Getting My Guzzi Back On The Road

[Brian in FL]

Long time member, although I was scrubbed from the roles a few years back. 

I've been bad and have let my Guzzi (2001 CA Special) sit way too long and I didn't properly prep it before letting it sit (I've been having affair with an older Italian)

So I've drained the gas from the tank, but is there an easy way to flush the fuel filter too?  I replaced it awhile back and recall it was a PITA to do so don't want to pull it if I don't have to.

Also going to drop the oil pan and clean it out (I have the Harper's outsider oil filter), replace the battery, and flush the brakes.

Anything else I should do?

I've attached a pic of my Guzzi and the older Italian I've been having an affair with (I electrified with the kit from Retrospective Scooters).

Thanks!






 

[Tkelly]

Geese admiring your Guzzi.

[twowings]

1. Pick up some Marvel Mystery Oil from the auto parts store or similiar and add to fuel.

2. Find curvy roads.

3. Ride the thing long enough to need refueling.

[Brian in FL]

1. Pick up some Marvel Mystery Oil from the auto parts store or similiar and add to fuel.

2. Find curvy roads.

3. Ride the thing long enough to need refueling.

I do love the smell of MMO...I like to use it as an aftershave.  I'd need to refuel at least once before I can find any twisties around these parts... 

[ridingron]

On my other forum, a guy says 2 oz. per 5 gal. of gas.

On my other other forum, a guy says 1 oz. of 2 stroke synthetic water craft oil.

I use the 2 stroke oil.

[guzzisteve]

To empty fuel filter------ take off fuel line on pump output and lines off fuel injectors & blow compressed air in the line from pump output. It will empty out lines to injectors. Don't run pump empty it will seize.
I use this additive called DurAlt in the fuel for the injectors. Many things work for that.
How long has it sat?

[faffi]

I would replace the fork oil, gearbox oil and final drive oil as well.

[Brian in FL]

To empty fuel filter------ take off fuel line on pump output and lines off fuel injectors & blow compressed air in the line from pump output. It will empty out lines to injectors. Don't run pump empty it will seize.
I use this additive called DurAlt in the fuel for the injectors. Many things work for that.
How long has it sat?

It has sat for 2 -3 years I'm embarrassed to say. 

Easy enough to get to the output for the fuel pump...not so fun removing from injectors.

As long as the two way connector at the output of the fuel filter (where one side connects to the line going to the injectors and the other to the pressure adjuster on the tank) is straight thru I figure I'll just pinch the injector side and blow it our thru the line for the pressure adjuster).

I would replace the fork oil, gearbox oil and final drive oil as well.

Yes, I want to do all that and more, but for right now I mostly want to get it running and move to another garage so I can do a tear down on my '41 Indian 741 (going to convert from 6V to 12V).

[Brian in FL]

Happy to report all is good!  Started up easily and took it for a ride....as always it puts a grin of my face.

Now comes the worst part...cleaning the bike...I hate that part (I do like getting it dirty though).

[guzzisteve]

Flushed out easy? Should have been w/pressure reg on return hose to tank. Mine is by the filter.

[bigbikerrick]

Hey Brian, Please tell us more about your Italian scooter, that has been your focus of attention.It looks super cool! 
Rick

[DoubleGuzzi]

It has sat for 2 -3 years I'm embarrassed to say. 

That's a lot of concern/effort over a relatively short period of time.
In similar cases with different bikes, I've put in a gallon of fresh fuel (not a gas) along with a cap of Redex (fuel cleaner). Sometimes, a few squirts of EasyStart (wonder stuff) is needed too. Let the bike warm up, with some revving to clear the carbs/injectors. Then, once I know everything seems good, I spend the money putting in fresh filter and oil. A flush through of some fresh brake fluid, then a good wash, checking for loose/rusty bits. Unless the fork seals are leaking, the fork oil is left - normally good for >20,000miles/5 years
Modern synthetic (and to a lesser degree semi-synthetic) oil doesn't break down in the same way as mineral oil and it's very wasteful to just assume it needs changed. Had the bike only done a thousand miles or so, before being laid up? (Rhetorical.)
Given the lack of contaminants from combustion and clutch plate wear, I do find it strange how short the Guzzi oil change intervals are for gearbox and final drive.

If a bike hasn't been used in (arbitrarily) say, five plus years, then that's different.

Just in my humble opinion. 

[Brian in FL]

That's a lot of concern/effort over a relatively short period of time...
 

When I said it was 2-3 years, it's like when I was a smoker and said I only smoked a pack a day...was in denial.  It is closer to five years sitting (last time I remember riding it is during the CO VID when the roads were empty); before that it wasn't as ridden much either.  Only has 75k on it so just getting broke in.

Flushed out easy? Should have been w/pressure reg on return hose to tank. Mine is by the filter.

I was concerned because the gas in the tank looked a little milky...probably from just sitting so long in my garage (humidity is killer down here).  I didn't have the gasket or filter to change the oil right now, so I didn't.  Once I got the battery put in I couldn't wait to see if the pump would kick in when it turned it on.  I had the bike on the center stand and I didn't hear the pump so tried it again and lo and behold the pump kicked in...I didn't have the tank on and didn't have the forethought (damn the torpedoes and all that) to hook a hose up to the return off the filter and gas came shooting out...it looked like it was very excited to get running again.  The gas that came out of the filter/lines was nice a clean though so I took that as a good sign.  So I put the tank back on, cycled the pump a few times, and it started up pretty quick and cleared out pretty much right away.

Went out for a ride and put that smile right back on my face! 

Hey Brian, Please tell us more about your Italian scooter, that has been your focus of attention.It looks super cool! 
Rick

I'll start another thread about my Vespa.

[guzzisteve]

Good deal, took less time by having faith in the old girl. A little longer & the pump may have gotten replaced. Ride safe and go blow the cobbs out.

[dragger]

I’m also in the NE FL area good to see another Guzzi on the road.