Author Topic: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild  (Read 10605 times)

Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #30 on: October 09, 2019, 10:49:37 PM »
Took a couple sets of lines but finally got the front brakes finished.  Used a double banjo brake pressure switch to the new MC.  Stainless Spiegler lines with a sorta traditional black rubber look. 




Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #31 on: October 09, 2019, 10:50:39 PM »



Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #32 on: October 09, 2019, 11:01:36 PM »
Replaced the sealed beam with a Cibie H4 reflector and am going to try an LED bulb I'd seen recommended here by Charlie.  Also ordered a Hella, but the Cibie had noticeably clearer glass and a brighter, cleaner reflector.  Ordered a new headlight gasket as the old one had cracked upon disassembly.   Greg Benders wiring is noticeably thicker gauge to the headlight bulb.  Paint has a little patina but cleaned up fairly well with some cleaner-wax. 



can you get full coverage insurance on a rebuilt title



Cleaned up all the electrical components and hung on the frame.  Used an electronic voltage regulator sourced from MGcycle.   Lot of wiring connections...and trying to figure out how to get the harness in there past the Agostini breather and where/how to bend the smaller sections...



Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #33 on: October 09, 2019, 11:08:45 PM »
Had been concerned about how to light the brake lights with the delinked rear.  Tried the pressure switch from the front but was clearly too bulky and was hard against the fra



But the smaller size of the Goodridge single banjo switch worked PERFECT.   All set.  Wanted to get the brake lines all squared away before finishing the wiring.  Doesn't show in the pic, but theres easily 2-3 biz cards width of clearance from the frame.



Wildguzzi.com

Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #33 on: October 09, 2019, 11:08:45 PM »

Offline moto-uno

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #34 on: November 04, 2019, 06:43:19 PM »
  Love what you're doing , took on a similar task 20 years ago with my Le Mans 2 ! Still gets peoples attention .
And I noticed that you're even using the original fuse panel .  Peter

canuck750

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #35 on: November 05, 2019, 09:01:10 AM »
Wow it looks great! Nice attention to detail. :thumb:

Offline Matisserider

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #36 on: November 07, 2019, 11:08:24 PM »
So, I picked up this LeMans 1 last Saturday.  The production date shows to be November 1976 so I guess it is actually a 1977 model.  The title shows 1976.  Just as you did, I worked on it for few hours and took it for a ride.  I'll start tearing it down in a week or 2.  This bike went through a sort of restoration / customization and has not been ridden in over 17 years.  The wiring harness was replaced along with a lot of other things.  My plan is to tear it down to go back to factory red with black frame.  I have the stock seat and exhaust along with some other good stock parts.

I am in need of a stock red paint code and hopefully good information / photos showing the original paint layout, black positioning and stripe sizes.  Do you have this information from your tear down?




Offline moto-uno

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #37 on: December 05, 2019, 08:51:03 PM »
  Man you'd be crazy to change this bike  :azn: , it's striking !  Peter

canuck750

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #38 on: December 06, 2019, 12:02:25 PM »
So, I picked up this LeMans 1 last Saturday.  The production date shows to be November 1976 so I guess it is actually a 1977 model.  The title shows 1976.  Just as you did, I worked on it for few hours and took it for a ride.  I'll start tearing it down in a week or 2.  This bike went through a sort of restoration / customization and has not been ridden in over 17 years.  The wiring harness was replaced along with a lot of other things.  My plan is to tear it down to go back to factory red with black frame.  I have the stock seat and exhaust along with some other good stock parts.

I am in need of a stock red paint code and hopefully good information / photos showing the original paint layout, black positioning and stripe sizes.  Do you have this information from your tear down?



My painter used this on my 77 LeMans rebuild   ppg 926406  

Offline radguzzi

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #39 on: December 06, 2019, 07:16:04 PM »

Beautiful work on this... wow..!

