Would you buy an 8 valve with flat tappets?

[Travlr]

There are some 8V flat tappet bikes I like better than the later roller models.
A Griso SE for instance.

But I'm reluctant to purchase a flat tappet bike for obvious reasons.

Just gathering some thoughts on rather to purchase and what the cost would be to convert.

Mike

[H-E-ROSS]

Just curious, whats not to like about a SE? color or spokes?

[jas67]

In a word: NO.

If I were to buy a Griso, it would be an 1100 (2V(4V) motor), or 8V that came from the factory with rollers.
Same goes for a Norge, 2V(4V) or 8V roller.

[Jdcooper]

Here is a cam box from my Stelvio 8V with about 21K miles.



The cam face looked like this:



If you buy it, consider a few things:
-   they will ALL fail eventually
-   sometimes MG will comp you the kit (which runs about $1400 retail)
-   the labor goes at 12 or13 hours.

I would bargain a lower price using these facts. Good luck, Mate.

[Cam3512]

In a word: NO.

If I were to buy a Griso, it would be an 1100 (2V(4V) motor), or 8V that came from the factory with rollers.
Same goes for a Norge, 2V(4V) or 8V roller.

 :1:

In two words.  HELL no.

[Cam3512]

Just curious, whats not to like about a SE? color or spokes?

I think he's saying he LIKES the early SE.  Probably the Tenni Green from 2011-2012

[H-E-ROSS]

I liked it too, until I started reading up on this problem. I ended up buying a '13 SE to avoid the headache never mind the expense.

[Trogladyte]

No.

NEVER.

Not in a billion years. I'd rather gnaw my own foot off.

My Griso had FIVE sets of cam gear, which lasted on average a few thousand miles. All on warranty, but it was still a right royal painus in the anus. Never again. Rollers all the way.

[twowings]

The asking price would have to be low enough that with adding in the price of the roller retrofit kit, it would still be a deal...of course, if one isn't mechanically inclined, then the cost of the install labor must be added in, as well....I've seen some nice used MG bikes for sale that could be rollerized (by the owner) and still be less money than used factory used models....I would use the cost of the appropriate roller kit as a bargaining chip in price negotiations...an uniformed buyer might pay the asking price up front, but the knowledgeable Guzzi fan should be armed with the facts...IMHO

[beetle]

I would. Two caveats however:

Pre purchase inspection required by a dealer of your choice. If the tappets look like this:




Plus there is a service history? Say yes with the cost of the kit and labour factored in.


If they look like this:





Run away.

[Travlr]

I think he's saying he LIKES the early SE.  Probably the Tenni Green from 2011-2012

That is correct!

Mike

[oldbike54]

In a word: NO.

If I were to buy a Griso, it would be an 1100 (2V(4V) motor), or 8V that came from the factory with rollers.
Same goes for a Norge, 2V(4V) or 8V roller.

 So , this (2V(4V) motor , only imported to Pennsylvania ? 

  Dusty

[rboe]

We should talk...... 

[Greenman]

There is a griso SE for sale here in NZ with tappets that are bad. It's on the local trademe website. the owner is starting bidding at $1000.
I'm almost keen to take the risk that the damage is only in the heads, but he is saying that tappets were fine one day, and then a month later they were not. So I take that as the engine damage is terminal.
Everything else is as new..

[Cool Runnings]

There is a griso SE for sale here in NZ with tappets that are bad. It's on the local trademe website. the owner is starting bidding at $1000.
I'm almost keen to take the risk that the damage is only in the heads, but he is saying that tappets were fine one day, and then a month later they were not. So I take that as the engine damage is terminal.
Everything else is as new..

Tell him the bottom end is most likely gone, offer him $500 cash.

You could always part it out. 

[Perazzimx14]

Quite honestly I wouldn't buy ANY 4 valve per cylinder Guzzi.

[Clancy]

What Beetle says.
or
Low kms, low price and factor in the cost to have it rollered.

