulb to explode when it gets hot. This type of lamp produces copious heat, but of a gentle nature.
    • Patiently, patiently, at a distance of about 4-6" or so, move the heat lamp over the surface of the painted part, to encourage the wrinkle to form. Try to go over the whole part evenly, as you are first doing this, in order to get the best even matching wrinkle finish. The wrinkle will form slowly at first, but can be accelerated by applying more heat. You'll find that you can judge how much heat to add to an area as you cruise around with the heat lamp. Areas that at first seem to wrinkle too little, can be made to wrinkle better, and match the other areas, by the addition of extra heat. On the other hand, if you spend too much time too early in one spot, you'll likely encourage unevenness.

Try this, you'll like it. You'll probably not want to go back to leaving the wrinkle to time and chance again.

Dupli-Color truck bed liner

Thanks to Mark Etheridge of Moto Guzzi Classics for providing the following information on the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group. In Mark's own words:

Dupli-Color truck bed coating works very well on dashes, starters, and breather boxes. Good stuff.

Eastwood Wrinkle Black

Thanks to Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle for providing the following information on the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group. In Charlie's own words:

I've used Eastwood's wrinkle black with good results. A few things that help (at least with the Eastwood product):

  • very warm part (warm on a woodstove, with a heat gun, etc.)
  • warm paint (a little above ambient temp)
  • practice on an old part first

Still tricky to get it right. Directions say two heavy coats. Not easy to get heavy coats without runs, the warm part and paint help it "flash off" before it has a chance to run. Still, you don't know how well you've done until 12-18 hours later…

Krylon Wrinkle Finish #3370

Thanks to Charles Hamer for sending the following information to me in a private email.

Here is another great product for the texture of civilian dashboards: "Wrinkle Finish" made by Krylon #3370 in black, I found mine at Advance Auto Parts.

I tested that finish on a old dashboards and it exactly, I really mean "exactly" reproduces the OEM finish, I was amazed, no differences. The only thing is it may be a little glossy, but I took care of that with spraying lightly some Ultra-Flat Black.

The important thing is to spray a thick layer while letting it dry from a heat source; I left mine in the sun and even better, covered it with a transparent plastic container to make a green-house effect, the wrinkle was perfect. They sometimes suggest using a heat gun, but not sure if it'll dry too quick and ruin the perfect finish. Really great stuff.

Gauge repair

Updated: Dec 11, 2009

There are a number of companies that rebuild old instruments such as speedometers, tachometers, etc. I have not used any of these, but I thought I would provide references, nonetheless.

Gauge trim ring removal and installation

Updated: Mar 02, 2010

Danilo Gurovic's technique

I extracted this information from Danilo Gurovic off of the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group. In Danilo's own words:

To get the chrome retaining rings off the Veglia instruments, just get a nice #00 screw driver and a small hammer or mallet. Find a soft work surface, and gently rap the screwdriver as it's resting flat along the chrome on the side of the ring. Gentle persuasion and about 15 minutes yields the ring, unmolested, in your hands.

To get the nice black face back, get some "Black Chrome" and a few Q-tips, and gently clean the face of the instrument with it. Looks like new in about 30 minutes. Make sure you wipe the excess. The rubber gasket holding the glass and items is probably shot -- I used black rubber goop. I also painted the outer retaining ring satin black, and had new glass made. Looks like new.

Rich Arimoto's technique

I extracted this information from Rich Arimoto off of the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group. In Rich's own words:

OK, I got the Ambobber's broken speedo's bezel off without damaging it too badly, then swapped out the guts and was faced with putting the bezel back on. How to do this?

I'd put a (3-inch) hose clamp around the bezel to keep it from splitting when I removed the bezel, so I'm thinking that I might be able to use a hose clamp to my advantage when putting it back on.

I decided to make a tool to re-attach the bezel. Yes, a screwdriver or something else would work, but a slip could scratch the paint and I thought it would be hard to get the edge even. To make the tool, I bent a large washer to roughly match the bend in the hose clamp, cut it in half and welded it to a short piece of rod-stock. Ground it to where I thought it would work. Took about a 1/2 hour to make the tool.

To crimp the bezel, you first put some masking tape around its edge and then attach the hose clamp. Slip the tool over the hose clamp and tap it with a hammer to bend the edge of the bezel down. The hose clamp keeps the working edge of the tool right on the part of the bezel you want to bend--it's just about impossible for the crimper to slip. It worked great, the edge comes out quite even (I repositioned the hose clamp several times). Not perfect, but I'm very satisfied with the way it all worked out.

While the speedo was out, I decided to re-finish the dash, which had some crappily applied wrinkle paint. I used some pickup truck bedliner spray (Mark E recommended this as a good finish), and that really improved the appearance of the dash.

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The special tool for crimping the ring back onto the gauge. Photo courtesy of Rich Arimoto.The special tool for crimping the ring back onto the gauge. Photo courtesy of Rich Arimoto.

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The crimper is used in conjunction with the hose clamp. Photo courtesy of Rich Arimoto.The crimper is used in conjunction with the hose clamp. Photo courtesy of Rich Arimoto.

O-ring for sealing the speedometer gauge to the dash (MG# 90706765)

Updated: Jul 20, 2010

On single gauge dash panels, there is an o-ring (MG# 90706765) between the dash and the gauge. When I removed the gauge from my dash, the o-ring disintegrated. I found a replacement at my local home center (Menards). I went over to the plumping section and found a set of o-rings made for the large filters on reverse osmosis water filtration systems. They came in a package of four o-rings (two black and two blue). The black o-ring was a little small, but easily stretched around the gauge.

Tachometer retaining bracket

Updated: Prior to Dec 11, 2007

On dual gauge dashes, the tachometer is retained by two nuts that secure a specially shaped bracket in place. If you've lost your bracket, use the following pattern to make one yourself.

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Tachometer terminal connections / wiring a tachometer

Updated: Apr 23, 2009

There are three terminals on the back of the tachometer: one connects to the positive terminal on the coil, one connects to the negative terminal on the coil, and one connects to ground. The back of the tach is engraved near each terminal, though the engravings can be difficult to see (especially with the tach mounted in the dash, as the mounting bracket obscures the engravings). The photo below illustrates each terminal connection.

If after you have confirmed all the wires and connections, the tachometer still doesn't work. Unhook the wires. A bad tachometer can really mess up the signal coming from the coil and make your bike run horribly.

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Terminal connections on a Moto Guzzi loop frame tachometerTerminal connections on a Moto Guzzi loop frame tachometer