Current:
2004 EV Touring
'99 EV Hack
'76 V1000 'Vert
'80 SP 1000
2013 Harley FLHTC
'75 Triumph T160 Trident
'78 Triumph T140V Bonneville
'78 Yamaha XS 650
'88 Honda Hawk GT
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A VeeDub and an MGB...

The Journey is the Reward

Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #40 on: March 02, 2020, 12:37:15 PM »
Prepping to install the exhaust.  Headers, finned collars and Lafranconi cross over pipe went to Jet Hot.   Looks great, but as others have mentioned it seems to scratch easily.  Will see if heat cycles toughen it up. 







 

Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #41 on: March 02, 2020, 12:39:49 PM »
Charlie’s has the heads cleaned up with new valves, guides and springs.   The fixed a bent/broken fin and apparent did a little cleanup of the ports.  Sharing a view of the exhaust.  Wish I’d thought to take before pics.




Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #42 on: March 02, 2020, 01:00:56 PM »
Along with the exhaust I’ve been replacing the wiring. My handlebar switchgear cleaned up well. Consulting with Gregory Bender we chose to re-use the bar control wiring as-is with some cleanup. He sent along a bunch of spare terminals JIC.  Here are some tear down pics of the wiring.  Only broken or damaged wires were under the rear mudguard. 








Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #43 on: March 02, 2020, 01:08:49 PM »
Laying Gregory’s excellent harness along the frame makes you wonder if it’s all going to fit.  But, everything lines up well.  Truly well thought out.  Nothing missing




Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #44 on: March 02, 2020, 06:28:02 PM »
Thought about buying a new gas cap, but the lightly corroded parts cleaned up nicely after an overnight Evaporust soak.




image hosting

Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #45 on: March 03, 2020, 11:07:29 AM »
When reviewing my pile ‘o parts headed to the powder coater...Charlie gave me a great tip.  My OE-type mirrors stems were chipped up and shaggy.  He pointed out the MGcycle sold new mirrors cheaper than I could get mine redone. BUT...he said to use the mirror heads as the pivot mechanicals are better.  Darned if he wasn’t dead on. 




Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #46 on: March 06, 2020, 01:04:29 PM »
A little header pipe before-and-after...






Offline Antietam Classic Cycle

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #47 on: March 06, 2020, 03:44:39 PM »
Sweet!
Charlie

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #48 on: March 06, 2020, 06:49:44 PM »
A little header pipe before-and-after...

Hey Motorad64, if you don't mind me asking,  after what?
Did you clean the pipes yourself?
Thanks
Pescatore
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Ascolta sempre e solo musica vera
E cerca sempre se puoi di capire

Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #49 on: March 07, 2020, 07:55:43 AM »
Pescatore...No sir.  I sent the headers (mine are the one-piece) the finned flanges and the Lafranconi x-over to JetHot to be ceramic coated. 

I cleaned up the exhaust spacers and got new gaskets and SS acorn nuts.  My exhaust clamps were in good shape as were the Lafranconis themselves—which actually appear to be new.  Red paint still on the pinwheels. 

Leads me a a question.  I notice mine

have “Lafranconi 12” pressed logos.  I’ve seen “14” as well.  Do they number each batch or something?

Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #50 on: March 16, 2020, 10:15:57 AM »
Finally got the exhaust on.  Now I see why people might like the two piece headers.  Major PITA to get the Lafranconi’ s on.  Got the right side on 1st.  Had to remove the foot peg bracket to allow enough clearance to angle the left pipe and rotate the 90-deg and finagle the LF crossover into position without scratching the S out of the pipes.   Thought I might have to remove the left side frame rail.  But...a couple breathers and a few colorful words and got it all in place. 








Offline blackcat

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #51 on: May 15, 2020, 09:54:32 AM »
Pescatore...No sir.  I sent the headers (mine are the one-piece) the finned flanges and the Lafranconi x-over to JetHot to be ceramic coated. 



The bikes looks great.

