docc

Just back from the auto parts store where I do a lot of business. Sometimes, it's good to cheer folks up . . . "What d'ya need today, docc?" "I'm here to pick up a stripper. . ." (We got to the "aircraft" part when the howling settled down.

The news feeds I could find did not show anything very exciting for Moto Guzzi. Anyone actually get there and find some excitement at this year's EICMA?

Shameless cross-post:

Haha - I was wondering who was gonna get that . . .

http://www.ebay.com/itm/122215886327?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&fromMakeTrack=true

Haha, I wanna apologize for this in advance . . . "Hey-Ho-a-Lina!"

I bit the bullet and ordered the true zinc chromate from Chuck's aircraft supplier. $30US can of spray paint! Reminds me of what a bargain the LuckyPhil/Chuck-Made shift extenders are! I also replenished my handy cans of Alumi-Blast and Diamond Satin Clear from Eastwood (another thirty bucks). Pretty excited about restoring my alternator cover (a mark of true affliction, I know ), but not sure I have the courage to actually paint stripes on my bodywork. I read that the original Gambalungha was silver with unique blue markings. So, now I'm just conflicted and confused . . .

Looking, now, at the Gambalunga/Gambalunghino I see the V11 tank shape and why Marabese insisted on the "pronounced" tail section along with the vestigial number plate. The design makes so much more sense this way (Gambalunghino) than relating the V11 only to the V7 Sport.

Oh . . . you know . . . . "someone" with an extra spine frame lying about . . . . with a local powder coater . . . Heh - I tried to mock up a photo of a black V11 Sport with that green frame. That would be so cool!

Heh - here in The Deep South, we're fond of saying "tastes like yak" when we're not sure what's being served up . . . AKA: "meat" & 3

Oh - oh - oh , ok, ok , I'm good now. Whew! I did drive about 600 miles once to buy a 1000S with the green stripes. Cash in hand. Got there and #1, the guy changed the deal and jacked the price, and #2, it had a green frame! I was a little shocked by the green frame. Worse by the deal change and came home with an empty trailer. Later, I came to really admire the green frame. And only now, waking up from Scud's-own-nightmare, can I see a black (black), ahem: BLACK V11 Sport with a 1000S style green frame. "Someone" oughta do that: a black V11 Sport with the gloss green frame of the 1000S . . .

My RedFrame? The RedFrame on my Sport? Yer talkin' about my RedFrame? You must be . . . it's the only RedFrame I have . . . Make my RedFrame green? I'm havin' nightmares and I'm not even asleep . . . a green RedFrame . . .

So, Lucas has not replied to my inquiry about their base oils, so i suspect they are nothing special. I've switched to Redline 20w-50 "ester based . . . lubricant with extra ZDDP . . ." Thanks, jharvey, for posting! Two of the most respected members on this forum also recommend Schaeffer oils . I'll have to give those a try one day . . .

So, these B-25 Mitchells in zinc chromate primer look yellow because yellow pigment was added to the paint? And, hey, Chuck, if you have a photo of that solo seat on the Centauro, I'd like to add it to the "Custom Seat" thread . . .

My idea has been to remove the passenger seat and its cowl entirely, and build a short bum stop into the seat itself to mate up with the tapered tail section but only extending its lines forward a few inches (not the almost 10 inches of the factory seat cowl). I think it will reduce the "visual mass" of the tail section significantly. My mind's eye also can see a section of *Carcano green* stripe from the headlight to the windscreen interrupted by the Gambalungha eagle:

A few years back, I tried to switch to Yak Fat since Our Beloved P.Roper spoke so highly of the substance. . . . but collecting it rather pissed the yaks off quite severely, so I went back to *whatever* and "the world was, once again, spinning on greased grooves."

I've also thought about adding a number plate "ring" reminiscent of the Marabese V11 monoposto prototype, but that's another matter entirely. Further complicated by my trying to "loose" the passenger seat cowl in favor of a stylized bum-stop seat . . . So, probably no number plates for the Sport, but I do feel good having Gambalunghino badging that honors Luciano Marabese and his design inspiration from the Gambalunghino to the V11 Sport. That connection was unknown to me when I had them made.

So . . . a zinc chromate-like green colored paint? I suppose that is what the Tenni is. I thought of doing my Stucchi flyscreen, but like it too much in the body color. It's the alternator cover I'm after. It's due a refresh . . . I think it would be pretty subtle, but somehow have a special significance in that color.

Not to speak for Chuck, but that would be Redline Heavy Shockproof. They also make Shockproof in Lightweight (blue milkshake), and Superlight. https://www.redlineoil.com/Products.aspx?pcid=8 Pretty recent discussion on these forums here: The Low Down Gear Oil Blues

I do love the matte green of the post war (WWII) racing Moto Guzzi, especially Carcano's Otto Cylindri., as well as the magnificent V11 Tenni homage paint scheme. I have hatched a plan to paint a subtle section of my V11 Sport in honor of this heritage. Seems not all Zn chromate paints are the same color. What would be the closest to the traditional hue, and who makes a good reliable product? (I intend to clear coat it with a good satin like Eastwood Diamond Clear). EDIT/14 December 2016: Seems it is the photography that makes zinc chromate (on vintage Guzzi race bikes) look so differently in pictures.

As long as the gearbox oil is at least "GL-4" and the rear drive oil is "GL-5" should be ok . . .

2016 EICMA is upon us!

As impressive as that light housing is (and it is! ), I've had a growing trepidation . . . How can we really trust this knumbnutz guy? Where are his proper Guzzi credentials? What a relief. I found it (in Post#1)!