HRC_V4

Parts came in yesterday, so back on the project. It took some effort to split the clutch discs from the intermediate plate, but they look really good, so spare parts. Installed the new clutch, new throttle cables, transmission seals, rear main seal, float valve, breather hoses, air filter, etc. The swingarm and the center stand were PITA, but they are on now. Hopefully more work tomorrow.

The two clutch discs are stuck to the intermediate plate. I have not tried to separate them, but a fair amount of rust. I'm sure it will all clean up.

Does anyone have instructions on the swingarm install? I measured mine before I took it off, they were not equal side to side, which I thought was the way to do it, but with the missing seal, someone might have been in here before.

Looks like I am missing the output shaft seal....

The California II has been crabbed! Not a bad job, it is giving me a reason to address a few things, I'm going to go ahead and replace the throttle cables, clean up some surface rust, deep clean a few hard to get places. I have the clutch upgrade kit on the way, the clutch job transmission seal kit, rear main engine seal and a couple of other things.

The next steps..

I wish I could find the picture of when I pulled the clutch off my Quota, super simple, had it done in an afternoon. Not in a big hurry on this project, I still have not order parts yet, so just working on it when time permits. Spent an hour or so on it today, pulled the starter, front wheel and fender, clutch cable and then strapped the engine to the stand. Only three major steps next, front crash bar, center stand and transmission top plate.

That is my next step, lucky the Harbor Freight lift has holes just in front of and behind the cylinders on each side of the engine, so I am going to run a strap around each cylinder to pull the engine down to secure it to the stand.

In the image below (from the link pressureangle provided) you can see the pivot point for the frame is the front engine mount, and you can see the fender is getting pretty close to the jack/engine and the rear of the frame doesn't look like it is high enough to pull the the transmission. This is probably a better picture of crabbing. From Pete Roper's instructions on this Old Tractor; Off with the footrests and the frame bolts, but NOT the long bolt going through the timing chest, that on some bikes is also attaching the side stand at the front of the engine. (Fig.1). The frame is later in the process being tilted up using this bolt as a ’hinge’, i.e. the bolt/nut should be loosened, not pulled out! .

Doc, I'm concerned about the clearance, if the engine stays still, and the frame pivots at the lower front edge of the engine, the front suspension is going lower and get closer to the jack. I'm would have to the the bike raised quite a bit if the front wheel is still on.

The crabbing has begun.... What needs to be removed from the front, wheel, fender, anything else? I really need more room.....

That was one complaint I had with my greenie, cold starts. On her last day (rest in peace), I killed the battery trying to start her, sort of like she knew... I had someone send me a new bin file for it, which ran great, but had the same cold start issue, which makes me think it could be something other than an ECU problem.

I had not planned to go into it due to mileage, but probably something I do need to do on my Quota, sounds like a good winter project.

Thanks for all the input, the Tonti is back on the lift, so the crabbing will begin in the next few days. My neighbor rode my XL today, his first ride in 43 years. I think it will have a new home soon (just down the street). Just to start a check list; New 4mm deep spine clutch kit Rear main seal 5spd seal kit HD Showa rear air shocks (already purchased, just need to mod the brake bracket). The bike only has about 20k miles, so I don't think things are really worn out.

Thanks for the input, I may go that route after I pull the transmission and see what is going. Right now I'm getting my '84 XL350R running again so I can sell it to make a little more room in the garage.

My good friend in GA has 2.5 acres and decided his Massey 1010 was not enough, so he bought a 25hp Kubota. And he has his grandson's 8N. I keep mine smallish, I have three Snapper/Massey 1855, plus a couple of Simplicity 7790 with the Lombardini diesel engines.

Evolution?

Assuming an impact to raise and lower it. Have several of the scissor jacks around so I'm good with that, even without the speed handle.

I downloaded the instructions Pete wrote that is on This Old Tractor site. I might put this off a little while, the Quota rear brake is giving me issues and the little oil leak is getting worse, so that is first, still have 8 weeks of hot weather, so plenty of time before Fall gets here. Quick question, would a motorcycle jack with the big base (Hobo Freight) be good for the crabbing? Or just re-use my box I built for the loop frame?

I've read a little about crabbing the Tonti, I guess that is where I am heading. Help me understand what to expect, I am guessing I can separate the trans from the engine with the stuck clutch, but removing the clutch from the flywheel is going to be the trick? What needs to be addressed while I am in this far. Should I soak the clutch with penetrating oil before hand, seems like I will need to replace it anyway...

Tried this a few times today after unfreezing the mechanical ignition advance. My road is a little more than 1/4 mile and about 2/3rds is pretty steep. I tried going up hill with heavy throttle, I can get it to shift to 2nd, but won't go into 3rd. Partial throttle and flat it shifts into 3rd just fine. No luck so far, I gave it about 4 heavy throttle 2nd gear shifts up hill, but it is still stuck. I'll try it again later. I was up shifting and down shifting and getting the rear wheel to hop/skip.

Yes, I was in first. I will give that a try, thanks for the advice!

I finally bought my in-between Guzzi, between the Quota and the Ambassador. It is a 1983 California II, bought it for $700 and have spent the last few weeks getting it back on the road. It has cleaned up much better than I thought it would, it only has about 20k miles. It sat since roughly 2000, last NY registration was 1999, the tires were Pirelli MT68 tires from 1992. Originally a European bike, it has T3 or Convert spoked wheels, had to respoke the front wheel due to rust. It is running great, but can't really ride it since the clutch is stuck, it won't disengage from the flywheel. The lever and mechanical linkage all seem to be working correctly. I started it, let the bike roll down the driveway, put it in gear and rode it up and down the street with the clutch lever pulled in applying both throttle and brakes trying to get it to break loose. It is still stuck. Does anyone have a good trick to break the clutch loose?

Just got back from an almost 1,200 mile trip on the Quota, mostly Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. She did great, best tank was 44.5 mpg, worst was 38 mpg, average was a touch over 42 mpg. She ran great, I was basically up one gear when cruising. I do get an odd miss when cold, but only 2 or three times the whole trip. I did get a touch of spark knock in 5th climbing a steep hill, it was the tank with 89 octane and not 93. I did plenty of heavy throttle hill climbs before and after and no issues with 93 in the tank. The bike ran much better, smoother, more responsive, just more enjoyable. I'll pull the plugs tomorrow and give them a look. Oil temps were good, liquid cooling (rain) does a great job. They stayed about the same as testing, it did get hot in traffic in town, up to 220-240, but dropped quick enough when back up to speed. I really enjoyed the Quota as a touring bike, both bags were fully loaded, and it was still fun on the twisty roads, and it was comfortable cruising 4 lanes at 65 mph.