chamberlin

Great post Guzzimoto!

Hey Marty- the tank can be returned to normal size by draining, drying, and waiting. The plastic isn't 'corroding' per se, it is just swelling. That's what causes the paint to crack, since the paint can't match the same expansion rate as the Nylon. Once the water evaporates away, the tank will shrink back to normal in all directions. Caswell is the coating you are referring to, and supposedly works well. I had some links to tank sealers and a lot of plastic tank info on this thread, but the posts got wiped out in a server outage. Replacing the tank all together is great if you can find one (and afford one), but what are you going to do to protect the new tank from Ethanol? That's why I decided to remove the Ethanol from my gas. I just didn't want to coat a brand new tank with a messy sealing compound.

Cafe Sport #1! http://billings.craigslist.org/mcy/4599598980.html Cafe Sport #2! http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/4596918295.html http://lincoln.craigslist.org/mcy/4594862268.html http://nashville.craigslist.org/mcy/4603856554.html http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/mcy/4602183071.html http://cnj.craigslist.org/mcy/4591772525.html http://maine.craigslist.org/mcy/4593985629.html

Yes indeed Docc, those settings are in your general profile settings (User Control Panel): Look for the tab on the left called Notification Options... once there, you can select the options under Topics & Posts. I highly recommend enabling them so you never miss a beat! But I do understand that you are probably involved in a lot more threads than me, so your notification emails could get out of hand quite easily... So guys, was there anyone who *was* subscribed to this thread (and got the email notifier with the included text) so I could re-post it?

Thanks Docc- by email alerts, I mean the topic subscription update emails. Everytime I reply to a thread, or start a new thread, it subscribes me, and I receive an email everytime a reply to that thread is posted. That's how I knew you just posted above....Maybe you have automatic subscriptions turned off? I would never be able to keep track of all my threads without subscription update emails!

Does anybody have the email alerts for this thread that contain my last post? I have Hubert's comment on email, but not mine.

Yup I agree. I just made the conversion from Marzocchi to Ohlins forks and had to buy the proper axle spacers and bearing from Harpers to get the conversion to work....$110 for 3 parts...but these aren't the kind of parts to skimp out on!

Bike is complete and ready for fuel! Hopefully next weekend I will have time to brew up a batch of pure gasoline.... p.s. Just today, another project bike has appeared on the horizon - a 1971 BMW R60/5. I'll be picking it up on Saturday. Haven't seen it yet though... Stay tuned.

New OEM brake and clutch reservoirs! I think I am done with cheap aftermarket reservoirs. This isn't an area to screw around with sub-standard parts. Installed!

Ahhh, I think I know what reference you are talking about: ZGUKTB00,ZGUKTB01 V 11 CAFÈ-BALLABIO 1100 2003-2005 ZGUKT002,ZGUKTA02 V 11 CAT. 1100 2003-2004 ZGUKT000,ZGUKT001 V 11 LE MANS 1100 2002 ZGUKS V 11 LE MANS/SPORT NAKED 1100 2001-2002 ZGUKR V 11 SPORT/MANDELLO 1100 1999-2001

I think a couple of posts went missing during the server outage?

If you can post some photos of the bike, I think we'd be interested in helping out determining the model. Everything you've said so far seems to be a '03+ red sport naked....but you mentioned that the VIN suggests the bike was a Nero Corsa? Is there a list you've found that shows VIN numbers vs. model types? I haven't heard of such a list.

Indeed, I like those too...had them on both my Aprilias and now both my Moto Guzzis. They are a mirror used on a lot of Piaggio group bikes. Fairly stable, well built, modern looking but not over the top for most bikes. Looking good, like that new dash!

Or install bleeder petcocks? In theory I think would work, but in practice, it would be very difficult to 'vacuum' out the low lying areas which might simply amount to a 1mm layer of bad stuff...

Yes! If for example, you lived in a very humid environment, but were able to keep your gas tank perfectly sealed from atmospheric exposure, there would likely never be a problem. But our tanks are far from 'air tight', and something has to replace the volume evacuated up by the burnt gas, so that would be Air...always with some percent of water vapor. The more the gas is exposed to the water vapor containing air, the more Ethanol molocules that bind to it and the more water that will work its way into the Nylon. Yes, an always topped off tank mitigates this problem (less air inside the tank). Yes, if you ride all the time and you fill up frequently, again not a problem. It's storage that's the real problem. The other downside effect, even if you had a metal tank, is that this water/ethanol concoction is heavier than gas, ends up at the bottom, and if it has a chance to evaporate completely, turns into a nasty amber sludge, causing other issues. This in addition to the less 'power' per volume unit, and the other potential corrosive properties to some materials, is why I am such an opponent to Ethanol blends. Engines designed for Ethanol (say E85) are fantastically powerful, and awesome...no doubt Ethanol is a great fuel on its own accord...but I have strong beliefs against blending it into fuels destined for engines made to be powered by pure gasoline. That's just the science/mechanical side of things...don't even get me started on the politics of the situation!

