Topica Loopframe_Guzzi Archive
 

Subject: Re: re torquing heads (tip for V700 and early Ambos)

Author: Robert Hawkes

Date: Jan 21, 2001, 4:07 PM

Post ID: 1705033517

Charles,
Excellent response; I really appreciate it. I was just talking with Ian
Adkins today and he too talked a lot of sense about the Ambo. I will heed
your words on the smaller block Guzzis. Ian gave me some info on piston
kits. Will look at prices and see what I can afford. Thanks again for
writing. BTW, I am in Rochester NY, where are you? Best, Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles Mullendore <C.D.Mul-@worldnet.att.net>
To: <Loopfram-@topica.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2001 5:40 PM
Subject: Re: re torquing heads (tip for V700 and early Ambos)


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Hi Bob,
The V65SP will not likely be a "jump-'n-go-bike" either. Plus you won't
have the
 parts or information support that you have with a Loopframe. I've never
owned a
 "small-block" Guzzi, but my impression is that build quality new wasn't as
good
 as the larger Guzzis and durability hasn't been either. Someone correct me
if
 I'm wrong!
As for the Ambo, any money that you spend on it will likely be well spent.
Loopframes will continue to increase in value as the owner base expands
(maybe)
 under Aprilia's ownership, and "newbies" "discover" that Guzzi had a
history
 prior to 2001. There will most likely come a time when your relationship
with
 this Ambo will reach a "plateau", and all that will be required of you
will be
 ride/wash/maintenance. This has been exactly my experience, though there
are
 signs that the old '69 will need attention before too long. If you have
the
 funding/spousal approval/garage space for a second bike, this may be the
best
 alternative. Personally, I need at least three bikes - a Loopframe, a
dual-sport
 (currently a Cagiva 350 Alarossa), and a sportbike (hopefully a '99
Laverda
 750S) to satisfy my two-wheeled moto-lust. I can't conceive of a time when
I
 won't have at least one Loopframe though, they've just become too
important part
 of my (motorcycling) life. If there is anything I can help with, just let
me
 know.

Charlie

Robert Hawkes wrote:

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Charlie,
Thanks for writing and I live in Rochester, NY. I bought my Ambo from
Sport
 
 Cycle last year at this time. The bike never ran well from the day I got
it.
 
 The dealer just offered to me today to buy it back for what I paid for
it if
 
 I buy a v65sp at his shop. I just don't know. I know I love the look
of
 
 the Ambo, I love old bikes in general. I love the loping gait of the
Ambo.
 
 I love the way it pratically tears out from under me in 2nd gear and I
have
 
 never had the attention from strangers that I get with this bike.
People
 
 come up and are all friendly when I'm on the Ambo. The thing is
dripping
 
 with character. So, there is a side to me that does not want to ever
get
 
 rid of it. It's simply that it I wanted a bike that I could get on an
go
 
 with not something that needed tender loving care. I guess you can't
have
 
 character and a jump-'n-go-bike. Thanks again, your opinions are
welcome.
 
 Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles Mullendore <C.D.Mul-@worldnet.att.net>
To: <Loopfram-@topica.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2001 7:54 PM
Subject: Re: re torquing heads (tip for V700 and early Ambos)

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Hi Bob,
Sorry your experience hasn't been a pleasant one. I consider myself
lucky
 
 simply because this has been the most enjoyable Guzzi I've ever owned
(and
 
 I've
 owned six Tonti framed bikes - two bought new). Mine has been very
reliable, especially for a 31 yr. old bike with 50k miles on it.
Initially
 
 it had some
 minor bugs that needed attention, the previous owner had only put 3k
miles
 
 on in 13 years. I done several 400 mile days on it and wouldn't hesitate
to
 
 ride it
 just about anywhere. I am of the opinion that any vehicle (especially
an
 
 Italian one) is only as good as it's mechanic. I happen to have grown up
in
 
 my
 father's machine/welding shop and was exposed to several great "shade
tree" mechanics as a youth. As a result of this and further education,
I've
 
 become a
 fairly good mechanic. This is not to call anyones mechanical abilities
in
 
 to question, just the logical explanation for my success with my
vehicles. I
 
 
 sincerely hope that you will continue to try and work out whatever
problems yours may have. This list is the best place to go for advice,
but
 
 "phone fixing"
 only goes so far. If you don't feel confident in your mechanical
skills,
 
 find a good shop to do the work - Moto Guzzi Classics, Cycle Garden,
etc.
 
 Where do
 you live? List members may be able to help in person. As Red Green
says
 
 "We're all in this together.":-)
 
Charlie
'69 & (2)'71 Ambos

Robert Hawkes wrote:

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decide,
 
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yours
 
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Charlie,
My name is Bob and I own a 1969 Ambo 750cc. You said in your e-mail
"if
 
 you
 
 are lucky enough to own one of these". Ever since I bought my Ambo
I
 
 have
 
 had problems. I wanted a neat-old-bike and what I got was
'unreliability'.
 
 I am seriously thinking of trading it in. Why do you consider
yourself
 
 
 
 lucky wit this bike? Thanks, Bob Hawkes
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles Mullendore <C.D.Mul-@worldnet.att.net>
To: <Loopfram-@topica.com>
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2001 7:15 PM
Subject: Re: re torquing heads (tip for V700 and early Ambos)

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Hi Ian and All,
I had some seepage from the cylinder head area on my early '69
Ambassador.
 
 I
 thought it was the headgasket, but it turned out to be be the
o-ring
 
 used
 
 to
 seal the long "nut" opposite the sparkplug. It still leaked even
after
 
 I
 
 
 replaced the o-ring, tried sealer(s) and everything else that was
recommended
 but nothing worked. The fix I finally came up with was to machine
another
 
 o-ring
 groove just below the first and install a second o-ring. So far,
so
 
 good!
 
 Oil
 seepage from this area is usually easy to spot - it will run down
the
 
 
 
 "channel"
 between the top and bottom cylinder head nuts, drip onto the plug
wire,
 
 then fly
 back and decorate your saddlebags (if so fitted). Just something
to
 
 keep
 
 in mind
 if you're lucky enough to own one of these and are experiencing
oil
 
 
 
 leakage.
 
Charlie

Ian Adkins wrote:

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Tim,

Interesting that you mention that. I retorqued the heads on my
69
 
 Ambo
 
 and
 
 afterwards I had some seepage of oil from the heads. Only thing
is
 
 that
 
 I
 
 can't remember if it was leaking before.

Ian

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim <tf-@gte.net>
To: Loopfram-@topica.com <Loopfram-@topica.com>
Date: January 19, 2001 3:24 PM
Subject: Re: re torquing heads

>Ian....

I have limited experience at best compared to most of the
people on
 
 the
 
 
 
 >list, but I was told by my local dealer to back off, then
re-torque
 
 the
 
 
 
 >heads on my Eldo. Did as instructed, and was rewarded with a
new
 
 oil
 
 leak.
 
 >Dealer then told me that was common on the older bikes, and it
was
 
 
 
 better
 
 >just to check the torque without backing off. Can cause the
o-rings to
 
 
 
 >leak. Gee thanks Mr. Dealer.


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