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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: vf84pc on June 04, 2025, 07:40:10 PM

Title: 73 Eldo
Post by: vf84pc on June 04, 2025, 07:40:10 PM
I looked at a 73 Eldo, not running, low miles and all original.
Still has the original chrome bores so $500.00 to nikasil the cylinders. Do I need to have the heads converted to run on unleaded fuel? How far do I need to go completely strip down to parade rest? Or is the bottom end sound in the eldo’s?
Title: Re: 73 Eldo
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on June 04, 2025, 07:46:18 PM
I had a 72 I found in parts.
https://www.bcclassicmotorcycleclub.com/simplemachines/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2132.0;attach=2749;image

Nice old Guzzi, a classic
Mine was over 100k miles
I installed new valves & had Valve guides installed.
I striped it right down, applied Por15 to the frame with a brush and had the tinwork sprayed original white by a friend.
A fun project.

Grab it
Title: Re: 73 Eldo
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on June 04, 2025, 08:34:21 PM
$500 to replate the cylinders? Where? Millennium charges $309.95 per cylinder. By time you add in rings, new cylinder kits are a better deal. https://www.crustycycle.com/products/moto-guzzi-cylinder-complete-83mm-850t-t3-eldorado-850gt

The valve seats do not need to be replaced, they're plenty hard.

I would strip the engine down completely to clean out the sludge trap which is inside the crankshaft. 
Title: Re: 73 Eldo
Post by: vf84pc on June 04, 2025, 09:47:14 PM
How about the gear box do you think it would require any “shims” ? Along with with checking the crank how about a new main seal and bearings?
Title: Re: 73 Eldo
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on June 05, 2025, 12:09:33 AM
When you say Low miles what are we talking about?
My 100,000 mile bike needed some gearbox TLC
I used a tutorial by Pete Roper when I did that, quite easy really
Title: Re: 73 Eldo
Post by: guzziart on June 05, 2025, 06:54:49 AM
FWIW, my '72 Eldo was a one owner with 22k miles on it, flaking chrome bores and a half full sludge trap.

(https://i.ibb.co/bjdywkgF/20141221-111934.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bjdywkgF)

where can i upload pictures to share with friends (https://nl.imgbb.com/)

The crank survived with a polish, had the journals radiused, chamferred oil holes all per Guzziology.  The main bearings were good too but the large end rod bearings were toast, small end were ok.  I did all the work myself with the except of some machining, the handier you are, the less expense it will be for you.  Good luck, I enjoy the hell outta mine!

(https://i.ibb.co/BHNnfZGP/My-Eldo.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BHNnfZGP)

Title: Re: 73 Eldo
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on June 05, 2025, 08:29:16 AM
How about the gear box do you think it would require any “shims” ? Along with with checking the crank how about a new main seal and bearings?

The shift return spring inside the transmission should be replaced, along with the seals and o-rings. There are things that can be issues on 5 spds: bearings coming out of the case or off the shaft, intermediate shaft separation, wear on the thrust face of the 5th gear inner bearing race, flanges fracturing on the inner bearing races of 1st-4th gears on early ones. Rust pitting on gears from sitting. Shimming is the least of your worries.

In the engine, definitely all new seals, bearings as needed.
Title: Re: 73 Eldo
Post by: guzziart on June 06, 2025, 07:22:48 AM
FWIW, regarding the transmission and what Charlie mentioned.  I got my '72 Eldo from the original owner.  Accordingly to the owner, the bike required a "warranty" replacement.  The dealer, Competition Cycle out of Dayton, Ohio couldn't perform the task.  So, the owner said he pulled the OE trans and exchanged it with a new one.  I don't remember if the exchange units were marked accordingly to indicate replacement.
Title: Re: 73 Eldo
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on June 06, 2025, 08:21:44 AM
FWIW, regarding the transmission and what Charlie mentioned.  I got my '72 Eldo from the original owner.  Accordingly to the owner, the bike required a "warranty" replacement.  The dealer, Competition Cycle out of Dayton, Ohio couldn't perform the task.  So, the owner said he pulled the OE trans and exchanged it with a new one.  I don't remember if the exchange units were marked accordingly to indicate replacement.

The issues I listed aren't just limited to early 5 spds. Some of them were fixed on later models, but not all.
Title: Re: 73 Eldo
Post by: guzziart on June 06, 2025, 09:13:04 AM
The issues I listed aren't just limited to early 5 spds. Some of them were fixed on later models, but not all.
Good to know!  My trans was done in '14 and didn't require more than shift spring, shim & seals iirc.