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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Kaladin on November 07, 2025, 04:17:39 PM

Title: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Kaladin on November 07, 2025, 04:17:39 PM
1.  Is the sacred screw only a matter of idle quality, or is there something that I don't anticipate?   My red Norge idles very rough, and the paint is missing from the sacred screw.  Obviously it has been ridden thousands of miles in this condition, and I would normally live with it,  but because I am used to my silk smooth silver Norge it is annoying.  The stepper motor was bypassed 12 years ago.

2.  If I opted to buy some used throttle bodies and stepper motor to try to improve it, will the 8 valve throttle bodies work with the 4 valve engine, or do I have to be specific?  They seem to be easier to find.

Thanks
mark
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Bulldog9 on November 07, 2025, 04:54:04 PM
1.  Is the sacred screw only a matter of idle quality, or is there something that I don't anticipate?   My red Norge idles very rough, and the paint is missing from the sacred screw.  Obviously it has been ridden thousands of miles in this condition, and I would normally live with it,  but because I am used to my silk smooth silver Norge it is annoying.  The stepper motor was bypassed 12 years ago.

2.  If I opted to buy some used throttle bodies and stepper motor to try to improve it, will the 8 valve throttle bodies work with the 4 valve engine, or do I have to be specific?  They seem to be easier to find.

Thanks
mark

Huzo did some experimenting and wrote on this a while back.

It is the factory set of the TB's throttle stop/idle speed, and very difficult to get right once messed with. There are two on the TB, the one on the bellcrank is OK to touch for syncing the TBs (high speed 3Krpm), the other is 'sacred' should not be touched, and is the setscrew that your throttle stop comes up against. Both have paint.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Kaladin on November 07, 2025, 05:16:05 PM
I understand, and wouldn't mess with it, but I bought it pre-violated.  I suspect that one of the prior owners was trying to get it to idle correctly with the stepper motor removed.

So since it is already messed with, I am wondering if it is just an idle problem.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Tom H on November 07, 2025, 05:47:44 PM
I think Roper did a write up on the Norge TB's. You might do a search for that on your favorite search engine. IIRR it's basically like resetting a V11.

Tom
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: guzzi ride on November 07, 2025, 06:25:19 PM
2.  If I opted to buy some used throttle bodies and stepper motor to try to improve it, will the 8 valve throttle bodies work with the 4 valve engine, or do I have to be specific?  They seem to be easier to find.

The 8V TB's will not work on your 2 valve motor.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Pescatore on November 07, 2025, 09:59:03 PM
Does it idle rough at any engine temperature?
Maybe it's not TB related.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: blackcat on November 08, 2025, 06:31:23 AM
I would start with the easy stuff first, adjust the valves and have you tried balancing the throttle bodies? Do you have Guzzidiag and have you reset the TPS?  I disconnected the stepper motor on my 07 Norge around 08 and never had a problem adjusting the idle.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Kaladin on November 08, 2025, 12:05:53 PM
Does it idle rough at any engine temperature?
Maybe it's not TB related.
Yes, at any temperature.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Kaladin on November 08, 2025, 12:08:19 PM
I would start with the easy stuff first, adjust the valves and have you tried balancing the throttle bodies? Do you have Guzzidiag and have you reset the TPS?  I disconnected the stepper motor on my 07 Norge around 08 and never had a problem adjusting the idle.
I have reset the TPS and changed the inner spark plugs.   I'll try balancing the throttle bodies today after the game.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Bison on November 09, 2025, 05:52:48 AM
Hello folks,
If the sacred screw has been played around with would both the plugs be the same colour?
If you have done all the above you could try the CO2 trim?. My 2007 was snatchy at low revs and the gearbox clattered at idle. I have a Beetle map. My CO2 trim read zero, I adjusted it to +2, the difference is marked, the gearbox clatter has all but gone, and when tested it will pull smoothly from 30mph in 6th,(not that I would recommend it). I'm checking to see what the fuel consumption is like, but the plugs look ok, perhaps slightly rich, if it's using much more fuel I'll adjust it back to +1.
Alan.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Bulldog9 on November 09, 2025, 10:08:36 AM
I understand, and wouldn't mess with it, but I bought it pre-violated.  I suspect that one of the prior owners was trying to get it to idle correctly with the stepper motor removed.

So since it is already messed with, I am wondering if it is just an idle problem.

Understood. The throttle stop is related to idle speed and orientation of the TPS, the bellcrank and air bleeds balance the TBs at speed and at idle. I was just pointing out that both are painted, and can be confused.

As Blackcat says, Fresh Valve Adjust and TB balance should help. I'm sure I will get shot here, but when you do the High Speed Balance with the bellcrank, the air bleeds should be completely closed, and then when you adjust the balance at idle you should start with them fully closed. You MAY be able to increase base idle speed by opening the bleeds more. The increased air will do what the Stepper Motor does by allowing more air to bypass the throttle plates.

A few other things
- Make sure the vacuum ports and EVAP lines are not leaking.
- Make sure the Stepper motor ports are completely blocked.
- Use GUZZI DIAG to reset all fuel trims and clear learning parameters
- Make sure the motor is up to proper running temps before doing the balance
- Is your stepper truly FUBAR? Missing?

