High Value Guzzi Oil Filter

[Guest Gary Cheek]

I would prefer a PRV sticking open a bit to one that is stuck closed in most cases. The PRV usually lacks the capacity to vent the total pump output. There would be a diminishing flow to the bearings as the speed drops in most cases but not a total loss of flow. A valve that has been over-shimmed or for some reason sticks closed can and all too often WILL burst the filter or extrude the filter's seal. This is more likely to happen at HIGH speed . BTW the washer trick was very often overdone by many ham fisted "hot rodders" . We got to fix quite a few of the fruits from their mis-guided attempts to improve the factory stuff.

My neighbor had a real nice 427 Camaro with a 'blueprinted" engine and "tricked" oil system. The big trick was to burst filters on cold mornings. He finally busted a filter on the road. I got to do the post-mortem when I built him a new engine. The poor spring had been shimmed nearly to coil bind. He got his 80 PSI but the valve could not open sufficiently to vent the thickened cold start oil.

The new engine got a stock spec Mellings oil pump and much less bearing clearance than the then in vogue "blue printed engine" called for. He was trying to make up for a volume problem by jacking the pressure up, dimishing returns caught up with him. The extra clearance built in to his trick engine was flowing entirely too much dino juice.

[Guest Mattress]

Abso-freakin-lootely amazing. Never owned a Fraud product, more'n likely never will. Crown Vic "cop cars" are one thing. But THIS amazes me. Now I seriously doubt if you'd be likely to find this kinda perverse, trashy dimestore eyewash in a Town Car -- or would you??

 

Can't remember when I was last in a Lincoln, but I'd hope for the extra coin you'd get real gauges. An afterthought, I bet they don't put numbers on the gauge for legal reasons. A scale implies the unit should be reflecting an actual reading. Not jus on/off.

 

BTW - happened to read today that Continental Teves (related to Continental tyres) is offering an oil LEVEL sensor for the OEM motorcycle market. It apparently can monitor oil quality too. sounds like the bees knees. I attached the press release in microsoft word.

doc_motorcycle_qlt_en.doc

[Ryland3210]

Well, if it is easy for you and you can identify a manufacturer and part number for a transducer that will

 

How is it that Japan & Europe car manufacturers are having success with such heavily unionized workforces? You think the unions got too much power here? In germany they have reps sitting on the company board.

 

P.S. I'm not in the union. And, a lot of people in Michigan know that Henry Ford was clever, but he was a self-interested asshole (and a reported racist).

 

I have been a supplier to Ford myself, though fortunately not in the commodity area. I have also seen my customers which were commodity suppliers to Ford go out of business one by one, but GM has been worse, promissing more business for a five year period to a select number of suppliers in return for set prices, then reneging after those suppliers made large investments in capital equipment to reduce cost and opening it right back up to whoever came up with the lowest price. Several were driven into liquidation as a result.

 

I never meant to imply unions have too much power here today, although they clearly abused the power they had in the past. It still worked out before U.S. manufacturers did not have to face competition from the East.

 

As one successful American supplier exec, Nick Gibbs of Gibbs Diecasting said, when asked how can one be profitable supplying parts to U.S. automakers, "you have to be able to shut them down". Then he added sympathetically, "these are desparate men". They feel compelled to cut their costs any way they can to stay competitive.

 

The Europeans have far more historical experience protecting their indigenous suppliers, and customers are more loyal. The percentage of German made cars driven in Germany, for example, is far higher than American cars made here. There, local manufacturers can charge the prices they need to stay in business, even though they are unionized. Of course many of those laborers are Turks! How much does the average American care about where the jobs are that make the car he/she buys? Even Harley now buys parts from China that they once purchased here.

[Guest Mattress]

How much does the average American care about where the jobs are that make the car he/she buys? Even Harley now buys parts from China that they once purchased here.

