[GPS mount]

I have a Garmin Zumo mounted with a Gadget Guy bracket on my R1150RT. I would like to get a bracket for my 2002 LeMans. Have any of you done this? Any thoughts?

[27 mm Allen wrench]

1-1/16" is close enough. I use a cheap plumping fitting I found at home depot, with a 1-1/16 socket or box wrench.

 

Later, I read that one of the stamped steel socket wrenches supplied in the Guzzi tool kit fits the cover. Who would have thought to look there? Check that out if you have one.

 

The correct size filter socket is available for the Purolator L10241 equivalent at the likes of autozone, advance auto, etc. It has 14 flats at 74mm across flats. The UFI has 16 flats. To each his own. I forced the filter socket onto the UFI. It came unscrewed easily. Too easy for my taste, as it came from the factory.

 

See also the oil filter tightening thread in the FAQ section.

 

I checked the tool kit, but the spark plug wrench is too small. Tell me more about the plumbing fitting please. Home Depot is nearby.

Also, I tried to buy a 27 mm nut but couldn't locate one. On my next foray I will ask for a 1 1/16" nut. Then maybe the counterman won't look at me like I'm the nut.

[27 mm Allen wrench]

Thanks to all for all the helpful advice in the past.

 

OK, here is my next dumb question. I want to change the oil filter on my 2002 LeMans (which I love). It seems that I need a 27mm Allen wrench to remove the cover in order to get to the filter.

Is that corret?

 

Where do I get a 27mm Allen wrench??

[tire changing problem]

Pit Bull

or Oak Tree

Depending on the circumstances...

 

 

Now I get it. Thanks!

[tire changing problem]

DPG, there are many ways to skin this cat, but one of the most versatile is a specialty stand such as the one supplied by Guzzi. It lifts the bike by the nuts at the bottom of the pork chops. The front end is supported by hand-lifting the front end and sliding a pedestal that comes with the stand under the FRONT of the sump, carrying only a small fraction of the bike's weight, with most of the weight on the pork chop nuts. With this stand there's no need for a lift to do tire changes.

 

PLEASE DO NOT attempt to put a bottle jack of any kind, or scissor jack, for that matter, under the sump and attempt to lift the whole bike! The sump is made of cast aluminum. If you attempted to lift the entire 550 lb. Guzzi on a relatively tiny contact point in the center of the sump, you'd not only have a self-inflicted tip-over accident on your hands , but you'd undoubtedly punch a hole straight through the sump -- or at least crack it open! This seems to happen surprisingly often with newbies. . . and yes, a sump is VERY expensive to replace. Seems the first clue that sumpin' ain't right is that suddenly (I reckon this is just before it tips over ), there's a gallon of fresh oil on the floor that wasn't there before jacking it up. . .

 

Guys have made up specialty cradles of all kinds to spread the load across the length and breadth of the sump using various kinds of lifts. These seem to work very well. For crabbing the frame to take out the transmission, I made up a cradle that supports the entire weight of the bike on the horizontal "shelf" on either side of the sump, where the load is distributed across the sides of the engine block, with no stress on the sump.

 

For tire changes, I use the Guzzi stand, which I modified so I can move the bike around with the wheels off. Works like a champ.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the info and the picture of the stand. A few questions:

- As a vegetarian, I don't know what you refer to as "pork chops"

- I don't really understand how the stand fits and works.

- is the modification the single black wheel?

- where can I get one, and how much?

* just kidding about the vegetarian part

[question about oil change]

Try this thread: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...=Oil+Drain+Plug

 

 

Thanks, that was very helpful.

[tire changing problem]

First, thanks for all the advice on tires.

 

My friend got a motorcycle lift today. We tested it by putting my 2002 LeMans on it. The lift works fine, but I realize that I can't figure how to jack it up to change tires. There is not enough clearance between the bottom of the oil pan and the lift bed for the scissor jack.

 

The bike has no center stand.

 

I am at a loss. Any advice would be welcomed.

[question about oil change]

On my 2002 LeMans it looks like there are two things that could be the oil drain plug. Both are on the rear end of the oil pan, facing rearward, and are next to one another.

 

Advice?

[tires 2002 LeMans]

Hello All

I have a 2002 LeMans, purchased new in May 2005. It came with Bridgestone tires. I now have 8000 miles and need new tires.

 

Q1: How many miles should I expect from a set of tires ( I guess about 8000 miles)

 

Q2: What tires do you guys recommend?