You will get it it straight!
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Kaladin on November 13, 2025, 11:55:49 AM
Understood. The throttle stop is related to idle speed and orientation of the TPS, the bellcrank and air bleeds balance the TBs at speed and at idle. I was just pointing out that both are painted, and can be confused.

As Blackcat says, Fresh Valve Adjust and TB balance should help. I'm sure I will get shot here, but when you do the High Speed Balance with the bellcrank, the air bleeds should be completely closed, and then when you adjust the balance at idle you should start with them fully closed. You MAY be able to increase base idle speed by opening the bleeds more. The increased air will do what the Stepper Motor does by allowing more air to bypass the throttle plates.

A few other things
- Make sure the vacuum ports and EVAP lines are not leaking.
- Make sure the Stepper motor ports are completely blocked.
- Use GUZZI DIAG to reset all fuel trims and clear learning parameters
- Make sure the motor is up to proper running temps before doing the balance
- Is your stepper truly FUBAR? Missing?

You will get it it straight!

Balanced the throttle bodies on Saturday and I can't believe how much smoother it is running at speed.  Almost as good at the sliver Norge.

The manometer I brought in from work is a differential manometer, measuring only the difference in pressure between the two throttle bodies.  Which was a pain because it didn't average so the reading was jumping all over the place.   

Next step, Beetle.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Huzo on November 13, 2025, 01:41:42 PM
I got excellent results with this mercury filled dual tube setup.
https://youtube.com/shorts/um5MnfzZXUg?si=AAYVrZUE2ETnD3Bj
As you can see, it does not pulse at all and great for setting the balance at high/ low speed.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Kaladin on November 13, 2025, 05:43:22 PM
I got excellent results with this mercury filled dual tube setup.
https://youtube.com/shorts/um5MnfzZXUg?si=AAYVrZUE2ETnD3Bj
As you can see, it does not pulse at all and great for setting the balance at high/ low speed.
It's been a long time since I saw that much mercury in one place.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on November 13, 2025, 07:50:17 PM
I got excellent results with this mercury filled dual tube setup.
https://youtube.com/shorts/um5MnfzZXUg?si=AAYVrZUE2ETnD3Bj
As you can see, it does not pulse at all and great for setting the balance at high/ low speed.
Its pretty hard to figure out what you are doing there.
I think mercury should be banned, I once worked on the site of an old chlorate plant where they lost several tons of the stuff into the ground, they ended up taking train loads of the dirt to a hazardous waste disposal site in Alberta
I built an on-line mercury analyzer for a plant treating the groundwater pumped from multiple wells on the site, kept me busy for a year or more.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Vagrant on November 14, 2025, 05:06:57 AM
Search here. There is a simple do it yourself manometer.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Huzo on November 14, 2025, 05:30:53 AM
It's been a long time since I saw that much mercury in one place.
Don’t let Mercury get anywhere near Uranus….!
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Huzo on November 14, 2025, 05:33:34 AM
Its pretty hard to figure out what you are doing there.
I think mercury should be banned, I once worked on the site of an old chlorate plant where they lost several tons of the stuff into the ground, they ended up taking train loads of the dirt to a hazardous waste disposal site in Alberta
I built an on-line mercury analyzer for a plant treating the groundwater pumped from multiple wells on the site, kept me busy for a year or more.
Well it’s not really KR..
That’s a grab of the two side by side U tube manometers used to balance the throttle bodies on my Norge.
They REALLY work.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Bulldog9 on November 14, 2025, 08:33:22 AM
I got excellent results with this mercury filled dual tube setup.
https://youtube.com/shorts/um5MnfzZXUg?si=AAYVrZUE2ETnD3Bj
As you can see, it does not pulse at all and great for setting the balance at high/ low speed.

I remember back in the early 70's when science teachers would pour out a marble sized portion of Mercury in our hands. Amazing stuff.

I have a 4 stick balancer with Mercury, but the one I use for the Guzzi's has metal rods. The small tube mercury bounces because it is very small volume of mercury and more sensitive to the pulse of the vacuum. The Carbtune with metal rods does not bounce.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: blackcat on November 14, 2025, 09:12:28 AM
I gave up on the mercury sticks years ago and now I use a Tecmate carb balancing tool. I found that balancing carbs at high RPM's with Mercury sticks was less than accurate and the Tecmate is much easier with that adjustment.
 
https://www.autotoolworld.com/Tecmate-Products-TS-110-Synchronizer-2-Channel-for-Enthusiasts_p_221350.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20146941832&gbraid=0AAAAADutwyKxfTWStbJKD0Qxf8MB6bTBr&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvozvkPbxkAMVLLIDAB0SqD3WEAQYASABEgL2IvD_BwE
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: Wayne Orwig on November 14, 2025, 05:12:47 PM
The mercury in mine went bad, maybe oxidized, and would stick to the tube walls. I got a TwinMax. That thing is a disappointment compared to the mercury sticks. It works, it is portable, but just not as 'smooth' as the mercury was.
Title: Re: sacred screw and alternate throttle bodies
Post by: DoubleGuzzi on November 14, 2025, 05:54:40 PM
I use a single analogue vacuum gauge, dampened with a Jubilee clip and connected to up to four lines with a modular fish tank tube splitter.  :smiley: