audiomick

Thanks, Tom. I'm planning to take the tank off again in the next week or so. I'll have a good look then.

not one of Guzzi's better moments, but it seems to not really be a huge issue. Just untidy.

Why have the cylinders on so many of those bikes sagged so much?

hey, docc, we just don't want things to get boring for you.

Sorry, no idea if those are available individually.

Good plan, I think. The German supplier I got the Caig products that I bought recently from is called "the Tube Amp Doctor". 'nuff said, I reckon.

Try searching "AMP Superseal".

I was in my garage briefly today, and had a look. I saw a hose, about half an inch thick, that goes in to the crankcase vertically just in front of the end of the crankcase before the clutch bell housing starts. Very, very oily. I think we're on the right track.

It occurred to me that I should perhaps expand a little on the quoted post. The text came in conjunction with some diagrammes of measurements of a cam that the quoted person had made himself. The text should not be understood as a recommendation to always set more clearance than the manufacturer specifies. The recommendation for greater clearance on the old guzzis is based on measurements and empirical trials on that particular motor. It seems that the manufacturer struck a compromise very much in favour of low wear and tear on the valve train and quiet running (i.e. very long ramps on the cam to save stress on the pushrods and rockers...). The recommendation for more valve clearance shifts the compromise towards a bit more valve train noise, less thermic stress for the valve seats, somewhat better performance (at least theoretically), and perhaps a little more stress for the valve train.

Thanks docc. I've had that recommended to me as a "must do". From the same person came the recommendation, while one is messing around in the general area, to put a thickish washer under the tab at the back of the tank. The purpose of this is to provide a little more clearance between the tank and the sidecovers. Apparently there can be contact there, with associated wear and tear on the expensive plastic bits. I haven't done either of those things yet, but a closer look at the bike confirmed that both would seem to be a good idea.

Same as the faders and pots on audio equipment. Sooner or later a point is reached where they are just worn out, and must be replaced. For those wishing to have a go at rejuvenating a tiring TPS, this would be the appropriate Caig product, I believe: https://caig.com/fader-f-series/ That is, according to the blurb, specifically formulated for exactly that application, i.e. cleaning the contacts in a pot or fader. I would be very reluctant to put the D-series oder G-series contact cleaner in a pot. I'd be afraid it might just eat away the contact strip. Caig also offers a grease that looks like it should be suitable for the application https://caig.com/deoxit-grease-landing/

Yes, that has just jumped to the top of the list. Thanks again.

Thanks, Tom. I didn't know that the breather system might be a potential culprit here. I'll have a closer look at that. Also @docc thanks for the link to that thread on the subject.

I found a post in the german forum on the subject. Here is (slightly edited) what DeepL made of it: The translation is a bit rough, but one can get the gist of it I think. The "old cam" is the one that was used for many years in the big block Guzzis. I don't know if the V11 still used it, but the basic principles of the text still apply. The text is a quote in a post from someone else than me, i.e. third hand or so. Nevertheless, I know who was being quoted. As far as I know, he studied motor engineering, so he probably knows what he is talking about.

Getting back to what I wrote here: I had another look today with my endoscope camera (bought cheap on a whim in an Aldi supermarket, it is amazing how often I use the thing...) through the hole for checking the timing marks on the flywheel. It looks a lot like there is oil in there. I reckon the gearbox needs to come off to have a closer look at things. I'm trying to see the good side of that: it means I will also be able to have a good look at the bottom end of the shock, grease the shaft drive uni joints, lots of good things. It really is a bit of luck that I have to get in there. At least that is what I keep telling myself...

That's one of these: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant_601 25 hp. on a good day, if it hasn't been fiddled. But they go forever....

Yes. Me too.

Look at this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery#Safety The batteries that are sold for automotive use, i.e. also the ones as replacement for lead-acid motorcycle batteries, are all LiFePO4 They can be considered safe. The ones that have made it in to the various media reports because of fires in laptops and aeroplanes and so on were, as far as I know, other types of lithium battery. I have heard of a couple of instances of a LiFePO4 battery overheating. One in particular was in an SP 1000 Cafe Racer. I've seen the bike; it is a nice custom, but I reckon the bloke was counting the bucks when he did it. I assume the charging system was original, and not renovated. The battery was, I reckon, too small. I believe it was around 4 Ah. . Probably chosen more for price than anything else. Note that the battery overheated and started letting out the magic gray smoke, but did not catch fire. My theory is, the battery was undersized. It could start the bike, but was fairly discharged as a result. When the bike got running, the battery was pulling heaps of current out of the charging system, and getting warm as a result. Maybe the voltage was a bit high, too. The conclusions I drew from the story were, first, make sure you know what your charging system is delivering, and that it is ok for the lithium battery, and secondly, don't choose a battery that is too small, i.e. not the one that can just manage to turn the starter with no reserves. That way, the battery won't be sucked flat by the start process, and wont be trying to draw as much power to get charged back up. The theory is based in part on what is written here: https://www.silent-hektik.de/SH_LiMa.htm I've got one of those alternators in the V35 Imola (it makes a lovely whirring noise like the blower on the black Ford coupe in the first Mad Max movie...). The battery is still a Gel lead-acid one, but I reckon I'll be putting a lithium battery in there the next time it needs a battery. This is the first bit of the text under the banner "Technische Details" etc. . So, once again, I'm convinced the LiFePO4 batteries are safe to use, but a little more attention to the charging system is neccesary, and one shouldn't pinch the pennies when choosing the battery. Buy one that is big enough to have a bit of reserve.

Any idea what the basis was?

Cool. Good for Guzzi, I reckon.

Bowling practise?

For what it is worth, that is not just lithium batteries. Some types deal with it better than others, but all batteries deliver less power when they are cold.

As I recently had cause to be looking for the back part of the ingnition switch myself recently, I got some tips from a couple of people. As far as I know, the ignition lock from a California EV should fit. @Revilo is the whole lock missing, or just the switch part off the back? What happened to mine was that some one broke the back bit off. If yours was stolen, I could imagine that the same thing happened to yours. My "informant" told me that lots of Aprilia scooters had Zadi locks/switches from the same series. The trick is to find one with four contacts. I still had the guts of the switch, and only needed the "bucket" that is contained in. That seems to be the same for a whole range of switches.

Those things sounded crazy. All of them, regardless of the engine capacity. Fantastic. Over the years I did a lot of work for one particular event technology hire company here in Germany. One of the founders rode motorcycles, and had a Kawasaki 750 triple. He managed to claim it on his tax return for a very long time as a "musical instrument".

You blokes take care you have a great weekend. Looks like it has started off well.