New V7II Gearbox Oil Leak

[swordds]

I took my new (~2100 miles) V7II on the interstate today for the first time. The round trip was about 100 miles (Mandeville Louisiana to the Mockingbird Cafe in Bay St. Louis -highly recommended breakfast ride, I-10 has just been repaved from Slidell to the coast so it will never be smoother or cleaner - sorry for the digression). On the way back I ran the engine up to 6,500 rpm (also for the first time) and I just happened to pull over a few minutes after that and when I did I saw that my back wheel and tire and engine gearbox cover on the right side was covered with oil, apparently coming out of the gearbox breather valve.  I kept going about another 30 miles on the interstate and it didn't look any worse when I got home so I cleaned it all up but haven't had a chance to drive it since then and may not have a chance until Tuesday. For now I'm just considering it an Italian motorcycle anomaly, but I am curious if anyone else has had a similar experience with the gearbox breather or has other thoughts or suggestions.

Also, I saw a beautiful metallic green MG cafe racer custom looking motorcycle being driven along the lakefront in Mandeville this afternoon. I wasn't on my motorcycle and I wasn't able to flag them down but you don't see to many Moto Guzzis in this area.

[Bradkap]

Sounds like exactly what my v7ii did Saturday. I had just returned from the first service.

[swordds]

Strange Italian motorcycles; maybe something to do with sunspots or the phase of the moon or maybe they are supposed to do that?  Anyway, I should be able to do another long ride on Tuesday but will probably stay below 6,000 rpm and will see if it does this again.

[sib]

When you did the 600-mi service, how much oil did you put in the gearbox?  The 5-sp box requires 1000 mL whereas the 6-sp requires only 500 mL.  Someone who is accustomed to servicing the 5-sp could have made a mistake.

[Chuck in Indiana]

When you did the 600-mi service, how much oil did you put in the gearbox?  The 5-sp box requires 1000 mL whereas the 6-sp requires only 500 mL.  Someone who is accustomed to servicing the 5-sp could have made a mistake.

Certainly sounds over filled..

[jackson]

When you did the 600-mi service, how much oil did you put in the gearbox?  The 5-sp box requires 1000 mL whereas the 6-sp requires only 500 mL.  Someone who is accustomed to servicing the 5-sp could have made a mistake.

THIS

[Bradkap]

I will check with the dealer.  It does sound like it was over filled.  I had run it up to 6500-7000 rpm before the first service and never noticed any excess oil.

[swordds]

I had the service done by the dealer so I don't know how much oil was added.  If it leaks again I will politely suggest that perhaps it was over filled.  So far my experience is that service mechanics have no interest in customer's thoughts or suggestions and I can't say that I blame them because I am sure they know a lot more than I do. I don't normally rev the engine much over 5,500 rpm or 6,000 max so it may not happen again (hopefully).

[oldlegs]

I don't understand why they do not have a level plug to make things easier on the 6 speed box. Steve.

[sib]

If you need to tell your service person to put in 500 mL instead of 1000 mL, then you should probably also tell him/her that the specified oil for the 6-sp gearbox is SAE 75W-90, and not the SAE 85W-90 that was spec for the 5-sp.

[jackson]

I had the service done by the dealer so I don't know how much oil was added.  If it leaks again I will politely suggest that perhaps it was over filled.  So far my experience is that service mechanics have no interest in customer's thoughts or suggestions and I can't say that I blame them because I am sure they know a lot more than I do. I don't normally rev the engine much over 5,500 rpm or 6,000 max so it may not happen again (hopefully).

If it were my bike, I would drain the gearbox and precisely measure how much oil comes out.  If more than 500 mL comes out, you can verify or eliminate overfilling as the cause of the problem.

[DaSwami]

Hi all,

V7II Special, first service, first ride after.....30 miles into the ride, tranny oil everywhere, the rear wheel, exhaust, brakes, crossover pipe, inside rear fender, etc.....

Had to ride it 100 miles until I got home, drained 750cc out, put 500cc back in, all good. 

Any chance it harmed the tranny?

[pete roper]

No, it won't of damaged anything.

Do they not have anybody in the workshop who can read?

[sib]

No, it won't of damaged anything.

Do they not have anybody in the workshop who can read?

This is similar to a comment I made a while ago that highly offended Mr. Roper, who thought it was directed at him.

I'll stand by my original comment, which was that mechanics tend to be better at wrenching than reading.  No offense intended!

[Aaron D.]

