Recent Posts

91

Bike Builds, Rebuilds And Restorations Only / Re: My "Project 2025" - 1980 Moto Guzzi V50 II

« Last post by faffi on January 15, 2026, 02:50:04 PM »

If you remove it, you can check it for pitting on the sealing face an also that all orifices are clean. You can clean the visible part if it with a brass brush on a dremel or similar to get rid of the remaining rust. If you then polish it, it will be reasonably resistant against new rust. Then again, a new one probably does not cost the world.

92

General Discussion / New Moto Guzzi + Aprilia Dealer - St. Louis

« Last post by kballowe on January 15, 2026, 02:45:22 PM »

I happened by our local place today - St Louis Powersports... and there sat a V85, a Stelvio, and half a dozen Aprilia motorcycles.

They've been at it for about a month now.

https://www.stlouispowersports.com/

93

Bike Builds, Rebuilds And Restorations Only / Re: My "Project 2025" - 1980 Moto Guzzi V50 II

« Last post by vxn750 on January 15, 2026, 02:30:51 PM »

Frozen piston #2:
Since I’m back in So Cal, I went to pay Moe Cycle Garden a visit and got a tour of his shop. I had one of my brake calipers with me and asked Moe if he could give me a hand with it. He fired up his torch and heated up the caliper while Stevie yanked out the piston with the removal tool that I had wedge in it. They were of the opinion that an air compressor would not have been sufficient.

Next question:
Is it better to replace the rusted bleeder nipples or just clean them up? I’ve gotten most of the exterior rust off but I can’t tell if it’s rusted on the interior.

94

General Discussion / Re: Recommend Rod Bearings?

« Last post by neetones on January 15, 2026, 01:24:10 PM »

This engine is such a puzzle. Horribly filthy oil, pitted lifters, cam needs resurfacing, etc...but then the sludge trap is completely empty. Gilardoni cylinders.

So someone did some work in here, but they didn't go all the way.

Looks like chrome specks embedded in the bearing. I’d say you caught it in time. I’d pull the crank to clean out the sludge trap and with a magnifying glass pick out any visible chrome bits from the mains and cam bearing surfaces. I use a needle . It’s a ’ feature’ of chrome plated aluminum cylinders. It eventually comes off and it’s hard so when it embeds in bearings, it grinds away. One of the reasons is that the expansion rate between the chrome and the aluminum is different so it loses its bond.

95

General Discussion / Re: Recommend Rod Bearings?

« Last post by John A on January 15, 2026, 01:09:23 PM »

1969 Ambassador. Crank is still within original spec, existing bearings are standard.

What do you recommend purchasing? I'm seeing a lot of generic bearings out there. Are they any good?

Looks like chrome specks embedded in the bearing. I’d say you caught it in time. I’d pull the crank to clean out the sludge trap and with a magnifying glass pick out any visible chrome bits from the mains and cam bearing surfaces. I use a needle . It’s a ’ feature’ of chrome plated aluminum cylinders. It eventually comes off and it’s hard so when it embeds in bearings, it grinds away. One of the reasons is that the expansion rate between the chrome and the aluminum is different so it loses its bond.

96

General Discussion / Re: Le Mans 1 tool kit

« Last post by gil on January 15, 2026, 12:43:12 PM »

thanks for you reply

97

General Discussion / Re: Recommend Rod Bearings?

« Last post by Antietam Classic Cycle on January 15, 2026, 12:36:44 PM »

These are the only ones I use.
https://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_126&products_id=1159

98

General Discussion / Re: NFL Payoffs

« Last post by jcctx on January 15, 2026, 11:45:18 AM »

Be careful, team allegiance is as close to religion as one can come???????????

99

General Discussion / Recommend Rod Bearings?

« Last post by neetones on January 15, 2026, 10:54:34 AM »

1969 Ambassador. Crank is still within original spec, existing bearings are standard.

What do you recommend purchasing? I'm seeing a lot of generic bearings out there. Are they any good?

100

General Discussion / Re: 2013 V7 - Fork Oil Capacity?

« Last post by Bulldog9 on January 15, 2026, 09:04:08 AM »

OK,

Just spent the morning looking through the V7ii ABS Service Manual.  Dang it........... I owe Kev another Beer.............. From the SUSP 171 page.


Filling oil
· Place the sleeve upright in a vice fitted with protection jaws.
· COMPRESS the sleeve in the stanchion.
· Pour part of the fork oil into the sleeve.
· Wait some minutes until the oil fills all the ducts.
· Pour the remaining oil.
· Pump a few times.
· Measure the air gap between the oil level and the rim.

THE SLEEVE MUST BE PERFECTLY UPRIGHT IN ORDER TO MEASURE THE CORRECT OIL LEVEL. THE OIL LEVEL MUST BE THE SAME IN BOTH STANCHIONS.

Characteristic
Oil level (from sleeve rim, without the spring and with stem at end of stroke) 120 +/- 1.5 mm (4.72 +/- 0.06 in)