1968 V700 Rejuvination

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

 

[Dave Swanson]

Clutch pushrod orings in.  My early 4 speed only can handle 4 of them.  5 speeds can accept 6 and Charlie mentioned later 4 speeds also.

[Scout63]

Dave - do you fit the o rings until no more will fit in there or do I just fit 6 in my five speed?   I just bought the o rings - very pricey.  Great picture.

[Dave Swanson]

Dave - do you fit the o rings until no more will fit in there or do I just fit 6 in my five speed?   I just bought the o rings - very pricey.  Great picture.

Only the number to the point you can feel it's limiting the travel of the plunger.   Pretty safe to say your 5 speed will take 6.  Just make sure all of them have been removed.   I bought mine at my local hardware store. Cheap

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

No need to buy o-rings - I will send anyone that wants some a set of 6 for FREE. I've never found them at any hardware store since they're a pretty unusual size.

[cliffrod]

Dave, thanks very much for the documentation.  I'm confident it will help me. 

The more I see about the V700 (especially from you and Charlie) the more happy I am to have one in the works.

[Dave Swanson]

- I will send anyone that wants some a set of 6 for FREE. I've never found them at any hardware store since they're a pretty unusual size.

I almost asked you for a set but my local old school (non chain) hardware store has everything!  They are a local legend.

[Scout63]

Just to amuse everyone - I bought them through F-1.  Very quick service, but charged 8 or 9 dollars each plus shipping. I think I’m into the rings for over 60.00. Oh well.

[Dave Swanson]

How I became enamored with the V700.

My first introduction to Moto Guzzi was the purchase of my V7 Sport over 20 years ago.   After I restored that I found myself drawn to finding a nice Loop.  The only Loop I had any interest in owning was an Eldorado.  I found an Eldo in need of TLC and restored it also. 

I never really considered finding a V700 since I figured one Loop was enough, and besides I felt I had the best of the lot already with my disc Eldo.   

Not long after my Eldo was completed I started running into a Chicago area BMW rider at the area motorcycle swap meets and struck up a friendship.  He was telling me about a 68 Guzzi he was restoring, and of course I was interested to hear his progress reports.   One fine day at the Spring Walnecks  swap meet in Woodstock he rode the V700 out.  There is an area where the classic bikes are parked.  I was looking at all the cool bikes, Knucks, Pans and Brits when my friend rides in on his freshly restored V700.    At the time I had Knucklehead fever, but when he pulled into the meet with that V700 I couldn't get over how cool that V700 was!  It really has something special about it that must be witnessed in person to get the full effect.

After that I started looking for a good V700 project bike.  It didn't take too long before I found my V700 at Atlas Cycle in Tulsa.  I am stoked to finally be getting close to the day I can ride it.  I have lost touch with my friend from Chicago.  I would like to contact him, but lost all of his old emails when my Outlook crashed and I lost all of my old emails a few years ago. 

[Dave Swanson]

I am lucky to have some rare small bits that most V700s don't have anymore.

Both of the rarities can be seen in the factory photo.



The housing at the terminus of the speedometer cable should be a silver plastic instead of the common black.



And the detachable pillion strap.  Hard to find since it was easily detached and lost.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I am lucky to have some rare small bits that most V700s don't have anymore.

Both of the rarities can be seen in the factory photo.



The housing at the terminus of the speedometer cable should be a silver plastic instead of the common black.



And the detachable pillion strap.  Hard to find since it was easily detached and lost.

Because of this post, I finally figured out what the NOS teardrop with two holes shaped tabs I have are for. 

I have a few of those silver boots somewhere too.

[Dave Swanson]

Horn back in place. 

[n3303j]

Your replacement tires look like Duro HF308. My experience with these tires (10 years) is that they have very poor wet traction. Seem to do okay on dry pavement but break loose way too easily with firm braking on wet pavement.

Please be careful. It's a pretty special machine.

[Dave Swanson]

Your replacement tires look like Duro HF308. My experience with these tires (10 years) is that they have very poor wet traction. Seem to do okay on dry pavement but break loose way too easily with firm braking on wet pavement.

Please be careful. It's a pretty special machine.

Thanks for the words of caution!  It sounds like the voice of experience.  Yes they are Duros.  Chosen because they are dead ringers for the original Pirelli Super Sports. I just couldn't get enthused about using a modern looking tire on this bike.  This bike will only be ridden on fair weather days 😀

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I've had them on my V700 for the last 5k miles and my experience is exactly the opposite. Excellent traction wet or dry, pavement, dirt, gravel, everywhere (except mud). <shrug>

[Dave Swanson]

The lower shields for the V700 are quite rare.  I have always thought they make a cool and funky looking addition to the V700.  Here is a prime example with shields.





Besides the shields, installing this setup requires the special foot pegs with bracket attached, and crashbar with tapped holes in welded reinforcements.   

