Norge Throttle body linkage

[jdgretz]

So apparently I have a pretty unusual situation for which neither my local dealer, nor Moto International has a reasonable solution.

One of the plastic sockets on the throttle body synchronization linkage that snaps onto the throttle body butterflies (?) has gotten loose or has cracked internally such that it will from time to time fall off the throttle body which immediately brings the engine to an idle.  I'll admit it was a bit disconcerting the first time it happened, but now I have it double zip tied to keep it in place.

I'm told that the only way to get that piece is to order a replacement throttle body.  Seems a bit excessive to me.  MI told me about a dealer in Guam having a Griso that had a similar problem in that this same part broke in two.  Guzzi Technical Center told them they would have to replace the throttle body as well.

Anyone experience this issue and/or have a solution?  Pete? Bueller?

jdg

[pete roper]

Luckily for you I ave a few buggered sets of TB's with good linkages. As long as micha k ows tne drill  and I'm sure he does  I'll flick you one. Cst of postage to mediciens sans frontiers.

My origiinal TB's did the same thing.

Pete

[jdgretz]

Luckily for you I ave a few buggered sets of TB's with good linkages. As long as micha k ows tne drill  and I'm sure he does  I'll flick you one. Cst of postage to mediciens sans frontiers.

My origiinal TB's did the same thing.

Pete

Thanks Pete - that would be wonderful.

Doctors without borders is a great organization.  I always thought it would be great to fly for those folks.  Unfortunately I never ended up where they were.

I'll PM you my details.

And again, thanks,

jdg

[RinkRat II]

Greetings jdg,
 If you could post a picture of this POS connector I'd be curious how close it is to the crap plastic heim they used on other Guzzi's. I found a cure to my situation by using a Mercedes trans linkage heim made of real metal............Ju st Curious.

    Paul B.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Greetings jdg,
 If you could post a picture of this POS connector I'd be curious how close it is to the crap plastic heim they used on other Guzzi's. I found a cure to my situation by using a Mercedes trans linkage heim made of real metal............Ju st Curious.

    Paul B.

You beat me to it, Paul. Shirley they're different, or someone else would know about the Merc part.

[jdgretz]

Greetings jdg,
 If you could post a picture of this POS connector I'd be curious how close it is to the crap plastic heim they used on other Guzzi's. I found a cure to my situation by using a Mercedes trans linkage heim made of real metal............Ju st Curious.

    Paul B.

This is from a thread here on syncing throttle bodies on a Breva, but it's the same part.



My understanding is that there is a plastic insert in the housing that can wear out over time.  Mine also gets oil deposited there so I'm sure that does not help.

At any rate, that ball socket no longer reliably stays in place.  I can knock it off the throttle body ball very easily, and if I'm riding on rough roads, it can drop off by itself.  Very disconcerting.

I currently have two small zip ties keeping it in place.  One tie goes around the plastic housing and the other around the activator arm.  Here's what one with 76,000 miles on it looks like...





Can you point me to the Merc part number or application?  When I get the replacement part from Pete (thanks again, sir!) I'll take it down to my local Mercedes folks and match it up.

jdg

[Chuck in Indiana]

You'll have to go to a seance. Todd at MPH RIP used to be the source. Maybe Mike still knows about them..

[RinkRat II]

 Okay jdg, these show to be the part number i bought but mine didn't come with the nylon part on themhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Set-of-2-AT-Shift-Linkage-Bushings-Lemfoerder-000-991-38-22-Mercedes-190C-/111978901038?hash=item1a12766e2e:g:L3sAAOSwYmZXHgUN&vxp=mtr

 Mine looked like this...

 be sure they are right hand thread 'cause they make lefty's too!

 Happy Hunting,
Paul B

[ITSec]

Pete may have an easier way to do this, but here's how I handled it.

I had this problem several years back on my 2008 Norge. It can be fixed (with care) using a 7" Heim joint throttle linkage available from hot-rod shops. Get the one that uses a left-threaded joint at one end of the rod and a standard at the other. One Heim joint will need to be left-thread, and will need a corresponding lock-nut. These are normally sold in sets.

The type you're looking for has a short threaded rod in the center of the Heim joint - you can use the standard type with a hole, but that makes everything more involved. Take your old connecting rod and (using a caliper) CAREFULLY measure the distance between the center of the holes where the ball connectors insert, and write it down. Then do it again. Then do it again. Then set the rod aside where you can find it in case you still made a mistake. Getting this wrong is akin to messing with the famous sacred screw.

Using a rotary grinder and (if needed) a drill, remove the old ball connectors from each throttle body lever (they are pressed in place). Make sure the holes left are the correct size for the threaded rods coming out of the Heim joints. Use your calipers again to set the new threaded rod assembly's length (to the center of each Heim joint) to exactly match that of the old one. Put it in place on the throttle body pair using nuts, washers and lock washers (as well as some loctite) on the short screws from the Heim joints. Measure it again, and adjust as needed. Tighten the locknuts on the linkage rod and check again (am I dounding repetitive?). Before putting everything back in place, start the bike and see that everything's running properly or nearly so. If it is, go ahead and button it all up.

After doing anything like this, it's a good idea to run through the usual maintenance items - balance throttle bodies, set TPS, and all the rest.

I went this route because the plastic ended rod and its components cannot be ordered as a service part, and with the miles I put on my Norge any lesser fix would need attention again. I did this at about 55,000 miles, and I now have 120,000 - and no need to revisit the fix.

[fotoguzzi]

for a temporary fix, I wonder if you could make the ball a little larger? like wrap a piece of a latex glove or something around the ball?

[Wayne Orwig]

for a temporary fix, I wonder if you could make the ball a little larger? like wrap a piece of a latex glove or something around the ball?

When my Centauro did this long ago, for a temporary fix, I heated the plastic with a heat gun and squeezed it to make it tight again.
The permanent fix was like ITsec described.

[tris]

.......CAREFULLY measure the distance between the center of the holes where the ball connectors insert, and write it down. Then do it again. Then do it again. Then set the rod aside where you can find it in case you still made a mistake. Getting this wrong is akin to messing with the famous sacred screw........

This strikes me as the most important bit of everything.

I wasn't over thrilled at seeing that the ball joints were plastic 

[pete roper]

The problem isn't that they are plastic. It's the fact that they are not sold as a spare part that is the issue.

Pete

[tris]

Very True ... unless the objective is to flog complete throttle body assemblies that is

[Chuck in Indiana]

If... they are the same as the Centauro.. once I put the metal one on it I never had another problem.