Subject: my baby lives!!!!
Author: Bill Berry
Date: Aug 8, 2002, 7:52 PM
Post ID: 1710767075
After trying unsucessfully to insert the piston in the
bottom of the cylinder on the bench, I took her to the H-D
(yikes!) mechanic down the road. I figured he may not be a
guzzi mechanic, but he's probably installed at least a few
hundred pistons and cylinders so he should know what he's
doing somewhat more than I. He immediately saw that I had
not oriented the rings correctly with the gap at the
locating pins in the grooves. After he pointed this out,
I said just go ahead and install it...the bike's here
anyway. He went to work and had the same problem I had
with the piston cocking over to one side after he got one
ring in. Then he asked me if I'd filed the end of the
ring down any. Duhhh! He did that and afterwards got the
whole shebang together in 2 minutes. Needless to say, I
was thrilled. Brought her back home and reassembled the
head and stuff. Started her up a minute ago and she
purrs! Can't wait to ride tomorrow! Whoo-hoo!!!
The moral of the story...remember the locating pins in the
piston grooves, file the ring ends, and never be ashamed
to ask a H-D mechanic for help. Nice fellow...only
charged me $20 for him and his helper's near hour of labor
and wouldn't even take a barley pop or cash tip.
Chris in NC
1974 Eldorado