belfastguzzi

:lol: To be sure of making it, should I go on a bike or on a horse? In fact I would love to, but June is impossible. Actually, that particular weekend I will be in Italy, in Bologna! Unfortunately I don't have the time to ride there. One of these days....

Don't you think that a Euro was a bit expensive? That's almost a £pound.

Oh, in that case, I'll be coming for you. Prepare for a sound thrashing. No, seriously.

Oh, haven't I mentioned: the Griso doesn't start either. I have to hold the starter button down and then, maybe after 3 seconds or after 5 seconds or after another 5 prods, it decides to send lectrikery to the starter. I'll not mention it again.

ha ha anyone want to join a Crusade?

Hey Mac, I know you've been out of touch with things recently. so psst, do you wanna buy a Griso: just been, er, serviced?

I've put a higher res pic of the cam on Flickr, though I'm not sure if Flickr down-samples it when it is uploaded: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3597/348008...553f74147_b.jpg This is a smaller version of it

We cannot judge with absolute certainty, by the photos, even though it looks obvious. So, for that reason I have asked to get the cams from the dealer. I am sure that he will not give them though! When I took the photo it was only looking at the lobe and the tappet bowl foot. When I saw my own photo afterwards I kicked myself that I did not study the whole cam properly and also get more photos of it. Stupid. It is a lot easier to start further investigation by looking properly at the cams, which are already out, than by opening the engine. However, from the photos, I think we can agree that the tappet foot isn't quite what it should be!

Including the 'technical updates' I suppose? The recall stuff.

Great: you have mentioned two things that I wanted to ask about last night, but I didn't because I didn't want to keep harping on endlessly. The questions were and still are 1) has anyone got a workshop manual and/or parts manual yet 2) can the pump(s) be removed and inspected from the sump, which is what the dealer and UK agent seem to be saying? I will specifically ask the agent about this, but I would like to be sure – Pete, is the only way to get at the pump, to go through the timing chest? PS not to worry about schisms etc, folks. It's valuable to get different opinions. That's what a forum needs.

Hubert the V11 transmission oil was always the same. The bottom of the gearbox was a slither of metal fillings. The gearbox is one thing: I don't like the thought of that up around the heads though. What about the damage to the hydro 1100s that is documented, resulting from just this sort of debris becoming embedded in oil pumps and elsewhere and causing repeat failures, from what I understand. As said by someone else: "Just a few years ago, Guzzi had problems with the camshafts on the hydro California models self-destructing. On many of these hydro Calis, the swarf from a grenading camshaft and/or lifters entirely clogged the filter and sent them into bypass mode. Once the filter was clogged, swarf-laden oil was circulated through the engine bearings. This swarf became embedded in the bearings, turning the bearings into high-speed grinders that would quickly ruin the crankshaft and other parts if the bearings were not replaced."

Thanks for your contribution H. Your advice about collecting it before it gets a dent or scratch comes too late. I have got the bike back – and it has acquired both things at the dealers. There is a long fresh scratch along the tank and worse, a little dent or nick in a fork leg, like something has been dropped against it! I'm sure that wasn't there before, as I clean and check the forks all the time. I'm sensitive about them because I've had the experience of the Scura fork seals leaking so quickly. The dealer's workshop was a real mess and I couldn't see any clean or clear area of workbench or floor.

This is an excerpt from a letter that I have received. If I am to pursue this, I will have to get the engine examined independently. As always, please carry-on commenting. Clearly the Guzzi agent's view is somewhat narrow and blinkered. On the technicalities, he contradicts the findings and views of those who have given their opinion here and elsewhere.

:!: ah, the wee critters fall like 8V tappets! You're watching web-videos of animals?

The weirdest thing about that pic, is how you learnt to post pics from/to the interweb! Weird. Do you, by any chance, have a talented dog-goat-aroo helping in the technical dept?

Me pics have all disappeared!

Is there a change to the profile, as well as the material? Pete, did you take any photos of original and replacement parts for comparison, perchance?

How annoying!

And, not to encourage more paranoia, but if your rear wheel bearings go bad, be aware that there was a supply of rear axle spacers fitted in and around 2002, that are undersized, so causing premature bearing destruction.

The easy thing to do is take the cover off and measure the parts. If the boss is oversize, I'd suggest taking it down to the proper diameter. Better to lessen the likelihood of a break that then leaves the bike stuck in one gear.

For sure. That other one looks more like a Breva that's been hit by a bus.

Don't know if this one been displayed here anywhere?

I'm annoyed

I see that there is a BBC4 programme about Jim Clark on BBC iPlayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jw...Quiet_Champion/

Yeah, the battery contacts on the Griso were a bit loose and it wouldn't start. I tightened them and it was ok. There are battery people who say that the Optimate and similar devices aren't good for batteries these days, or just aren't needed. I would use one to bring it up to charge, but not to keep it constantly connected.