77 convert

[twodogs]

Well I started to play with the new to me convert, so far everything is looking pretty good to me even though I'm not sure of a lot of it, I have a can of deoxit and will clean up everything with the wiring but so far what I've played with has been clean. I have all the gaskets and crush washers and fluids except trans fluid, I'm not sure what works the best since simple Dexron is no more, any help there would be of a great help.I sold the g5 that I had for a little bit to a member here and it sounds like he has had to build it from the ground up and I thought the bike was fine if that tells you anything  so I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks ahead of time.
Bruce

[TOMB]

My convert is a 1977 I've been using the Napa ATF in the picture below over 40,000 miles I plan at the end of the year to change it over to the ATF from Valvoline the max life give it a try other people will chime in from what they've used suggest don't do that it'll blow up and leave your parts all over the road you should use  your good judgment and go forward from there.
Besides you don't know if it has ever been changed so that's one item to consider and if it has been changed and you have no history you really don't know what's in there to begin with you should good judgment things will work out and others will chime in
TOMB

[twodogs]

Thanks TOMB, the po told me that he had changed all the hoses and seals? But he also said he put type F back in it, I was told it would be ok but it don't sound right to me so I'm going to flush the system, where is this mesh screen that is supposed to be cleaned?
Bruce

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I've been using the same thing as TOMB - the NAPA or similar Dex III/Mercon. I have some Redline D4 ATF that I plan to try soon. Not sure I'd use Type F.

The screen to clean is part of the largest/lowest hex plug on the tank.

[twodogs]

Thanks Charlie, I'll get some of  it tomorrow, I hate to ask you or TOMB but what earl are you 2 running, I don't want to start a thread. I have the 7100 motul 10w60 but was told not to run full syn.
Bruce

[spmoto]

Hey Bruce,
I can't speak to the ATF question, but as far as earl goes I've been using Mobil One, stem to stern, for decades based on the recommendation of Manfred Hecht at of Raceco fame. This includes many Guzzi's of similar vintage to yours.
Steve M

[twodogs]

Thanks Steve, that's all I ever run in my Harleys when I had them, I know some here have been running Guzzi for alot of miles and I figured I would follow suit 

[TOMB]

@twodogs

For oil usage

Engine Mobil 1 15-50 syn  (Walmart)
Gearbox Mobil 1 75-90 syn (Walmart- Auto zone Etc.) DONT OVERFILL
Rear end Diff Mobil 1 75-90 syn (same as above)
ATF usage see my response above

For your own piece of mind  (CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR BIKE HAS THE NEWER TYPE OF FLYWHEEL) YOU'LL BE HAPPY IF IT DOES.
the earlier flywheel was prone to disintegrating.

Look in my signature below for the bikes and mileages , Mobil 1 products was used in every one .

TOMB

[twodogs]

Thanks TOMB, next question, how much do each hold? Notice a pattern here, no manual 
Thanks.
Bruce

[Cal3Me]

Bruce needs to get a copy of Guzziolgy for all his info on his new bike ............

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I just use Rotella T4 in the engine, Bel-Ray Gear Saver in the transmission and rear drive. Capacities are in the owner's manual:
https://www.thisoldtractor.com/mg_manuals/owners_manual_v1000-i-convert_1975-06_en.pdf

[twodogs]

Doh! Thanks for the reminder, I totally forgot I had guzziology, now I have to remember where I stored it.

[chuck peterson]

I’d suggest….

Wait on the atf fluid change. Spec is once every 16k, or some such. It’s not an immediate concern if you’re moto-tating down the road and it’s a good looking red. The older trans fluids worked better, it seemed to me. My 2nd vert w new fluids ranged 32-35 mpg, while my first was a solid 42mpg all the time

However, someone recently posted about checking for water in the atf tank. Great idea. H2O is heavier. Never considered this as a possibility

It’s possible whatz in there now could be working better than new fluids

Ymmv…my experience was 10 years ago, not with these two newish fluids

[ozarquebus]

This question has probably been asked before. