So I guess I am a Convert...

[radguzzi]

... Or I will know when I get it running.      

I bought this '76 V 1000 Convert from a friend that purchased it from a fellow in his home town and never got to doing anything with it before health issues had him give it up. 

History is completely unknown to me but I'll start in on it and see just how bad it really is.

More later,
Rob

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Looks a bit like my first Convert when i got it.  Better than the other three.

[gearman]

WAS IT MANDATORY TO PUT A WINDJAMMER FAIRING ON IT? :grin

[bigbikerrick]

Looks like a great project ,Rob!  You are now officially a "Convert Pervert"!  They are fun bikes, I am in the process of doing the final aligning  on a sidecar I am putting on my Cal II auto, and am impressed in how well it pulls the car, especially in low range. Its an impressive drive train,and a damn shame Guzzi didnt continue it/refine it for other bikes.
  What are your plans for your new Vert?
Congrats !
Rick

[radguzzi]

Looks like a great project ,Rob!  You are now officially a "Convert Pervert"!  They are fun bikes, I am in the process of doing the final aligning  on a sidecar I am putting on my Cal II auto, and am impressed in how well it pulls the car, especially in low range. Its an impressive drive train,and a damn shame Guzzi didnt continue it/refine it for other bikes.
  What are your plans for your new Vert?
Congrats !
Rick

Hahaa.. Convert Pervert.  Love it.

No plan really Rick, I'll stick a fresh battery in it, change fluids, check the carbs and touch it off.  I'll go from there, I hope Not to dive into a full resto though.

Which chair did you put on the Cal II...?  I have heard that the Convert makes a great tug, we already have the '99 EV with a Hack.

[brider]

How bad of condition can it be, looking so stock and clean?!!!

I actually think the Convert looks better with a Windjammer (or Pacifico, or Calafia…). Looks too tail-heavy in stock trim.

Mileage on a '76 would be telling.....under 20k and it probably has sheet-metal flywheel and original hex-drive in the pump. I'd still ride it, but those are 2 things I'd make a mental note to fix if you're gonna keep it.

Love the bags and color!

[nick949]

Project?  Pah! Change oil, add fuel, ride 

Nick

[radguzzi]

How bad of condition can it be, looking so stock and clean?!!!

I actually think the Convert looks better with a Windjammer (or Pacifico, or Calafia…). Looks too tail-heavy in stock trim.

Mileage on a '76 would be telling.....under 20k and it probably has sheet-metal flywheel and original hex-drive in the pump. I'd still ride it, but those are 2 things I'd make a mental note to fix if you're gonna keep it.

Love the bags and color!

18K and yes, I have been advised of the flywheel so I will be careful initially and replace the hex drive as well...  Are there any symtoms of a flywheel coming apart to be aware of...?

Thanks,

WAS IT MANDATORY TO PUT A WINDJAMMER FAIRING ON IT? :grin

YES...!

Project?  Pah! Change oil, add fuel, ride 

Nick

Hope to... ;)

[brider]

...  Are there any symtoms of a flywheel coming apart to be aware of...?

My flywheel sheared with no symptoms at near highway speed. Luckily, no other damage. I was not able to source a later heavier flywheel, but I WAS able to source a replacement sheet-metal one, so I had brazing reinforcement done around the entire center area where the factory just used tack welds, as I recall. Just an option if you were to choose to stay with the lighter flywheel.

Hex-drive usually gives a little warning, begins to slip, then "catches up", then gets worse. If you don't immediately take care of it, it CAN leave you stranded. My Cal 2 stranded me @ 22k miles, wife was NOT happy to come get me in NYC with 3 little kids in the minivan at midnight 

Other than THAT, everything else is classic Tonti and robust and solid!

[Kiwi_Roy]

A convert is one Guzzi I still need to experience.
My buddy JD describes it as a magic carpet ride.

[fotoguzzi]

Look in the timing inspection hole of the bell housing, the later FW is thick and heavy looking..



 if it has the sheet metal one it's thin and has a ring gear bolted to it.

