Scud

An alternative is to ream out the RAM's 5-speed clutch button to accommodate the 6-speed rod. If a machinist has both parts in-hand, they will know what to do. Yet another alternative is to somehow get hold of a RAM 6-speed push button and replace the 5-speed. I think these are pressed into the RAM clutches.

I like how you can see where the Roper plate was installed...

How about black for the flyscreen, tank, seat, cowl, front fender, rear fender, footpegs and hangers, side panels, tank pad, brake lever, brake cover... and delete the lollipop mirrors. Scura-er!!!

That pretty much sums up what I believe, but have never actually done.

I have the aftermarket RAM with steel flywheel in my Scura. Several others have installed it too. Lucky Phil has one in reserve for an upcoming project. http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19510 The RAM 6-speed kit was discontinued for lack of 6-speed input hubs from Moto Guzzi. The 5-speed clutch is identical to the 6-speed, with the exception of the button that the pushrod goes into. I have not seen the 5-speed myself, but that is the essence of what I understand.

Good technical discussion. The way I see it, noise = wear. So if you hear noise, you think about what is wearing. When the clutch lever is in (for a standard dual plate clutch), then the following parts can rattle around inside the flywheel: two friction plates, one intermediate plate, and to a lesser extent, one pressure plate. I say to a lesser extent on the pressure plate because it is not totally free due to the extra compression on the springs. There are several areas of potential impact - the outer gears of the pressure plate and intermediate plate against the flywheel, the inner gears of the friction discs against the transmission input hub, and all the loose plates against each other. When the clutch lever is released, everything snugs up and moves as one unit - no impact, no noise, no clutch wear. Then we have the question of what is spinning. When the clutch lever is in, the tiny throwout bearing carries the load of all 10 clutch springs. When the clutch lever is out (and transmission in neutral) the engine's power just goes the main transmission shaft, which is carried by two massive roller-bearings. IMO, keeping the clutch pulled in a idle does three bad things - increase wear on the clutch, increase strain on the throwout bearing, prolong the strain on the seals in master and slave cylinders. I think that letting the main transmission shaft spin at idle (in neutral) is a non-event. That shaft spins full time when the bike is in motion. A clutch is designed for short-duration use - a transmission for continuous-use. Perhaps we can have another discussion about why single-plate clutches are noisy when the lever is released, and quiet down when the lever is pulled in.

A V11 6-speed hub for single plate is the only option. As I understand it Moto Guzzi supplied the hubs to Ram. But then Moto Guzzi stopped making them.

Docc - I think the "specs" are if you have all the parts in-hand and you show them to the machine shop and say: "Make this go in there." There's a little "risk" in the conversion, but I think it's manageable. If I had to replace my LeMans clutch over again, I would have tried the RAM 5-speed unit with a RAM 6-speed hub.

That's a good idea. I liked the red rim tape I put on originally, but it hasn't held up well. Maybe gloss black like the photo...

Thanks guys. I'm pretty sure the sticker says it's a 15M. But I just looked at my notes and when I plugged in GuzziDiag, it thinks it's a 15RC. That seems to suggest that somebody messed with the ECU. Wish I was home to try a swap, but I'm sitting in an airport. Stay tuned. Pun intended.

Thanks - hopefully I can get it run as good as it's starting to look. I did a leak-down test and both cylinders are sealing well. Whatever the problem is, I'm leaning toward electrical stuff, because I am ruling out so much else. Will an ECU from a 2002 bike work in a 2000? Swapping ECUs would be a pretty easy test. I'll the gamut of electrical tests in a week or so.

I recall that thread and have tried to re-find it a couple times. I think the member is located in Europe and that he only had to have a small bit machined off the clutch end of the pushrod in order to fit into a slightly smaller push-button. I also think there is not "correct part" to be sourced - all because the 5-speed and 6-speed used different size buttons in the clutches. I also think it was for a Rosso Mandello. Parts list: Ram 5-speed clutch Throwout bearing (since you're there) Shop to modify a pushrod (I have a spare pushrod that I will donate to the cause) RAM 6-speed input hub (or take-off from Scura/Tenni/Rosso Mandello) If you could re-find that thread or document this yourself, it would save future owners of unconverted single-plate bikes a lot of trouble - and provide a less-expensive, better shifting option for other high-mileage bikes facing 100% clutch part replacement.

That looks like the one - for the same price as a used clutch. If you go that way, get the schnor washers for the flywheel bolts. I would also replace the throwout bearing while your there. And more one thing - MG Cycle has two different pushrods for 5-speed transmission. Maybe one of those would work (or be easier to modify) than the 6-speed pushrod.

Ooooohhhhh....... That is the missing link to make a 5-speed RAM clutch work with a 6-speed gearbox. The RAM clutch is ONE part, fully assembled and balanced. Just bolt it up, and potentially have a pushrod modified... That's instead of: flywheel, pressure plate, springs (10), friction discs (2), intermediate plate, starter ring, and you needed an input hub anyway. Major time savings and you get a crisper engagement and an easier lever pull. You gotta seriously consider the RAM at this point.

Some links to pics or Red LeMans with silver wheel in the gallery (sorry, but I couldn't figure out how to make them display): http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?app=gallery&image=1864 http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?app=gallery&image=51 http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?app=gallery&image=81 http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?app=gallery&image=80 Nothing wrong with the current color though.

How is the condition of the transmission input shaft - where the loose input hub makes contact?

Well, yeah... Obviously, the Scura's wheels are not going to be silver. But I saw a pic in the gallery of a Red LeMans with silver wheels and it looked quite good. The gun-metal grey I did on the BMW is much darker than the its original wheels, but still a couple shades lighter than the gray LeMans wheels. Just thinking...

Yeah. I'm gonna be in WI and MI for a week. The greenies rolling so now we can get the new Subaru out of the sun. I'm using Docc's son's new service. Imgzeit. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like the sport fairing at that link (have to scroll down). But the fairing for the older California models at the top of the page is clearly a case of form following function.

Yesterday I changed three tires. Replaced the Greenie's 180 with a 160 - and a pair of tires for my K75s. I got the little brick's wheels powder-coated in gun-metal grey, which looks nice with the blue. And it got me thinking... since I may need brake rotors for the LeMans soon, that would be the time to refresh the wheels and maybe change the color. Here's the gun-metal grey wheel from the BMW up front, and the silver rear wheel from the Greenie. What do you think?

Thanks for the sketch Roy. It's gonna be at least a week till I get to play with it, because I've got some work travel coming up. Good tip on the paint - I'll file that away for future reference. But yesterday I got her back into the "roller" state so my wife's car can be in the garage again. And a couple close-up pics:

More fun than Legos.

I'm not sure that input hub has to come off. Looks pretty good to me.

Haha - that's how it's done. Are you going to cut a notch out of the collar for future access? Nice copper hammer.

My first bike was a 1972 CB 350-Four. A few years ago I found another, very clean one. It was not nearly as fast as I remember it being... Everytime I rode it I just wanted to flog it, and decided that was a bad idea. Couldn't bear the thought of modifying such a sweet original bike, so I sold it to a collector. I like the period-mod idea, but I might not even be worried about being period-correct. Do a functional-mod-with-patina and enjoy it. If you feel like restoring it, do it over the winter.