Motorcycle Parts FAQ?
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Need to find color matched paint for your Goose? This be the place. 1980 and newer models, only. Paint is not available from Moto Guzzi.
Try: http://www.color-rite.com/ or try www.cyclecolor.com
Do not try to start it before you do the following:
1. Prelube the cylinders with a penetrating or solvent type oil. Squirt oil in spark plug hole and allow oil to set for a minimum of 15 minutes.
2. Roll engine slowly with a wrench on the end of the crank until engine turns freely.
3. Clean the carbs thoroughly before starting.
Note: If you do not follow this procedure there is a risk of damaging a cylinder wall and/or piston and rings.
A. Yes! If your bike has been sitting for 3 months or more you definitely need to clean the carbs. Remove the carbs and disassemble. Soak only the metal parts in carburetor cleaner dip for at least 4 hours or longer. Flush well with water and dry with compressed air. Remember to check all the jets and passageways to make sure they are open.
A. Engines with hydraulic lifters require 5W 40 oil (mineral or synthetic). Note Also: The engines with hydraulic lifters have a new camshaft with different timing than engines that do not have the hydraulic lifters. The hydraulic lifter camshaft timing is: Intake: opens 20° before TDC. Closes 47° after BDC. Exhaust: opens 51° before BDC. Closes 15° after TDC
A. The very late T's may have had an oil filter. Look under the oil pan. If there are 4 bolts in the middle of the pan then it has an oil filter. If there are only bolts around the perimeter of the pan then it does not.
A. No, it only has a screen. This means that you should change your oil more often to add life to your engine and avoid costly rebuilds. A few cans of oil and a pan gasket are whole lot cheaper than a bore job, new pistons and rings. Every 2,000 miles is a good average for oil change. After a while you will be able to tell, judging by how dirty the oil is, if you should do it more often or if you can go a few more miles between changes.
A. The best way to mark the EZ pull is to lay the original and the EZ pull side by side. The ez pull should have the retainer fitting on the stick. Put the gasket surfaces in line with each other then adjust the gasket surfaces for the thickness of the outsider and then mark the low and high marks to match the distance on the original stick. It is better to be slightly below the full mark than on it or over it because Guzzi's don't like too much oil. They tend to spit it back at you. First off Quarts and liters are very close in volume but a liter is slightly more than a quart. I always used 3 qts and that should put it slightly below the full mark after it is started and the filter gets filled. If it is not, then add just enough to be just below the full mark.
A. Yes, we have it in 3 oz bottles. That is enough for 3 changes..
A. For most all Moto Guzzi's engines we recommend Valvoline multi-viscosity 20/50 engine oil for the summer (55 degrees or above) and 10/40 for winter use (below 55 degrees). The transmission and rear end use Hypoid 80/90. The transmission takes about 1 qt and the rear end about 1/2 qt. Engine takes approx. 3 qts. You should consider adding Moly to the rear drive. Use ATF oil in your forks. Be aware that some of the popular oils have too much detergent and create to much foam which causes crankcase pressure at high RPM. The result is that the oil will foam and cause oil to blow out the vent hose.
A. For brake fluid use DOT 3 or DOT 4. Fill to the level line in the reservoir..
A. Fill the transmission & rear end until it trickles out the level hole. If you put too much in the transmission it will blow out the transmission vent. Transmission takes about 1 qt and the rear end takes about 1/2 qt. The engine requires about 3 qts..
A. On bikes with a vent hose, T and newer, the hose should be run up along side the battery. On big block bikes without a vent hose you will need to retrofit the vent plug, gasket and hose, which we have in stock. Then run the new hose up along side the frame or battery area.
A. All front forks with a front disc brake use Dextron ATF. V700, Ambassador, Eldorado with drum brake use 7 oz. Dextron ATF in each leg. V7 Sport, 850 T and newer all use about 2 oz. per fork leg. NOTE: Fork oil is only there for lubrication not for dampening in these models.
A. No. Moto Guzzi gaskets are made of a self-sealing material and do not require any sealer. Here are a couple of photos to show you why you should not use sealer. The silicon seeped into the oil passageways and stopped the oil flow and we all know what happens when you stop oil flow in your Moto Guzzi...Italian Fried engine!