[Rich A]

Convert. Good. Bet you'll enjoy it.

Rich A

[Bulldog9]

Really like the Convert, but cant get past the look of the 'science project' gauge/dash. Has anyone done a successful gauge/dash swap for something less..... umm, home made looking?

[bigbikerrick]

Hahaa.. Convert Pervert.  Love it.

No plan really Rick, I'll stick a fresh battery in it, change fluids, check the carbs and touch it off.  I'll go from there, I hope Not to dive into a full resto though.

Which chair did you put on the Cal II...?  I have heard that the Convert makes a great tug, we already have the '99 EV with a Hack.

Hi Rob, I am putting a Texas Sidecars Ranger on it. Its the bigger sidecar they make, but its still lighter then the California Friendship II I had previously. This one weighs 165 lbs, Friendship II weighed 225.
 I gotta get me some ballast in this one!
Rick.

[pete roper]

Convertpervert is in fact my name on my Flickr account I believe! Alas I no longer have my 'Vert. Much though I loved it I doubted I'd ever get it going again so I moved it on.

Pete

[bigbikerrick]

Really like the Convert, but cant get past the look of the 'science project' gauge/dash. Has anyone done a successful gauge/dash swap for something less..... umm, home made looking?

The Convert dash does have a "Heathkit" look to it, IMHO, but I think thats part of the charm. I bet you can put the much better looking dashfrom a Cal II on it, and you would gain a tach to boot!
Rick.

[radguzzi]

Look in the timing inspection hole of the bell housing, the later FW is thick and heavy looking..



 if it has the sheet metal one it's thin and has a ring gear bolted to it.

Thanks Brad, I'll take a peek.  I don't really want t tear this thing down but I will if I have to.

Best,
Rob

Convert. Good. Bet you'll enjoy it.

Rich A

Hoping to Rich,
I just ordered an Odyssey PC680... stay tuned.

Thanks,
Rob

Convertpervert is in fact my name on my Flickr account I believe! Alas I no longer have my 'Vert. Much though I loved it I doubted I'd ever get it going again so I moved it on.

Pete

I'll have to dig up a photo of you and that Vert in South Dakota from ions ago replete with the chicken attached with a bungie cord...

Cheers,
Rob

Hi Rob, I am putting a Texas Sidecars Ranger on it. Its the bigger sidecar they make, but its still lighter then the California Friendship II I had previously. This one weighs 165 lbs, Friendship II weighed 225.
 I gotta get me some ballast in this one!
Rick.

That sounds like a good match, yes, be careful to get the ballast right.

Best,
Rob

[radguzzi]

Well good news...  the engine rotates freely, I found that someone
installed the Dyna III ignition.  Cool.

I'll order up some carb kits, Brembo caliper kits and
fuel taps and hose and get to work.

It does have the sheet metal flywheel so there is that...

Ciao,
Rob

[gearman]

Really like the Convert, but cant get past the look of the 'science project' gauge/dash. Has anyone done a successful gauge/dash swap for something less..... umm, home made looking?

This was my solution.    Also I balanced the carbs with this home made manometer. it is very sensitive because mercury is 13 times heavier than water.



 too much toe in  ??????

[gearman]

I have the same yr. it has the light flywheel with 25000 mi. No fly wheel failure so far.It rund better than my 77 with the heavy wheel. I bought a spare heavy wheel years ago and machined it to true it up. it is nice to know I have it if I need it.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Well good news...  the engine rotates freely, I found that someone
installed the Dyna III ignition.  Cool.

I'll order up some carb kits, Brembo caliper kits and
fuel taps and hose and get to work.

It does have the sheet metal flywheel so there is that...

Ciao,
Rob

Buy a heavy one and put it on the shelf - good insurance the stamped one will never fracture. 

