1973 v7 Sport refresh

[Scout63]

I pulled the v7 from storage yesterday and started a refresh. I’m going to take it down to a full crab, pull and plate the cylinders, and build it back up, hopefully without touching the original frame and tins paint. I will install new steering, u-joint, swingarm and wheel bearings, rear main and clutch seals, clutch if needed, EI and an EME charging system. It came with a full Gregory Bender wiring harness system. It came apart very easily and there is very little rust, so I’m optimistic so far.

[Pescatore]

That's going to be a looker.
How are the front shocks?  Seals OK?
I'm curious how they come apart.

[Scout63]

That's going to be a looker.
How are the front shocks?  Seals OK?
I'm curious how they come apart.

I am too. I think they will be ok.  Everything so far has come apart with hand tools. I’ve ordered new springs, dampers and seals for the shocks.

How is your dad’s 650 running?

[Pescatore]

I rode it a lot this summer, thanks for asking.
The shifting has the occasional neutral between gears, which was also happening originally.
A few other things will need attention this winter.

[Scout63]

Frame is all separated for blasting and painting.  I decided that it is scratched up enough to warrant a repaint.







The cylinders are chrome but look like new inside.  The spots in the picture are dust. I’m going to send them off for nikasil plating.







The timing chest looks great.  I forgot to drain the oil before removing the cover. Huge mess.

[Klinkhammer]

[/quote]

I'm sure this resto will be as great as your others ;)

That oil pump gear looks a lot lighter than mine did. Is it original or something a PO did?

[Scout63]

I’m not sure Klinkhammer.  I’ll do some internet sleuthing to see what they look like. I assumed it was original, but without any basis.  The clocks are boxed and read 61k kms so someone may we’ll have been in there.

Today I got the swingarm and carrier bearings out and have the steel parts ready for media blasting.  My piston pin puller came in today, so tomorrow I can pull the pistons to send in with the cylinders to Millenium for plating.

[Klinkhammer]

I’m not sure Klinkhammer.  I’ll do some internet sleuthing to see what they look like. I assumed it was original, but without any basis.  The clocks are boxed and read 61k kms so someone may we’ll have been in there.

Found some pics of my V7 Sport engine. This is what it looked like inside.

[Scout63]

Ok now I’m wondering what the gearset in mine is.  I’ll post the question on the main board.

[Scout63]

Steel parts are bead blasted. Off to the painter.




host free images

[Scout63]

I dropped the frame and steel parts at my painter today.  He said he may spray them tonight. I can’t wait to start building the bike back up again.

[Scout63]

Steel parts are painted.

[spmoto]

Looks like a nice job. Do you know what paint was used? Now for the fun stuff. Slow and steady ol' boy.

[Scout63]

Looks like a nice job. Do you know what paint was used? Now for the fun stuff. Slow and steady ol' boy.

I’ll go out in the garage and look today Steve. I saved a kickstand for Ken to work off of. He said that it is a satin.  It looks almost gloss.  He gave me a can of the paint and hardener for touch ups.

[Klinkhammer]

That will be great!
Getting the engine into the frame might be my favourite phase of a build.
Such a great feeling of accomplishment.

[Scout63]

That will be great!
Getting the engine into the frame might be my favourite phase of a build.
Such a great feeling of accomplishment.

I agree.  It is always a fiddly job though.  Cylinders are packed off to Millenium for nickel silicone plating.  They received them and said that turnaround is about two weeks to twenty one days.  Heads are at the machinist and steering yokes and headlight ears are off for crinkle black powder coating.

[spmoto]

I can see the writing on the wall. Once you get all the parts together (powder coat here, crinkle coat there and shiny chrome exhaust) all that nice patina just won't cut it.
Rabit hole elevator, going down. All aboard!

[Scout63]

I can see the writing on the wall. Once you get all the parts together (powder coat here, crinkle coat there and shiny chrome exhaust) all that nice patina just won't cut it.
Rabit hole elevator, going down. All aboard!

I’ll take that challenge Steve. The aluminum will get a scrub but no vapor honing. Paint will stay original.  God I hope you are wrong.

[guido guzzi]

Nice work so far! I see that MG Cycle no longer sells the re-pop shark gill mufflers but the Competizione Lafranconis are still available. Have you decided what to do for mufflers? 
Also, I *highly* recommend the RAM Clutch. The pull is so light I thought I messed up the installation. Feels like an 8 spring clutch with only 2 springs in it.

[Scout63]

Nice work so far! I see that MG Cycle no longer sells the re-pop shark gill mufflers but the Competizione Lafranconis are still available. Have you decided what to do for mufflers? 
Also, I *highly* recommend the RAM Clutch. The pull is so light I thought I messed up the installation. Feels like an 8 spring clutch with only 2 springs in it.

