Crooz

I found this posting and couldn't believe my eyes when I read it. Leif Gustaffson is one of the most friendly, customer oriented, hard working individuals I have ever met! I have bought several windscreens from him for various bikes and all of them have served me great! He has been making bike windshields in this country since 1978, and in Sweden prior to that. Leif is a hard worked. He works 8 till 5 five days a week and has for over 30 years. Go try and find another windscreen manfacturer/owner that has such commitment... let alone one that makes EVERY screen himself! Leif is so customer oriented that during my last trip to Biketoberfest in Daytona I visited his shop. He made me a custom windscreen for my Kawasaki on site. In fact he ask me to assit him in the process, and I got to create my windscreen with my own hands. How cool that was! Upon this visit to his shop I saw windscreens that he had manufactured over 20 years ago & installed on two of his bikes. Even thought they were 20+ years old these screens looked great. Leif doesn't drill any of his screens because not all bikes are the same, and he showed me various STOCK windscreens where when placed on top of each other their factory holes didn't align. You obviously must have been having a bad week when you posted these negative statements, or you have some association with Twisted Throttle or MRA.

ohhh.... so now I understand why when shopping for a used Lemans I found so many 2002's with 4000 to 5000 miles For Sale. (including the one I finally purchased). So I wonder what the likelyhood is of mine breaking soon as it has 4300 miles on it now? Geez.... live and learn.

Thanks to everyone for helping me thru my first Guzzi crisis. It is much appreciated.

I finally was able to count the number of flutes (sides) on the white oil filter. There appears to be only 8. It would have a flat flute area, then a rounder area, then another flute, and so on. Therefore the sides/flutes do not meet each other. Now if I can find such a filter wrench/socket to place on it next time. As time was running out I went ahead and refilled with new oil, and sealed her up until a later date 2000 miles from now. Then I will have to tackle this problem once again.

OK... no luck... so i just went ahead and refilled with fresh oil, and cleaned up my mess. I will worry about the solutions in say 2500 miles. My friend came by and he or I could identify a way to remoe the filter with the risk of damage to it, as as that was an uncertainty I didn't wish to proceed as I had no way to get the pan off at this time. I did discover that the filter appears to have 8 flutes. I tried to mark each with magic marker as I viewed them while using my flashlight to peer into the darkness of the sump. White filter with 8 flutes... anybody got any ideas as to it model and make so i can find a wrench next time.

Des anyone have any idea what brand and part number oil filter might be on my 2002 Le Mans. It's white in color is all I can tell you. Not sure if it's the original or even a Guzzi filter. All I know is none of the 6 wrenched I have bought and tried on it fit. All of differ number of flutes or size. And NO... I can't get the sump pan off due to a stripped allen hex head on ONE freakin bolt.

I have now spent nearly 5 hours and 40 miles in trips to the store, and still no oil changed !!!! I decided to leave the sump pan on until I can get an expert at stuck bolt removal to tackle it in a shop. So i go to the auto parts store and get 5 different oil filter wrenchs just knowing when I returned home the filter removal would be a breeze. To my surprice none of the 5 new tools fit the freakin filter! They are either slightly too small, possibly the right size but a different number of flut or slightly to large! I have now tried 6 of these and nothing fits !!! Does anyone have any idea of a proper wrench size and flute # ? The filter is white in color but I do not know its the brand. I'm liken this Guzzi less and less each hour!

WHAT A FREAKIN JOB !!! Geezz. I just tried my first sump pan clean & oil change. Could they have made this more difficult... placing hex screws in the same location at the drain plug so that you hex won't align into the bolt head without removing the plug! ANd making the hose hexs so that you can't get a freakin wrench on this without the pan fins stoping you! Anyay, I get all the way around loosening the sump pan bolts. I notice that some break loose very easily and another section of them actually POP when they break loose as they required more pressure. I get to the last one (back right hand side). It won't budge and the hex appears to start rotating inside the head of the bolt. I STOP. Take it out double check my hex and get a new one that hopefully will be tighter. I take time to drive it in with careful taps from a small hammer. I try again. It won't budge ! I abandon the pan removal and retighten all the bolts (appearently the dealer that serviced this bike the first time also abandoned this process... that is why some bolt poped loose and other just came loose more easily). Now I have to remove the manhole and I haven't a wrench ! What a freaking job just to change oil ! Gotta clean up and go hunt or have make something to remove the manhole cover with! Geeezzzzz !!!

Personally I have never liked any members of the Page family ! Thanks for the info... tomorrow will be my first attempt and Guzzi maintenance. So the process is.... 1)Drain oil via rear sump pan drain plug. 2)remove sump pan. 3)change screw-on oil filter. 4)clean screen filter. 5)clean up sump pan bottom if necessary 6) make sure sump pan gasket looks OK. 7)reinstall pan then plug. 8)refill with Castrol Syntec 20W/50. 9)check oil level after running. 10)admire your work and feel proud.