 

Honestly, I don't think most americans give a rip about the collapsing manufacturing base and the bleeding that is taking places across the mid-west in towns of all shapes and sizes. I think most people don't even take the time to understand manufacturing, except maybe they might tour a cheese plant when driving through Wisconsin. In america we have a great "Its not me" attitude, and a Calvinist view that if you are not a success it must be because of you. Take some time to visit Detroit. Parts of it look like it was shelled by the Canadian army.

 

A lot of middle class americans are working at hospitals, schools, banks, etc. You can't easily outsource these types of jobs.

 

Hopefully it might get better someday. U.S. gov. statistics are showing that incomes have actually fell in the middle class and poverty is on the rise.

[Guest Gary Cheek]

Honestly, I don't think most americans give a rip about the collapsing manufacturing base and the bleeding that is taking places across the mid-west in towns of all shapes and sizes. I think most people don't even take the time to understand manufacturing, except maybe they might tour a cheese plant when driving through Wisconsin. In america we have a great "Its not me" attitude, and a Calvinist view that if you are not a success it must be because of you. Take some time to visit Detroit. Parts of it look like it was shelled by the Canadian army.

 

A lot of middle class americans are working at hospitals, schools, banks, etc. You can't easily outsource these types of jobs.

 

Hopefully it might get better someday. U.S. gov. statistics are showing that incomes have actually fell in the middle class and poverty is on the rise.

 

 

NAFTA.... Was probably the biggest factor in the recent downturn. It took a while for the effects to take hold but 1998 was a turning point and the begining fo the industrial recession. It may take a while but the entire nation will feel the hurt in a huge way. They have no idea what is about to hit them.

 

BTW America

[badmotogoozer]

NAFTA.... Was probably the biggest factor in the recent downturn. It took a while for the effects to take hold but 1998 was a turning point and the begining fo the industrial recession. It may take a while but the entire nation will feel the hurt in a huge way. They have no idea what is about to hit them.

 

BTW America

 

There is certainly a downturn, not just in the US but in Canada also. A bigger factor in this than NAFTA is the rise of Chinese industrialism. They have been growing exponentially over this same period.

 

The number of long term US companies that have been killed by Chinese competition is astounding. Big brand names have been bought up and are now manufactured under the same name in China, without much notice. I was looking to buy a Shrade (80 yr old company) knife for my father, just like the one I've had for 20yrs, only to discover that they went out of business two years ago and the "new" Shrade is a Chinese company. Knife quality is not even close to mine.

 

It is the public who is to blame for this. In great numbers they opt for cheaper than dirt products, manufactured poorly elsewhere, at stores like Wallfart and Costco. US manufacturers and small retailers are taking a big hit. "But look how much I saved on my Wally bill!" Most would rather save a few bucks than keep the money "in country".

 

The US, IMO, should be less concerned about terror and wake up to the quiet attack on its economy. China is laughing all the way to the bank, both in the subjucation of industry and in loaning massive sums of $ to fund war efforts in return for junk bonds. They may be junk bonds but when you have enough of them... The big hurt is coming, as you say.

 

I'm not trying to be anti-US in any way, just my observations. I miss quality US products!

 

cheers,

 

Rj

[Guest Gary Cheek]

You and me both.

The job losses in this area were quite heavily from moves to Canada and Mexico, post NAFTA. Just a year ago there were ads on the Canadian radio stations boasting that Ontario had added 1 million new manufacturing jobs in the last 10 years. This was very significant both due to the 10 year time period and the fact that Michigan LOST almost 300,000 jobs at the same time.. Michigan is not alone, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were also tapped pretty hard.

 

There is a lot more going on, the push for green cards in the 90s to "help us compete" was actually an international apprentice program, funded by taxpayer dollars. Many of the remaining engineering and support jobs are now moving to regions where the temporary help originated.

 

I am not whining or finger pointing just pointing out the real facts about what has been happening here. The economy of scale says the more you send out the more it costs to do what is left. A nation cannot sustain wealth without mining, agriculture, manufacturing. We cannot do it with casinos, tourism or shining each others shoes. Service will not sustain our economy.

