czakky

I dropped off one head and got a call the next day from the machine shop saying the valves are way too worn to work with the guides... There was a noticeable step on the valve stem. So at this point I figured I better do both heads. Checked the usual suspects for valves, everybody had to wait for a long slow boat for Italy. I remembered that Ferracci was blowing out there inventory since they closed. Sure enough they still carry some valves and are doing an online business still. After pulling the right cylinder (plug came free with little drama) the cylinder tried to come with the head. So I know I have to atleast do the right side base gasket. This thing is stuck to the case like you wouldn’t believe. Arduous task to remove this thing. All the while trying to keep garbage from falling into the case.... Maybe I should drop the sump? Then there is the Roper plate...

As Gstallions said, I had a friend from work weld a nut on it. He said it didn’t resist much after the welding.....

I just keep falling in love with this old slow girl. It disappears underneath you and lets you go where you want. 5k miles in 3-4 months and I no longer am shopping for Lemans tanks and rear sets. It does what it does. My 70s 2t seized badly awaiting another massaging, my v11 is in pieces. I feel pretty lucky too!

Plug is out, head is at machine shop. Hoping to be back on the road in a few days!

I’ve been stressing about my driveshaft ever since Docc’s failed. This is an awesome solution. Thanks Pressurenagle!

Careful eh?... I’ll have a base gasket on hand.

Got the nut, got the welder. Should I replace the base gasket while I’m at it?

Check your main ground! Clean and grease. Typically behind the seat lock.

I guess I need to get a welder out here.... Do you worry about warping the head?

Sorry, Docc will tell you I’m no photographer. Yes you are right that’s a broken no5 easy out and the outer rim of the plug is breaking away. These don’t have loc-tite on them?

No 5 spiral bolt extractor gave up after I put an old fork leg on it for 3/4 of a turn... ground a nice flat on the plug to give some good smacks, then the plug split. Now I’m getting nervous

I’m going to try and get some purchase with a punch. My 7.5a impact gun didn’t touch it. That thing will take a counter shaft sprocket off in neutral! 350ft/lbs or something... I’m not hopeful.

Yeah, my electric impact gun made the key nice and round.... These things are funny, during the break in/re-torque of the heads on my T3 I purposely didn’t snug these plugs up tight. Sure enough when it came time to remove them they were next to impossible....

My poor v11 has been neglected lately and I got around to doing some maintenance on the old girl. One of my ongoing issues has been low compression on the left cylinder. So I recently got a leak down tester and I figured I’d take look see. Right side was darn near perfect! Left side was right around 20% loss. Not surprising, but not good. Sure enough a nice hissing sound could be heard coming from the exhaust. Rubber mallet in hand I bumped pressure up to 100psi and gave it a couple of whacks, then the loss side dropped even further. I check the pushrods and notice no play in the exhaust side... Savvy mechanics probably no what happened by now. I was wondering if I wasn’t on compression stroke?? Turn engine over a few times and verified I was. Was my valve so burned? I made adjustments until I got some play, but it was a lot. Finally I realize a valve keeper made it half way out..... Well I might as well make lemonade out of this. So I get to tearing down the top end to take it to a machine shop. I’ve had Guzzi top ends apart a few times and run into issues on this plug that gets access to the top nut before but this one is a major pain! Does anybody have any tricks to removing this stubborn POS? This one is completely screwed now and getting heat on it is a bit dicey considering all the petrol in between the cylinders. Thanks for any input

The v11 theme song!

That my friend is love! No towel throwing here.

Been a while. The V11 hasn’t gotten a lot of love this year. Rainy in the Midwest of the states here. The new to me T3 does my cycle errands and my suddenly unreliable 2t Yamaha has been getting my wrench time. Honestly though my best rides are on the V11. It just checks so many boxes. Heres my whining though. I have (probably) gotten grease in the stupid front grease zerk before, but I finally found a sweet little 90deg grease gun attachment that snapped right on the zerk as easy as possible. A few grease pumps and for the life of me I couldn’t get the frickin thing off the zerk! Two hours!.... Finally I got serious, against my better judgement I pried it off with a screwdriver. Nothing broke I’m happy. I feel like atleast a few of us would appreciate the irony of eight years of trying to find a nozzle that fits and now I have to find one that also comes off. No there are no adjustments on this attachment unfortunately.

That is awesome!

Looking forward to hear your thoughts...

Not near the east coast, but I’m sure either The Guzzi Doctor in Chicago or Rosefarm Classics west of him. Harpers?

Looks like fun! Keep us posted on the process.

I think there are three different wheel bearing sizes on my 02.... The T3. One.

Just got a Merlin Anson classic looking jacket. https://images.app.goo.gl/yCng4x63Q4rk2S7z6 My usual jacket is my Vanson, at 5 years old it might be broken in now. Feels safe, though I never tested it. Some days it feels like it might’ve shrunk in the trunk area.... Arai helmet My favorite boots are 20 years old and on the third sole, there replacement is getting broken in. Gloves are usually cheap leather gloves that fit.... I’m open to suggestions.

I rarely mind the work put into running/maintaining old/Italian bikes. It’s the waiting on parts that kills me.

I thought we decided that gears were better for motorcycles and chains were only for Phil’s bedroom activities....?