 

Thanks

[my transmission]

I felt your pain. Mine broke 2 weeks ago. One of the site sponsors, upper left, MPH, got it repaired quickly. Parts in stock.

 

I hope your place gets it fixed quickly for you - New spring and the ratchet with the 15 mm boss.

 

 

Thanks a lot. I'll call my dealer tomorrow and let them know where they can get the parts.

[my transmission]

This is not really a new topic, but it is a report of my sad experience. Yesterday I went for a ride after work. The night before I had been reading abhout the transmission failure that occurs around 5000 miles. I was having a nice ride, but then I downshifted and nothing happened. Yep, at 5490 miles, mine went out. Stuck in 5th (I think) gear. I knew exactly what the problem was, thanks to this forum.

 

I rode it to the place I bought it and left it with them. They are not Guzzi specialists, but I showed the service manager this web site. I hope they can fix it, and I hope they don't take forever to do so.

 

Needless to say, I am bummed out.

[service interval and steering head bearing]

Don, IMHO you're well advised to keep the headset up to snuff. My Guzzi steering head bearings have required far more adjustment than any other bike I've owned. It's simple enough to tighten. The first time I did it, I had the forks apart and took off the top triple clamp. It took a HALF TURN with a standard 32 mm open-end wrench to get 20 lb. torque on it. The next time I checked it (some 15K miles or so later) , it needed another 1/4 turn , but this time I'd got ahold of a proper headset wrench and didn't need to take off the triple clamp to access the adjuster nut. I'd have to check my records to get the exact mileage on each adjustment, but I know I tightened them twice before 30K miles. I have a Pal with a '04 LM with half the mileage and we did his awhile back. His also took a half turn.

 

As I recall, someone awhile back wanted to put up an argument about whether the torque should be 20 or 25 ft-lbs. Frankly, I don't think it matters in the slightest. I've always used 20. YMMV.

 

EDIT: I just looked it up in all 3 Guzzi manuals I have:

 

It's not listed at all in the Scheduled Service interval lists in the Service History and Warranty Manual.

 

It's mentioned in the Owner's manual, but no interval is given, and no torque spec is given.

 

It's listed in the Guzzi Service Manual scheduled maintenance table for adjustment at 12K and 24K miles -- again, no torque spec is given.

 

 

Thanks for the advice. Since it's under warranty I don't want to mess with it myself.

[service interval and steering head bearing]

1. re: 2002 LeMans I had first service @ 1000 miles. Should I have it serviced at 6000 or 7000 mi?

 

2. I'm not sure if its my imagination or not, but could the steering head bearing be a little loose? When I stop, maybe there is a little movement; I'm not sure. Has anyone had such a problem?

 

Thanks

-Don

[recent new member]

I bought a brand new 2002 LeMans in May 2006. Champagne color. I have about 5400 miles on it now. It loves to exceed the speed limit.

 

I also have a 1986 BMW R80RT (~61K) which I purchased new in Oct 1985, and a 2002 BMW R1150RT (~41K) purched new in Feb 2002.

 

Each one of them is my favorite bike.

 

I live on Long Island, New York and I am a member of the LIBMWRC (Long Island BMW Riders Club), BMWMOA and MGNOC.

Married, 3 kids, 1 grandchild, but I'm not an old fart. In my opinion.

 

Don Price

[V11 license plate light?]

How do you change the light for the license plate on a stock V11 rear end?

 

Thanks!

 

Got it...never mind.

 

Wait! Wait! I noticed that mine is out too. How do you change it??

[checking oil level]

Hey Alex! As luck would have it, I happen to have those measurements right here!

 

The measurement from the under-head flat of the dipstick head (where it seats against the block) to the end is 193 mm. To high mark, 157 mm. Low mark, 186 mm.

 

Thanks guys. I measured my dipstick and your measurements check out. I wiped it off really well and checked the level (it was a little low) but I could see the level. So, I can deal with it, but I wish I had a better dipstick.

 

I really like this bike. I had wanted a Guzzi for along time and I finally got one.

[checking oil level]

Hello. This is my first post here, so I am sorry if this has been addressed previously.

 

I have a 2002 LeMans (which I bought brand new in May 2006). I have a little over 5000 miles on it. I have a stand to hold it upright and level.

 

Should I check the oil level with the dipstick screwed in all the way or not screwed in?

 

Also, I hate the dipstick because it is black plastic and hard to read. I got one from Harpers, but it was too short. Any suggestions?