Greg Field
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Everything posted by Greg Field
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I (Moto Intl.) do not carry the K&N filters for the stock airbox because I do not like K&N filters. I do not believe you gain any power with them that you cannot get in other ways that do not involve letting more dirt into the engine. See fellow Aussie Phil A.'s post about opening up the snorkels in the airbox. This is what I did, and I like the results very much. This is my opinion only, but it's based on experiences I've had and I believe in it enough that I will forego the sales of these filters to those who insist on having them. (Please, save your defenses of K&Ns here; I've heard them all but choose to believe my own eyes rather than the same tired blather K&N has been spewing since the 1970s. If you want one, just get one, but don't try to convince me that it's a good idea.) I do carry pod-type K&Ns for those who insist on removing the airbox for aesthetic or other reasons. Before selling even those, however, I try to talk the person into Uni filters, which I believe are better filterers of dirt than are K&Ns. At least with the pods they are visible, so you can check them often to make sure they're at least wet with oil. Sadly, though, 90 percent of them I see are dry and gray and thus completely ineffectual. If your friend really wants a K&N, forum sponsor MPH Cycles may carry the filter. Just click on the little window for them in the upper left corner of the screen. FBF carries the BMC filter, which is just like a K&N. MG Cycle carries the K&N. Here are the links: http://www.ferracci.com/ http://www.mgcycle.com/
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I think you're both blithering idiots. I didn't say RSH, for f*ck's sake; I said RL Assembly Lube, which is thicker than RSH but far thinner than a grease. Only complete idjits would use anything else. Carry on . . .
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I've owned and worked on Guzzis for 21 years. In that time, I bet I've heard of (I'm guessing) 15-20, maybe more, filters backing out and wrecking engines. For most of those years, I was just a very involved Guzzi owner. I fixed my own bikes, hung out with Bob Nolan (the Godfather of Guzzi owners in the Pacific Northwest, and the man who first warned me to use a hose clamp; he said he's seen many come off, since he began fixing Guzzis in 1972), edited the Tips column for the MGNOC News, and hung around a lot of Guzzisti. For the last 16 months, I have worked at the busiest Guzzi dealership in the US. I am the parts manager. Over half of the filter incidences I know of I have heard of since I began working at Moto International. I've now heard of 4 this month, including two in the last two days plus one last week, counting the poster from Florida who posted his experience earlier today. Is the number I've heard of in the last year and month and day because more are occurring, or is it just that I'm more likely to hear about them in my position? I'm guessing it's the latter. Could they all be improperly installed filters? Sure, but that is a guess. You've heard in this thread from two experienced Guzzisti who in the last week--after having installed many Guzzi filters over the years that didn't back off--had their filters back off. Two of the others this month were installed at Guzzi dealerships. If all these were errors, they were all errors made by folks who have at least as much experience and tooling as the vast majority of you here have. If it's a result of error, it's folks just like you making the error. If they can screw up, so can you. Could there be something else going on here, such as a bad batch of filters or whatever? Sure, but again, it's a guess. I'm not gonna call all these guys up and ask what kind of filter. Perhaps the two guys who posted here will tell what kind they used. I've ehard of enough instances over enough years that I'm pretty sure the problem is not a bad batch of filters. I just want folks to know that it happens, and that you can prevent it from happening to you. The only way I know of to be sure is to use a hose clamp. A hose clamp is just a safety to prevent the filter from turning off. It works equally well, no matter if it tends to loosen because the filter wasn't tight enough or whether the loosening is from another cause. Yes, you do have to remember to tighten the hose clamp for it to do any good. No, it can't come off and wreck other parts, unless the trapdoor comes off, and then you have bigger problems to worry about than a hoseclamp in your sump. Please everyone, do as you like. I'm gonna continue to use hose clamps. And I'll try to keep plenty of rod bearings and rod bolts in stock should the unlikely but preventable happen to any of your engines.
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Are you wanting individual pods or a replacement for the paper filter?
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I don't know what type of filters, except for my frined Ken's, which was a UFI. His was on a California 1100, not a V11 SPort. I didn't ask the others.
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Some of you guys still think I make this shit up . . . alas, I do not. John: I just want to be clear on this: I do have the rod bolts for your repair. It's the guy who called yesterday who may be SOL, 'cause I'm having a difficult time finding the fourth one I need for his repair. The rod shells I have found, outside the US Guzzi network.
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There's a thread on Wildguzzi about how to repair the gears on ITI instruments, written by Wayne Orwig, I think.. Too late for Keith but some others may benefit. I fixed mine for use until my warranty replacement cam in two weeks ago.
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I don't know if it will work with the Stucchi. I have made it work with the very similar (some would say "copied") FBF crossover. All it took was a few strategic blows to the crossover with a ballpeen hammer. I recognize that most of you recoil in horror before the thought of taking a hammer to an expensive crossover, but hey, I really like centerstands, so I as willing to do what it took. If you want to do the guinea-pig work, I will take the stand back if it doesn't work out. All you'd risk is shipping.
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I believe Moto Intl. carries the inners, in addition to the whole cable assemblies. Ya just lube 'em up (Redline assembly lube) and slide them into the sheath.
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Heard of another V11 Sport today dead because the filter backed off. That makes three in the last month and two in the last week that I personally know of. He, too, called needing rod shells and bolts. Guzzi is out of rod bearings and rod bolts. Coincidence? You decide. Tighten the filter well, and watch your oil light. It is also considered wise by some to use a hose clamp to be double-dog sure it won't come loose without your blessing.