[tazio]

If you buy it, consider a few things:
-   the labor goes at 12 or13 hours.

WOW. Are the hours in fact that high?

[dxhall]

And rollers started when?

[rboe]

Installed mid - 2012 production.

Labor should be closer to 4 hours.

[tazio]

Installed mid - 2012 production.

Labor should be closer to 4 hours.

[guzzisteve]

I charge 3-4hrs, any more is gouging.

Road Mike's old Stelvio today after dialing it all in, turned out nice, fueling on idle had to do a -20 for it to take throttle w/o a bog.      Real nice 2010 Rollerized w/tune in ECU for pipe

[poorBob]

I charge 3-4hrs, any more is gouging.

Road Mike's old Stelvio today after dialing it all in, turned out nice, fueling on idle had to do a -20 for it to take throttle w/o a bog.      Real nice 2010 Rollerized w/tune in ECU for pipe

Mine is next!

[MGrego]

Yes, however, --- Caveat Emptor

Better understand the problem and figure the cost of rollerization into the purchase price !

[Perazzimx14]

So , this (2V(4V) motor , only imported to Pennsylvania ? 

  Dusty

In Pennsylvania its commonly referred to as the "6V".

[jas67]

So , this (2V(4V) motor , only imported to Pennsylvania ? 

  Dusty

I just hate the inconsistency  that most people call the 2 valve per cylinder motor 2V and the 4 valve per cylinder motor 8V.    It should be 2V and 4V or 4V and 8V.

Yes, sometimes I do have CDO (that's OCD, but, with the letters in alphabetical order as they should be).

 

Quite honestly I wouldn't buy ANY 4 valve per cylinder Guzzi.

That is a lot more clear!     Or, just call it a 6V 

[oldbike54]

In Pennsylvania its commonly referred to as the "6V".

 

I just hate the inconsistency  that most people call the 2 valve per cylinder motor 2V and the 4 valve per cylinder motor 8V.    It should be 2V and 4V or 4V and 8V.

Yes, sometimes I do have CDO (that's OCD, but, with the letters in alphabetical order as they should be).






 

That is a lot more clear!     Or, just call it a 6V 

 I figured one 2 valve head and one 4 valve head 

  Dusty

[Wayne Orwig]

Call it an 'in head cam' if you can't understand the name. 

There are some 8V flat tappet bikes I like better than the later roller models.
A Griso SE for instance.
But I'm reluctant to purchase a flat tappet bike for obvious reasons.
Just gathering some thoughts on rather to purchase and what the cost would be to convert.

If you are interested, Beetle covered it.
By all means, consider it. As he mentioned, if it has been grinding away a lot of metal, run away.
If it is fairly clean, then factor in a recall kit.

The amount of labor varies. If it is an A or B kit, probably close to 3 hours, maybe 4. If it is a C kit (don't think it is), it is a LOT more time. Maybe 8 to 10 hours.


 

[Nic in Western NYS]

Come to think of it, there is no ambiguity if 2V and 8V are used as terms.  4V is the ambiguous term.  I say to heck with consistency and scrap the ambiguous term.  I also don't think the earlier generation 8V engines should be lumped into the mess.  They didn't have fatal flaws as far as I know.

[Moto]

Come to think of it, there is no ambiguity if 2V and 8V are used as terms.  4V is the ambiguous term.  I say to heck with consistency and scrap the ambiguous term.  I also don't think the earlier generation 8V engines should be lumped into the mess.  They didn't have fatal flaws as far as I know.

Long ago, 2 valve vs. 8 valve was my suggestion for unambiguous terminology. I took some flack for it, notably from Down Under.

You're all welcome.

Moto

P.S. I would be hesitant to buy any of the current generation of 8v engines, unless I knew the one I was interested in was fitted with rollers at the factory. Some compromised flat tappet engines have probably been rollerized by now, with lingering problems in the bottom end. At least that's how I interpret what more knowledgeable people than I have posted.