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uh, ditto. keep it simple. I would think twice about cutting a hole in the alt cover. It's purpose is to keep the alt clean and a not-quite-sealed rubber bung will let in all sorts of offensive dirt and water. Also, the distance between the cover and the alternator is not that long- a real stopper won't work- it'll hit the alternator then just fall out, thus qualifying you for the coveted Belfast Golden Bodge award. It is outstanding 'guzzithought' though.

Just put the bike in gear- that will effectively lock the engine while you loosen the nut. For the rotor- when you get it off, just set it on a wooden bench. Those permanent magnets are actually pretty hard to demagnetize. Whacking them good and hard with a hammer can do it, so can heating them up to about 600 degrees. I doubt you will do either of those. I'm surprised it is metal as well. This should be a low pressure gasket. I would still reccomend the hylomar. I love that stuff. Good luck, Gil.

Good luck, Sir. If you find some spare cash....uh, I could, uh, store one for you. Yeah, that's the ticket- "store".

LOL

What about a Ladola? http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/3/7/81839637.htm Sooooo sexy. Here's an original Super Alsace (maybe) that they want too much money for: http://british-usa.com/sales-detail.asp?VehicleID=1941 Here's one for a lot less: http://www.collectorcarsandbikes.com/view_...op1=10&okey3=id This is all stuff I just ran across on the web- I don't know any of the sellers or anything about the specific bikes. I'd recommend you get in touch with Tim Smith in IL (guzzi@aol or something like that). I know he posts on MGNOC site pretty regular (or used to). He has a Super Alce and might be able to get you some pointers. I personally favor the

That's the one.

pshaw. You and your children's stories. I had the good fortune to get my hand caught in the gear drive of a oil well pumper jack while I was working in the oilfield in Tx. It all worked out ok- the gears aren't closely meshed, so I got to keep the hand and I can always tell you the pitch on the gears- they've made a rather permanent impression on my hand. 260 stiches later and the hand is ok, except some of nerves are gone between my fingers. Never underestimate the power of stupid people in groups. We need a campfire and some beer for this discussion.....

At the very least, clean off the cover with carb cleaner to get rid of the oil (so you can see the metal better)

Isn't there a ground wire inside the dash?

Uh, what'd I miss here?

Absorbtive paint is the way to go. Stealth. What wavelength did you say those lasers were, Martin?

No, don't reveal the answer right yet. I'm still looking, although I know that Martin is going to swoop in at the last second. He probably already knows, but is just laughing at us. (shakes fist)

Hey, woah- slow down there. Don't do anything that drastic! The advice about putting on rubber-topped footpegs sounds good. I thought Rich used Suzuki pegs, but you should send him an email to find out which model.

Too small to be a 350. It's post WWII. Damn, it looks like a modified Guzzino/Cardellino (49cc/65cc) or Motoleggero (65cc) engine. Damn. Both of those were two strokes, but this motor has been obviously modified to be a 4 stroke. BTW, the Guzzino was designed by Antonio Micucci....sigh....I'm beat here. Damn. Ha! Reading more (from this site) about the Colibri (the precursor to the Guzzino), mentions that there was an aftermarket bolt-on 4 stroke conversion! heh.... Here's a couple cool links I ran across: a Guzzi Desmo link. Crazy Dutch. And I ran across George Dockray's site which has the best set of Guzzi links I've ever seen. Damn.

Gary, I see you read 14V today, but your description sounds real similar to what you'd expect if your charging system was not working. I'd check for a good ground at the battery, and I'd also be suspicious of the battery if it is a year or two old. Maybe take her out for a short ride with the lights and socks on- check the charging voltage regularly. ????? Not sure what to suggest.

grrrrr

Is Pedrosa the Spaniard who has been kicking butt on the 250 class? I've seen a few of the races and been very impressed with the skill all the 250 riders have shown.

How bent are your legs? Could you be cutting off circulation? There's a big ol' vein that runs down the inside of your leg that could be pinching because your knees are so bent. Do a search for the inferior vena cava or the common iliac vein. Can you feel much vibration through your hands? That's usually where people feel it when the TB's are off. Edit- or your feet could just be sensitive....

Edits are time-stamped. You'd be caught and strung up like a scura-rider.

Well, Georgio Parodi was one of the founders of Moto Guzzi...and there is such a thing as a San Georgio gunsight (used in WWII), but I can't find a connection tween the two.

Discomfort in that region is usually due to one or two factors (in my experience). Moisture causes a rash, not numbness. The easiest fix is to dry out (baby powder, a sheepskin seat cover, that sort of thing work pretty good). The other common problem is pressure points. Blue jeans, with thick seams, are terrible for long distance riding. I usually wear khaki slacks and bicycle shorts for long rides. Or, I'll wear shorts and my aerostich suit, so I don't have any seams. Again- baby powder or 'monkey butt powder' takes care of any extra moisture. If you're going numb, then you are putting enough pressure on yourself to cut off blood flow to the base of your penis. Don't do that- it can lead to impotence. Basically, the seat is just the wrong shape for your delicate underparts. Rich Maund makes a nice seat- I like mine. It's wider in the butt area than stock, so you get better support. Or you could again try a sheepskin cover.

My apologies for not having a V11 picture.... this weekend I went to the local off road park and played around on my KLR. Yes, that's ice. It's crunchylicious. Here's some fellows who didn't have a good day. They busted the front driveshaft, a knuckle joint under the front tire and some other stuff that leaked oil (but I didn't get a good look at).

Charles Draper, who invented the lead sight mechanism (along w/some other folks). For the life of me, I can't imagine how this motor would be used in that application...except as a difference engine...

How's the bug working out for ya?

All the stuff above this post is very good advice. Gil, I'm glad to hear that you're in it 'for the long haul'. That's the kind of spirit that will serve you well as you push your Guzzi down the road (ok, ok- just kiddin'). I'll follow up on a couple of points that Pete and others have made. Looking at the book, it appears that this will be a piece of cake- easier than the older bikes even. For blocking up the front of the motor, use a piece of plywood next to the engine, so you don't break any fins. I use bricks underneath that. First thing- follow Hubert's advice. When you get the stator off, tie it up out of the way with a piece of string so it doesn't hang from it's wires. Same goes for the radiator. Put a little dielectric grease on every electrical fitting you have to dissasemble along the way. Put a little neversieze on every bolt and nut. When you remove the old gasket- be careful not to scratch the aluminum. It's softer than you think. A razor blade works well, but I usually use a dental scraping tool as a supplement if necessary. It's slow going if the gasket sticks, so when you first start removing it, follow the old gasket as it pulls away with the razor blade. Use some permatex hylomar for gasket sealant. You may not need it, but damn, it works great. Use just a little bit.