Dr Gil

After having the paint separate from my fuel tank on my V11 LeMans's plastic fuel tank and replacing it with another used (but not yet gas soaked) tank, I am hoping to use a sealant/liner product in the replacement to avoid future problems. Does anyone have any experience with this process? I have checked into the "Kreem" website and it is recommended for use in used/older tanks but am wondering about the "plastic-ness" of the Guzzi tank and its chemical compatibility with this product. Are there better products for our tank's chemistry? Is there anything specifically available? Does Kreem work for us? As always, all thinking is welcomed.

My problem is solved but I still have no clue about the cause(s). Bill Basset (thank you Bill) here on the forum has a used, champagne tank for sale and I'm purchasing it. First order of business with the new/used tank is to coat the inside with Kreem or some other fuel tank liner in hopes that it prevents future problems.

The champagne colored paint on my '02 LeMans is bubbling and lifting something awful. I was told by my mechanic that it was caused by fuel seeping through the plastic tank and that other bikes (Ducati's) have similar problems. He doubts that it can be stripped and repainted because the tank is now gas soaked and the same problem will quickly reoccur. Has anyone else had this problem with the LeMans tanks? Is there a fix? Replacing the tank with new will be prohibitively expensive and used replacements seem hard to come by.

Apparently gas has seeped through the plastic fuel tank on my '02 LeMans and bubbled the paint something awful. I've been told that new paint will no longer stick on the gas-soaked plastic so I'm looking to replace it. Champagne would be preferred but I realize they may be hard to come by so tanks of any color would be welcome.

I replaced the original Guzzi turn signals with the Buell equivalent after crashing my Le Mans. I can't remember the parts numbers but I just hauled my broken one into the local Harley shop (they're everywhere, damn them) and the parts guy was able to match. I also opted for the smoked lenses. The difference in pricing between OEM Guzzi and the Buells was breathtaking.

Damn, I sure hope you're making enough of them so that I can purchase one too Joe.

I think I've got it guys. I've now had numerous "electrical glitches" happening on the Le Mans. Sudden battery failure (2), failure to start (3) and occasional (reliable) misfires. I recently had the honor of sharing a house with a legendary Moto Guzzi mechanic and 4 other Guzzi owners much more knowledgeable than myself. Of course I put my ongoing problems to them...every single one came up with the same diagnosis...relays. I had just replace my relays 2 years ago but I bought in. I ordered up a new set of GEI's and installed them. I've had no problems on any of these fronts since. I'm not saying that this was the answer or that the problem is solved but will say that I've not had a problem (knock on wood) since replacing them. Be forewarded that all my problems were "intermittent" and that they could raise their ugly heads unexpectedly sometime in the future. Simple, easy, fingers crossed.

Just an update. After having the Le Mans apart for a couple of weeks I finally got it back together today. I installed the all new GEI relays that were recommended to me and fired her up. No immediate problems. I've started it about 10 times with no glitches. I rode it around our bay (20 miles), no problems. Other problems that I have been experiencing (stutter in one cylinder @ constant 4K rpm, sudden electrical loss draining battery leaving me high and dry), gone (at least for now). I'm hoping this one, simple fix may have taken care of all the electronic gremlins I've been experiencing over the last year. On my "concerns" list is that I replaced all my relays less than 2 years ago with the same GEI relays and that one (or more) of them has failed. They're not supposed to do that. I'm still somewhat concerned about the reliability of my bike but will happily proceed with my testing (read as "riding").

Thanks Guys! I had the unique opportunity to spend the last few days staying with Chris Galardi near Daytona Beach for the past few days. One of my "roomies" was Ace Malott the legendary mechanic for Jackson Cycles in Jackson, Missouri. Of course I told him about my recent trials and tribulations. There is little doubt in his mind that my problems (both my current non-starting problem and my recent electrical draining problems) are actually all the same problem and it is the relays. He feels even if the relays are good (recently replaced doesn't mean they are still functioning properly) that when pushing the relay in he has seen time and again where that pushes the wires on the backside away...it's a Guzzi thing. He suggests holding the wires on the backs of the relay in place while re-inserting the relay. Back up thought was that the wire to the regulator is extremely fragile on my bike and if the new relay's/new install technique doesn't work then check out the wire to the regulator. This is both an easy fix and possibly fixes multiple recent problems with the bike. I'm just back from Daytona (WOW!) and won't get to the bike probably for the next couple of days but will keep everyone informed on my progress.

Ah, I see where you're going with that and I agree, I'm pretty sure it's a fuel problem. Thanks to all who've offered help. I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to get back to bike for a few days...I'm off to Daytona to watch the Guzzi's run. I'll sort it out upon return.

That's helpful. It's nice to be able to eliminate some of the possibilities. One question though, what do you mean by "ignition problem?" What sort of things might this encompass?

I'll do that Brent, it's an easy one to try. I did replace all my relay's with "the good ones" just last year...but still.

I don't believe it's related to the sidestand kill switch. The fuel pumps starts up (at is supposed to) when I turn the key...sidestand either up or down. Nice one though...I hadn't even considered that as the potential problem. --------------- I just checked the bike just now and the damn fuel pump is coming on (and sounding right) every time I turn the key (or course it has no fuel in it and I can't tell whether or not the bike would start).