audiomick

or put it in gear, and turn the rear wheel I've had to do that often enough that there is a felt pen arrow on my alternator...

Once again for "maybe it will help someone else" Yes, it does. In a four stroke motor, the crank turns twice during the four strokes. During one turn, as mentioned above, the ignition TDC happens. During the second rotation of the crank, exhaust and intake are happening. In the process, whilst the crank is turning twice, the camshaft turns once. At the "start", the igintion TDC, all the valves are closed. A half-turn OF THE CAMSHAFT later, equal to a full turn of the CRANKSHAFT later, the valves are doing exhaust-intake, i.e. not fully closed A half-turn of the CAMSHAFT later = A FULL TURN OF THE CRANKSHAFT we are back at ignition TDC, and the valves are all closed again. EDIT: once again because "it might help someone else"... TDC = Top Dead Centre, i.e. when the piston is at the absolute highest point of its stroke. That happens twice during the four strokes. Once shortly after the point where the ignition fires, and once during the transition from exhaust to intake.

Another thought: when you reckon you have this all sorted out, don't just try and start the motor. Before you put the timing case cover back on, use a hex key on ta socket wrench inserted in the bolt through the alternator to turn the motor over several times by hand to make sure that nothing collides. Turning a freshly re-assembled valve train over with the starter motor, when it is not lined up properly, is enough to do quite expensive damage. EDIT: your reply turned up whilst I was typing, so you have apparently figured it out. Nevertheless, I'll post this, also because "maybe it will help someone else".

Phil already answered that The cam turns 180° for each full turn of the crank. On one turn of the crank, the ignition TDC happens, which is where you should be able to adjust your valves because they are all closed, and on the other turn the valves are busy doing exhaust-inlet, and so are not "at rest" as the piston goes past TDC.

No, he wrote that it has been sitting for ages, and might need work. Bugger all miles on it. The problems could only be aged rubber bits and seals. I've got a Breva 750 like that. Bought it 20 years old, and less than 10,000 km on the clock. I tipped into the gearbox and motor oil one of those products that promises to put the plasticisers back into the rubber seals. Up till now, it has worked. Something is sweating a bit into the clutch housing, but otherwise everything is fine. EDIT: having said that, the breather tube that runs from the frame just behind the steering head down to the back of the motor will probably need replacing. Otherwise, I would just suck it and see.

@activpop don't be. I also don't find Stelvios at all pretty, but I know that it is an "eye of the beholder" thing. I know several Stelvio owners, very upstanding people, who are very fond of their Stelvios. To each his own. In fact, I find anything along the chook chaser line pretty ugly, and also anything created by a designer that has a fable for Transformer movies. But that is just me.

I'm with @docc e: all of the above. There's room for a couple more in that garage without having to stack them up. PS: when that Alfa was current, I was 18 and had a fresh driver's license. Yes, I did want one...

Yes, I can vouch for that.

Indeed. To qualify @pete roper 's comments, if I remember rightly, he is a little taller than me. Maybe scratching six foot. But I only met him for about an hour, and we spent most of it sitting. He does, however, definitely need a bit more physical space than I do with my 65 kg. The Germans have a saying that has some truth in it: "Wer schön sein will muss leiden können". Roughly: he who wishes to be beautiful must be prepared to suffer. My V11 has been to date more problems than riding time. I haven't been on it long enough yet to get really uncomfortable, maximum an hour and a half or so. The seating position suits me and my dimensions very well. But the problems. It has obviously had one or more previous owners who haven't been that fussed about the maintanence (and at least one who was very fussy), and I'm finding it hard to find the time and gumption to get into it. Nevertheless, it's a keeper. Riding it is bliss, even when it is spitting and farting between 2 and 3,000 revs.

From what I have read, and going by the looks of the ones I've seen: the older Californias before they started with the tear-drop tank, or an SP 1000 II or III. If you are more interested in newer models: Breva 1200 or Norge 1200, paying attention with both of them that they have roller tappets. The blokes I know who have a Norge all swear by them as the ultimate tourer. At least two of them are about your height. The Breva is pretty much the same thing, but without the fairing.

Hi Jonathan, no personal experience. Firstly, I'm not even 6' tall, and secondly I've never sat on a Cali, and possibly never will. Nevertheless, I've seen a number of reports in other forums of exactly your issue: tall blokes who find the tear-drop tank Californias a bit cramped. I believe there are lowered foot-pegs available that fit or can be made to fit, but don't have a link or anything. I just read about it somewhere. The other thing I've seen a number of times is re-upholstered seats that are an inch or two higher in the "bucket" part. One I saw was a good two inches, and I have to say, it did look a bit weird on the photos. The bloke in question was, I think, even taller than you. He was very happy with the result. Whatever, that seems to be the way that people (successfully) go: raise the seat and/or lower the pegs a bit.

Understandably.

a quick up-date: out of the second batch, I've now only got two springs that are not spoken for. That means I've passed on 23 since the start of December. And I was worried I wouldn't get rid of any of them...

F'rinstance?