A. Through 1990 the valve settings are .006 intake and .008 exhaust. NOTE: On all round head cylinders you will need to torque the heads first.
A. The torque specs for the round head cylinders are 35 foot pounds.
A. The 2003 California engines with hydraulic lifters have a new camshaft with different timing than engines that do not have the hydraulic lifters. The hydraulic lifter camshaft timing is: Intake: Opens 20deg before TDC. Closes 47deg after BDC Exhaust: Opens 51 deg before BDC Closes: 15deg after TDC
A. You should try to go to a lower profile tire like from a 110/90 to a 110/80, 80 being the lower profile number. Also, an upholsterer can take some of the foam out of your seat. Be sure to not change the angle of the U-joint more than 1 inch. When you change the angle of the u-joint there is the chance you could put it in a position that is too extreme causing premature U-joint failure. However, having said that, you could change the shocks. We have been selling the Progressive Suspension for years for a very good reason-they work! An inch would be the maximum you should go with a shorter shock. We have 1/2" and 1" shorter than your 13 1/2" shock.
A. Remove the spark plugs, replace end caps and lay them on the cylinder head. Turn engine over and watch sparks to determine which is missing. Disconnect (key off) the white and black sensor wires and reconnect in reverse (black to white). If spark transfers to opposite plug, it indicates a bad sensor. If it stays with the same plug, it indicates a bad electronic module, a bad coil or a problem somewhere in the wiring not associated with the sensor plate.
A. Disconnect the sensor wires and touch the female (module end of the input wires to ground. Do not touch the 12 volt (red) sensor wire to ground. You should get a spark at the appropriate spark plugs every time the inputs are grounded. If not, it indicates a bad electronic module, a bad coil, or a problem somewhere in the wiring not associated with the sensor plate.
A. Yes, we have a limited supply of used, paintable side covers for the Ambassador and Eldorado.
A. Yes, we do. We have a full service shop and have been repairing Moto Guzzi's since 1970. You can crate your engine, transmission, generator and carbs and ship to us via truck lines. We will tear it down and call you with an estimate. When you receive the work back it will be tuned and tested, ready to install in your restored rolling chassis. Call us about which truck lines to use.
A. Yes, this is our specialty. We take pride in restoring the Moto Guzzi back to it's original, beautiful condition. Please call for details. 800 752 9735.
A. Yes, we do.
A. No, it is not. We redesigned the Outsider. It is now thinner so you don't need to replace the X-over. The Outsider will NOT work on all Sports models, Daytona and Centauro. It will work on the Quota.
A. There is a very valid reason for not venting your bike's rear end. Pressure drives the gear oil into the pinion bearing. If you vent the rear end your pinion bearings could burn up prematurely due to lack of lubrication. Drive shaft splines will also suffer from lack of lubrication.
A. Yes, you should not have a problem.
A. Check the side wall of your tire. You will find what is best for that tire. Depending on load variables it could vary. Because rims/wheels are made of a soft alloy they tend to bend with low tire pressure. Try to keep tire pressure on the firm side but do not exceed the tire manufacture's specs.
A. Yes. The T, T/3, G5 seem to be the bikes that are being retrofitted to the LeMans style. There are no LeMans gas tanks available. You will need to use the 1000S tank and gas cap. Then you will need to change the seat and rear fender as the tank will only work with the 1000S seat. The seat and fender of the 1000S mount entirely different from the above models. When you change handlebars you will also have to change cables to shorter ones.
A. Our parts manager suggested two things. First: Try to do it your self. There are many paints that will work on exhausts, it is the way you apply the paint. 1. Clean your exhausts very well, maybe even bead blast to get a really clean surface. 2. Get your pipes really hot, like in a very hot oven for about 15-20 minutes. 3. Have everything prepared outside or in a special room for painting. Including a place to hang the pipe while painting and drying. 4. Take the hot pipes, one at a time, to the prepared area and paint. Allow to cool after painting. It is the expansion of the cold metal that pops the paint. Painting it while cool will not have the same effect. Second way, if that does not work, would be to send your pipes to us and we can do a ceramic coating. It is available in black or aluminum color.