A few queries

[Guest steveguzzi]

Hi again. I have just returned home with my new purchase, a 2002 Le Mans, the one with white clocks, burgundy fairing and grey tank. The bike was built 2001, and registered Feb 2002. The manual with the bike illustrates the V11 Sport, and poses me some questions. I hope you guys can bear with me but I haven't located the answers in the forum yet.

What oil should I use? the manual says 20/50, but that seems very low tech in this day and age, and if I remember from my Mille GT days, some people had problems with sludge build up on long term use of 20/50 in Guzzis. I was hoping that with a modern fully synthetic, it would help prolong the life of cam and valve components

Should I measure the engine oil level with bike on side stand, or bike vertical?

Should I measure final drive oil level with bike upright but on wheels, or upright on a stand? The MilleGT used to be on its wheels.

Does anyone know if the automatic cam chain tensioner works reliably? on older Guzzis the tensioner was a weak point.

I have a new MPH speedo fitted, I don't know why, and on my first journey the trip mileometer overead by a large amount compared to the main mileometer! any thoughts on why this should be?

Sorry if these queries have been answered before, Speak to you soon.

[Murray]

Its still a low tech motor change it regulary and it should never be a problem for intial run in at least it is suggested to use mineral oil then go to synthetic at around 20 000kms but opions vary on this. Oil level is checked upright the final drive is desinged to be checked upright however the minimal difference it makes to been on a race stand won't do it any harm. The cam chain tensioner is better than the ones of old but seriously consider fitting a blade/agostini type tensioner should you ever distirub that part of the motor. Just ride it.

[Martin Barrett]

I have a new MPH speedo fitted, I don't know why, and on my first journey the trip mileometer overead by a large amount compared to the main mileometer! any thoughts on why this should be?

 

Easy one this, the main odometer is mounted above the trip meter. Therefore every time you go around a bend it takes the inside line, traveling a shorter distance, It also actually goes slower whilst maintaining the same angular velocity

[Steve G.]

Well, engine oil is that great thread that everyone has a good and strong opinion on. Certainly most all would say that synthetic oil should not be used at all during engine breakin, I would guess at 12,000-16,000kms. After that if you decide to use synthetic, sure go ahead. It is overkill on an engine like this that does not share it's engine and gearbox/clutch lubrication. One thing synth. will do is eliminate the worry of switching oil thickness from hot to cold times of usage. It simply does not thin down in desert heat the way petrolium based oils do. Nor will it thicken in cold the way mineral will. Being air cooled, stay with 5w-50, 15w-50, or 20w-50.

Checking the oil level on these v11 based bikes has always been a peeve of mine. You check the oil level with the bike upright, spin the dipstick all the way down, then spin it up to check. Problem is, the stick has the stupid raised ridges [probably needed because the flimzy plastic one would fall apart without them] which confuse the actual level because the oil klings around and up the dipstick when spinning it up, easily giving a false reading. Not to fear for me though, I ordered a new metal one from Moto International, in August, it should be here any time.

White faced guages? Gotta be the Veglias. Nice looking things really. I guess they've been a disaster warranty wise. Guzzi uses ITI guages now, not near as good looking, bur Aprilia uses them. I guess just be thankfull it's at least working.

Ciao, Steve G.

[TX REDNECK (R.I.P.)]

I bow to superior knowledge Can someone answer a ? Why does the factory fill the engine with synthetic ?

 

 

 

Power commander's & synthectic will be the begining of the end for

[Steve G.]

A very good question. I don't know.

I do know that all new Triumphs have a special full synthetic break-in oil [made by Mobil]. Maybe Moto Guzzi has the same type of stuff.

Porsche also uses full synthetic break-in oil [Mobil] from the factory.

Ciao, Steve G.