Lucky Phil

You know I think this was an "engineering" topic as much as anything that has now taken on a extra philosophical element which I kind of enjoy:)Some of the best threads end up this way. You learn about the engineering and get the life lessons for free. Ciao

I'd be more concered Chuck with how the nylon would react to transmission fluid over time. Ciao I use them in many applications. Zero issues with oil or transmission fluids. Ok, was just thinking about those guzzi boxes that had plastic bearing cages that didn't tolerate gearbox lube and would fail. People updated them to metal cages from memory. Ciao

Exactly doc:) didn't realise there was a recognised "thing" for it. Ciao

Sorry Phil, but that's the long and short of it. Let me digress. When I was in my early 20s, I would have jumped on this problem, found the answer and been confident that this *was* the answer. I have done that.. But.. Put another almost 50 years of experience into the mix, and I have learned that I *don't* know it all. There is a learning curve in any trade, whether it is being a Guzzi mechanic,doctor, tool and die maker, or candle stick maker. It starts at the bottom and goes up at an exponential rate. At that point you think you are hot sh!t. Then, it drops almost as fast when you realize you are not. My new pup Austin is there right now. He's just realizing he is clueless. He will be good. Know what I mean? The people that end up being bad at what they do never realize there is much more to learn, and how little they know. So. I'm confident that we have the answer, but there is sill that lingering doubt, brought on by experience. I'm hearing Chuck, I'm frustrated by the feeling as you gain more experience you can actually lose a bit of confidence. Mate of mine reckons it's because you become more aware of all the possible problems. I think he's right. Sometime confidence comes from not knowing what you don't know, a bit of ignorance can help sometimes:) Ciao

So Chuck you can't test the new spring until the spring at which point you will spring onto the Guzzi and spring into action and go for an extended ride? Sorry in advance. Ciao

Just trying to educate you guys:) Ciao

You can ship me a batch scud if you like which I'll pay for up front for to ease the shipping hassle and I can distribute from here to Aussies that want them. Ciao

Yep, I'll chip in too if needed Ciao

The cam drive belts are a piece of piss scud, a man of your tallents will find it easy. The covers and stuff come off pretty easy after you get the F$#+_&îng fairing off. Just note the tension on the old belts before you remove the tension pully and set the same with the new belts. There is a special tensioning tool for the old engines and a fancy shmancy acoustic tool for the later bikes ( I kid you not, you tension the belt and give it a pluck and the tool measures the frequency) some use a guitar tuner but I still do it by feel. One way is to slide an allen wrench between the belt and tensioner bearing like a feeler gauge. a 6mm one with a moderate amount of drag for the ST2 from memory. Just line up the dot jackshaft pully with the groove on the clutch housing and then make your own markes on the cam pullies. Very easy. Ciao

No worries Pete, thanks. Ahh the smell of lanolin and rubber gumboots:) Ciao

Thanks 68C but you go ahead, I've managed to source a pair. Ciao

Hey thats the same expression I have when I talk to my ex wife:) Ciao

I'd love to Docc, feel a little like Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters, mysteriously drawn to Carlsbad, CA to see the great return spring descend from the sky Ciao

I assume you've never been over here? It's a BIG place. It is. After doing around 3 trips to the west coast over the years my wife and I had our honeymoon in the states a couple of years ago and travelled from LA to New York and back by plane. Yep just jump on the plane and 4 hours later your on the opposite coast. Then add the airport fiascos at both ends and, oh yeah, the timezone shifts and bugger we've lost 2 full days there and back. Doesnt seem too big until you go from one side to the other. Ciao You must have a faster plane than we take. It's 4 hours from Indiana to LA non stop. Ha, you're in a bug smasher though Chuck, you know one of those things with a fan on the front to keep the pilot cool:) I just rechecked the flight time LA to NYC and its actually around 5.5 hours. Sure go's quick in coach class with your knees under your chin and elbows digging into your ribs and a flight attendant scouling at you cause you troubled her for a bottle of water. I think i'd rather do it in your machine though Chuck. Ciao

