My old life is over...

[Joe A.]

Hey Rick, I responded to your other post. The WNY rally really is a must, great folks, location, etc. There is a Guzzi dealer in Buffalo, Kustom Workz, and he will be there again this year. He brings demos and mechanics. they are  great bunch of folks to deal with. Will be heading to WNY Friday morning. I'm leaving this Friday for the WV rally. Good luck with the new ride!

[Burkslaw]

   So after 45 years of owning, building and riding just about everything else, I came across an '04 California EV1100 with about 15K miles, in beautiful cosmetic condition. Bought it before I rode it. After 1000 miles I believe it is the best handling large displacement bike I have ever ridden, and I love it. Then, I see all the chatter about the "hydro" issue. I'm now expecting the thing to frag on me at any instant, and the joy is rapidly dissipating. I've called a dealer and asked to run the VIN to see if the cam problem was fixed, but haven't heard back. I am getting all kinds of conflicting advice from different sources on what to do. I am not going to sink a bunch of money into this-- I only paid $2600 and don't want to double my investment. I'd rather go all in and buy another with no issues. Can anyone look at the photo and tell me if I am riding this on borrowed time? And why the gold/copper paint on the rocker? Please-- no uninformed guesses. I got those on Facebook. Many thanks.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Don't worry, be happy.  The adjusters have been snapped off, so I *assume* the work has been done. That's a lot of bike for $2600.

[JJ]

Congrats and Welcome!  That is one beautiful, classic Guzzi!  You will enjoy it!

[guzzisteve]

That looks like the dull color valve spring caps(not fixed), broke off adjusters(fixed) but no lock nut. The recessed area where the adjuster locknut goes on is something I have not experienced before.  If it was my bike I'd pull it apart and check the cam, lifters, and the rest. Could be a partial kit made to work. Someone saving money on the fix, using the old parts like the spring caps & rockers. I've seen Hydro's look all different under the cover, they had 3 fixes. AND you can't go by what warranty says about it, some dealers took the money and did nothing. Some motors are supposed to be good from factory but are not.
Could be OK too, I'd run the piss out of it and keep checking the oil & filter, drop the pan and check it all out. That's where the filter is and if you look up in block it's all open.

[Kev m]

That looks like the dull color valve spring caps(not fixed), broke off adjusters(fixed) but no lock nut. The recessed area where the adjuster locknut goes on is something I have not experienced before.  If it was my bike I'd pull it apart and check the cam, lifters, and the rest. Could be a partial kit made to work. Someone saving money on the fix, using the old parts like the spring caps & rockers. I've seen Hydro's look all different under the cover, they had 3 fixes. AND you can't go by what warranty says about it, some dealers took the money and did nothing. Some motors are supposed to be good from factory but are not.
Could be OK too, I'd run the piss out of it and keep checking the oil & filter, drop the pan and check it all out. That's where the filter is and if you look up in block it's all open.

Burk, if you're not aware GuzziSteve had a career as a professional Guzzi (and other brand) mechanic through the hydro years. His response IS not an uninformed opinion.

[Burkslaw]

Thank you, gentlemen! Still uncertain as to the state of the engine, I will take the suggestion to run it and look closely at the residue in the oil pan. I changed the oil after owning the bike for a day and closely inspected the sludge (yes, there was more goo in the pan than I would have liked to see) but finding nothing of concern. I also tore the old filter apart and wasn't worried by anything in the filter medium. It does appear that I have the better clutch set-up, as there is a solid area next to the ring gear about 1/2 inch thick.
I have 10 other scooters and a VW trike, and I am seriously considering unloading everything and just buying a new California. I am in love with the way my '04 rides (except for placement of the foot controls, which are the absolute worst design I have ever encountered--improved slightly by the aftermarket brake pedal I scored off CL.)

[Kev m]

I have 10 other scooters and a VW trike, and I am seriously considering unloading everything and just buying a new California. I am in love with the way my '04 rides (except for placement of the foot controls, which are the absolute worst design I have ever encountered--improved slightly by the aftermarket brake pedal I scored off CL.)

The Tonti Cali 1100 is a great bike and hopefully you'll continue to enjoy the one you have.

That new Cali 1400 is also a great bike, but is related to the Tonti Cali 1100 only by name and basic architecture. For most purposes the motor, EFI system, and chassis are all new. You might love both, or not....

[Chuck in Indiana]

I am seriously considering unloading everything and just buying a new California. I am in love

Well, you obviously get it.  Love is blind, they say.. and probably the reason most of us put up with some of the shortcomings of the marque. <Kreskin/1> I predict several Guzzis in your future.. <Kreskin/0> 

[pete roper]

Yeah, the pic shows a 'Neither fish nor fowl' sort of setup. I'm not as familiar with hydros as Steve but to me it looks like it's an engine that has had part of the last kit put in it, not very well.

The 'Final' kit includes cross-drilled cam and new tappets, new valve springs, inner and outer, aluminium, (Shiny silver.) valve spring caps and new rockers with snap off adjusters with lock nuts.

Now in the 'Final' kit I just received for my turd the rockers are a golden colour, I don't know if that is relevant to anything or not but the rockers in the pic are not. The absence of lock nuts on the snap off adjusters is a bit concerning as well.

Thing is, while they are all going to fail unless they have the 'Final' fix some of them, especially after the very early run, do seem to last pretty well. My '03 definitely hasn't got the 'Final' kit in it but it's well over 100,000km and still isn't making any hideously distressing noises. In fact the motor is delightfully quiet! I will be fixing it before it does any more miles though. They Hydros are a lovely thing.

