OZVMoto1100

Hmmmmm, interesting topic this. As always I find myself comparing the Guzzi to BMW-I still own an old and trusty R80/7 as well as my beloved California. Anyone who owns an early R series will tell you that oil changes on successive models, down through the ages, went through hard and easy periods-R75 oil changes could be a complete nightmare, whilst my R80 is a joy-I've only once ever needed to replace the "O" ring or the cap gasket on top of the filter in the last 5 years and can do the complete change in under 20 minutes! Whilst on some models the filter cap was completely misaligned to the frame rail resulting in much cursing and swearing as engine mounts are removed every oil change and the engine jacked-up so access can be gained to the filter. BMW recognized their lack of Tutonic efficacy and introduced two piece filters to stop the screaming. So why am I carping on about BMWs on a Guzzi forum? Well, when I first purchased a Guzzi in 1985, a very nice Spada 1000 I dutifully purchased a technical manual to do my own servicing. The first thing that I realized in horror was that to change the oil filter one had to remove the oil pan! I thought this was totally ridiculous. But, the first time I did a complete oil service, I realized just how easy it really was and quite a good idea considering how much gunge could collect in the pan. Now I'm not much of a techno head, in fact it bores me shitless! However, the way I see it Guzzi must have had a very good reason as to why the engine was designed with the filter and the screen as part of the oil pan. If you take your time and are methodical, servicing the Guzzi can be very rewarding. I've never worked out why more crap collects in a Guzzi sump than a BMW sump-yes, once a year I pull the pan off the R80 and only ever get a light film of muck off the bottom, whilst on the SP it was always filthy, even at 10,000 k intervals. The engine always ran strong and was in an excellent condition? Can't work that one out. Maybe it had something to do with filtering efficiency?? I've considered, more as a concession to my laziness than a real necessity to fit the outside oil filter conversion I've seen on the Harpers site to my 07 California. However something tells me that at $600US it's a lot of money to place your oil filter out in the slip stream of all the road debris being thrown back from the front wheel, plus I'm not sure it's a good plan to lower the sump level any more than it is now and risk damage from foreign objects. See ya-goin for a ride!

Tony at Motorino is said to be a good Guzzi mechanic-I've heard good reports about him from the staff at Motohansa who have said that he has been approached to switch teams. However I'm not overjoyed at my new California having been locked up at Motorino for the last two weeks with a warranty issue regarding the final drive seal. I have not ridden the bike since June 8, but will say no more than that. I will mention that at least two other Calis have had diff seal problems virtually from new, much to the amazement of the mechanics detailed to fix them as probably the owners! Has anyone here had similar problems with diff seals on their Californias??