Author Topic: Another addition to the stable (Read 10731 times)

Mr Nick · « **Reply #20 on:** July 11, 2018, 23:25:16 »

They do a fair few thread sizes so I'd say probably yes.
Take a look here: http://www.stahlbus.com/info/en/products/application-list-for-bikes

Just a case of finding a UK seller or ordering from Germany/France. MandP sell a couple so maybe can get others? I got mine from Gutsibits so might be worth a call to them to see if they'd entertain a non Guzzi order.

SuzukiSte · « **Reply #21 on:** July 12, 2018, 12:11:58 »

Thanks for that will take a look.

Mr Nick · « **Reply #22 on:** July 15, 2018, 17:26:22 »

I've been busy the last few days.

Servicing now complete - all oils changed and filters replaced. The gearbox and final drive oil looked pretty grotty so who knows how long it's been since they were done. Although the exhaust is in good nick, I'm tempted to put a Keihan stainless one on as the balance 'pipe' is a huge pressed steel affair that gets right in the way of the gearbox drain and had to come off, which was good 2 hours yesterday off and on.

I was out later on to check things were OK and I used the headlight in anger for the first time. I was somewhat concerned that the voltmeter barely dragged itself up to 12v and the charging light had a definite glow to it. I found that one of the 3 wires in the connector under the tank that goes to the reg/rec was corroded and probably not really conducting any electrons. I've replaced the terminal & I'll fire it up later to see if I have decent ziggies going to the battery.

I've also been swapping over a lot of the original fasteners to stainless: this is my pile so far...

That's all from the sump, alternator, rocker covers, top box rack, rear shocks, driveshaft, exhaust and some others.

Mr Nick · « **Reply #23 on:** July 15, 2018, 22:44:28 »

This is the offending crossover on the exhaust: it fills the whole space between the stand and the sump which means you struggle to get enough movement to unhook the front pipes from the heads.

Mr Nick · « **Reply #24 on:** July 16, 2018, 22:23:09 »

And still the pile of replaced fasteners grows - see what happens when you give someone time off work and a box of assorted stainless bolts...

That's the pannier rails, fairing frame, windscreen mounts & ignition boxes done - need to get some M10 bolts to move into the calipers, triple clamps & the like.

Charging issue seems sorted - the onboard voltmeter is a bit pessimistic but there is now decent voltage getting to them battery with the lights on, even at a little above tickover. I'm going to stick a digital voltmeter on to check what the voltage is at speed - my multimeter says 14v when the onboard one says 13v: don't want to cook the battery.

Gassoon · « **Reply #25 on:** July 20, 2018, 10:08:36 »

wurzel · « **Reply #26 on:** July 20, 2018, 10:35:58 »

I am very wary of stainless fasteners in alloy cases, it can cause fast corrosion of the case threads on our salty roads, just a tip.
http://www.preservationscience.com/materials/metals/PGC.html

hotbulb · « **Reply #27 on:** July 20, 2018, 11:27:46 »

If I'm reading the chart correctly, both "steel" and austenitic stainless fasteners into aluminium are rated B, and so pose no additional "threat". The common stainless bolts seem to be classed mainly as A2 or A4, so don't really tie up with the chart (and as far as I'm aware austenitic and martensitic relate to structure of the steel caused by differing alloying constituents/proportions, and generally relevant to high-temperature characteristics, for example when used for exhaust valve manufacture).
Does anyone know which category the generally-available stuff falls into?

Gassoon · « **Reply #28 on:** July 20, 2018, 12:10:10 »

It's an old Guzzi - those bolts'll be in and out every month!

But, what great words (austenitic and martensitic). New to me, I must read up on that!

Mr Nick · « **Reply #29 on:** July 20, 2018, 17:05:33 »

I have used A4 marine grade in the bolts which are likely to be exposed to inclement conditions, and those with greater tensile needs as the A4 it closer to 8.8 steel in that regard. A2 is the normal stainless you'll buy and it's fine in most applications. I don't intend riding the old girl in crappy weather so the corrosion resistance is fairly moot, but they definitely improve the look.

And the A2 & A4 steels are austenitic.