Pete

[PeteS]

FWIW I know little of hydro motors but had a friend with an Aluminum (hydro motor), purchased new, that had the adjusters snap off. We assumed the the shop that set it up had over tightened the lock nuts. He never had the upgrade done for as long as he owned it after replacing the adjusters.

Pete

[Wayne Orwig]

 

There are not adjusters with the lock nuts. (just a puddle of oil in the unadjusted rocker)
They are not the bright alloy colored spring caps.

You do not have the cam update.

[Wayne Orwig]

FWIW I know little of hydro motors but had a friend with an Aluminum (hydro motor), purchased new, that had the adjusters snap off. We assumed the the shop that set it up had over tightened the lock nuts. He never had the upgrade done for as long as he owned it after replacing the adjusters.

If it had a snapped off adjuster, it HAD the upgrade.

[pete roper]

There are not adjusters with the lock nuts. (just a puddle of oil in the unadjusted rocker)
They are not the bright alloy colored spring caps.

You do not have the cam update.

I can't see the pic clearly enough on my pad of eyes but I'd take Wayne's word on it.

Pete

[inditx]

Welcome Rick in WNY! 
inditx

[PeteS]

If it had a snapped off adjuster, it HAD the upgrade.

He bought it new. It never had the upgrade. We were 100 miles from home when the adjuster broke and left him stranded. The other rocker still had the adjuster. The broken nut was under the valve cover.

Pete

[Wayne Orwig]

He bought it new. It never had the upgrade. We were 100 miles from home when the adjuster broke and left him stranded. The other rocker still had the adjuster. The broken nut was under the valve cover.

Pete

Why would a hydraulic model have an adjuster and NOT have the update? The original rockers had no adjuster. The adjustable rocker was only included with the update.
Did the update get installed before purchase?

[pete roper]

Not surprising the adjuster broke off if the top hadn't been snapped off. If they are left on they hammer on the rocker cover. Recall must of been done by a numpty.

[PeteS]

Maybe I am wrong. I assumed the Aluminum had a hydro motor. This one definitely had adjusters. I had to ride back, get my truck and haul the bike home.

Pete

[Chuck in Indiana]

<scratching head> I thought the aluminum *was* a hydro..
the things you find..

[Wayne Orwig]

Maybe I am wrong. I assumed the Aluminum had a hydro motor. This one definitely had adjusters. I had to ride back, get my truck and haul the bike home.

I also thought the Aluminum (and Titanium) had hydro.
If there was an adjuster, it was pre-hydro, or it had the update. Some updates were installed before they were sold.

[guzzisteve]

All the Aluminum's I seen were Hydro's, same w/Titanium's. Could be who put kit in didn't snap off adjuster or put regular adjusters in it. Easy to check, put TDC & check for play on rockers....... 

[Burkslaw]

I believe my '04 sat on the dealer's floor until '07. I have a service record dated '07 from the original owner showing a 600 mile service. So, either my bike had the update done before sale, or it did not. Or, as has been suggested, perhaps it was done improperly. Or not. The only thing I know for sure is that there are no cracks in the bottom triple tree, so the front end will not fold up on me as the engine grenades and sends me to the side of the road. I'm not going to think about it any further.

Disappointingly, I went through the same worry wondering if the cam chain adjusters on my '05 Roadglide were going to fail without notice, and spent $1500 on an S&S gear drive conversion. And now I'm beginning to worry that the cam chain guides in my old KZ900 are brittle with age.

Damn these cams.

I'll have to remember to keep my cell phone charged when riding.

[Bulldog9]

Sorry if I missed it, but did you ride it? Guzzi's arent for everybody...... Be wise and heed he advice in this thread, much wisdom here.

Well, it's done. My old life is over. I am officially starting over.

I bought my first Moto Guzzi.

She's a 2004 California Titanium with only 15K miles on the clock. The original owner bought it as a commuter that he could have his wife hop on the back for weekend trips. She never cared for the pillion seat, and when she got a chance to ride on a friends Goldwing... the previous owner had to go buy a Goldwing. So, this Guzzi has been sitting, waiting for some love.

And then I came along.

My wife and I went and took our MSF course last week, and the dealer that was hosting the class had my Guzzi in his showroom. I saw her from across the showroom, and walked right past several Harleys, Hondas, and a Triumph. I went right to the back of the room... that  correctly oriented V-Twin called to me.

After a few days of research, talking to the wife, and looking at my bank balance, I called the shop. Got the backstory on the Guzzi. I called them again this morning, told the shop owner it was a "Go" on my end and asked when he could have it ready. His answer was "Oh, give me 2-3 hours..." I told him I didn't need it quite that fast, so I'm going to pick up my Italian Lady on Saturday.

I'll post pics when I get her home, but this is the fullfillment of a dream I've had for... quite a while.

[Kev m]

Sorry if I missed it, but did you ride it? Guzzi's arent for everybody...... Be wise and heed he advice in this thread, much wisdom here.

I think you might be lost...

[Bulldog9]

Beautiful bike congrats.....  Why cant I find one of these 😂

Pics of my new baby...

[pete roper]

Bags? Hideous! Fairing? Good! And why does it have a speculum behind the riders perch?

[kingoffleece]

Nothing wrong with a backrest.

[Rick in WNY]

Sorry if I missed it, but did you ride it? Guzzi's arent for everybody...... Be wise and heed he advice in this thread, much wisdom here.

Bulldog, yes, I've been riding it. Put just under 6K miles on her this summer.

Let's say I am well and truly in love my with Guzzi. I am incurable... and I'm okay with that.