New (to me) Eldorado

[jumpmaster]

Well, I finally took the plunge and bought a 73 Eldorado off of eBay.  Got it titled & tagged a few days ago and finally had a decent day with enough free time to take it out for a short spin this afternoon.  With the ambient temp outside being around 48 degrees, it took almost 5 minutes to warm up enough to settle down & run with no spitting or other complaints, even with fiddling with the choke constantly.  Is this common for old Eldos?  Once fully warmed up, it runs like a champ - it has sat for quite awhile, I believe, so maybe it will improve with some more regular time on the road.  Now, after getting new tires on it (current ones are 16 years old!) and fiddling with various minor mechanical and cosmetic things, it will be about the way I want it except for the non-stock paint job.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Some are a bit "cold blooded", some aren't. My '69 Ambo is like that. A little fine tuning and possibly a size larger idle jets may help. Looking forward to seeing it in person. 

[yogidozer]

Sure looks like a beauty! Begging for some saddlebags. Jetting might be a touch lean, maybe the gas has some stabil in it, or just old?
Run a couple tank fulls through before making any changes.

[canuck750]

Very nice looking Eldorado

[jumpmaster]

Sure looks like a beauty! Begging for some saddlebags. Jetting might be a touch lean, maybe the gas has some stabil in it, or just old?
Run a couple tank fulls through before making any changes.

Yes, one of the "minor" tweaks I'm planning on is a set of period-correct saddlebags, but there doesn't seem to be much info on what racks work with the bags I'm looking at, & even if they are available.  I'll be relying on Charlie M. for advice on the issue, since I don't live too far from him.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Yes, one of the "minor" tweaks I'm planning on is a set of period-correct saddlebags, but there doesn't seem to be much info on what racks work with the bags I'm looking at, & even if they are available.  I'll be relying on Charlie M. for advice on the issue, since I don't live too far from him.

What 'bags are you looking at, John?

[yogidozer]

Member TOMB might have some advice, and possibly some bags or a rack.

[Cam3512]

I think a set of wixoms in matching white would be the ticket.  Nice bike.

[Gliderjohn]

Not my cup of tea but that is a great looking Eldo.
GliderJohn

[lucian]

That is a beauty .  Lots of quality you just don't see on the new bikes. Congrats.

[jumpmaster]

What 'bags are you looking at, John?

I'm kind of partial to something like the "thermos" bags listed in MG Cycles or Harper's as being for early Converts - more squarish than bulbous shape.  Expensive new, , especially the Harper's version, but I get a lot of use out of the bags on my Harley & my Mille, so I factored in the price of nice bags when I was saving up & bargaining for the Eldo.

[fotoguzzi]

Nice!~ are you sure the paint is non stock? color is very red but the pin-striping looks about right.

[pehayes]

Make sure to join the LoopFrame Discussion Forum over on Yahoo Groups and read everything you need to know at Greg Bender's site:

http://www.thisoldtractor.com/moto_guzzi_loopframe.html

Yes, it should be cold-blooded as that is a LOT of metal to heat up before combustion becomes normal.  The choke is really a binary on/off function and you likely won't have much joy in fiddling or adjusting that.  It is not really a choke, just an enrichening port.  I don't see vacuum ports on those early version intake manifolds.  Ports can be added by a good machinist.  Much easier and more accurate to balance and synchronize the carbs with the port function.  The engine will be a LOT better once accurately adjusted.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[jas67]

I think a set of wixoms in matching white would be the ticket.  Nice bike.

Very nice bike you got there, congrats!

+1 on the Wixoms.   They really fit the lines of these bikes very well.

IMG_3335 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr

[Texas Turnip]

Very nice Eldo. Yes, on the Wixom bags as they fit the contour of the rear fender. They don't leak and you never lose a lid. Do more research as the paint looks close to original.

Enjoy,
Tex

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I don't see vacuum ports on those early version intake manifolds.  Ports can be added by a good machinist.  Much easier and more accurate to balance and synchronize the carbs with the port function.  The engine will be a LOT better once accurately adjusted.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

It has vacuum ports:

[jumpmaster]

Thanks for the kind words, suggestions & tips from everyone.  Makes me feel a little better about paying a hair over the KBB suggested retail price for one in "excellent" condition.  As far as the paint being stock or not, I defer to Charlie Mullendore on the striping on the fenders being non-stock - pictures of other 73's I've seen also support that, as well as the pictures in the rider's handbook.  The striping on the tank appears stock to me, but it was taped on (under clear-coat) rather than hand painted.  I don't know if the tank/fenders color scheme was available from the factory for 73 Eldos, either - maybe in Europe it was available???  I also agree that the Wixom bags look nice and blend in with the Eldo's rear fender lines, but I've dealt with stock Harley bags for years & am always frustrated at the shape when packing for trips - almost always seem to have some wasted space in that back end. The more angular bags just look more "business-like" to me and appeal to me somehow.

