I thought I would update... I have been putting a fair few miles on the Guzzi... It runs really well and pulls like a train! the ride is a little hard and I may well change the rear shocks though... However, not everything on a build like this goes to plan… I have been doing a fair few long and fast runs and after one very spirited run I noticed oil coming out the breather… looks like the one I made didn’t work. I set about a completer re-design, and made one out of alloy sheet. Here is the result. I have given it a good thrashing and all is now well!
I need a Guzzi project to christian the workshop in my new house. I've started looking at salvage bikes... I'm even tempted by a pranged Pan European for the same transverse vibe. Never going to make one of those look as pretty as that though. Anyone got a crashed damage 8v Griso they want to get rid of..? Or a 1400 California...?
just be careful with the 8 valve... early engines were ot good and suffered from cam follower issues... google "moto guzzi cam follower problems" lots will come up. it put me off the earlier ones. I will probably chose another 2V 1100 for my next build...
Here is the finished Guzzi. I did spend some time tweaking the ignition, but I have to say that it was pretty close with the advance curve it came with it from Ignitech. It took a couple of days to sort the jetting out on the carbs, but what’s nice is they are easy to get at to change jets, and these carbs came with the slow air screws as opposed to slow air jets which makes life easier. I have a quiet road where I go, rather than annoy the neighbours where I can ride up and down, do plug chops and adjustments. To help others if they do simmilar, The jetting I ended up with is as follows:- #155 main jet, #50 pilot jet, ELS needle (4th groove from the top) I started with an ELT needle but had a slight fluff at 1/8 throttle so changed to ELS and it cured it. here's to a warm dry summer!
I have been doing quite a few miles before I put the bike away for the winter and getting used to it. One thing that annoyed me was the feel of the front brake… It was quite soft and somehow just lacked the feel I have with the Ducati’s. I looked on Ebay and thought I would give one of these radial master cylinders a go. They are quite neat in that the adjuster alters the pivot point of the lever so you can adjust the lever ratio! much better feel now! So much so I have bought a similar but better designed one to try on the Ducati!
