belfastguzzi

Ever thought about taking a shortcut to the plane? 747 engine sucks in baggage cart Tuesday, 12 May 2009 A metal baggage container was sucked into a jumbo jet engine as it was leaving a terminal gate at Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said today. The incident happened as Japan Airlines Flight 61 to Narita was pushing back from the terminal gate yesterday afternoon local time, said airport spokesman Marshall Lowe. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said a baggage cart was being towed nearby at the same time and the Boeing 747 engine ingested one of its containers. The big metal container became lodged in the outer left-side engine of the four-engine jet. The 245 passengers were taken back to the terminal. Investigators were examining the jet, Mr Gregor said.

Why are you saying the cam lobe is the soft part, Gene? The foot of the tappet bowls are very badly worn in a generally concave manner. Not smoothly concave, a bit 'lumpy'! They are worn much more than the cam lobes. The left side was by far the worst. Right side not bad, but I don't have photos. Both sides are replaced in the recall.

Well Hubert it is funny that you ask today, because a few hours ago I saw a comment on pictures of the tappets that I have on Flickr. Someone posted a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately I didn't see it earlier. He seems to be in Japan. Matti Naskali. He said: "Interesting to see what has happen to the lifters and cams. My Griso is waiting for call from the importer. Parts should arrive next week. Now I've done 3000km, engine is pretty noisy on left side, though I adjusted the clearances. Can't really understand what makes the noise, sounds like the chain is loose. I hope Griso can make 500 km trip next week, it is a golden wek holiday here. Did the engine turn fine after getting new parts?" Yikes! Same story as mine. Same mileage, same side, same noise. I would have told him, don't ride it! I wonder what happened on the 500k trip? I reckon it didn't get any quieter. Any that I've heard about have gone bad on the LEFT side. Coincidence, or a particular reason???? http://www.flickr.com/photos/belfastguzzi/...94037/comments/ In a week's time, it will be the Guzzi meeting here that I am organising. So we'll see how it is after that.

eh? what? I wasn't listening...

Even better news: highlights of the Tandragee 100 is on tv right now. NW200 this weekend. Maybe I'll get to it this year. That would be good news. Oh, they've just said, preview of NW200 on BBC2 this Friday night. Put in your diaries.

I use a wooden paintbush handle, so you are close. I've never been able to see any timing ref. marks through the hole. I don't think that the Scura has them.

What sort of price, compared to standard units? Expensive I guess. I need to replace the brake lever sometime and will consider other brake & gearchange lever replacements.

Just a reminder that we will be based in an area where there were a number of WWll RAF airfields. Unfortunately there is not much to see. http://moto.belfastguzzi.com/otherplacesof...tnearportaferry I had also wondered about a visit to the nearby Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. I discounted it because there isn't really enough time and because it's the holiday weekend, it will be packed with people. Some, particularly those who will be here longer, might want to consider it. I must go myself, some day! There is interesting stuff on local inventor,Rex McCandless, who has been talked about here before. Motorbike telescopic fork, Norton featherbed frame, Jensen fourwheel drive, the autogiro etc Museum >> Motorcycles With the development of the safety bicycle and the internal combustion engine in the 1890s it was probably inevitable that the two should be put together. The first motorcycles appeared in the 1890s. The exhibition follows the development of Ulster’s love affair with the motorcycle, with some emphasis on the successful careers of motorcycle sportsmen. Special sections look at ‘biker art’ - the decoration of biker leathers and helmets, and of the bikers themselves. Road Transport A recreated cobbled street provides an authentic setting for a fine collection of trams that once trundled along the streets of Belfast. Early horse-drawn trams were replaced in the early years of the 20th century by electric trams, which provided public transport throughout the city until the 1960s. Commercial vehicles and fire engines, very early motor cars are featured. A special section details the Giant’s Causeway Tram, the world’s first hydro-electric powered tramway. The Motor Car If the 19th century was the age of horse transport, the 20th century was the age of the motor car. Styles changed, engineering developed and comfort levels for driver and passengers improved - from the old T Ford to the sleek elegance of the Belfast-built De Lorean, from the comic antics of Laurel and Hardy to "Back to the Future". The Flight Experience In December 1903, two Ohio brothers finally realised one of man’s oldest dreams. At Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first powered flight. Although that first flight covered less distance than the wingspan of a jumbo jet it began a transport revolution which is still continuing today. Six years later, Harry Ferguson, more famous for his invention of the integrated tractor hydraulic system, made the first flight in Ireland in a plane he built himself. The exhibition features a full-scale replica of Harry Ferguson’s 1909 aircraft and the Shorts SC1, the Belfast-built first vertical-take and landing aircraft [VTOL] in the world. Sections look at the history of flight from the ancient Greek legend of Icarus to bizarre medieval attempts, from the Montgolfier brothers’ successful balloon flights and the works of such pioneers as Sir George Cayley and Otto Lilienthal. Interactive CD-ROM technology guides the visitor through the history of flight. Interactive s illustrate the scientific principles of flight and aircraft control. In 1908, three brothers Eustace, Horace and Oswald Short established a company to build aircraft, and the following year secured the UK manufacturing rights and an order to build six Wright Flyer aircraft. Since 1936 the Short Brothers company has been based in Belfast and that 1909 order justifies their claim to be the world’s oldest aircraft manufacturing company. Now part of ardier Aerospace, the company generously collaborated with the Museum in mounting this exhibition.

