docc

Friday afternoon? I'll bring my Smoke Wrangler . . .

I wasn't jazzed with the Banner Red over the gray primer, so I shot it over silver and think it looks like a pretty good match!

Check the main ground cable from the battery to the right back of the gearbox behind the seat lock. Loosen it, clean and retighten to be certain your starter ground does not travel back through the loom.

12.5 is certainly low, especially for a new PC545 (should be 12.84), but not so low as to fail to crank. Check the voltage with the starter circuit engaged. Otherwise, how did you "check the starter?"

What is the type and voltage of the new battery?

Prices for nice V11 are definitely on the rise.

I chatted with Anthony, testa uomo, at European Motorsports in Dahlonega today. He said to be sure and let them know when we're stopping by. I'm not sure if they'll have something special cooked up for us or just need enough time to close up and get out of town.

Crumpled fit of the K&N 33-2682: Perfect fit of the K&N CG-9002:

Decided to weld the other side, too. Primer's on and hoping the Krylon Banner Red makes for a fabulous match!

No valve on mine or other V11s having reported in. No valve on the parts diagrams either (?) . . .

Cool. Thanks, Ken! I saw that, but was hoping to replacing my tail light at the same time and don't see it listed on their site. Waiting to hear back from MPH on that. I thought the tail light would be easy, but not so far . . .

While I've got the wiring harness completely pulled loose, I checked the connector to the oil pressure sensor and found it all dry and green and nasty. Cleaned and sealed, but I'll see if I can get one of those Cali boots. Seems like a good place for one!

Yeah, actually I don't think my old hose is leaking. It's getting a little cracked at the top but not the bottom. I'll check with a couple of the Moto Guzzi suppliers and see what's up and probably have my parts guy restock the heater hose. Man, I really appreciate the expert advice!

I've fished the entire FI/ignition harness off the loom and removed the subframe. For the record, the bracket's welds did not break, but the bracket itself:

So, this whole idea that we can cut down a heater hose for the Crankcase vent return line is bunk?

Gates 18912 (cross referenced from the Goodyear 63318) heater hose was about $40. Yet, my auto parts guy has no confidence it will hold up to the oil exposure. How big of a concern is that?

Well, this is my big push to take care of this niggly broken hanger bracket. Basically all afternoon uncovering the rear subframe. Major setback now that the harness is fed through the tubes and I cannot figure out how to get it apart without taking the harness from the forward components (coils, fuel pump, and injectors). I'm bummed.

Thanks, g!

Oh. That's what's under there: a clapped out, 89,000 mile square-section, leaky O-ring! Must it be Viton to replace?

Pretty fresh and wet around the distributor blanking plate. Never had it off, what's under there?

On the slippery slope now. Tank off, fished out the vent tube. I was hoping to find it in worse shape! I'll pick up the Ford heater hose tomorrow and post reference numbers for Gates and a detailed fitting. Meanwhile, deeper to find the wetness!

I am thoroughly enjoying Leek u. Zeyen's book. The German perspective is very interesting. It's sectioned format makes it easy to read in 'snippets' which is often all I have time for. These fellows do really love the Guzzi V-twin!

After reviewing all of the literature I can find, including both Workshop Manuals, owner's manuals, promotional brochures, and period (US) magazine articles there are still only a couple things that can be said with certainty. Well, with some qualifications. Throughout the V11 range, 1999-2004, there were two frames; the later ~2002-on frame is longer, but the rake, or angle, of the headset from vertical is 25˚ in all published references I have seen. (no actual "2005" serial numbers have been reported). One of the magazines reported, in 2002, an increase of 0,5˚ steering angle, but there is no reference in the official literature. The swing arm did not change. There have been changes in the fork plates (triple trees, or triple clamps). Reportedly, a Service Bulletin was issued sometime in 2000 that documented a more "relaxed" clamp set. It has been said that the axis of the forks was angled forward an additional 0,5˚. There have been observations that the offset of the forks (increasing trail) has also increased from the earliest versions. Is there any resource we have to obtain the original Service Bulletin?

I've heard the only cure . . . . . . is a V11 !

Ha! True that! None of us mentioned the most likely cause. Perhaps because the sensor is oil pressure and not just level, lots of us go straight to the most worrisome possibilities. The connector to the sensor is inside the left cylinder's front corner and is certainly in the weather. Simple enough to unplug it, use an electrical cleaner, and reseal the connector with some Vaseline. It is the more round sensor with the smaller wire.