Joe Caruso timing gears

[Eamonn]

I had these gears in my '04 Cafe Sport, they're beautifully made & work fine. I put about 1000kms (600 miles) on them, they're quiet but because they're straight cut gears, they're not as quiet as a chain, I don't love the mechanical noise. Consequently, they're up for sale, Aud$1500 + postage.

Edited Wednesday at 05:03 AM by Eamonn
add in 'plus postage'.

[Lucky Phil]

1 hour ago, Eamonn said:

I had these gears in my '04 Cafe Sport, they're beautifully made & work fine. I put about 1000kms (600 miles) on them, they're quiet but because they're straight cut gears, they're not as quiet as a chain, I don't love the mechanical noise. Consequently, they're up for sale, Aud$1500 + postage.

Really? What sort of mechanical noise? Clatter or whine? I have 2 sets of joes gears in engines and a 3rd set on the bench to go into another engine.

Phil

[pete roper]

If I were going to be building another 2V engine I’d be all over these like a rash.

For *ordinary* people who are just riding their bikes gears are really a bit of overkill, but like the fact that twin throttle bodies appeal to my sense of ‘engineering purity’ rather than a single one I’d have to say I’d like gears.

 

I am though, a complete twat!

[gstallons]

If these are noisy like straight cut gears in a small block Chevy , they sound like George Thorogood !

[Weegie]

Like Phil I have them in my Guzzis & think they're a worthwhile addition, no more timing issues, ignition or cam

Installed easily and trouble free, great product, but yes probably OTT on a road bike

I don't think you need any more recommendations than Pete syaing he'd jump on them if building a 2 v/v

When you consider Pete's warnings in the past on timing gears, it's a clarion call as to the quality of Joe's gear sets.

I'd jump on them if I was even considering using or building an engine they'd fit in the future

[4corsa]

I loved the straight-cut gear whine of my VFRs - these would be a perfect winter project for someone with the wherewithal to install them.

[p6x]

1 hour ago, gstallons said:

If these are noisy like straight cut gears in a small block Chevy , they sound like George Thorogood !

As bad as Christine?

 

[p6x]

1 hour ago, Weegie said:

but yes probably OTT on a road bike

Sorry, can you elaborate?

I make long runs on my V11, probably less tomorrow has I now have two bikes, however gears wear less than a chain, chain tensioner? you see, I recently had to replace the tensioners on my Porsche 911, both sides.

On a Porsche 911, the tensioners work with the hydraulic pressure from the engine oil. However, they are also spring loaded, because when you start the engine, there is no pressure. I would think that having gears would be an advantage, since you can do without a tensioner, no?

[Weegie]

20 minutes ago, p6x said:

Sorry, can you elaborate?

I make long runs on my V11, probably less tomorrow has I now have two bikes, however gears wear less than a chain, chain tensioner? you see, I recently had to replace the tensioners on my Porsche 911, both sides.

On a Porsche 911, the tensioners work with the hydraulic pressure from the engine oil. However, they are also spring loaded, because when you start the engine, there is no pressure. I would think that having gears would be an advantage, since you can do without a tensioner, no?

Absolutely agree with your sentiments and I have them on all my Guzzis.

If you do cover high mileages then perhaps its down to the individual's cost/benefit analysis.

The OEM duplex chain set up lasts a very long time and very rarely gives any trouble.

Guzzi owners are renowned for their frugality (euphanism for tight wads) so I ASSumed most wouldn't shell out for a gear set

As to noise, I can here them sometimes but not always, my pipes are a bit louder than stock and I wear earplugs.

The noise is nothing like you hear from a straight cut gearbox, like my Sporti.

[p6x]

1 hour ago, Weegie said:

Absolutely agree with your sentiments and I have them on all my Guzzis.

If you do cover high mileages then perhaps its down to the individual's cost/benefit analysis.

The OEM duplex chain set up lasts a very long time and very rarely gives any trouble.

Guzzi owners are renowned for their frugality (euphanism for tight wads) so I ASSumed most wouldn't shell out for a gear set

As to noise, I can here them sometimes but not always, my pipes are a bit louder than stock and I wear earplugs.

The noise is nothing like you hear from a straight cut gearbox, like my Sporti.

Thanks for the feed-back.

I am always prudent when it comes from unofficial modifications. I have no knowledge of who Joe Caruso is, apart from the song "Caruso";

I have seen modifications not properly tested long term, fail. Not saying that Caruso's gear sets are like that.

 

Edited Wednesday at 06:08 PM by p6x

[gstallons]

Someone was peddling aluminum straight cut gears some time ago. These would have a lifespan of an ice cream cone . If they are made from the proper metal , they should last a long time. You would want to lube all of this stuff on assy. You would never put things together dry. 

[gstallons]

13 hours ago, Eamonn said:

I had these gears in my '04 Cafe Sport, they're beautifully made & work fine. I put about 1000kms (600 miles) on them, they're quiet but because they're straight cut gears, they're not as quiet as a chain, I don't love the mechanical noise. Consequently, they're up for sale, Aud$1500 + postage.

BTW , if noise bothers you , you don't need a MotoGuzzi .

[gstallons]

Enrico Caruso is ok .  George Thorogood  , he is "Bad to The Bad" !

[Weegie]

Although I haven't conversed with Joe in a long time, I used to be in quite frequent contact with him

He's made several bits and pieces for me over the years and everything he sold me and a few other Guzzi folks I know has been really well made.

A few racers have used his gear sets for which he's renowned his other big mod was an oil pump and gears too for the HiCam engines. The original oil pump design on the HiCam engines being badly flawed and led to several engines being reduced to scrap.

I heard he was liasing with Phil on an update to the oil pump design for the HiCam, perhaps @Lucky Phil will chip in and tell us more

Joe's a huge Guzzi fan and very knowledgable as well as being a really nice guy, PM me if you want his mail address, I just don't like putting it out on a public forum

[Lucky Phil]

19 minutes ago, Weegie said:

Although I haven't conversed with Joe in a long time, I used to be in quite frequent contact with him

He's made several bits and pieces for me over the years and everything he sold me and a few other Guzzi folks I know has been really well made.

A few racers have used his gear sets for which he's renowned his other big mod was an oil pump and gears too for the HiCam engines. The original oil pump design on the HiCam engines being badly flawed and led to several engines being reduced to scrap.

I heard he was liasing with Phil on an update to the oil pump design for the HiCam, perhaps @Lucky Phil will chip in and tell us more

Joe's a huge Guzzi fan and very knowledgable as well as being a really nice guy, PM me if you want his mail address, I just don't like putting it out on a public forum

Yes I have a set of Joes new gear and his updated pump. I thought I posted an image here a little while back. I had him make my cam gear 4mm narrower the same width as the V11 gears because a steel gear can have a higher tooth loading than the cheesy aluminium one and we save weight. His latest pump has reverted back to a plain bronze bush for the drive gear to minimise oil loss through the original oem style needle bearing.

The new gears also have a different surface finish due to the previous providers of this going out of business I believe. So they are now a silver low friction finish. 

EDIT.. Oil pumps L to R Joes new pump, std, some aftermarket version which was almost impossible to remove due to the alignment pins being oversize. New gears and MGS-01 jackshaft

Edited Wednesday at 08:54 PM by Lucky Phil