 

And I agree totally on who is to blame. The poor fools have been sold the whole "the consumer wins with low prices" bullsheet. The Americans haven't PAID the real price yet When they do get the bill they won't have the cheese to pay it.

[badmotogoozer]

The drain is flowing both ways WRT to jobs Canada/US. Many of our educated professionals and health care workers moved south in a mass exodus (better pay, pay in US dollars - ours was @ 60cts, lesser taxes, greater demand). We are seeing many return now as our dollar is stronger and tighter restrictions post 9/11 are drawing them back. We are still unable to fill many important areas from this brain drain.

 

In my field we are seeing a lot of Canadian medical device and drug companies on the verge of being bought up by Japanese giants, getting their patents and research for pennies. Once very strong companies, cannot compete with offshore.

 

Yup, the bill is coming...

 

Rj

[Guest Gary Cheek]

The drain is flowing both ways WRT to jobs Canada/US. Many of our educated professionals and health care workers moved south in a mass exodus (better pay, pay in US dollars - ours was @ 60cts, lesser taxes, greater demand). We are seeing many return now as our dollar is stronger and tighter restrictions post 9/11 are drawing them back. We are still unable to fill many important areas from this brain drain.

 

In my field we are seeing a lot of Canadian medical device and drug companies on the verge of being bought up by Japanese giants, getting their patents and research for pennies. Once very strong companies, cannot compete with offshore.

 

Yup, the bill is coming...

 

Rj

 

I lesten a lot to CBC Canada (not much on TV but I am a radio junkie) I really like the programming and the variety. They also go into much depth that the networks and public radio here cannot approach. They remind me a lot of what the BBC was, before they too got shallow and agenda driven.

Last I heard the real boom in Canada is Calgary. I know what you mean about the big buy outs and looting as well. My comments regarding the NAFTA thing are more specific to this region, acknowledging Canada is huge.

 

Lets hope the silly stuff ends before it is too late. The forces that are bringing this about do indeed have an agenda, a plan and a timetable. They are well funded and pretty well control the flow of information that allows them to do this to us.

 

Oh well , I won't rant on this any further lest I give more credance to those who already have me pegged as a nut

Lets get back to the Guzzi stuff!

 

Peace , Gary

[badmotogoozer]

I lesten a lot to CBC Canada

 

You might be the only one! (The CBC, more so TV than radio, gets a bad rap up here!)

 

Back to our regularly scheduled Guzzi programming...

 

Rj

[Ryland3210]

You and me both.

 

 

And I agree totally on who is to blame. The poor fools have been sold the whole "the consumer wins with low prices" bullsheet. The Americans haven't PAID the real price yet When they do get the bill they won't have the cheese to pay it.

 

Perot was right: Remember him warning about the "big sucking sound" of jobs going to Mexico? Later, Mexicans complained they were losing jobs to China, so they moved up the technology food chain to take those jobs down south. Mexico was the tip of the iceberg.

 

You're absolutely right that the real price hasn't hit home yet. Eventually when they have enough economic power or get sick of buying what is becoming junk treasury bills from a country being run further into bankruptcy by our leaders , the Chinese will revalue their currency, prices for their goods will go up. When Americans start looking for those high paying manufacturing jobs, they won't be there, nor are they ever coming back. Just one example: there is such a glut of used die casting machines from liquidated companies, the sell for less than the salvage value of the steel.

 

As the Chinese buy U.S. treasury bills they prop up the currency, which keeps their products cheap over here. When that stops, get ready for a major devaluation of the dollar. By the way, I laugh when I hear about how other currencies are getting stronger against the dollar. The reality is the dollar is weakening against virtually every currency except China's, and that's fixed.

