850GT 1973 About to dive in

[pariah]

Just picked up a 1973 GT 850. Runs ok, no smoke, nice valve rattle. May have some transmission issues as the box threw a gear a couple of years back but rides OK although a bit loose compared to the Le Mans.

Had Gilardoni barrels many years ago, there's a bubble on the tank which may be a pinhole, but all in all I'm pretty happy as I didn't pay silly money for it.

The plan is to strip it down and check the motor and transmission. I'll likely go through/rewire it too so I can be happy the electrics are all sorted out.   

What are the go to books for Eldo/GT restoration? I'm looking for all the engine and transmission key data, tolerances, fixes etc. Appreciate any feedback from the learned.

[bodine99]

Motorcycle Classic magazine has this in their book store

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Bookmark this website for a start: http://thisoldtractor.com/moto_guzzi_loopframe.html

Greg's wiring harness are the best available: http://thisoldtractor.com/for_sale_wiring_harness_loop.html

Books? Factory manual (available as downloads on the above), Guzziology helps some. Good information on the transmission and rear drive here: http://www.thisoldtractor.com/guzzitech.dk/gb_en_complex-technical.htm

[Furbo]

I had an 850GT in Germany in the mid 90's. Rode it down to Mandello for the 75th Anniversary Raduno and took the wife to Switzerland on it.  Great bike and the 4LS brake was as hard as the clutch so my forearms didn't become embarrassingly mismatched. Sold it to Dave Smith who was then the MGNOC European Rep when I left in '97.

Wiring - when I restored my Eldo I built a wiring harness that has the fuses and relays in the RH tool box. Much more accessible then the headlite. And I wired it with only 5 fuses. Much simpler set up.

[Tom]

Dave Smith was the only guy I knew from the membership that had a Moto Guzzi tatoo. 

[Swedemoto]

Congrats! Looks like a great score.

[pariah]

Bookmark this website for a start: http://thisoldtractor.com/moto_guzzi_loopframe.html

Greg's wiring harness are the best available: http://thisoldtractor.com/for_sale_wiring_harness_loop.html

Books? Factory manual (available as downloads on the above), Guzziology helps some. Good information on the transmission and rear drive here: http://www.thisoldtractor.com/guzzitech.dk/gb_en_complex-technical.htm

Thanks, now downloaded. I have a copy of Guzziology in storage and I'll dig that out net time I'm over that way. That last link from TOT is a goldmine, cheers buddy.

[pariah]

I had an 850GT in Germany in the mid 90's. Rode it down to Mandello for the 75th Anniversary Raduno and took the wife to Switzerland on it.  Great bike and the 4LS brake was as hard as the clutch so my forearms didn't become embarrassingly mismatched. Sold it to Dave Smith who was then the MGNOC European Rep when I left in '97.

Wiring - when I restored my Eldo I built a wiring harness that has the fuses and relays in the RH tool box. Much more accessible then the headlite. And I wired it with only 5 fuses. Much simpler set up.

I've been after one for a while but they don't come up that often.  I'll probably follow a similar path with the wiring and keep it simple. I found with my Lemons that an investment in sorting the electrics was worth every penny and then some.

Hopefully not too many issues with the motor and trans. The previous owner knew his stuff.

Here's my Lemon for bona fides:





 

[pariah]

Congrats! Looks like a great score.

Thanks, fingers crossed it is. Cosmetics look decent and it seems to run OK. Will know more when I do an autopsy.  I'm from UK in Helsinki btw. You Sverige?

[Swedemoto]

Not Sverige . Actually


crying emoticons
. It's just a name I've carried for a while. At the time I had a couple Husqvarnas and was researching and very close to buying a classic Volvo 1800S. I think we had a V70 at the time as well. Owned a Saab later.
For some reason Swedish vehicles tickled my fancy. After reading about how many iconic classics were really from Italian design influence, I started to really lust after Italian made. Guzzi, Alfa, Lancia, Loren, etc.

[Guzzistajohn]

Dave Smith was the only guy I knew from the membership that had a Moto Guzzi tatoo. 

I know this girl......

[Tom]

"guy"  Looks like Breva girl.