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I'll post what we find . . .
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Moto INtl. has billet head protectors that're big enough that they'll protect hte plug and plug witre, too. $35 each.
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I've been doing a bunch of wheelies and burnouts lately, and no hint of oil starvation. Pete has made all this survivable for my engine. I think I'll sponsor him when he finally succumbs to destiny and seeks US citizenship. . . .
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I'll mention it to the tech in case they did not think of it on their own.
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Gary: Knowing of your experience, I had the techs flush the oil cooler and lines while looking for schrapnel. They didn't find any.
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FalcoLion: On the LeMans, I think the gauges swing with the bars, as on the V11 Sport. If you add on a LeMans fairing, you'll need you'll need the V11 Sport gauge plate, and the lower bracket to affix it to the triple clamp. If you decide against a LeMans fairing, another option is to get V11 Sport headlight brackets, along with the gauge stuff, and convert it so the headlight swings with the bars. I did this, and moved the Ballabio/Coppa fairing back to swing with the bars. You lack the fairing, but you could get one or the carbon fairing for a V11 Sport, if you do not find a LeMans fairing. As for exhaust, what type do you want: high or stock height? What material? Recommendations hinge on the answers. As for crossovers, I think the benefits do not justify the costs on the later V11s (like yours) with the crossover on the header pipes. We do sell them, though, for those who insist on having one. The primary benefit on these later machines, in my experience, is a deeper exhaust note. In my opinion, a centerstand nets far more utility for about the same money. I ride my bike everyday, though. The shop I work at can get the carbon hugger and a carbon chin fairing. I warn you, though: they are not inexpensive. As for brake and cluch levers: Ducati 916. The only ones better than the stockers are the CRG levers. My shop is one source of them. If your levers are trashed and you just want stock-type levers, we have aftermarket equivalents for about 1/4 the Guzzi price. Pegs and footlevers: Are you OK with the stock height on the pegs? If so, you can get rubber pegs or slightly lower pegs from Buell or whomever. If you want an integrated set of controls that offer a significant comfort improvement, I can certify through extensive use that the Motobits controls fit the bill.
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We have it completely torn down and out at a machine shop for a second opinion. Both times it was the rear rod bearings that were hammered. Maybe the rod and caps need to be re-sized? Everything else looked good.
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Pete: I think the Griso and Breva owner's manuals both say 36mm TBs. This may have been where you read it.
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Pete: I agree with everything you said here. I wish I had the money for a Griso but can't swing it now. My V11 is pretty well sorted, especially so in the last three weeks, but a Griso still ould outhandle it. But please have a look at the etchings on the side of your throttle bodies. In the US, Grisos and Brevas both got 45mm throttle bodies. Did they get 36s for Oz?
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Newb w/2004 V11 Ballabio needs some answers
Greg Field replied to FalcoLion's topic in Technical Topics
FalcoLion: On the LeMans, I think the gauges swing with the bars, as on the V11 Sport. If you add on a LeMans fairing, you'll need you'll need the V11 Sport gauge plate, and the lower bracket to affix it to the triple clamp. If you decide against a LeMans fairing, another option is to get V11 Sport headlight brackets, along with the gauge stuff, and convert it so the headlight swings with the bars. I did this, and moved the Ballabio/Coppa fairing back to swing with the bars. You lack the fairing, but you could get one or the carbon fairing for a V11 Sport, if you do not find a LeMans fairing. As for exhaust, what type do you want: high or stock height? What material? Recommendations hinge on the answers. As for crossovers, I think the benefits do not justify the costs on the later V11s (like yours) with the crossover on the header pipes. We do sell them, though, for those who insist on having one. The primary benefit on these later machines, in my experience, is a deeper exhaust note. In my opinion, a centerstand nets far more utility for about the same money. I ride my bike everyday, though. The shop I work at can get the carbon hugger and a carbon chin fairing. I warn you, though: they are not inexpensive. As for brake and cluch levers: Ducati 916. The only ones better than the stockers are the CRG levers. My shop is one source of them. If your levers are trashed and you just want stock-type levers, we have aftermarket equivalents for about 1/4 the Guzzi price. Pegs and footlevers: Are you OK with the stock height on the pegs? If so, you can get rubber pegs or slightly lower pegs from Buell or whomever. If you want an integrated set of controls that offer a significant comfort improvement, I can certify through extensive use that the Motobits controls fit the bill. -
Newb w/2004 V11 Ballabio needs some answers
Greg Field replied to FalcoLion's topic in Technical Topics
Ballabio bars will just clear a LeMans fairing. At the shop at which I work (Moto Intl.) we have fitted several LMs thusly. It's easy to switch your instruments onto a LeMans/Sport instrument plate. -
Cover the bike if it's gonna be exposed to full sunlight all day. For lesser exposure, don't worry.
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The best of the commercial filter/cover tools I've seen is the Stucchi tool, which takes off the cover and removes the filter. It comes with a little "vampire teeth" attachment that gets the filter off every time. We have them in stock at Moto Intl., if you want one. Personally, I don't own the tool because I take the lower sump off everytime, on my own and customer bikes, so that I can get the sludge and mayonaise out of the sump, and so I can safety the filter with an unmentionable little band of stainless steel.
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Thanks, Doc, but ours do the opposite of what the poster is asking for. Ours move the pegs forward and down, for increased comfort, rather than increased cornering clearance.
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Current price on sensor holders is $32.95. I've got 'em if anyone needs one. Email me here or at work (parts@motointernational.com). Note: I'll be in Milwaukee for Friday-Monday.