HRC_V4 Posted July 10 Posted July 10 (edited) I finally bought my in-between Guzzi, between the Quota and the Ambassador. It is a 1983 California II, bought it for $700 and have spent the last few weeks getting it back on the road. It has cleaned up much better than I thought it would, it only has about 20k miles. It sat since roughly 2000, last NY registration was 1999, the tires were Pirelli MT68 tires from 1992. Originally a European bike, it has T3 or Convert spoked wheels, had to respoke the front wheel due to rust. It is running great, but can't really ride it since the clutch is stuck, it won't disengage from the flywheel. The lever and mechanical linkage all seem to be working correctly. I started it, let the bike roll down the driveway, put it in gear and rode it up and down the street with the clutch lever pulled in applying both throttle and brakes trying to get it to break loose. It is still stuck. Does anyone have a good trick to break the clutch loose? Edited July 10 by HRC_V4
Lucky Phil Posted July 10 Posted July 10 What gear did you ride it up and down the street in? 1st gear wont do it you need to be in 3rd gear and give it a hand full to get maximum torque on the clutch. Just clutchless/race shift it to 3rd or 4th with the clutch in and give it WOT. 2
HRC_V4 Posted July 11 Author Posted July 11 1 hour ago, Lucky Phil said: What gear did you ride it up and down the street in? 1st gear wont do it you need to be in 3rd gear and give it a hand full to get maximum torque on the clutch. Just clutchless/race shift it to 3rd or 4th with the clutch in and give it WOT. Yes, I was in first. I will give that a try, thanks for the advice! 1
HRC_V4 Posted July 18 Author Posted July 18 Tried this a few times today after unfreezing the mechanical ignition advance. My road is a little more than 1/4 mile and about 2/3rds is pretty steep. I tried going up hill with heavy throttle, I can get it to shift to 2nd, but won't go into 3rd. Partial throttle and flat it shifts into 3rd just fine. No luck so far, I gave it about 4 heavy throttle 2nd gear shifts up hill, but it is still stuck. I'll try it again later. I was up shifting and down shifting and getting the rear wheel to hop/skip. 1
pete roper Posted July 18 Posted July 18 If it’s not breaking free it’s time to pull the gearbox. It’s not going to fix itself. It’ll allow you to fix all the usual crap in the bell housing at the same time and shim the gearbox for good measure. 2
docc Posted July 18 Posted July 18 9 minutes ago, pete roper said: If it’s not breaking free it’s time to pull the gearbox. It’s not going to fix itself. It’ll allow you to fix all the usual crap in the bell housing at the same time and shim the gearbox for good measure. Same as our V11, yah, @pete roper? 1
HRC_V4 Posted July 18 Author Posted July 18 I've read a little about crabbing the Tonti, I guess that is where I am heading. Help me understand what to expect, I am guessing I can separate the trans from the engine with the stuck clutch, but removing the clutch from the flywheel is going to be the trick? What needs to be addressed while I am in this far. Should I soak the clutch with penetrating oil before hand, seems like I will need to replace it anyway... 1
docc Posted July 19 Posted July 19 49 minutes ago, HRC_V4 said: I've read a little about crabbing the Tonti, I guess that is where I am heading. Help me understand what to expect, I am guessing I can separate the trans from the engine with the stuck clutch, but removing the clutch from the flywheel is going to be the trick? What needs to be addressed while I am in this far. Should I soak the clutch with penetrating oil before hand, seems like I will need to replace it anyway... I was thinking "brake clean" solvent, but I am not the expert, here. Thanks for keeping this thread updated. Looking forward to a resolution. And, perhaps, another @HRC_V4 appearance at a South'n SpineRaid. 1
Pressureangle Posted July 19 Posted July 19 12 hours ago, HRC_V4 said: I've read a little about crabbing the Tonti, I guess that is where I am heading. Help me understand what to expect, I am guessing I can separate the trans from the engine with the stuck clutch, but removing the clutch from the flywheel is going to be the trick? What needs to be addressed while I am in this far. Should I soak the clutch with penetrating oil before hand, seems like I will need to replace it anyway... Tonti is pretty east to put a clutch in. Tank off, Pull the swingarm, wheel in if you have the hands. Trans top mount, loosen the front mounts. A few fasteners here and there like the battery box. Be sure anything strapped too tightly to the frame is released, and pull the frame up far enough to get at it. Starter, ground wire to the trans (hopefully, if not put one) Of course, you have to stabilize and secure the front wheel and block the motor sufficiently to wiggle the frame 'off'- unless you're stronger than I am you'll want some sort of hoisting mechanism to a rafter (in my case, open garage door braces on a 600lb hurricane rated door) as the whole event gets less than stable as it goes up. The only special tool you'll need is a clutch alignment tool. I'm pretty sure there are complete writups with photos on Wildguzzi.com. As for releasing the stuck plates, everything will come to hand easily enough, then you can attack it on the bench with increasing zeal and chemistry until it's apart. 2
HRC_V4 Posted July 20 Author Posted July 20 I downloaded the instructions Pete wrote that is on This Old Tractor site. I might put this off a little while, the Quota rear brake is giving me issues and the little oil leak is getting worse, so that is first, still have 8 weeks of hot weather, so plenty of time before Fall gets here. Quick question, would a motorcycle jack with the big base (Hobo Freight) be good for the crabbing? Or just re-use my box I built for the loop frame? 1
Pressureangle Posted July 20 Posted July 20 15 minutes ago, HRC_V4 said: I downloaded the instructions Pete wrote that is on This Old Tractor site. I might put this off a little while, the Quota rear brake is giving me issues and the little oil leak is getting worse, so that is first, still have 8 weeks of hot weather, so plenty of time before Fall gets here. Quick question, would a motorcycle jack with the big base (Hobo Freight) be good for the crabbing? Or just re-use my box I built for the loop frame? The one tool that seems critical to every 'Guzzi job is the scissor jack from a cheap car. I can position the jack in any place under the motor to adjust; front wheel, rear wheel, and it's slow and infinitely adjustable. Seems the flat jacks are too bulky, always in the way, and want to pull my front tire out of the clamp or jackstand. I welded a 3/8" drive socket on the cranknut to make it easy with a speed handle. 3
docc Posted July 20 Posted July 20 2 minutes ago, Pressureangle said: The one tool that seems critical to every 'Guzzi job is the scissor jack from a cheap car. I can position the jack in any place under the motor to adjust; front wheel, rear wheel, and it's slow and infinitely adjustable. Seems the flat jacks are too bulky, always in the way, and want to pull my front tire out of the clamp or jackstand. I welded a 3/8" drive socket on the cranknut to make it easy with a speed handle. " . . . a speed handle. " . . . . 1 1
HRC_V4 Posted July 20 Author Posted July 20 3 hours ago, docc said: " . . . a speed handle. " . . . . Assuming an impact to raise and lower it. Have several of the scissor jacks around so I'm good with that, even without the speed handle. 1
Pressureangle Posted July 21 Posted July 21 4 hours ago, docc said: " . . . a speed handle. " . . . . For those OGs who grew up without air compressors. 2
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