I had the service done by the dealer so I don't know how much oil was added.  If it leaks again I will politely suggest that perhaps it was over filled.  So far my experience is that service mechanics have no interest in customer's thoughts or suggestions and I can't say that I blame them because I am sure they know a lot more than I do. I don't normally rev the engine much over 5,500 rpm or 6,000 max so it may not happen again (hopefully).

Do't assume they know more, and even if they did they may not always be as careful as they should.

Recent service on wife's (non Guzzi) bike with new tires, brake fluid change , had air in the front brake (we bled it) and 10 PSI below spec on rear tire.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Do't assume they know more, and even if they did they may not always be as careful as they should.

Recent service on wife's (non Guzzi) bike with new tires, brake fluid change , had air in the front brake (we bled it) and 10 PSI below spec on rear tire.

This.

[pete roper]

This is similar to a comment I made a while ago that highly offended Mr. Roper, who thought it was directed at him.

I'll stand by my original comment, which was that mechanics tend to be better at wrenching than reading.  No offense intended!

Proving once again you are a vacuous idiot. Well done.

[JeffOlson]

I had an old Jaguar once (a 1974 XJ 12L). It leaked a quart of oil a day. (It held 12 quarts of oil.) It was cheaper just to top it off every morning before driving rather than replace the rear main seal...

[SmithSwede]

Seems to me that a "mechanic" who doesn't know how much oil to add to a critically expensive mechanical component is hardly a good mechanic. 

This also makes me fear what happens when it finally sinks in that the newer bikes take 500 cc of gear oil.  Are we going to see a rash of earlier model Stones with severely underfilled transmissions?

[sign216]

I don't understand why they do not have a level plug to make things easier on the 6 speed box. Steve.

Yep, a level plug would have prevented this problem, but I suspect some people might not use them.  They could simply add the amount of oil they think it needs.

[Vagrant]

two sad facts, they aren't smart enough to cast the CC's needed on the side of the housings, and they are too lazy at the importer to make a wall cheat sheet with the weight and type oil needed and amounts in both CC's and ounces. at least in the past there was a level plug.

[Muzz]

Do'nt assume they know more, and even if they did they may not always be as careful as they should.

When I had my Honda GB400 it had a carb problem. Went back a total of four times under warranty. The last time I asked to see the mechanic and I told him what the problem would be. Sure enough it was, but even then he only did half the job. As soon as it was out of warranty I fixed the two remaining problems myself.

[DaSwami]

No, it won't of damaged anything.

Do they not have anybody in the workshop who can read?

The only beef I had was that I specifically mentioned this exact thing when I dropped the bike off...and it STILL happened 

Also, the front brake reservoir was overfilled and was dripping brake fluid on my pretty tank when I had it on the sidestand.   

Also, bike ran like crap. stumbled off idle and got poor mileage....I suspect tight valves

At any rate, dealer response was first class, offered to pick the bike up on their dime and drive it back.  They are currently getting the second go around on the bike, and will clean it up. 

I need this dealer to make the ownership experience a win-win, so I took the civil approach.  Service manager is a cool dude.  Can't wait to get my baby back and RIGHT!

[Zinfan]

Seems to me that a "mechanic" who doesn't know how much oil to add to a critically expensive mechanical component is hardly a good mechanic. 

This also makes me fear what happens when it finally sinks in that the newer bikes take 500 cc of gear oil.  Are we going to see a rash of earlier model Stones with severely underfilled transmissions?

This would worry me if I ever took my V7 in for an oil change, we did hear about bikes that had 170 ml in the gear box due to the mechanic mixing up the transmission with the gear box capacities and I believe the gear box was toasted quite quickly.  To be fair I can never wrap my head around Guzzi's terminology for the parts transmission and gear box, they seem backwards to me and then I can't remember which is which, of course I do know which one gets 1.1 liters (extra 100cc per advice from here on WG and note it is the 5 speed not the 6 speed that takes 500 ml or so) and which gets 170 ml.

[sib]

Proving once again you are a vacuous idiot. Well done.

Seems like you're jealous of our Independence Day celebrations and just want to start a little fireworks.  Too bad all you illiterate former prison colony inmates have to celebrate is kiss-a-wallaby day.

[pete roper]

Ignorant of history as well! What a surprise!

[sib]

Ignorant of history as well! What a surprise!

Rats!  Educate me.  Maybe I can learn.  Which part did I get wrong?
1)  You antipodeans are illiterate.
2)  Your nation is a former prison colony.
3)  All you have to celebrate is kiss-a-wallaby day.

[pete roper]

All three but never mind.