[bigbikerrick]

Gearman, Sir, you never cease to amaze me with your out of the box thinking,and fabrication! The mirror / windshield mount is cool.Can you please elaborate on how you made the balancing tool with the corona bottles?
thanks
Rick.

[gearman]

Gearman, Sir, you never cease to amaze me with your out of the box thinking,and fabrication! The mirror / windshield mount is cool.Can you please elaborate on how you made the balancing tool with the corona bottles?
thanks
Rick.

I borrowed the idea from a you tube video.I used antifreeze for the color. I had to buy two Corona beers for the bottles. I tried to drink it but it was vile to me.Cost me $4.I used Barge brand rubber cement to seal the rubber plugs.  thanks

[TOMB]

Here's mine, 1976


This has the heavy flywheel with the starter ring teeth machined  directly ti the flywheel.
Not the bolted on starter ring.

I have an early torque converter with the starter ring welded to it converter not mine but im changing out a 5 speed back to the Convert application .This should be considered a prototype as the engine number is stamped number 8 and the transmission is stamped number one what is a legally registered motorcycle and a state of Connecticut has a sign that an AKA also known as serial number and the paper trailer goes all the way back to berliners when they first brought in the motorcycles for the police department's excetera to test them
TOMB

[TOMB]

FOTOGUZZI
Not to second-guess your second picture with the thinner flywheel The thinner flywheel that came on originally at least on the bikes that I have seen really was thin like a pie plate what you're showing might be one of the second flywheels issued which I also have which is really a very heavy flywheel compared to the original so it's it would bolt up to the crankshaft then the  torque converter then to Starter ring that is one of the other options that they had for replacement flywheels as I indicated above my flywheel is all one piece starter teeth are machined directly to the flywheel that was the second version that came out and I retrofitted at I could be wrong on your second picture but just throwing something out to see what sticks

TOMB

[radguzzi]

Buy a heavy one and put it on the shelf - good insurance the stamped one will never fracture. 

I've been looking albeit briefly,  hoping to source one and do just that Charlie.

Best,
Rob

[fotoguzzi]

FOTOGUZZI
Not to second-guess your second picture with the thinner flywheel The thinner flywheel that came on originally at least on the bikes that I have seen really was thin like a pie plate what you're showing might be one of the second flywheels issued which I also have which is really a very heavy flywheel compared to the original so it's it would bolt up to the crankshaft then the  torque converter then to Starter ring that is one of the other options that they had for replacement flywheels as I indicated above my flywheel is all one piece starter teeth are machined directly to the flywheel that was the second version that came out and I retrofitted at I could be wrong on your second picture but just throwing something out to see what sticks

TOMB

It has a flange on the edge of that thickness, it is like you say a pie plate..here's one that was strengthened with brazing in the center area, you can kind of see the thicker flange on the outer edge

 
pay no attention to the tabs on the perimiter, that was to trigger the crank sensor (98EV ECU) on my SPEVert

[brider]

It has a flange on the edge of that thickness, it is like you say a pie plate..here's one that was strengthened with brazing in the center area, you can kind of see the thicker flange on the outer edge

 

Jesus H-Christ (sorry!), that's a beauty. The brazing you show around the center boss is exactly what I did on a paper-thin original flywheel and it worked great. One option if you don't want to install the heavier (with the performance "penalty" that entails, like you can really feel it on a Convert...) flywheel.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Jesus H-Christ (sorry!), that's a beauty. The brazing you show around the center boss is exactly what I did on a paper-thin original flywheel and it worked great. One option if you don't want to install the heavier (with the performance "penalty" that entails, like you can really feel it on a Convert...) flywheel.

I've ridden two nearly identically equipped Converts back-to-back, one with the heavy flywheel (mine) and the other with the stamped bowl (my buddy Leo's). IMO, there really wasn't that big of a difference in performance. Maybe it depends on how you ride it.

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

Here's mine, 1976

While we're on the subject, here's my '76. I was told by the PO it set up for touring by the original selling dealer.  I'm leaving that way.  Odometer currently read 12,502-miles.