Talking of bolts, I really need to pay attention to what I order late at night - went to bed having ordered M10x25, M10x40 and M10x60: woke up to find I'd actually ordered 25, 30 and 35mm.... They won't go to waste but I need to order the right ones now...

wurzel · « **Reply #30 on:** July 20, 2018, 20:27:44 »

Cool bananas, you know your metals well, fascinating subject I find even though I'm new to it.

SuzukiSte · « **Reply #31 on:** July 20, 2018, 22:08:29 »

keep them pictures coming.

Mr Nick · « **Reply #32 on:** July 21, 2018, 15:13:25 »

I removed the steering damper today as I'm not sure it's still OK: what do you lot think?

I'll see how she feels without it and decide whether to look for a replacement or not.

I see a curious breather setup on this bike: The rocker boxes & crankcase breathe into the frame. I've seen plenty bikes where the frame is used for oil, but can't say I've seen another like this.

That shows one of the rocker boxes breather - the other goes to opposite end of the cross bar, and the crankcase is connected near the front end of the main tube. Farther up the main tube is also connected to the bottom of the airbox.

Mr Nick · « **Reply #33 on:** July 23, 2018, 19:06:03 »

I thought it wise to have a quick look at the state of the brake fluid:

I know that it's not really meant to look like coke so went ahead and changed the front right brake.

That leaves me with the harder part - the linked rear/front left system.... I'm actually minded to hang off until I replace the flexi hoses with stainless and take the hit all at once as these can be a complete bampot to bleed and there are 3 hoses to swap for the linked half alone.
I know I ended up with the front caliper hanging from the hoist on the V50 trying to clear the air bubbles, and it doesn't have the proportioning valve to make it even harder. The brakes do work fine as they are, but I'm not overly happy with leaving that muck in there. I might syringe out the fluid in the master cylinder as a token effort for now.

Mr Nick · « **Reply #34 on:** July 23, 2018, 20:06:33 »

Forgot that I own a one man bleeder thingy!

Rear half bled comparatively OK this time, but the rear caliper bleed screw is a bitch to access....

Bear in mind that this contains a fair bit of new fluid.

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #35 on:** July 23, 2018, 22:31:44 »

Wow... That is some dark brake fluid there. I don't blame you for waiting on the linked brakes until you swap the hoses.

I do like reading these updates.

SuzukiSte · « **Reply #36 on:** July 23, 2018, 22:53:39 »

Replace the steering damper it will need it.

TLPower · « **Reply #37 on:** July 24, 2018, 05:50:40 »

Regarding the steering damper, satin black and autosol will be fine, I've ridden far worse blah, blah, blah.

The breather system is rather clever, it's a pity Suzuki don't route the Strom's to the spokes then wouldn't rust

Mr Nick · « **Reply #38 on:** July 27, 2018, 00:17:47 »

The grips on the bike are foam, but the years have not been kind to them: they were both smaller and shinier than intended. This left me without the confidence in whether the throttle was turning as much as I wanted, made worse by the resistance from the fairly strong springs in the carbs.
Old v new:

I'm not overly keen on the current metal plug caps so they had to go. Apart from looks, the resistance can break down over time & cause issues, so a pair of NGK ones took their places.

There's a Guzzi club lunch this Sunday in the Borders I am hoping to go to, but the forecast swings from OK to peeing rain & back several times a day...

Mr Nick · « **Reply #39 on:** July 29, 2018, 20:22:19 »

Rain put an end to any hope of meeting up with the rest of the Guzzi boys today so the devil found work for idle hands....

I wanted to drop the bottoms off the carbs to check float heights & the jets so decided to take them out altogether. This also let me have a better look at the airbox, which I thought had bolts in odd places. It turns out that there are 4 extra holes in the back half that have been drilled but serve no purpose - two were blanked off by the errant bolts, the others had bits of hose in, which were sealed with a bolt jammed in the end.

I've put the feelers out for a replacement.

I also drained the oil from the forks: well, tried to - there was nothing in the right! What came out the left was interesting - both runny and lumpy at the same time. The oil doesn't perform any function in terms of damping at least - it's really just there to lubricate as the damping is taken care of by a self contained cartridge. 70cc of ATF now in each.

The nut/bolt replacement program continues: now up to about 4 pounds of scrap...