Time to sell the Ambassador

[handyandy]

Ok the time to sell my 72 Ambassador is here. 1 Question is do I install new cylinders or let new owner deal with with it?

[Cam3512]

Do you already have the cylinders?

If so, yes install them.  The bike will sell quicker.

If not, the sale price should be adjusted accordingly.

Unless you really want to keep it...

[LeRoy]

Unless you already own the cylinders I'd let the buyer deal with it. I would expect that the cost of buying new cylinders and the labor and related parts to install them would not be fully recovered in a higher sales price. So you'd be money ahead by not installing them. However, if you already own them, then you might as well put them on.

Here's another related question. Let me preface it by saying that I don't at all mean to imply that you, or any other list member, would do this.

For some sellers a "moral dilemma" comes into play. What do you do if a buyer is unaware of this rather expensive fault inherent to Guzzis of this era? Some sellers maintain a full disclosure posture and would tell a potential buyer about this costly need. That might scare off a buyer and you lose a sale. [EDIT A shady] Another seller might let a sleeping dog lie and adopt the caveat emptor attitude. Sort of a Guzzi version of don't ask, don't tell. Again, I don't at all mean to imply that you, or any other list member, would do this. But I've encountered exactly this problem when inquiring about buying Ambos, Eldos and 850 T and T3 models.

[Lannis]

Hard to know how far to go.

If you sit down and go over with a potential buyer all the failures "you've read about on the internet" for a bike you're selling, nobody would ever buy anything - you'd scare them all away.

2mm clutch splines, transmission shift springs, S&S carburetors, light bulbs in circuit with the regulator, funky starter wiring, there's a list a mile long of potential failures and "things to watch out for".

If I'm buying a 1971 BSA B50, I don't expect the buyer to tell me about the starter gearing, or the detachable electrical box, warn me that it's "Not A Real Gold Star", warn me about the conical brake, etc.   I expect him to tell me the truth about any modifications he's done that I ask about, but I also know that I'm buying an old bike that was sold new with a bunch of dodgy stuff on it, and it's up to me to know about that .... ?

That's one reason I only sell my bikes to folks who know what they are and what to expect already, and who know what questions to ask.   They're the only ones buying them anyhow ....

Lannis

[Turin]

Does she run as is? The buyers are going to ask why it comes with a new pair of pistons and cylinders anyway so you might as well tell them what the deal is.
As  buyer that would make me more comfortable.

[luthier]

I don't know your history. How long have you had the Ambo? Have you ridden it much?
Mine had cast iron bores with original Guzzi pistons so all I needed was new rings [Harpers] and new big ends and valves and guides for a rebuilt engine.
It takes about 15 minutes to pull a head off to check and then you just use a magnet on the bores to see if it's highly magnetic[cast iron] versus not much attraction [chrome plating on alloy].

If you don't want to take a head off then drop the sump and check with magnet from underneath.

[chuck peterson]

Magnet on a stick from hf, no need to pull a head

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Magnet on a stick from hf, no need to pull a head

This ^^. No need to pull a head or even the sump to check from underneath. Poke a pencil magnet in through the sparkplug hole. 5 minutes tops.

[oldbike54]

 Kind of a strange dichotomy happening here . Lots of advice to let the next owner deal with a possible chrome bore issue , and yet every time a WG'er asks the value or viability of a model with chrome bores the overwhelming advice is " Don't run it until checking with a magnet " or "Knock at least a grand off the asking price" . I do normally try to inform a potential buyer of any real issues with a vehicle I am selling so they can make an informed decision , doing so might stop a sale temporarily , but it prevents problems down the road . Whether or not the OP chooses to deal with the issue before marketing the bike is his decision , but it seems that asking the question indicates a desire to be transparent . Good luck .

 Dusty

 

[Tony/CT]

Those chrome cylinders may never be a problem. Tom Bailey rode his Eldorado 350,000 miles with chrome cylinders and then sold it. I was nervous riding my Ambassador, thinking the chrome was going to flake off at any minute so bought a kit from Moto Guzzi Classics. When I pulled it apart, I found that  it had been bored out to 900cc's, was iron sleeved and had Venolia pistons. The guy I bought it from told me it had chrome cylinders. Sold the kit to another Ambo owner who toasted his engine when the chrome flaked.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Those chrome cylinders may never be a problem. Tom Bailey rode his Eldorado 350,000 miles with chrome cylinders and then sold it. I was nervous riding my Ambassador, thinking the chrome was going to flake off at any minute so bought a kit from Moto Guzzi Classics. When I pulled it apart, I found that  it had been bored out to 900cc's, was iron sleeved and had Venolia pistons. The guy I bought it from told me it had chrome cylinders. Sold the kit to another Ambo owner who toasted his engine when the chrome flaked.

The key with Tom Bailey's was that it was ridden - a lot. Any Guzzi with chrome bores that has sat around much will suffer from FCS (flaking chrome syndrome) and will definitely be a problem sooner or later.

[handyandy]

It does run but the left side smokes a little. Had it apart last spring and there is a wear ring ar the top of the cylinder. But no flaking. I don't know how many years I have had the Ambo. I have only been putting 2 o3 hundred miles a year on it. So its time to let it go. Grazie Andy

[Cam3512]

It does run but the left side smokes a little. Had it apart last spring and there is a wear ring ar the top of the cylinder. But no flaking. I don't know how many years I have had the Ambo. I have only been putting 2 o3 hundred miles a year on it. So its time to let it go. Grazie Andy

That "wear ring" at the top of the cylinder might just be missing chrome.  It doesn't necessarily flake off in large pieces.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

That "wear ring" at the top of the cylinder might just be missing chrome.  It doesn't necessarily flake off in large pieces.

This ^^. If there's any noticeable wear, then it's already through the chrome and into the aluminum cylinder block casting.

[handyandy]

John, pm me to get my cell number so we can talk.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I'm sure anyone looking for an Ambassador or Eldorado from 72 has done his homework and is aware of the chrome bore problem.
They should ask if it's had the upgrade.

I think I would mention it again, you don't want them bad mouthing you behind your back but let them deal with it.