Thinking ahead!

[Skeeve]

P.S. Just thought about another easy fix- gearshift lever nut- works loose after a while so a bit of loctite helps- I know this has hapened to several forum members.

51051[/snapback]

 

If this nut is so prone to working loose, shouldn't it be a candidate for replacement with a proper nylock unit? No actual stress on the nut, is there? Just vibration? Sounds to me like a trip to the aircraft fasteners bin is in order...

[Ballacraine]

If this nut is so prone to working loose, shouldn't it be a candidate for replacement with a proper nylock unit? No actual stress on the nut, is there? Just vibration? Sounds to me like a trip to the aircraft fasteners bin is in order...

51129[/snapback]

 

Sounds favourite to me!

 

Nige.

[big J]

If this nut is so prone to working loose, shouldn't it be a candidate for replacement with a proper nylock unit? No actual stress on the nut, is there? Just vibration? Sounds to me like a trip to the aircraft fasteners bin is in order...

51129[/snapback]

Unless youre in Europe, any aircraft I've worked on use UNF fasteners, US makers included.

[Ballacraine]

Unless youre in Europe, any aircraft I've worked on use UNF fasteners, US makers included.

51153[/snapback]

 

Well, we use both.

 

American customers and some British prefer imperial, European prefer metric.

 

Nige.

[big J]

Lucky sod,all them stainless and ti fasteners just waiting in the parts bins, ready to go onto your guzz! Not for one minute suggesting youd blag them of course,just cherrypick the time x bin

[Ballacraine]

Lucky sod,all them stainless and ti fasteners just waiting in the parts bins, ready to go onto your guzz! Not for one minute suggesting youd blag them of course,just cherrypick the time x bin

51157[/snapback]

 

Ahem!

 

 

 

Nige.

[belfastguzzi]

Well, I was looking for a garage project for next winter.

Would you folks mind helping to post a definitive list on this thread, so I can eliminate all likely problems whilst I have it in bits. I think it may be a useful quick reference for all owner / amateur mechanics too.

51015[/snapback]

You Manxmen sure do plan ahead, or perhaps it's a Manx custom to rotate the seasons from year to year so that maybe this year winter follows straight after spring?

 

1) and, ahem, talking of spring, let that be your first job. Check the dimensions of you know what.

2) Check for wildlife in yer tacho. Buy rat poison for a quick fix or else a video camera if you want a really absorbing winter project, making a nature documentary for Channel 4.

3) Check for fog in yer tacho.

4) Drill holes in yer tacho.

5) Check for accuracy in yer tacho, but make sure that you have removed the wildlife first.

6) Check the various connections in yer tacho, both electrical and mechanical, as people have reported weaknesses, breakages and disconnections due to corrosion, looseness and general poor workmanship.

7) If it's a harsh winter, check again for wildlife or tramps in yer tacho. At the same time, better check in yer piano too, cos the fieldmice are partial to moving in there.

8) Polish yer tacho.

9) Polish yer piano.

10) Take a modest rest to reflect on your accomplishments thus far and to prepare for moving on to the Speedo. The challenges there are altogether different. Be prepared for devilish disasters in the reset knob area and potentially even worse round the back where the speedo cable terminates in wobbly plastic bits.

11) Did I say speedo cable? Lordy, lordy! There's a winter's project right there in that one item of mechanical malevolance alone!

12) Put the speedo cable off 'til next winter and move straight on to the knotty issue of how to extend your fender.

[Steve G.]

OK,

Here's my list of V11 "characteristics that one should check at the very least, and attend to if needed. Alot of these were fixed with the Lemans.

Starting at the front of the bike, going back:

[1] Check oil cooler brackets. They were made of chinsey aluminium which 'will' break from vibration. retrofit with readily available steel ones.

[2] Check bolts which fasten ignition switch to top 'dash'. They will fall out, and as they are security bolts with no way to retighten, take the bloody things out, chuck them far away, and put allen head bolts with a dab of locktight.

[3]Remove all the system involved in the dreaded and silly 'tank suck'problem.

[4] Check to see if your bike is included in the recall to renew big end bolts/nuts.

[5] Check to see if your bike is included in the gearbox recall.

[6] Check body panels covering the starter motor, and both side covers. The starter motor cover will crack in half from vibration. The side panels will crack from vibration, and from the fuel tank settling onto them, in which case the tank should be shimmed up from the rear fastening bolt.

[7] Check the speedo drive bevel gear, the 60 degree angled thing coming out of the gearbox on the right side. These things will disgorge themselves as you travel along the road, the worm gear falling out when the end cap falls out.

[8] Check the wires coming out of the electric fuel shut off valve, on the left side. The early ones were electric, the newer ones were manual. The electric ones have feeble unprotected wires coming out, and with wind and vibration, the wires will break causing the shut off switch to cut the fuel.

[9] Take along a selection of relays. I believe the third one from the front of the bike has to deal with an overabundanse of electrical switching, including headlight, electric tachometer, and most importantly, the charging system.

Other than those, just a lovely old bruiser!

Ciao, Steve G.

[dlaing]

1-9) What Steve said, FWIW I have experienced every thing on his list except the crank rod recall and note that later bikes had steel oil cooler brackets, Oh, and just replace relays with the GEI relays

10) Clean rear brake piston

11) Check your bearings and spacers

12) Check the eyes of your shock for cracking or replace with Ohlins

13) Replace the oil breather line that goes from rear upper engine to frame above the coils

14) Swap the seat latch spring with the idle up spring(unless they got it right)

15) Pull the headlight bulb shield off before it falls off.