Mike Skaggs (EldoMike) had the footpegs and he noticed Cam's listing for the crashbar and alerted me immediately.  Cam then put me in touch with his friend who just might have a set of shields that he would sell.  So with the help of the amazing WG community I now have the complete set!    

Coming soon to a station near you! 

[jas67]

The lower shields for the V700 are quite rare.  I have always thought they make a cool and funky looking addition to the V700.  Here is a prime example with shields.





Besides the shields, installing this setup requires the special foot pegs with bracket attached, and crashbar with tapped holes in welded reinforcements.   

Mike Skaggs (EldoMike) had the footpegs and he noticed Cam's listing for the crashbar and alerted me immediately.  Cam then put me in touch with his friend who just might have a set of shields that he would sell.  So with the help of the amazing WG community I now have the complete set!    

Coming soon to a station near you!

I'm glad that I could help (with the shields).   Do you have the footpegs?   AFAIK, the footpegs on my Eldo (that the shields came with) have the holes for the shields.     I'd gladly trade them for a pair of normal civilian pegs if that helps.

[Dave Swanson]

I'm glad that I could help (with the shields).   Do you have the footpegs?   AFAIK, the footpegs on my Eldo (that the shields came with) have the holes for the shields.     I'd gladly trade them for a pair of normal civilian pegs if that helps.

Jay!  I should have known it was you!  Ha!  Yes, I have a set of proper pegs.   And I do want to keep my stock ones.  I may not always run the shields. 

[jas67]

Jay!  I should have known it was you!  Ha!  Yes, I have a set of proper pegs.   And I do want to keep my stock ones.  I may not always run the shields.

LOL.  I figured you did know it was me.   
In any case, I'm looking forward to seeing pics of the final result.   I'm sure it'll be beautiful just like all your other restorations.

[s1120]

I am lucky to have some rare small bits that most V700s don't have anymore.

Both of the rarities can be seen in the factory photo.


And the detachable pillion strap.  Hard to find since it was easily detached and lost.

You know... Just something that struck me in the "where did they go" file...  Used to be every motorcycle had a seat strap...  then they just...left..  One of those things that vanish and you dont notice till much later..

[Dave Swanson]

The last month has been spent sorting my 4 speed.  The 4 speed is pretty simple, but does have a few quirks, most notably the shift detent system.   I also had a couple of worn out parts on the output/layshaft that made a few things mysterious.  Through a lot of trial and error and with much help and a few rare 4 speed parts  from CHARLIE     I eventually achieved an enlightened state!   I can honestly say I can take this transmission apart and back together in the matter of 5 to 10 minutes now.  I could almost do it blindfolded. 

The last step after it was properly assembled with good parts in the all the right places, shimmed and shifting properly was to  fill the tranny with 750 cc of GL4 80W-90 gear lubex  I propped it up to give the input seal a leak check overnight.  Nice and dry!

Now I could install engine/trans into the frame with that peace of mind that only comes when all doubts are erased and all light bulbs are illuminated.  My favorite part of working on motorcycles is the mental challenges and developing the right frame of mind.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

 

[Dave Swanson]

I get a kick out of the little things like the nicely done original boot clamps all freshly plated and looking good.

Under the boot is the original u-joint rebuilt by John Chicoine back in 2009!  I looked up his old email and he mentioned it was showing signs of wear.  BTW John has a very nicely restored V700!

[Dave Swanson]

We have to try hard to look past Ann Margaret's beautiful visage, but this is a very good reference photo of an early V700.  I say early mostly because of the wider black pinstripe around the chrome tank panels.  According to Greg Field's excellent book, Moto Guzzi Big Twins, it was stated that by 1968 the painters had improved their accuracy of laying down the red paint and required pin striping only half the width of earlier.



By the way it was due to buying this book years ago that I got the bug to find a V7 Sport.   The beautiful V7 Sport on the cover and others in the book haunted me until I found one of my own.   The V700 on the front cover isn't too shabby either.  The V7 Sport and V700 on the cover were owned by Glen Bewley.  I wonder if he still has them?   By the way, used copies of this book are available from the usual sources and are not too expensive. 

[Dave Swanson]

It was a productive weekend!

[berniebee]

Just an outside question here: How do you get your large pics to appear? When I post, my pics appear about a quarter of this size. (Though you can click on them to get a larger view)

Nice build, BTW. And feel free to post more pics of Ann Margaret, with or without a Guzzi!

[Dave Swanson]

Just an outside question here: How do you get your large pics to appear? When I post, my pics appear about a quarter of this size. (Though you can click on them to get a larger view)

I am using Postimage for my photos. 

[LesP]

Fantastic !

[Canuck750]

How do you keep such a clean shop Dave?

[Dave Swanson]

How do you keep such a clean shop Dave?

I take the picture at the end of the day after I have cleaned up.  If you noticed,  I don't take pictures of my workbench.😎