What did JetHot charge you for the pipes and mufflers?
1968 Norton Fastback
1976 Lemans
1981 CX-100
1993 1000S
1997 Daytona RS
2007 Red Norge

Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #52 on: May 15, 2020, 12:14:44 PM »
I had the one-piece  header, finned head clamps, and Lafranconi crossover pipe coated in satin black.   I did not do the actual mufflers.   Mine are NOS that the seller had on the bike.  Header was peeling paint and the finned clamps had a little but of surface rust bloom.  Jet Hot charged $365.

I asked about having the mufflers coated--I was thinking internally only to make them last a little longer as they're obviously just uncoated mild steel inside, but the JetHot rep on the phone said they wouldn't do them.   Poor memory, but I thought it was about any internal fiber packing.  I wanted the outside to keep the stock finish.

Offline blackcat

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #53 on: May 15, 2020, 05:56:26 PM »
I had the one-piece  header, finned head clamps, and Lafranconi crossover pipe coated in satin black.   I did not do the actual mufflers.   Mine are NOS that the seller had on the bike.  Header was peeling paint and the finned clamps had a little but of surface rust bloom.  Jet Hot charged $365.

I asked about having the mufflers coated--I was thinking internally only to make them last a little longer as they're obviously just uncoated mild steel inside, but the JetHot rep on the phone said they wouldn't do them.   Poor memory, but I thought it was about any internal fiber packing.  I wanted the outside to keep the stock finish.

Good to know, guess I'll see what the local powder coater can do as I think they have a high temp finish for those types of parts.
1968 Norton Fastback
1976 Lemans
1981 CX-100
1993 1000S
1997 Daytona RS
2007 Red Norge

Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #54 on: May 16, 2020, 03:11:10 PM »
Some other folks have mentioned Cerakote...which a lot of  shops can do.  The Jet Hot seems pretty delicate so far as far as scratches go.  Hoping some heat cycles toughen it up

Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #55 on: July 23, 2020, 11:35:34 AM »
I’d taken it as far as I felt comfortable with reassembly.  She’d crank over great but no firing up and running.  So off to Charlie’s Guzzi-Spa for a double check of my amateur re-wire and to sort out the non starting issue.

Just got word she’s ready to go! 




Offline blackcat

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #56 on: July 23, 2020, 12:00:21 PM »
Cool, what was the issue?

Mine is running fine but I'm dealing with a stupid leaking final drive and I've finally pinpointed the problem. Just more money......
1968 Norton Fastback
1976 Lemans
1981 CX-100
1993 1000S
1997 Daytona RS
2007 Red Norge

Offline Motorad64

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #57 on: July 23, 2020, 02:40:17 PM »
Whatever it was, it was pretty darned frustrating.   I'd give Charlie a few days before asking.   That kind of frustrating.  Think he tried quite a few condensors, etc...pulled the cam...checked/re-checked timing. 

Offline blackcat

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #58 on: July 23, 2020, 04:23:14 PM »
Whatever it was, it was pretty darned frustrating.   I'd give Charlie a few days before asking.   That kind of frustrating.  Think he tried quite a few condensors, etc...pulled the cam...checked/re-checked timing.

I went through that with mine, double checked the timing,etc.etc. but I finally got it going. And then I had to deal with the problems with the carbs, sorted that out, then one cylinder was oily, figured that one out and now it runs just fine. Then the final drive started leaking and I finally figured that one out. It's too hot to ride so I'm OK with the process.
1968 Norton Fastback
1976 Lemans
1981 CX-100
1993 1000S
1997 Daytona RS
2007 Red Norge

Offline Antietam Classic Cycle

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Re: 78 850 Le Mans Rebuild
« Reply #59 on: July 23, 2020, 05:53:47 PM »
It seems to have been new condensers that weren't up to snuff. I tested about a dozen new and used ones I had on hand and two tested better than all the others. The used pair I installed charged higher and discharged more slowly. Why they made such as difference when it would shoot a spark 3/4" before, I don't really understand.

The valve timing was slightly off due to the cam being reground slightly off and the crankshaft timing sprocket being marked slightly off as well. But, that wasn't the main issue.

Successful first test run this morning.  :azn:





 
Charlie

 

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