16) I know I am forgetting something... I suppose you could replace the valves and the bad gear spring.

 

And here are some things to watch for that you cannot do much to prepare for:

Rubber throttle body mounts start to crack as does much of the rubber doodads.

I have also had my alternator and oil lights fail at the socket.

I had the heavy wire thing break that helps you activate the side stand.

I have replaced the battery after four years...not too bad but I suppose if I charged it more often with a 'recommended' charger it would have lasted longer.

Lower oil drain bolt was stripped the first time that I pulled it...tighten with care...

The clamp that holds my rear shock adjuster is cracking...

My front brake switch failed.

My rear tail light socket failed. Replacement complete taillight from Buell was under $30. (Sorry Guzzi Dealers, NOT!)

Turn signals broke where bolt holds on, replaced with Buell rubber mounted, more durable against quick tugs of a bike cover or brushing by with your leg, but heavier and they sag like they need Viagra®.

You could replace the valve stems and that gear return spring.

[Guest aironepony]

The main reason I opted back into the Guzzi world was that of all the modern machinery it is still one of the best, if not the best option for home mechanics.

 

By the state in which it was delivered to me, I certainly wouldn't let the local Guzzi dealer work on it again. 

 

All extending service intervals does, is mean less is done to a vehicle for a longer time.

 

I would rather have that intimacy with the bike, know what has been done and not been done, know the potential trouble areas and try to minimise or eliminate them. That is why I posted this thread.

 

Nige. 

51112[/snapback]

 

Some people seem to spend all of their time looking for problems. The process of doing just that often induces the very problems that they fear.

 

My experiences with bikes from being a lad some 50 years ago was this; if it ain't broke, don't fix it. In those days my daily transport relied on having a reliable bike, usually someones discarded pre-war example. I knew what I needed to know to ensure that it went; I could do anything on it, but unecessary interventions were ruled out. The weekends were saved for getting out on it and enjoying it.

 

I now enjoy my Rosso Corsa.....give it a go.............

[Ballacraine]

Some people seem to spend all of their time looking for problems. The process of doing just that often induces the very problems that they fear.

 

My experiences with bikes from being a lad some 50 years ago was this; if it ain't broke, don't fix it. In those days my daily transport relied on having a reliable bike, usually someones discarded pre-war example. I knew what I needed to know to ensure that it went; I could do anything on it, but unecessary interventions were ruled out. The weekends were saved for getting out on it and enjoying it.

 

I now enjoy my Rosso Corsa.....give it a go.............

51258[/snapback]

 

To a large extent I agree with your philosophy, but I know how frustrated I get when something busts that was avoidable.

 

I have to admit that my main worry is that single plate clutch. I love the way it performs, I really do not like the possibility of it grenading on me. I really do not like the likely manner of its failure.

I know there should be plenty of warning, but knowing it is lurking there, will get to me by the end of this upcoming riding season. That is why once I am launched on replacement and amongst the innards, I want to try and sort all likely problems in the one hit. Hence starting this thread.

 

Thanks for all the helpful input, folks!

 

Nige.

[Ballacraine]

You Manxmen sure do plan ahead, or perhaps it's a Manx custom to rotate the seasons from year to year so that maybe this year winter follows straight after spring?

 

1) and, ahem, talking of spring, let that be your first job. Check the dimensions of you know what.

2) Check for wildlife in yer tacho. Buy rat poison for a quick fix or else a video camera if you want a really absorbing winter project, making a nature documentary for Channel 4.

3) Check for fog in yer tacho.

4) Drill holes in yer tacho.

5) Check for accuracy in yer tacho, but make sure that you have removed the wildlife first.

6) Check the various connections in yer tacho, both electrical and mechanical, as people have reported weaknesses, breakages and disconnections due to corrosion, looseness and general poor workmanship.

7) If it's a harsh winter, check again for wildlife or tramps in yer tacho. At the same time, better check in yer piano too, cos the fieldmice are partial to moving in there.

8) Polish yer tacho.

9) Polish yer piano.

10) Take a modest rest to reflect on your accomplishments thus far and to prepare for moving on to the Speedo. The challenges there are altogether different. Be prepared for devilish disasters in the reset knob area and potentially even worse round the back where the speedo cable terminates in wobbly plastic bits.

11) Did I say speedo cable? Lordy, lordy! There's a winter's project right there in that one item of mechanical malevolance alone!

12) Put the speedo cable off 'til next winter and move straight on to the knotty issue of how to extend your fender.

51213[/snapback]

 

Yeah, TBH it is that single plate clutch that is nagging at the back of my mind.

 

BTW......I think you are developing a phobia about tachos.

 

Beer should help!

 

Seriously, thanks for the input!

 

Nige.

[Steve G.]

Believe me Aironepny,

The last thing I do is look for problems. All the things I have listed actually happened, and had no choice but to deal with them.

Ciao, Steve G.

[Guest aironepony]

Believe me  Aironepny,

The last thing I do is look for problems. All the things I have listed actually happened, and had no choice but to deal with them.

                                                                                  Ciao, Steve G.

51366[/snapback]

 

Reiki; that's the answer. Surround your bike with goodness. Attune the it's vibrations to the universal wavelength. Let the great OMMMMM permeate the fabric of the machine...............

[Ballacraine]

Reiki; that's the answer. Surround your bike with goodness. Attune the it's vibrations to the universal wavelength. Let the great OMMMMM permeate the fabric of the machine...............

51386[/snapback]

 

Highly optimistic!

 

Might be worth a try, though!

 

Nige.