U-Joint News

[pehayes]

Good and bad.  If you are not aware, I learned by personal communication that John Chicoine has ceased his work in restoring Guzzi double u-joints.  Perhaps there are still others out there who can and will provide this service.  Maybe one of you can use more spare parts?

I was recently in communication with a moto salvage yard near Seattle.  While discussing Guzzi I learned that they have a Guzzi u-joint that they tried to disassemble but gave up.  Now a paper weight, they are ready to chuck it.  The joint is available free to anyone who will cover the postage.  I have no idea what model it came from, but it is a 'double' joint, so not for smallblock.  If interested, please make direct contact to:

"Rust"
Vicious Cycle Parts
520 Pacific Pl, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Phone: (360) 424-7278

Please let me know if you take it so I can stop promoting.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Matt Story]

I don't recall where John is located, but I wonder if he would be willing to sell his tool and hand off the legacy to someone else?

[Kiwi_Roy]

It would sure be nice if John could pass on his expertise either to someone else or perhaps do a thread on here or Greg Benders site about it.

[Dave Swanson]

The end of an era!  It seems as though John has been providing this service forever.  I have sent him quite a few u-joints over the years.  Always stellar work.  Sad to see the streak end, but nothing lasts forever. 

[Roebling3]

I know John well. Men like him add grace and dignity to the human race.

Some years ago, Charley Cole - Zydeco Racing, Sag Harbor, NY stopped rebuilding transmissions, final drives and racing. 
Charley acquired his tools, gauges, factory spec's, etc. from Raceco, when they moved from Brooklyn, NY, back to Britain. (if this strikes some to say; WHO!? I'd bet some of Charleys' web site remains up. Legend has it that Charley crashed twice the same day (PA?), breaking collar bones, right & left. He got up and rode to the finish! Someone must have picked up his, highly modified 750 Guzzi, and push started him.  R3~

[moto-uno]

   I had work done on some of my Le Mans 2 parts decades ago by Raceco  .  Peter

[mtiberio]

...
Charley acquired his tools, gauges, factory spec's, etc. from Raceco, when they moved from Brooklyn, NY, back to Britain.
...

RACECO Brooklyn was first. RACECO UK (Amadeo), asked Manfred if they could use name, he said ok. Manfred sold his brooklyn operation and retired to Pennsylvania. No real connection between Manfred and Amadeo

[Tom H]

What U joint was John using for a Loop? Model number?

Tom

[Tom]

IIRC John is in Mass.  Bummer!  I had a number of u-joints rebuilt  by him.  Excellent work.   

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I know John well. Men like him add grace and dignity to the human race.

Some years ago, Charley Cole - Zydeco Racing, Sag Harbor, NY stopped rebuilding transmissions, final drives and racing. 
Charley acquired his tools, gauges, factory spec's, etc. from Raceco, when they moved from Brooklyn, NY, back to Britain. (if this strikes some to say; WHO!? I'd bet some of Charleys' web site remains up. Legend has it that Charley crashed twice the same day (PA?), breaking collar bones, right & left. He got up and rode to the finish! Someone must have picked up his, highly modified 750 Guzzi, and push started him.  R3~

His complete website still exists and I believe has been "archived" by others in case it should ever disappear.
https://www.zydecoracing.com/home.html

What U joint was John using for a Loop? Model number?

Tom

I'm not sure where John was sourcing his u-joints. I've been buying them here: http://www.theujointstore.com/moto-guzzi.html The smaller size works perfectly in V50s and Loops if one reuses the original circlips (the supplied circlips were too thick).

[tazio]

The end of an era!  It seems as though John has been providing this service forever. .......

So true.
I remember rolling along on the Ambassador and feeling an inordinate amount of vibration in one of the foot pegs. Not sure what to make of it as everything seems tight. I was quickly directed to contact John as my
 U-Joint was probably fixing to
 hand-grenade. Good call !!

[jrt]

Well, I'm sad to hear this, but honestly- he might need a rest.
I have a u-joint in very sad shape that I was going to send to him for parts.  If anyone picks up the mantle, let me know and I will send it to you at no charge- to practice on!
JRT

[smdl]

Sounds to me like Charlie rebuilds u-joints, so maybe he's willing to provide this service to others?

Cheers,
Shaun

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Sounds to me like Charlie rebuilds u-joints, so maybe he's willing to provide this service to others?

Cheers,
Shaun

I don't want to become the next John Chicoine, only do them on an as-needed basis on customer bikes (and my own).

[Canuck750]

I rebuilt one ten years ago, got the replacement crosses online, I found it to be more trouble than it was worth to me personally and have taken the easy way out ever since with new ones from MG Cycle or Harpers. Perhaps I wasn’t pressing and centering the crosses and caps correctly, it should be straightforward but for some reason to me it was not.

[John A]

I rebuilt one ten years ago, got the replacement crosses online, I found it to be more trouble than it was worth to me personally and have taken the easy way out ever since with new ones from MG Cycle or Harpers. Perhaps I wasn’t pressing and centering the crosses and caps correctly, it should be straightforward but for some reason to me it was not.

I quit doing them for the same reason. We didn’t do enough of them to get proficient I guess.

[smdl]

I don't want to become the next John Chicoine, only do them on an as-needed basis on customer bikes (and my own).

 

[cwiseman]

Anyone needing u-Joints replaced or rear diffs rebuilt can send them to me. I do good work for cheap

[Tom]

I would be interested.     Could you place a complete ad in the Swap Meet section of the forum.  Thanks.

[guzziart]

Yeah, nothing like getting your u-joint assembly back from the rebuilder for $150 to find that you can still fit a 0.0015" feeler gauge between the yoke stub & new carrier bearing and the rebuilder tells you "put some Loctite green in there".  Anyone interested in buying my rebuilt u-joint?

FWIW, I'm inclined to think that a rebuilder wouldn't just stop at joint replacement but also make sure the yokes aren't cracked/fractured, yoke stub bearing surfaces are to spec & internal splines are still within spec....whatever those specs are.

Or am I nitpicking here?  I've only installed 3 MG u-joints my entire life and may lack experience in how much slop is acceptable? I have not had any clearance issues when using new carrier bearing & new u-joint.