You wonder????

[pete roper]

Why I rarely work on old stuff nowadays?

OK, So this bloke phones me, he has a '76 LeMans, what most of us call a Mk I. Hasn't ridden it in years since his clutch shat itself. Despite my misgivings I say "Bring me the motive unit and I'll have a look."

It was apparently stored in a clean, dry environment.







If it wasn't for the fact it has matching numbers I'd be throwing it in a skip!

Pete

[BigDave in PA]

Oh my lord. In all my years of wrenching I never saw th the likes of that.

[beetle]

Seriously? I hope this dude has deep pockets! 

[pete roper]

I doubt it. 1970's bike? Probably expects 1970's prices.

He has a crankcase and a pair of head castings. Everything else is scrap. The flywheel is stuffed, all the clutch componentry is stuffed, the disintegrating clutch has milled the front off the gearbox, the bevel box is stuffed.

Its a piece of scrap. What a shame. Pay me $300 and he can take the shit away. If he wants me to rebuild it he pays me $20,000 up front and I'll give him change, maybe......

Pete

[dan_s]

I've seen worse motorbikes come back to life again, it's a question of will and money. You don't want to mess with old obsolete crap? understandable. I could see how someone else would, when it comes to a LM.
Yes, I tried (and own) 2010's bikes.

[pete roper]

Yes, it can come back to life. No worries! But I'm not going to spend hours of my life findind obscure, obsolete parts and reconditioning them for nothing just because you reckon your bike is a 'Classic'. Nor am I willing to farm out the sourcing of said parts to anybody else because, hello, if I rebuild it, I have to carry the warranty. I'm not willing to use untested shit bought by the sort of person who stores his Mk 1 Lemon in a dam!

Pete

[dan_s]

This is why every LM owner, or any old clunker for that matter, ought to be able to repair his by himself. Fortunately it's not hard to do with Tonti guzzis, even for an "uncertified maintainer" like myself.  Once an LM is running, it's worth the effort.

[Huzo]

What has he spent the $300 on Pete ?

[Dean Rose]

What has he spent the $300 on Pete ?

For Pete the taking the piece of shit apart I would guess.


Dean

[Mike Harper]

I agree with Pete, it is pretty bad off.   We have restored Guzzi's just as bad or worse.
It will be a long process and will be expensive but the mechanical parts are not much of an issue.
We probably have most of it in Stock and what we do not have is marginal and obtainable.
Body  parts may be a little scarcer.

[MGPilot]

I ran across this approach for removing rust yesterday and hope it works as well as it seems. Will find a couple of test pieces to try first.

https://youtu.be/qi8qIxK4IlA

[pete roper]

For Pete the taking the piece of shit apart I would guess.


Dean

Exactly.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I rather do that job than this one.

[pete roper]

Oh, and before I'm accused of gouging I can tell you it didn't come apart easily. Those pics show only the tip of the iceberg.

Most of the crap in the sump is variations on the theme of iron oxide. The rods are substantially eaten away as are the timing sprockets. The integrity of the rods and most likely the crank have been severely compromised and even if they hadn't been the amount of erosion will of thrown the balance factors to the shithouse. Cam and followers are likewise compromised, the rocker carriers are flaking and the rocker spindles are history along with the bushes.

This is not an engine that will 'Come good' with a little bit of TLC.

Not a single part of the clutch is salvageable. The flywheel splines are beyond saving, both pressure and intermediate plate teeth are severely compromised.

The bevelbox is junk. Both the pinion splines and teeth are history and due to wear and contamination there is at least 12 thou end float in the pinion bearings.

I haven't opened up the gearbox yet but the input hub is scrap, the case itself has had the front milled out by the failed friction plate centre and the output shaft splines are well on their way to spline heaven.

I haven't even started measuring things properly for size or run-out and really there is little point. I'd just be wasting more of the bloke's money.

Pete

PS. That looks like fun Charlie....NOT! They really aren't the easiest things to crab the early FI Calis!

[Huzo]

 So what you're eluding to is, apart from that, everything is ok then ?? 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Oh, and before I'm accused of gouging I can tell you it didn't come apart easily.

Who would have thought? You'd think that something like that would practically *fall* apart.  If he has a boat, though.... it would make a fine anchor.

[Penderic]

Turd polish!

[jlburgess]

Aw, come on.  A couple shots of WD-40 and she'll be as good as new! 

[beetle]

Rust is probably all that's holding it together. A squirt of WD-40 and it will dissolve into a puddle of slag. 

[Penderic]

"But it was running perfectly when I dropped it off!"


Sure. 

[pete roper]

Sad owner turned up today. I showed him the carnage. He agreed it was probably beyond saving at reasonable cost. I pointed out that for the money he'd have to spend he could buy a decent 1200 Sport or Griso.

I'll let that seed germinate..........

Pete

[ray bear]

The sump pan looks salvageable, just what I'm looking for If he decides he's not going to do anything with it.

[pete roper]

I have several. What's one worth to you?

Pete

[ray bear]

have sent you a PM.  Bill

[Old Jock]

That's a shame Pete

Did he store it without oil?

I had my LM V sitting for a long time when I was working, not nearly as long as that but probably 5 years where it didn't turn. I overfilled with cheap oil and it sat in a wooden shed outside.

When I drained and opened the motor and gearbox it was prefect, not a hint of oxide on any part

John

[pete roper]

have sent you a PM.  Bill

Nuttin's come through......

[Perazzimx14]

Sad owner turned up today. I showed him the carnage. He agreed it was probably beyond saving at reasonable cost. I pointed out that for the money he'd have to spend he could buy a decent 1200 Sport or Griso.

I'll let that seed germinate..........

Pete

And for the money  he could recoup most of his investment should he want to sell the LM. A Griso or Sports he will loose 50% of the value as soon as he signs the paperwork and turns the key. At least that's how it works in the states.

[pete roper]

That's why he wouldn't probably buy a new one.

[Huzo]

Jeez Pete, it's a bit sad, do you think the poor guy genuinely thought he could have his bike repaired ? Is the Guzzi relatively simple to work on, how long does it take to get that far in?

[pete roper]

Yes, and it can be, at a price. Stripping and measuring? Three hours+. He got it cheap because I was sorry for him.

You want some idea of the costs? Price up everything but the block, sump and head castings. Then add in the machining work that may or may not involve tunnel boring the case, turning up cam bearings and pinning and drilling them.

Then come back and tell me that you have a 'Mate' who can do it for five grand.

Sorry. Your trolling is dull and unimaginative.

Pete