MartyNZ

You could carry a 90 degree adapter, and use it for checking tire pressure. It could be handy until you get the valve stems you want. I got a pair at a RV and Camper supplies store in Idaho.

I'll look out for you as you pass through Christchurch. I sent you a PM, and an email, so hopefully one will get to you. Watch out for tourists who are used to driving on the right forgetting to keep left in NZ. It is easy to forget, especially after a stop on a deserted country road. I know that I got onto the left when visiting Eastern Washington, USA. Luckily the guy I met gave me a friendly wave (at least that's what I think it was ). There are lots of roads in the South Island where there is low traffic, but the odd tourist camper van driven by someone who more comfortable in a city could ruin your day. Or a wandering sheep. Now this is important: NZ is in a turmoil over whether we should change the flag. You will need to have an opinion on this before you get to a NZ pub.

Kiwi Roy,Let me know if you would like me to send you a piece of brass tube I used to make a repair bush. I have some left over. Marty.

Does anyone have a set of Joe Kenny head guards for sale, or know of a retailer who has a set? These are to suit a square fin big block Moto Guzzi V11. I think that these are the best looking guards I've seen, but I can't find any for sale. It seems that Joe's website damico.swva.net is still active, but his email on the website returns a fatal error message. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks, Marty. Edit: Motociclo in Sydney Australia had some. Apparently they bought the last of Joe Kenny stock, so have more. http://motociclo.com.au/products/bikes-related-items/bike-accessories/moto-guzzi/general-big-block/square-fin-guzzi-head-p-0 Their website is a bit average, but I gave them a ring, and they were very helpful.

Hey Zooter, If you are in Christchurch, you are welcome to borrow some V11 tuning tools I have. Give me a ring on (021) 135 1023. I bought the cables so I can use the GuzziDiag software on a little netbook. That is a slick program. I made a breakout harness to measure TPS voltage from pieces of dead Fiat, so you can measure voltage accurately. This voltage is repeated in GuzziDiag, but if you hook up an analogue meter you may see flickering of the needle as you move the throttle, which could tell you that the TPS has intermittent contact. It is harder to see eratic TPS output with a digital readout. And you can borrow the manometer to check synchronizing; it's not pretty but it works. Marty.

I notice that the workshop manual for my V11 says that the gear height is 16mm, while that aftermarket pump claims to have "15mm impeller for high flow volume". I cannot see how the aftermarket pump can have "high flow volume" using 1mm narrower gears unless the gear diameter is larger than the stock pump. Are you sure the aftermarket pump is better than stock? Perhaps it is larger than earlier pump versions in the engine on older models, but not the V11. Shop manual ref Sect M, Oil Pump 7, Pg14 says Gear height 15.973 - 16.032. Housing cavity 16.032 - 16.075. Gear diameter 26.25 - 26.29.

Here is a picture of the RH throttle body link rod ball socket options that I tried, and work well. Mercedes Benz P/N A0009930461, and Volvo P/N 946703 ball socket.

As suggested, I tried Volvo Part 946703 ball socket on the RH throttle body. This Volvo Part fits perfectly just as the Mercedes part 0009930461 does. I used the Volvo part instead of the Mercedes part, as it is plastic, and has a groove in it which can retain grease, and catch grit. I now have a spare Mercedes rod end to give away if anyone wants it. PM me. Then I made a brass bush for LH throttle lever connection to the link rod. The brass insert in the LH throttle body arm was worn enough that the LH throttle opened before the RH throttle and TPS began to move. I bored the brass insert to take a thin wall brass bush made from a section from an old telescopic radio antenna. Now that there is no noticable play in either the LH link or the RH ball & socket, I expect synchronizing will be easier at both idle and higher RPM. Ta, Marty.

I haven't looked, but I'd try Blacks Fasteners. http://www.blacksfasteners.co.nz/

The plastic throttle link rod ball socket on my 03 V11 had 1mm slop. Thanks to this forum, I went to the local Mercedes dealer here in New Zealand. After a 5 day wait for shipping, they supplied a metal ball socket which is a perfect fit, costing NZ$21.44. They tell me that this part is common to many MB cars 1970-1980. MB P/N A0009930461. This is a different P/N from the longer one mentioned by BruceReader > Todd of MPH > P/N 0009918822, which may be just as good. I'd prefer to fit a plastic socket if I could, as the plastic seems to wear instead of the ball. The ball will be harder to repair after another 80,000km if this hardened metal socket will wear the ball. Meantime, I'll have to keep it greased. The original plastic ball socket weights 2g, but the MB part is 9g. Being me, I couldn't leave it alone, so I ground wrench flats on it, which got it down to 8g but then I had to paint it black. I hope that this is helpful, and thanks for all the other excellent contributions. Marty