Chuck

Joe brought it down to me to help disassemble. It had a broken valve spring that crunched a valve guide. We went ahead and tore it down because.. well.. we needed to find out the extent of the damage. I told him if it was me, I'd just fix the head and put it back together. These things are tough. Joe's a good boy. You don't see many gear head kids any more.. Saw him and LIndsay the Hobbit yesterday at Guzzi lunch, and said our good byes.

I see it passed the electrical leakage test when you took hold of the spark plug wire. I have one word for you. Earplugs.

I tried a MRA on Rosie with mixed results. A little better protection it seemed, but caused buffeting and noise. Of course aerodynamics are different for every rider/helmet etc. The Mighty Scura is more comfortable (for me) with it's fly screen.

A little history. That term was coined by Todd Haven (RIP) of MPH cycles. At that time, they sold a plug and play kit to plug into your Guzzi to cure the problem. I still say, "She's dead, Jim." I would at least try a known good battery.

Now, *that* was a motorcycle video.

The last two rallies, he was on a Japanese motorcycle. Don't know what kind, they all look the same to me.

No, should be above 10. Probably a dead battery.

Thank you!

Gots em. Docc noticed a hammer in one of the first pictures I posted and said I must be a Guzzi mechanic. I was thinking about making a pile of them and taking a picture, but then I'd have to sort them back out.. so.. a few pix. In the Guzzi Garage ™ My favorite, and I'd recommend them to anyone doing mechanical work is the one on the left, a copper hammer. You can use it with impunity on steel parts without damaging them, or hit a hardened punch without sending a piece of it straight for your eyeball. A small ball peen in case somthing needs peened, a couple of plastic hammers, leather hammer, and a couple with no use on machines. 2016-10-31_05-11-10 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr The shop roll around: 2016-10-31_05-11-38 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr The hanger roll around. These are home made nylon hammers of different radii used with a shot bag (not pictured, it's not a hammer) to form sheet metal. 2016-10-31_05-12-24 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr Also in the hanger roll around, the ubiquitous copper hammer (everybody needs one) 2016-10-31_05-13-46 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr I suppose this qualifies.. a planishing hammer, also for forming sheet metal. 2016-10-31_05-12-38 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr A couple of body hammers, homemade English panel beater's hammer for shrinking bumps, and a shrinking file, which is used as a hammer for shrinking. 2016-10-31_05-12-58 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr Two different rivet hammers for..uhhh.. driving rivets. 2016-10-31_05-13-23 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr I've said many times that having the proper tool is generally the biggest part of the job. Hammers? Yeah. Edit: Oh, forgot the machinist's hammer and jeweler's hammer in my Gerstener box. Sorry, didn't take a picture of them, Docc.

You see, that is Luigi's plan. If he doesn't grease the steering head bearings, everything on the front end is grounded through them.

I like DeOxit gold. I think they call it gold because of the price. It only costs a little more to go first class, though. Probably overkill for a Guzzi. Just the same, I've fixed a ton of electrical problems with it. The Kid fixed a $5000 relay on a helicopter.. So many times, it's just a little corrosion and DeOxit cleans it up and keeps it clean for a year or so. Oh. Doesn't affect plastic like a lot of contact cleaners. I could sell the stuff..

They are bare on the Mighty Scura, but I don't *know* that they are original. Ill bet they are, though.

Me, too. I fixed a Rosso Corsa with intermittent starting problems that a lady had spent big money on at a dealer with a wire brush, some DeOxit, and vaseline. I was her hero..

Nice gaggle! Here's my cold story.. Great friend, Rolf, the Kid and I were riding in Nova Scotia. We'd had a steady rain for the last two days, and all our gear was dripping wet. Boarded the ferry for the trip back to Bar Harbor, Maine, near Rolf's place. Part of that weather system was still laying in between N.S. and Maine, and they had to divert the ferry south to Portland. (!) It was midnight and in the 30s when we arrived, about half seasick. (Not Rolf, he's a lobsterman.) If common sense had prevailed, we would found a motel right there and then, but since when do people that ride motorcycles show common sense? Wet and cold don't mix. That was the coldest I've ever been on a bike.

Hmmm, I thought I'd replied to this, but that sounds like a completely different problem. Maybe a ground to the tach?

The shortest hole is the same distance as the the original in case you don't like the improved shifting and want to go back.

Oh, forgot. When I was at the Ohio rally, I had everything tied on the Mighty Scura.. looked a little like the Grapes of Wrath.. Punched the button, and nothing. Cranked, but no fire in the hole. Got that sinking feeling when you are hundreds of miles from home and it won't start. Took out my earplugs and realized the fuel pump wasn't running. Had to unload the bike and pull the seat off. First, I gave the relays a good wiggle, no joy. Then, I pulled the fuel pump fuse. Looked ok, but wiggled it around, too. Turned the key on, and Whirrr, pump was running. Yeah, baby! Really, these bikes are pretty simple.. just a matter of corrosion, no doubt caused by sitting by the ocean for extended periods.

Got it. Thanks!

Thanks

I understand that robots pick up on email addresses and sell them to spammers. I'd really appreciate it if you would delete your post, Gene.

This was a very common problem when they were new. They live up by the steering head on the left side. I use Caig DeOxit.. it's magic on electrical connectors.. and as mentioned above a light crimp on the female part, and you'll have no more problem.

Yep.. I'll get them out today.

The battery indicator on these bikes, including my Scura and Rosso Corsa when I had it, are useless. They work by the phases of the moon, whether you've recently sacrificed a chicken.. etc. Note that Guzzi eliminated it on later models. Mine seldom comes on unless I've just come back from a hard run and the battery is fully charged. Then.. it'll come on when I switch the ignition on. Unless yours is coming on when riding it, and your battery is staying charged, I'd ignore it.

At least we know what's causing it . . . Some people are crazy and no one knows why . . . Good point..

The Ducati regulator is pretty reliable, as long as it is grounded properly. I'd just keep running it.