Leaderboard

Not sure which of the 3+1 options, above, fits my situation, and possibly some combo. So, when Kathi and I got home last night from a few days away in Wellsboro, Pa. -- more at the Tellico pavilion about her attempts to cash in on my LI policy by killing me on Bataan Death March hikes! -- I found these on our front porch ... New shoes for my V7 III, the likely -- just now, anyway -- candidate for the run down to Tennessee. I had hoped -- never a method -- to R&R both front and rear and convert rims to tubeless, but time, always the least available resource, especially when as disorganized as I am, is kicking my gluteus maximus. So, even if I find the time to R&R the needy rear, it'll be tubes again. Moreover, while I'd like to replace both at the same time, only the rear is problematic. Still, did I mention time? I am retired; this is shameful and inexplicable. Trailering, the safest and most sissy option, is too sad to contemplate, but I'm not ruling it out (just yet). Other mounts? Sold the Norge. The Stornello is more my local machine, and its tires are needy, too. The Griso is hors de combat on account of my ham-fisted wrenching. While mounting its new tire -- my first No Mar victory, by the way -- I managed to muck up the speed sensor cable. My "fixes" have been both unsightly and unsuccessful. I'll spare you the graphic pix of those. The part is, as a practical mater, at least in any sort of "in time" sens, unobtanium. I just called a friend in Italy a few minutes ago who will try to find there and send to me. That leaves my "old shoe," the venerable EV. It has 107K miles but is -- knock on Mandello maple -- reliable ... AND has new tires front and back. Apologies for babbling on. Time to go down to the Moto Grappa, ponder my options, and, most importantly, execute, execute, execute. Kathi just looked over my shoulder, saw what I was doing, and said, "Bill, don't forget mowing, yard work, blah, blah, blah." At least she is a sweet-tempered supervisor. Bill

I'm seeing three tire strategies (and maybe a fourth, if you play your cards right) . . . 1) Calculate the tire life, strategize the lead-up riding, and make it home with at least a couple hundred miles to spare ( sketchy-me, again, The Gambler/ Jack of Spades ). ♠️ 2) Use up the existing tire with the lead-up riding and arrive at the SpineRaid with a 100% tire. (Randy, The Jack of Diamonds ). ♦️ 3) Wear out truck and trailer tires, but preserve motorcycle tires. "Get There. / Bring Tools." (A known, valid, strategy. Our most mature, and most calculated, element, The Jack(s) of Clubs ) : ♣️♣️ 4) Discover a tire fail and enjoin in the solution. Pray for divine intervention. (The Jack of Hearts. ) ♥️

In progress. Phil

Bill, that sensor is not particularly...sensitive The repair doesn't have to be pretty to be functional. If you like, bring it along to the 'raid and we'll set it right. If at all possible, bring it attached to the bike.

Thank you Roper-san for the seal of approval.. everybody sees the light now... Actually this has been known for quite sometime now, first on WG, courtesy of Mr. Pete Roper again: https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=78120.0 on which thread I believe you participated. Also discussed here more recently: https://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?/topic/20295-valpollini-rocker-cover-gaskets/page/2/#comment-269462

Yup. Weird thing with the CARC bikes though. If you use the stock, *Paper* gaskets they will fail. No ifs or buts. Why these later models can't cope with them I have no idea. All I can assume is it has something to do with the overall shape of the rocker cover. They certainly seem *Taller* than the earlier ones up to the V11 but whether that allows more or different expansion I have no idea. Thing is though no matter how careful you are they will split and squeeze out. The Valpolini gaskets can't tear and are a 100% reliable fix.

@Goofman knows of this thing he speaks . . . South'n SpineRaid, 2015

Perhaps one of the down sides to a single model forum: the more limited sharing of knowledge and observations between models and even across brands. Look for this thread to move "Technical Topics" for better archiving . . .

And what are you swapping to ?

it sure would've been easier if Guzzi just made the newer gaskets as superseding the old ones. And to think, this forum has been going for years and we didn't discover this until now.

Yes. The head castings are all pretty much identical. Port and combustion chamber sizes are different obviously but the actual mating surfaces betwixt head and cover are identical.

The cover gaskets will not work on any of the 8V's. Old or new.

No docc but the later engines that run the plug lead over the valve cover might be a tad short if you use the early cover on the later engine and then run the plug lead around the back of the cylinder like the v11 Sport. EDIT..... sorry docc I didn't see the "gasket" in your earlier post. Thought you were talking about the valve covers. All square fin 2 valve engine rocker cover gaskets are interchangeable as far as I know. Phil

Haha: " 5. I still might be confused. " Thanks for the clarifications. Yours weren't the only posts that had me confused. But, that's on me. I looked in my pile and see my replacement valve cover gaskets, for my thinning originals, are the green OEM "whatever-the-hell-they're-made-of " type. I did get the metal type for my eventual timing chest gasket change (also still original). The RealGasket silicone jobs go with me to places like the SpineRaid where a sudden need might arise. ( Thank you, @HRC_V4 ! )

Pretty sure that is a NoMar with a hitch mount. I can ask. Or you can talk it up with Josh at the SpineRaid . . . Only if it's yellow! Or some other color . . . Won't be the first Trumpet at a South'n SpineRaid. South'n SpineRaid #2, 2006

"And find they're difficult to reuse once they get a little bent." You must be speaking of something else. Impossible, these cannot bend.

Docc, does a Triumph Daytona Super III "With a Spine Frame" qualify for a Spine Raid Rally?

Our V11 Designer: Luciano Marabese, on the V11 Sport, with Rodolfo Frascoli : [image linked to https://www.motociclismo.it/la-morte-di-luciano-marabese-morto-a-68-anni-il-designer-moto-guzzi-gilera-piaggio-66470 ]

Can't see why they wouldn't docc. You might need to lengthen the plug leads though. Phil