I have a set of Chrome Bub mufflers from spmoto that I’ll put on until the shark gills roll back around. I’m guessing they will make a run of them at some point.  Thanks for the idea re the RAM clutch.  I’ll look into it.  I’m about to pull the clutch and see how it looks. Cylinders, heads and steering stem should be ready in a few days.

[Scout63]

Pulled the gearbox the other day and found a nicely lightened flywheel and ring gear.  The clutch pushrod plate was also tacked to the pressure plate.  Today I installed steering stem and swing arm bearing races, ujoint carrier bearing, lower steering stem bearing and new rear main seal. 

I also gave the gearbox a good exterior scrubbing with some non-taxable dyed diesel fuel and a selection of brushes. The gearbox spins and shifts well so I am not going to mess with it other than to install new seals at both ends, new clutch thrust bearing and clutch pushrod seals and new inner and outer pushrod bodies.

[Canuck750]

Your lightened flywheel is a work of art unto itself!

[Scout63]

Thanks Jim. Would you reinstall it or hunt down a stock flywheel and ring gear?  This is a pretty detailed build back to original keeping the original paint. I doubt I will ride it a lot. It’s a tough call for me.

[Canuck750]

Thanks Jim. Would you reinstall it or hunt down a stock flywheel and ring gear?  This is a pretty detailed build back to original keeping the original paint. I doubt I will ride it a lot. It’s a tough call for me.

I had a stock flywheel in my V7 Sport, I had no issues with the V7 Sports performance. Later I installed a RAM clutch kit which shaved off some weight, I honestly couldn’t feel much difference and had no issues with the RAM unit. The V7 Sport was lovely on the open road, plenty of grunt, it ‘accumulates speed’. I prefer the Guzzi over my Laverda 750 but the Ducati 860 is my favourite to ride.

[guido guzzi]

Thanks Jim. Would you reinstall it or hunt down a stock flywheel and ring gear?  This is a pretty detailed build back to original keeping the original paint. I doubt I will ride it a lot. It’s a tough call for me.

As much as I like the RAM clutch, I would probably keep that flywheel and ring gear - as long as the teeth inside the flywheel looked OK...

[Scout63]

The flywheel teeth seem ok Guido. I’m with you on the 860 Jim. I’ve never felt torque so smooth and ripply.

[cliffrod]

I am not that well-versed in other guzzis, in terms of riding time.  All is based upon my stock V7 Sport with heavy original flywheel

Much like Jim says, the faster it goes, the faster it goes and it’s not linear.  Until it runs out of go, the speed accrues in a way that makes you wonder if you should keep accelerating.  No, it isn’t a modern bike but it is a thrill to ride. My CX isn’t sorted yet, but it feels a lot different.  Maybe it’s the lightened flywheel or combination of other details.  I hoped it would be a bigger engine dose of the same rush I get from my V7 Sport.  Not yet.  Maybe it will be. We’ll see.

My vote is to keep your V7 Sport more stock than not, Ben.  It’s a special bike that set a standard for all the sporting Guzzis that followed it.

[Scout63]

Thanks Clint. It’s not that big a deal either way, but I like the idea of keeping the bike’s story intact.  Also I like the idea of that beautiful flywheel hidden away in there.  Sort of like lingerie. (I’m told).  Cylinders came back Nikasil plated today.  Here’s hoping the CX wakes up and thrills you.  It’s definitely more power than I would need.

[Canuck750]

Probably back some eight years ago I got a call from
Mike Harper. Mike would read some of my posts and many questions I had about my V7 Sport and on a couple occasions personally called me to offer his invaluable advice. I had been posting questions about tuning to get the most out of my V7 Sport. Mike asked me the usual questions about my settings of carbs, ignition etc. and then asked what I was trying to achieve.
Mike asked about how I was ‘riding’ the bike, specifically at what rpm I was shifting and what rpm I was cruising at. After telling him how I would shift from 1st to 2nd around 20 mph he stopped me short…… he told me I was riding it all wrong, Mike said the V7 Sport liked to be revved, revved hard, and that he could take a good V7 Sport up to 6000 rpm and at least 50 mph in 1st!
So the following weekend I took my Sport on a country ride on quiet back roads and wound it out before shifting and kept the rpm’s in the upper limit. Man was Mike right! The Sport was made for fast cruising with the tach in the upper range. Once I realized how much fun the Sport could be it totally changed my opinion of the big Twin.

[cliffrod]

Like I said, Ben- more stock than not.. not 100% stock.  Mine isn’t.  I also wanted to keep its unique story intact and will do the same with this CX.

A good V7 Sport is a high rpm happy bike.  Even at normal highway speeds, it’s still soggy in 4th. It isn’t in 3rd..  I think you’re going to like it.