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If you remove the plug caps as they show, with a long screwdriver in over the exhaust port, you'll likely never have a problem.If you pull on the wire to remove the cap, then it is toast.
This is the kinda thing that makes be very reluctant to recommend a Guzzi to non-mechanical or non-Guzzi riders.Spark plug caps are a known weakness for the Stelvio and probably other 8-valve Guzzi bikes. About 2 months ago it happened to me not far from home. I was not sure what was going on. I tried several things to fix the unknown-to-me issue including fuel injector removal and testing and substitution of another plug wire. I ended up taking the bike way the hell to Steve at Riders Hill ( I needed him to do some other stuff anyway). Steve and Ian discovered a broken plug cap and replaced it under warranty.Now it's happened again. Thankfully, it's in my back yard again. (I guess taking numerous pictures of churches on my travels has bought me a little concession from above.)As indicated by another current thread of mine, I just completed a 1200 mile sojourn on the Stelvio. Yesterday morning, my 4-hour return route to home was done completely in a relentless and heavy rain on the Interstate. The bike rain flawlessly. It never skipped a beat. I also found out that my Traxx bags did not leak a drop.At home, the rain continued. I didnt even try to unload the bike and I left it parked outside in the rain for about 3 hours. When the rain stopped, I unloaded all my gear and cranked it up to run it over to my storage location. It ran rough and died a few times. Very unusual. Within a short distance, one cylinder dropped-out just like before when I had the plug cap problem.I know it's one of the plug caps again. It's either the "new" one Steve installed or it's the other one that we probbaly should have replaced at the same time.I will not go back with the stock caps. I know Steve would provide me another one under warranty but I would not trust it.Several threads exist, especially over on Guzzitech, regarding this probloem and the fix of replacing the stock plug caps with NGK caps. That's what I'm gonna do.http://forum.guzzitech.com/forum/190/4740.htmlhttp://forum.guzzitech.com/forum/219/4310.htmlI suggest other 8-valve owners pay attention to this. It's another known, and apparaently non-addressed, fault with the Guzzis. It could leave you stranded.For Stelvio owners, add this to the list of problems that include the pervasive wiring short inside the auxiliary lamps. The short is bad enough but the problem there is that it can also shut down the bike since it blows the main charging circuit and causes the battery to go completely dead. The fuse has been moved to new location on the NTX models that is not explicitly identified in the owners manual. It's behind the right side panel. I suggest doing what PYoung and I did and install individual fuses inside the lamp bodies, even with replacement lamps.These sort of things are BS. Its like the known fuel line/filter problems that stranded riders a few years ago. None of these issue involve significant mechanical issues and they are easy to address IF YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM.Many riders are not inclined to have to learn all the known problems with a new bike that they better fix before venturing out very far on it. Guzzis remain a quirky bike that may be best for a quirky rider accustomed to fixing all these things than can go wrong with it.People new to the brand should BE AWARE.
I will not go back with the stock caps.
For Stelvio owners, add this to the list of problems that include the pervasive wiring short inside the auxiliary lamps. The short is bad enough but the problem there is that it can also shut down the bike since it blows the main charging circuit and causes the battery to go completely dead. The fuse has been moved to new location on the NTX models that is not explicitly identified in the owners manual. It's behind the right side panel. I suggest doing what PYoung and I did and install individual fuses inside the lamp bodies, even with replacement lamps.
This is the kinda thing that makes be very reluctant to recommend a Guzzi to non-mechanical or non-Guzzi riders.
Those wires short because folks put them in the wrong spot during PDI. The slack in the wire needs to be curled up in the rubber boot, not in the metal body. Most people stuff the wire into the body, then put the boot on. This means the wires constantly vibrate against the metal and shortly wear through. The prevention (or fix) is to stuff the wires into the boot, then put the boot on. It's the subject of a tech bulletin and covered in Guzzi tech training now.
A fair point actually - and probably good advice for anyone who would self identify as non-mechanical. Although I'd also suggest that it's beneficial to posses mechanical skills any time one ventures 1200 miles from home on a motorcycle, regardless of brand. It can certainly come in handy at times.
Leafman, why are you going "way the hell out in the middle of nowhere" in the first place. The only place I know of a Starbucks "way the hell out in the middle of nowhere" is in New Mexico. ;D :BEER:Matt
Lol, oh good lord. 1200 miles is nothing and modern bikes should not need a mechanically-minded person to ride one that far.
Yes, thanks for the reminder post. I covered that along with pics in a thread on Guzzitech back when it happened to me. After talking with more than one dealer, I am not sure the problems was with dealer PDI. I'm told the internal lamp wiring is something that dealers have nothing with doing. The lamps come from the Guzzi factory like that.As big or bigger a point is the fuse situation. Regardless about who packed the wires in the lamps, these should not be wired in such a way that a shorted lamp will blow a main charging fuse that can shut down the whole darn bike ! lol Crazy. This is especially true after they moved the main fuse and didnt clearly indicate its location in the manual. A smaller separate fuse should be on the lamp circuit alone.
Received my NGK SB05E spark plug caps for my 2012 Stelvio NTX today. They look fine and I expect to install them later tonight or tomorrow and hopefully forget about this issue.
;DOr a Kristy Kremer. :o
Leaf....you the man.....Ordered my caps earlier this week and was looking for some detailed instructions.