Thanks for all the info. I have another question... if the previous owner chande the oil at 2500 miles, and I wish to change it again this week (@ 4400 miles). Is it a deffinate that I need to have a new sump gasket? I know that common sense would be to replace it, But I don't want to wait until next week when I could have a new gasket ordered and here. Normally... Can you reuse the gasket?

I'm still confussed... you say its not submerged, yet you say oil is on the pan (which you remove the manhole from to access the filter). How can it not then be submerged in oil?

Having always owned Aisian & American bikes I'm having to relearn how to perform bacis upkeep on my new LeMans. Take for example Oil Changes & Fork Compression adjustments... ? So the screw-on oil filter is actually submerced in the engine oil? I'm having trouble with that one. also... The owners manual states that the top center adjustment screw on the left for is for compression dampening, and the same screw on the other fork is for rebound dampning! How can that be as the forks aren't connected ?

Oh the envy I have for you westerners.... especially your availability to see Rock City (and it's numerious barns & billboard advertisements.) My avatar model is family and I took the photo... but as I'm east of the mountians, it's not my sister... it's my wife! Ha.

No I haven't adjusted the big white headed screw... but it was tempting. Thanks for the information. My problem is that there are not any knowledgable Guzzi mechanics locally. Nearest dealer is 55 miles. From what I've learned this week...and since it's cold here now.... it's will be a good practice for me to warm-up the Lemans for several minutes prior to exiting the garage. Oh... what is TPS voltage?

Oh the pride that I now feel to be a member of such a knowledgable forum!!! OK, I understand... but why only smell rich from the right side ?

OK.. here's the deal. After I brought my newly purchased 2002 home this weekend I only had 2 days to feel it out before the work schedule and below freezing temps hit the area. Have been out in the garage each night familurizing myself with the bike, cleaning, ect... Because it's my 1st Guzzi, and due to my limited experience with them, its sort of hard for me to tell if it's tuned & running at it's best. For instance, tonight I cranked it and it just didn't feel as smooth as it did, or as maybe it should. After I turn it off I notice a fairly strong smell of gas coming only from the right exhaust. So I coated up and took it down the road for a 3 mile run. It seemed to run OK, but I'm not 100% certain its performing to its max. Then upon returning it to the garage and turning it off, I sniffed the exhaust tips again. Right one still smelled of gas, left one did not. Am I being parinoid? If not, then whats up?

Where can one procure a lower chin fairing such as this one: http://www.v11lemans.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=453 The small lower fairing that mounts under the engine.

All this info is great... I'm learning a little more each day. HOWEVER... I have yet to see a clear-cut answer to the question "will removing the canister and plugging or tying together the tubes from the throttle bodys change the engine performance/cranking/ect... ? Additionally, does it make any performance difference what-so-ever if when removed the tubes to the throttle body's are plugged vs tied together?

Thanks for the quick reply. Just as I suspected... but wanted to be certain of the tuning air flow issues. You would think that some air is drawn into the throttle bodies thru the stck canister set-up and when its bypassed some intake airflow will be lost (althought very slight). So no retuning is necessary after the removal? Correct?

Please clarify. My canister has two tubes running upward. One tee's off to each throttle body, the other larger tube run on the frame under the seat and disappears under the tank. Where does it go, and what do I do with this when removed? I plan on connecting the throttle bodies with a venting line to balance them. But an uncertian of this larger line. Help please. Also.... this removal will in no way alter the performance / running of my bike... right? No adjustment necessary? Please confirm. Thanks...

Thanks... I check the oil level tonight and it appears to be a bit low. That's why I was asking... so I could add some tomorrow before I ride again.

As the owners manual to my new V11 purchase has yet to arrivevia US Mail ... I was wondering what type & grade of motor oil is recommended in this bike. The previous owner of this bike (with 4300 miles) stated that the dealer had last serviced it with some sort of fully synthetic oil at 2500 miles, but that was over 1 year ago. I plan on calling the dealer in Florida tomorrow to see what they normally use... In the meantime, what the going favorite or recommended oil folks are using? Thanks...

Hi. New member & Guzzi owner here from N.C. Located between Charlotte & Hickory.

Since I have 3 bike to support, and a daughter in college currently... I believe I'll just look into getting the factory pipes (not the cans) refinished with some sort of heat coating. That should be way less exspensive.

OK fellow members... I need to tap into you wonderous fountains of wisdom once again. What are my options for upgrading my factory exhaust system on my 2002 LeMans? Althought it only has 4300 miles on it the pipes from the engine to the cans are tarnished and rough looking. I would like to improve this as well as possibly upgrade to Carbon Fiber cans or something more attractive. What are my options both new and used, and where can new items be purchased at reasonbile prices? Thanks...