I assume you've never been over here? It's a BIG place. It is. After doing around 3 trips to the west coast over the years my wife and I had our honeymoon in the states a couple of years ago and travelled from LA to New York and back by plane. Yep just jump on the plane and 4 hours later your on the opposite coast. Then add the airport fiascos at both ends and, oh yeah, the timezone shifts and bugger we've lost 2 full days there and back. Doesnt seem too big until you go from one side to the other. Ciao

When the new springs come in, I'll put one in the greenie and take a closer look. While the majority of the transmission is the same for the whole V11 series, I have personally seen 4 variations in the pre-selector: 2000 Red-Frame (my Greenie) - the preselector gears are cut-through in places and have teeth only about 270 degrees. 2002 First year of black frame (my Scura) - the preselector gears are solid and have 360-degree gears (many of which never get engaged). this one had the too-large boss, which caused spring-binding 2003 with internal fuel pump (my red LeMans) - same as the 2002, but now with smaller boss. Also has the second eccentric adjuster, where the earlier models had only fixed pins. 2004 (a spare tranny from a parted Nero Corsa that mysteriously arrived at my house one day) - this preselector was the same as the 2003, but added the "banana" reinforcement plate. I installed this one on the LeMans, which is off enjoying Arizona with her new owner. So... with all those changes, Moto Guzzi must have been trying to solve some sort of problem. Has Chuck finally solved it? Only time and aggressive shifting will tell. I'm trying to do my part. Maybe we can make that five variations Scud.My greenie has the early selector gears and small dia selector pawl boss,the late spring, the banana link and double eccentric black cover. Once I have the Chuck/Scud spring I've got it all covered:) Ciao

You forgat about the space needed for the selection of hammers needed to maintain a Guzzi Docc:) Ciao

Buggered if I know what the *Correct* name for them is but they aren't the same as the head gaskets, that's completely different function technology. PM me your address and I'll send you a pair for nix and you can explain it. I'm too old, tired and #@$&@#@.... Thanks Pete, you're the man. Nice to here from you again, seems to have been a while, or is it just me. Ciao

You know if we can ship some here to Aus I can distribute and probably fit them as well if needed. Ciao

Okay, so . . . I took the (moderator) liberty to add that image to LuckyPhil's post. I hope that is cool with LuckyPhil . . . This is sp838's V11. Here is his gallery: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?app=gallery&user=9560 Everyone realize, we have some members that don't start threads, might not even post, but have amazing (AMAZING!) galleries. Do not miss exploring the V11LM Galleries! Yep perfect thanks docc Ciao

Thanks Pete, So are these MLS gaskets, you know the same as the latest head gaskets, multi layered steel with the viton black coating? Ducati changed over to them on their covers as well. If thats what you are refering to I'll use them anyway on the old covers as they are great. Ciao

Wouldnt mind using these if someone has a decent pair laying around. http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?app=gallery&image=1945 Ciao

Well I hate to disagree, but I disagree. After Chuck identified the reason for the original spring breakages and modified the design to mitigate I think the Chuck spring is the way to go. The pull spring mod lacks the elegance, simplicity and economy of componentry of the original design and introduces another potential leak point. No point reinventing the wheel in a more complicted fashion when a refinement, quality enhancement and product improvement of the original design works. BTW chaps I need 3, whatever they cost:) Ciao

While installing new chain and sprockets on my Ducati ST3, I thought I'd weigh the rear wheel. With at least 50% left on a 180/55-17 tire it comes in at 33.1 pounds - which is about 2 pounds less than Docc's V11 wheel with a 160/60-17 tire. So the V11 rear wheel itself doesn't seem excessively heavy. Of course, the Duc only needs to count, as unsprung weight, 1/2 the weight of the chain and 1/2 of what appears to be a much lighter swingarm than the V11. That surprises me Scudd, I thought the ST wheel tire assy would be quite a bit lighter than the V11. You cant escape the bevel box though, its a heavy incontinent mother:) Ciao

So you rushed it then Chuck:) That would take me a lifetime and I'd still mess it up. Ciao