 

It's not only the consumer to blame. They are doing what they believe is in their own best interest. The major problem is fiscal mismanagement on an unprecedented scale by the Federal government, Republicans and Democrats alike. They are mortgaging the country's future at an astonishing rate, and appear totally inept or negligent regarding the U.S. economic base. My last comment, and I'll shut up: Remember when Harley was saved by a temporary import duty on Japanese motorcycles? Ask yourself what motivation Washington has now for suggesting to the Chinese that they allow their currency to rise against the dollar (which the Chinese have refused), instead of imposing an import duty? This is not rocket science. With an import duty which Washington can do at will, consumer prices rise and the difference goes to Washington to help with the deficit. With an increase in the value of Chinese currency, the difference goes to Beijing. Oh, I almost forgot: Clinton said his opening of the doors to U.S. markets wide open would be good for the U.S. because China was going to buy lots of corn and computers. Funny things didn't work out that way. IBM, Dell moved their PC production to China shortly thereafter, and I would not be surprised if all the computers for sale over here are made there. Hope the Chinese like our corn. Couldn't have been a big boom for the corn farmers, since so much of it is being used for ethanol these days.

[DeBenGuzzi]

Be careful with the lowest cost oils. A cheap, non-leading brand 10-40 oil I used in a pinch, reverted to close to 100% 10 weight after only a few hundred miles at normal running temperature. Apparently the reformulating process used by some oil companies to increase viscosity does not achieve strong enough bonds in the long chain molecules. Since then, I stick with the lowest cost, but major brand oils in my automobiles.

Oh I stick to the big names, no off brands just whatever is cheaper, Mobil, Shell, Valvoline ect. Only Redline for the bike, and any other bike in the future

[Ryland3210]

Oh I stick to the big names, no off brands just whatever is cheaper, Mobil, Shell, Valvoline ect. Only Redline for the bike, and any other bike in the future

 

I also would add Texaco Havoline to that list. There are some brands that have been around a long time, not majors, and that's where I saw the problem. Elsewhere there was a post by a respected authority recommending Shell Rotella, with backup objective data. Since then, it's been Valvoline, Havoline and Shell Rotella for me. I've read many good things about Redline, and might go for that for gearbox applications if it were easy for me to pick up off the local shelf. However, I figure that the gearbox and final drive will outlast the engine by many miles and years the way I drive with conventional oils and the Moly additive on top, so I don't see a real advantage.

[Guest Gary Cheek]

I am not too familiar with the formulation of oils around the world, the US is touff enuff to comprehend.

From what I am reading the oils made for automoble engines have, by mandate reduced the zinc and phosphate content. The toll these elements take on catalytic convertors is the reasoning. Since most auto engines are OHC or roller tappet equipped the demand for the protection these elements provide has been diminished. Roll that in with the fact that since flat tappets are no longer made by the millions, most of the producers of the high quality flat tappets have quit. The void has been filled by really poor quality stuff of inferior finish.

Sooo, our old school engines have a lot working against them. Hence all the talk of inferior Guzzi cams etc.

Bottom line, we need old fashioned oil for our old timer engines. A few ways to do it. Oil intended for motorcycle use is exempt from the additive limits imposed on auto oil. SOME manufacturers actually put a healthy dose of the good stuff into their oil. There are quite a few reports on the web regarding cycle oil and additive levels. Look around.

Another source is STP, yes STP had a good load of the zinc and phosphate our engines lust after. It was originally meant as a booster for tired oil to replace these elements as they deplete themselves during the oils useful life. You can even add a little between oil changes to maintain a healthy level of the additives.

 

Shell Rotella is also exempt from the limits because it is formulated for heavy duty engine that do not have cat convertors.

 

Again, with whatever oil, a few ounces of STP brtween changes will help maintaon the zinc and phosphate level in your oil.

 

Look around on the web under oil for air cooled engines, motorcycle oil etc. There is a lot to learn fer sure.

[DeBenGuzzi]

Shell Rotella is also exempt from the limits because it is formulated for heavy duty engine that do not have cat convertors.

well good thing lots of ppl are getting theirs stolen, I guess there's money in them there cats. who knew?

Catalytic converters stolen for precious metals