docc

Ok, I get that. Like how the seals in a fork also have a "dust seal?" You guys are so kind to make me feel better about paying $22 for a $7 part . . .

Hmmm, mine are all sealed. I'm not saying they come with grease in them, just that they're sealed . . .

We've long talked about production numbers of the various V11. While the Workshop Manual declares that each year begins with serial number 111111, the date range of the early gearbox recall mystifies me. (V11 Recall Notices in FileShare): "From 2000 models xxx111929 to 2001 models xxx114435" Based on the first 2001 being 111111, that would be 3,325 of the 2001 models alone with no clear indication the last 2000 serial number. (my Sport was constructed March 2000 at # 112641). Yet, the recall notice specifies that 100% of the range is affected and that entails "680 units." How in the world does that add up? They don't number sequentially?

For sure, they had $7 Chinese bearings, but this was their "name brand" (Federal Mogul) product at $22. I'll be keeping an eye on it. Impatience got the best of me and made me proud to have the bike back on the road in under 30 hours after the failure. Once again, I feel lucky. Stupid, but lucky.

I'm pretty impressed it made it that far. I'm less impressed with myself that I didn't see it coming. In the past, I've made a habit of lifting the seal cover and adding a bit of high quality grease. I didn't do that with this replacement since I've bent and munted the seals sometimes before. Figured I'd leave well enough alone this time. Still trying to learn that axiom, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Carl, you're a respected member of this, and all, Guzzi community. Even if you have foisted off The Bugswatter on some unsuspecting Coloradan.

Exactly. The company behind it usually is one of the well knowns like FAG or INA anyway. Way more important is the right spacer length. You checked this probably, did you? Hubert Oh, yes. Some years ago. The first bearing was replaced under 15,000 miles/24.000 km under warranty (although I installed it), second bearing (rear/left) went 40,000 miles, and the Sport just turned 92,000 mi/148.000 km while it was eating this bearing alive. I remember some discussion about the meaning of the suffix on bearings, but don't recall the details. The French bearing MG supplied me was 6204-2SG1, and this one: 204-FF. While dimensionally the same, what is the difference?

Pretty amazing, though, to find this trouble yesterday, and have it fixed today. The replacement bearing: Federal Mogul "National Bearings" 204-FF. (what, in the world, does that actually mean??) Heat gun on the race, bearing in the freezer for 15 or 20 minutes, drifted right in.

Out pretty easy with a little heat (gun), resharpening the punch on the bench grinder a couple times and the judicious application of f=ma (500g Gedore machinist's hammer). I can have a bearing tonight and back together again. The question is whether an O'Reilly "name brand" built in China is same/better/worse than the 7year old French bearing* that just failed. Other bearings I've found on the Guzzi are made in Turkey or Poland. *(EDIT 10-17-2014; Just found in my records having replaced this bearing again after 35,000 miles - so: under warranty at ~14,000, another French bearing went 35,000, and again, now, after 40,000.)

Thanks, Hubert! Indeed, the pistons were being pushed back into the calipers by wiggling at the wheel. Here's why:

Right now, it feels solid as rock after sitting overnight. After rolling along a short distance, it goes away again. Never had one do this before. I thought maybe a warped rotor is pushing the pistons back in to the calipers, but I don't feel any pulsing in the lever.

W/z; your Sport looks like an early model. Is it in the gearbox recall range and has the gearbox recall ever been done on it? Recall Notices in FileShare Go to Camn's post in "HowTo" and click the link to Piaggio to see pending recalls for your VIN.

Dang, man! Just looked at your Daytona in the Gallery. No one's EVER brought a DAYTONA to a Spine Raid. The original Guzzi Spine Frame! You could trailer that in and we wouldn't use the "collector" word. As long as we got to see it (hear it!) in action on the Saturday loop!

The rear brake pedal goes all the way down. A few full strokes and it's back solid. Fluid is full, no visible leaks, new pads and brake bleed less than a year ago (3,300 miles). Any chance of bringing this back with a flush/bleed or am I in for a master cylinder rebuild? Are there rebuild kits available for this Brembo? TIA!! (Trying to get ready to ride the 500 mile round trip, backroads, to the Barber Vintage Festival in 10 days!)

+1 on that. A loose battery connection also recently blew my 30 amp "main" fuse (have look at that, too).

Apparently, the Spine Frame Guzzi has become somewhat of a collector's item (the kind of bike's people have, but don't ride). Of the eleven bikes at the Tenth Sputter'n Spine Raid, there were six Guzzi, counting Nic's V7 Café, Hagan's luscious Griso, and motowfo's Stelvio Valdeez - only three Spines: Josh's very fine Sport 1100, jakester's very fun Rosso Corsa, and docc's very leaky V11 Sport. We did get to spend some time at European Motorsports with buellish1 and his buettiful Ballabio, but didn't get to ride with him this year. After all the other riders had split off for home, The Three Spinateers cut through the foothills of middle Tennessee scattering the chickens and making the sheep nervous. It's an honor and a joy to have ridden and clicked glass with each and every one!

Like Beaver Lake/Springdale etc? Great riding all across N. AR and S. MO. It always surprises me how much less congestion there is west of the Mississippi. Hope you enjoy your LeMans!!

It's the valve adjustment>TPS>idle setting>synchronization cycle. Agreed with luhbo that the synch is suspect, but all of these parameters affect the others, so every tune-up gets the parameters closer and closer. Be sure you are tuning to a correct idle speed ( many of these tachs read as much as 300-500 rpm high). Also, setting your synch (throttle body balance) "off idle" is helpful (probably in that mid-2000 rpm range). My experience is that pulling the air screws out a full turn gives me better results, but "YMMV!"

Well it's a safe bet then, that it has a nice seat at least! I contacted the LeMans owner about the Quat-D but he didn't want to sell it separately. For sure, you can see the custom seat in the photos. The give-away is the red wheels and, especially, the custom medallions on the exhaust. I remember it being a nice bike - tuned it up once for the guy in Clarksville. (Maybe he still owns it but moved to NC).

The silver Sport in Raleigh was Rich Maund's bike before going to Clarksville, TN, for a time.

+1 : not leaking? leave the seals alone. Choose (lighter) oil that might reduce the harshness a wee bit . Above all make sure your springs are giving you proper sag. Of the front drops more than an inch and a half, pop for correct rate springs for you weight. (That's an extremely general number - lots of info and advice and opinions on fork set-up).

I admit it was not a particularly elegant solution, but more effective that the Dos Equis bottle caps we tried last year. And the situation was more dire since the thing actually did drop off. Like a Honda-seeking depth charge.

The only known treatment: SSR/ Next . . . A genuine nugget of the mild to moderate madness that is the South'n Spine Raid. George should really come back again next year, but bring his Kubota so he can keep up and we don't have to work on that silly Honda of his . . .

This is going to be one good test of JBWeld. Sucky thing is that it could hold for a time, then you find your bike on its side. Pretty challenging TIG job, I would think though, too.

Yes. I'll split Airfare with you, shelter, food, spirits, and a bike to ride! I may even have 3 bikes to choose from soon! Haha! That's a sweet deal! Is it good for ten years to life? It could take me a few months to get there since I'll be darned busy digging up every track and burning every bridge between here and Albuquerque. Seriously, I'm thinking we can walk you through a valve adjustment and tune-up. You will be absolutely jazzed how much better you can make her run!