GraeV11

Thanks for your reply. I guess a new speedo type might be the way to go, it seems an inevitability. I am fairly sure I got the right part. My bike is an 02 registered in 03 and was subject to the end of line parts / new parts mash up. I ordered from Stein Dinse and they specified this part for my bike and they are invariably correct on this stuff. The only alternative I can see comes with a bracket with two holes that I cant use ? You have me worried now.

Thanks for your reply. I am fairly happy with the routing of my cable, it is though probably not as well lubed as it might have been. One I missed off my annual maintenance list. Need to raise my game a bit.

I know we have all been here many times, but just for the record . . . Fixed a new odometer gear last year (gearbox end) and all was fine for a few hundred miles, then speedo was 'jumpy' and then stopped. I think that it was not fully seated in the spindle within the gearbox (when I pulled it there were two pieces in the spindle, the first almost certainly from the original, der). It must have twisted then snapped. The shaft was seized within the mechanism, certainly heavily scored. see exploded view. I claim my ham-fisted mechanic point.

Oh yes, but it would not work with new nut installed, unless you count a one second horrible grinding noise and then lots of heat (both with the starter installed and uninstalled ,i.e., wired to a battery). It is definitely toast. I guess the loose connection could have knackered it ??

New starter installed and she springs instantly into life. Going to burn me some rubber this weekend.

Noticed I stated bolt rather than nut in my first post on this thread. sorry.

Good question ! I have no idea. Last time I pulled the starter was several thousand miles ago (and several hundred starts ago) last year when I was halfway up a French mountain pass changing the pawl spring with a monster hangover. I could well have taken it off then but I doubt it, and I doubt it would have taken this long for the starter to throw in the towel with such a loose connection. I am therefore blaming Guzzi vibrations, or the French (as we like to do in the UK). Knowing my luck it is probably lurking somewhere ready to jump in the rear caliper or destroy the new sticky rubber on the rear wheel that I have just invested heavily in. If she wasn't so beautiful I would have left her years ago.

I am going for a new starter. It is definitely getting juice but the best I can get out of it is a very laboured spin for about a second and then the solenoid clicks (have tried two different batteries, fully charged, one brand new). Then end cap covering the brushes gets very hot so all is not well. Damn. This bike is practically brand new with all the parts I have replaced. Where's the scotch ?

Thanks. They seem to have the best price in the UK plus discount for the old motor. I am just going to re-check the ignition switch before buying. Cheers.

Here is the rather amusing face of a sick starter BTW

Have had similar symptoms, a bit of a groan from the starter motor and then nothing but the clicks. I have gone over the entire electrical system and cleaned all the contacts, checked grounds, checked fuses, swapped relays etc but still nothing. So I pulled the starter motor yesterday and . . . see if you can spot where the missing bolt should be. So much groaning from me. I have stripped and cleaned the starter motor, replaced the bolt, added a little grease and been generally nice to it, but it is clear there has been some cooking going on in here - that classic smell of burnt out electric motors. On reassembly I get the same low groan then clicks. Do you guys think it is worth replacing brushes or is the starter toast ? I have a brand new battery BTW. The starter is the original. 2002 sport.

Hi No I have not repainted my engine cases. I seem to have been lucky in that most of the crinkle finish on my 2002 V11 has stayed in place, even in the face of the rock salt that we spread all over the roads here in the UK at the slightest hint of frost. There is a thread on here somewhere with regards to the best paint to use. I seem to recall someone recommended Harley paint . . . although it may make your bike go slower

Some minutes have passed since the last oil thread so thought I would start another . . . I was washing the winter gunk off the beast today and found some sticky oil residue at the base of the barrels (both barrels in the same place). It looks worse than it is in the pictures as I spread it around a little investigating. It is old and sticky so this is more of an ooze than a weep or a leak (getting technical now). I am inclined to leave it be but would be interested in the opinion of you guys. I am assuming this is gasket territory and there is not a crusty old 'O' ring in there to worry about ? I am going to do valve clearances next week, should I consider a re-torque too ?

I carry around a right angle adapter. Cost £3 on Ebay.

Same here. I am on the look out for a good one.

It is up for sale . . . http://thebikeshed.cc/bikes/norzuki-cafe-racer/ Very very loud. I followed it for a while across London. Magnificent.

Yes and a very handsome beast it was too . . .

And a great exhaust on a London cab . . .

The Distinguished Gentleman's ride is a global event to raise money for prostate cancer. These pics are of the London event this year where there were over 600 bikes, lots of which were Guzzis. Did any of you guys take part ?

I think if your helmet is lifting then it does not fit properly. I had the same issue with my last helmet (agv) after about 18 months of use. New helmet, new manufacturer, problem solved.

Thanks to all, and special thanks to Roy and his huge help by PM, I am back on the road. It was solved by adding the new ground wire to the regulator casing and checking over every connector I could get my hands on. Bike actually runs a lot smoother than before (or is that my post-fix imagination ?). I now have 12.7V across the battery with ignition off (after a re-charge) and 13.85V at 1500rpm Now if it would just stop raining . . .

Thanks guys. Spanners out tonight. I am getting 11v across the terminals with engine off and 12.05v at 1500 revs. Will report back.