Subject: Re: "Modern" Guzzis?
Author: Greg Field
Date: Aug 17, 2002, 7:12 AM
Post ID: 1710824057
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Bob:
I wish it was as easy as just looking at them. When I got Maude, I went
through everything except the rear end and gearbox and made everything
right, before I even drove it. It was a low-mileage bike, but most of
the miles had been on dirt roads in Iowa, and maintenance had been
neglected.
I pulled the heads because I was warned by the PO that it smoked a bit.
Chrome was shot on the cylinders, so I replaced them. The intake boot
was cracked in three places, so I replaced it and the airbox with
individual K&N filters. I then replaced the timing-chain tensioner, all
the rubber hoses, and lubed and tightened everything. Then, I drove it
for two years before swapping the motor and everything onto another
frame that I had powdercoated. At the same time I added footboards,
dual-disc front end, a windshield, and the longer Koni shocks from my
broken LeMans 1000, and converted the engine to run gears. I also
changed out the clutch because the original had 30,000 miles and I was
in there (it still worked OK).
For the next three years, I didn't have to do anything to it except
tuneups (valves, points, synch carbs) about once a year, one gen belt,
many tire and oil changes, and lubing cables until Tuesday when I tore
down the driveline for a look. All the splines still had a little lube
(I used that BMW grease Dave Richardson then recommended, though he no
longer does) and were in great shape.
So I've got some time and money in the bike, but I spent the time up
front getting things right, and it paid off. I've been lucky, I guess.
Someday, something major will blow (I'm guessing it will be the tranny),
but until then, I'm just gonna ride it and not worry.
I've bought another low mileage, somewhat neglected Eldo, and I'm slowly
doing the same "lube everything and make it right before you ride it."
When I have it up and running, I hope it, too, will stay that way for a
long time.
GF
On Saturday, August 17, 2002, at 03:48 AM, Robert Hawkes wrote:
| Greg, You write books about Guzzis. You just look at a Guzzi and they behave (OK, I have an active imagination). I have to work at it. Just two weeks ago my starter quit. I was bummed but I just took the solenoid apart, cleaned the contacts put her back together and she was ready to go. The week before that I noticed my battery charger light was still on 'red' indicating that the battery was not charging. Took a look and it was just that the cable on the positive side was a bit loose. I hope you didn't take my remark the wrong way (maybe I was too strident, sorry) it's just that there are little things, at least on my bike, that can make it unreliable unless I do regular preventive maintenance. I was suprised when you reported all those miles you had ridden with minimal maintenance. Believe me, I'm jealous! Bob |
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Bob:
I wish it was as easy as just looking at them. When I got Maude, I
went through everything except the rear end and gearbox and made
everything right, before I even drove it. It was a low-mileage bike,
but most of the miles had been on dirt roads in Iowa, and maintenance
had been neglected.
I pulled the heads because I was warned by the PO that it smoked a
bit. Chrome was shot on the cylinders, so I replaced them. The intake
boot was cracked in three places, so I replaced it and the airbox with
individual K&N filters. I then replaced the timing-chain tensioner,
all the rubber hoses, and lubed and tightened everything. Then, I
drove it for two years before swapping the motor and everything onto
another frame that I had powdercoated. At the same time I added
footboards, dual-disc front end, a windshield, and the longer Koni
shocks from my broken LeMans 1000, and converted the engine to run
gears. I also changed out the clutch because the original had 30,000
miles and I was in there (it still worked OK).
For the next three years, I didn't have to do anything to it except
tuneups (valves, points, synch carbs) about once a year, one gen belt,
many tire and oil changes, and lubing cables until Tuesday when I tore
down the driveline for a look. All the splines still had a little lube
(I used that BMW grease Dave Richardson then recommended, though he no
longer does) and were in great shape.=20
So I've got some time and money in the bike, but I spent the time up
front getting things right, and it paid off. I've been lucky, I guess.
Someday, something major will blow (I'm guessing it will be the
tranny), but until then, I'm just gonna ride it and not worry.
I've bought another low mileage, somewhat neglected Eldo, and I'm
slowly doing the same "lube everything and make it right before you
ride it." When I have it up and running, I hope it, too, will stay
that way for a long time.
GF
On Saturday, August 17, 2002, at 03:48 AM, Robert Hawkes wrote:
=
<excerpt><bold><color><param>0000,0000,8080</param><bigger>Greg,</bigger><=
/color></bold>
<bold><color><param>0000,0000,8080</param><bigger>You write books
about Guzzis.=A0 You just look at a Guzzi and they behave (OK, I have an
active imagination).=A0 I=A0 have to work at it.</bigger></color></bold>
=A0
<bold><color><param>0000,0000,8080</param><bigger>Just two weeks ago
my starter quit.=A0 I was bummed but I just took the solenoid apart,
cleaned the contacts put her back together and she was ready to go.=A0
The week before that I noticed my battery charger light was still on
'red' indicating that the battery was not charging.=A0 Took a look and
it was just that the cable on the positive side was a bit =
loose.</bigger></color></bold>
=A0
<bold><color><param>0000,0000,8080</param><bigger>I hope you didn't
take my remark the wrong way (maybe I was too strident, sorry)=A0it's
just that there are little things, at least on my bike, that can make
it unreliable unless I do regular preventive maintenance.=A0 I was
suprised when you reported all those miles you had ridden with minimal
maintenance.=A0 Believe me, I'm jealous!=A0 Bob</bigger></color></bold>
</excerpt>=
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