Docc, I think you are on the right track, but Ethanol does not 'degrade' into water. But maybe you mean 'bind' with another compund that prevents Ethanol from being so damn Hydroscopic (it's the absorbed water that really makes the PA-6 polymer tanks expand). Lots of good stuff here, if your brain is ready for it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120517170037AAlSJvz

How will you do that? Will you go for Ethanol free distributors or can you really remove it? Hubert Hubert, the Ethanol free petrol suppliers are quickly disappearing from the USA because of huge corn Ethanol subsidies the government is supporting. There are no pure gas locations within 100 miles from my location. My friend tells me to use 100LL aviation fuel but I have to do more research on that….I suppose our Guzzi valves would enjoy those lead compounds! I will also look further into Cabernet’s Startron enzyme treatment too as there are many different Ethanol treatment additives out there. I’m not familiar with this one. I’m curious how it works, if not binding something to the Ethanol groups. Regarding the removal of Ethanol from gasoline, it is simply a matter of adding distilled/deionized water and waiting for phase separation to happen. Then, drain off the resultant compounds and excess water (which are denser than gasoline). Because America’s E10 gas blends use the Ethanol as the primary source for raising the Octane rating, you must also add back in something to boost the Octane back up to safe levels. I will be using the new RaceGas additive. It’s a fairly simple process, but it will be somewhat dangerous, expensive and will produce a nasty compound that I must somehow dispose of. That said, I am determined to give it a try, and see what kind of results I can get; if not just for experimentation’s sake. I hate that the E-gas has been forced upon us and the free market choice has disappeared.

Nope- I thought about using an Ethanol "stabilizer" on my new virgin tank, but from what I remember reading, I don't think a stabilizer is enough to protect against the water absorbtion problem. I've decided to just remove the Ethanol myself and add back in an Octane booster (RaceGas.com).

I'm with you on that - I was really bummed to find out that the Quat-D exhausts are basically impossible to get...but I did read someplace that they don't quite sound as good as they look...

Docc don't think I will doing a 'break-in' oil change any time soon!

Hahaha, I love it, except for the fact the brake lever was broken and re-welded! Pony up for a new lever you cheap-O! On a bike like that, it should probably have aftermarket rear sets anyways. Yes, definitely saw the YouTube videos way back, before I even got my V11. This bike, and a local custom greenie are the bikes that actually steered me away from buying a Griso and on towards V11 addiction! Just for fun, here are a couple of shots of both bikes...I've been trying to get a hold of the local owner of the first bike through the gentleman that I bought my V11 from but no luck so far. I don't know what I'd do if he offered it for sale again! But heck, 5 grand plus shipping from Boston on the Ghezzi bike is still cheaper than the local Quat-D bike (I think he was asking $7500). I actually bought a poster of the bike, from a distributor in the UK of all places:

Nice '03 Naked (cross-over pipe removed, Ohlins steering dampner) Pacific NW http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/4588737328.html custom painted '00 red frame bike in Detroit area http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/mcy/4576591361.html '02 Sport Scura in New York http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/mcy/4588288333.html Still no takers for this highly customized '00 V11? Even with Brian Ghezzi parts? Only $5K? http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/mcy/4583241984.html '02 LeMans in SF Bay area http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/4585604940.html

Looking forward to it Docc! BTW, all the fluids are new! All hydraulic lines, rear end, transmission, and new oil a few weeks ago when I did the Roper plate! Factory Fresh!

Docc, it would have been the day I bought the bike, October 26th 2013 - exactly 9 months ago today! I had also bought and rode home the Norge that day, so the owner followed me home on the V11. That was about a 12 mile ride. I then rode it around my neighborhood for another mile or so. Everything seemed great with the motor and the shifting was extremely solid...very enjoyable (from what I remember). I didn't want to get into messing with valve clearances and TB syncing just yet, but I will likely look into that once it's back up and running. Those are the only two things I've got left on my 'normal maintenance' checklist. But if it runs great, should I even mess with it? I guess there's a chance of problems just due to the Fast by Ferraci cross-over and the big K&N pod filters... I would like to avoid a power commander if possible, but I'm not totally against it. Just don't want to burn the poor valves up lean or something!

Thanks man, me too! Hoping the motor and tranny are in good shape....everything else is new!