Took it for a 12 mile careful (16 year old tires) check out ride today & was pleasantly surprised with how well it did, considering I think it sat around with little or no use for the past several years - although I believe it was garaged & protected from the elements.  Some corrosion in nooks & crannies hints at a harder life before the repaint and some other cosmetic work, though.

[Turin]

Even if it's not "stock", the red and white is the prettiest paint scheme
Here's my Ambo with Wixom bags.



I'm sure there are a lot of black eldos that started life white or red and white.

Congrats!

[Kiwi_Roy]

  I don't see vacuum ports on those early version intake manifolds.  Ports can be added by a good machinist.  Much easier and more accurate to balance and synchronize the carbs with the port function.  The engine will be a LOT better once accurately adjusted.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

My 72 doesn't have balance ports, I use a drill bit to set the slides the same, I didn't like to drill holes but but I may next time I have the carbs off.

[brider]

I have a set of black DB bags in VG condition if interested, definitely NOT "business-like" or square, but for travel-stuffing volume, can't be beat. Also period-correct. Wixoms are everybody's fav, the Wixom Bros nailed it when they sculpted those.

Extremely gorgeous bike, BTW, congrats. I think you did the right thing by paying more for an already-sorted out Loop.

[jumpmaster]

Extremely gorgeous bike, BTW, congrats. I think you did the right thing by paying more for an already-sorted out Loop.

Yes, my wallet is still recovering from my last experience in buying a vehicle off of eBay, figuring I'd buy a somewhat rough pickup & bringing it up to my personal standard myself.  Ended up, over the course of 10 years,spending 3 times what it was worth and still had a ways to go.  "Buy the best example you can afford" is the best advice I've  heard, at least for the non-professional mechanic/restorer.

[Chuck in Indiana]

"Buy the best example you can afford" is the best advice I've  heard, at least for the non-professional mechanic/restorer.

Yep. 

[pehayes]

My 72 doesn't have balance ports, I use a drill bit to set the slides the same, I didn't like to drill holes but but I may next time I have the carbs off.

The tune-up detail is just so much more accurate when you use intake manifold vacuum as the guide.  Yes, you can drill and tap the older version intake manifolds to accept vacuum ports.  There are several issues of caution.  First, there is not much 'meat' here and you will get only 3 turns of thread at best.  Quite easy to strip it out if you get aggressive on the plug screws.  Second, the outer surface of manifold is a compound curve and it is hard to get a screw to seal.  Best if you can mill a small flat first to provide a sealing surface.  Third, when you finish up, figure out how long your sealing screw is and how far it protrudes into the manifold's air stream.  File and grind away the excess so that you have very short screws that don't interfere with the interior flow.



I'd do it for you if you posted to me.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[jkguzzi]

For utility you can't beat the DB bags. I think they look great and look even better with a Windjammer.

[jas67]

I have a pair of DBs available, if any one wants to buy them, PM me.   
They’ll need painted, but are otherwise solid.   
PM if interested.

[yogidozer]

For utility you can't beat the DB bags. I think they look great and look even better with a Windjammer.

That sounds like a great combination. If it were me, that's the look I'd go for.

[Kiwi_Roy]

The bike is stunning, who cares if the paint scheme is not factory, it seems well done. I like the screen it has and I wouldn't clutter it up with bags, keep it naked.

[jumpmaster]

Very nice bike you got there, congrats!

+1 on the Wixoms.   They really fit the lines of these bikes very well.

IMG_3335 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr

Yours looks great, too.  If there's ever an event in the Gettysburg area, we should try to arrange to meet there - it's almost exactly halfway between us.

[jas67]

Yours looks great, too.  If there's ever an event in the Gettysburg area, we should try to arrange to meet there - it's almost exactly halfway between us.

That'd be great.  I'm hoping to make it down your way for Brit & European Motorcycle Day.   Every year that I've tried to go, I either had a conflict, or it rained.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

That'd be great.  I'm hoping to make it down your way for Brit & European Motorcycle Day.   Every year that I've tried to go, I either had a conflict, or it rained.

British & European Classic Motorcycle Day is now called just "Classic Motorcycle Day". Japanese bikes are now included and the venue has moved again - to the Mt. Airy Fireman's Carnival Grounds.