68C

These are the casting that make up just one cylinder head. I think there are twenty castings all told and about the same number of ball bearings, the only plain bearings being on the gear selector mechanism and kick start shaft. Makes the V11 rather simple.

Sorry to open an old thread but thought I would carry on with the story. So, it's now 2021, Covid and retirement has given me time to get back to the Ducati 750GT motor rebuild. Some inheritance money has enabled my brother and I to spend a little more than we intended on the bike. Bought a Machine Mart bead blasting cabinet and started to clean up the castings. The raised threaded section on the LH case for the clutch adjuster was broken. Also the RH side case support for the kickstart was broken off. Took them to a welder who complained about my using glass beads as they remain embedded in the metal and ruin his weld so he will have them vapour blasted. Lesson learnt I have now bought some soda blasting medium and recleaned the rest of the parts, at least that just washes off with water. Then found the bevel gear fitted to the crank had chipped teeth. It seems it is a weak part on the 750GT design, any wear and then play in the main bearings mean the bevel gear loses its precise engagement and causes the damage. The later 860 engine has a different layout with a conventional spur gear driving a lay shaft with the bevel gear, any crank endfloat just makes the spur gear slide in and out without upsetting the bevel gear. Luckily managed to get one from Australia, Bevel Heaven put me in contact with Vee Two who kindly parted one out for me. Now waiting for the cases to come back from the welder.

I bought a used triple clamp and drilled it, as you say there is a raised boss on the undersurface obviously there for that purpose. Sadly not wide enough to allow fitting of rubber bushes. I used an old set of clamps from a Honda CB00, remember them?

My bike had corrosion on the Ohlins front fork attachment lugs to the carbon fibre front mudguard. Managed to clean it up then used plastic spacers.

Bigger than my house!

Resin impregnating would work best with a new set of cases that had never seen oil. MV did it in their early 750s, do not know how they did it, I imagined some kind of tank with the casing completely submerged and put under pressure. Must have been fun determining the time to leave it in the tank, to short and not fully impregnated, too long and nicely encased in a solid block of resin. These folk seem to have it covered, interesting read. https://www.midlanddeburrandfinish.co.uk/casting-impregnation?gclid=CjwKCAiAu8SABhAxEiwAsodSZIgrKkXwzzYCJq7A8IJACW-TTPC0_4hlMRPaw1ke-C4BFyDGMyUWTxoCKt0QAvD_BwE

Mine have 05-02-35-30 in raised numbers inside the covers. Also different to the ones in Doccs picture, the HT lesd tunnel is rounded rather than square. So which HT lead cover do I need, is it one or two piece? Thanks.

Does the spark plug cover act as a protection for the silly fell over while manouvering bike type of damage?

Many thanks, will start hunting for them. Lucky Phil, I think it was your bike that set me of down this trail.

Does anyone know the correct name for the black plastic covers over the Grisso 2V type valve covers. I want to fit the tidier valve covers, got the covers but cannot find the plastic parts. Do I need special HT leads?

The Centauro has to be one ugliest bikes around, in my opinion of course.

I should have added loads of spares for the basic bike as just a variation of bikes made back into the 1970's, many T3 and on parts will fit. May not be so easy to get body parts as did not sell in very high numbers.

You will notice a lack of power and of any real rev band. Great bike for poodling around, you can short shift 1-3-5 and still make progress. The cast iron discs corrode so wipe down after wet weather to reduce the amount of brown rust thrown about. Comfortable for a pillion with sensible footpeg position, feels like the centre of gravity is lower than a V11 LeMans so again easier to ride. The side stand is not so good, some folk fit the left lower frame rail and the long California stsnd.

Is that the long chain to your wallet in your Levi's back pocket.

Bit harsh.

Thought your new Temple was lovely especially with the trees behind and the beautiful house. I must confess I am now stalking you via Google Earth and watched an interesting 12 minutes video of Gausdal and the area. I never expected such diversity in a relatively small area. I am jealous, Southampton is OK but what was left after the Nazi air raids was torn down by 1960's town planners.

Yes, I remember girls, not sure how many of them remember me.

Or Phil McAverty

Oh, but it has to be said it is a very pretty bike and well worth the sum to a discerning buyer.

2002 Rosso Corsa up for £9,999.00 on UK Ebay, do not see that selling too quickly. Ex Dutch bike with mph speedo fitted so mileage? 'Fully restored' so not really original. Seller thinks only 500 sold world wide. Auction ends today 13.24BST. No bids. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Moto-Guzzi-V11-Rosso-Corsa-Le-Mans-/114370264917

Ever ridden one of those old Honda 90 step through bikes, they have leading link forks with the brake unit fixed to the arm, when you brake the front end lifts up and pushes back at you on the handle bars. Actually rather fun in a way but did tend to patter on the road if wet and at speed.......55mph!

Being English, I had to Google 'tree change'. Nice phrase.

Paul "Loopy" Lewis was involved with the Dock Gate 20 Harley dealership in Southampton, Uk. He seemed a likeable chap the few times I chatted with him, happy to listen to you and told a few interesting stories. I do remember him wheelying a full dresser Harley in a very tight space at a show. Also going like a maniac pulling wheelies around the roundabout opposite the shop. No longer sure of the details but I remember him saying he could beat any non-racer on any other bike with his Harley. .

Yeah, most tractors have a governor rather than a throttle.

Not sure why it even has a mechanical output, unless you want to run two speedometers.