Let's plan a meet!

Looking at your timetable again, I'd suggest giving both Tuesday and Wednesday to the Lake District area, instead of flying through it.

Speaking personally, I'd like to see around the Wash so I would spend a few days around there. Then I would go to the Lake District and spend the rest of the week around the seashore, lakes, forests and mountains: stretching from Morecambe Bay, Grange over Sands, on up north around Coniston, Windermere, Keswick and so on. I haven't used the Youth Hostel Association, but others of the family have. That could be an option for some of your accommodation. See here http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/t...rict/index.aspx If you run out of stuff to do/see and want to come over here early.... let me know. I still say that you should see Donegal.

yes, reasonably funny

Tv coverage of this year's road racing season starts on BBC1 tonight, with the Cookstown 100 10.15pm Monday BBC1NI

Just a reminder – if I miss topics that could be added to this list, post here to let me know. What about V7 stuff? Should it be added in as a new model? Thanks.

Thanks very much folks: great material. I have a much better grasp of it now. I found some other pics and a reference to these books, which you probably know about: "books written by john bradley who takes you from a to z in one off motorcycle construction. these books are facinating, well written, easy to read." ?

Computer says: 20 days

I was going to ask anyway: why did the Mana blot its copy book for the first time?

Sounds good. Is that what Pete was after but couldn't get supplied?

Yes, that's the look I would expect to fit with the description. That's why I have been curious as to what it really means.

That's what I guessed, but then the reverse cone musn't need to be very big? Todd E describes this design (see pic) as 'true reverse megaphone'. It seems like just a big pipe with a small part of a cone on the endcap. I can see it as a megaphone. Surely not much cone to deflect pressure back? But I don't know the science of pressure waves. Due to 'computer problems' it'll take a while for me to recover photos and stuff. I have this pic on the web. It's not great. Ah, here's another:

It was running fine as it was. I started to install a new Operating System last night and it went dead. The main file structure is irrepairably damaged but it only showed up because of the install. The damage could have been there for a long time, caused by a power-cut or something like that, maybe? Thankfully I've been able to get all my stuff of it now, but it still won't do an erase and install. So I'm zeroing the data on the drive, hoping that I can install over that deeper erase. It's a long wait, while it does all that zeroing out on an 800GB drive. It's a good job that I've got work** to while I wait... **work/web waffling, ahem.

That's as big an issue as the damage itself. As I've said, probably here, but also to Piaggio-Guzzi: broken things can be fixed, but the lack of trust that is created by a company, the damage to its reputation because of the way that customers are treated – that is more difficult to fix. It's unacceptable that I haven't been able to get any word from the whole of the Guzzi system for the best part of a quarter of a year, on a newly purchased bike, with a factory fault. It's only now that I'm starting to get little bits of response from Guzzi, but even at that, there is an impression of deep reluctance in the system (not in all individuals, I'm sure). If Macguzzi is right in his observations at the factory, and the reports of lack of sales of the 8V models (in USA) are typical of the wider picture, then potentially Guzzi is in deep trouble with this new engine. In that case, given their defensiveness, I guess they will not, not, not start more investigations on customers' bikes and certainly not, not, not, not, not replace any motor, because they could be opening a flood-gate. That may be the situation. It doesn't mean that Guzzi is morally right and I think it's questionable that such short-termism will ultimately help the company. I think it's more likely to have the opposite effect. So given that I'm not going to get further investigative help from Piaggio Guzzi and there is zero hope of getting a new engine or bike (not without some sort of court battle anyway) here's what I will do. I simply don't have time to open the engine myself. I will try to get time to take the cam 'cage' out, as that will be quick and easy: but even for that wee job I don't know when I can do it in the next 2 weeks. Work is just hectic, as all the pressure of keeping things going here, finding money etc, is on me. I'm at work at the moment and am here every night and also weekends. I'll be away this weekend, but it's for work. What is the significance of the two weeks I mentioned? Well, I've been looking forwards all year to the V.11 UK rally that I'm organising here, in Northern Ireland, starting 21/22 May. I see it as my annual holiday. I didn't get holiday time at Easter there, or St Pat's day, nor will I on May day etc, so for me personally it would be a disaster not to have a bike on the road this month. Maybe I'll get the 850 fixed, but it's the time problem again. So I'm going to ride the Griso. It's not because I'm disregarding the good advice that I've been given. I see it like this: if it's damaged then that will show up more after a few hundred miles and a bit of thrashing. I'll ride it in May and get a look at the cam bearings after that. Then there may be more pronounced evidence to present to 'the powers' or all the bits will look sweet and lovely and we'll be mightily relieved. I want to say that I am tremendously grateful for all the help (information, advice, opinion and moral support) that people have given both on the Forum and off-board. It's also great that people are giving different views, rather than keeping quiet. That is the value of the Forum and the debate. At some point, the whole 8V story will emerge and we'll see what's what. Greg's probably writing the stage-play at the moment. As it happens, I also have a major computer disaster at the moment, so I have no access to photoshop or anything like that. If I had, this book cover would read: Bad Vibes, Moto Guzzi and my part in its downfall. The author's name? Well insert your own choice. Soon be time to think about what sandwiches to pack for that run up the Coast Road.

A very old thread! What time is it? But it gives an opportunity to ask something that I've asked before (not here) and never got answered. What does reverse cone mean? I.e. what does 'reverse' mean in this case?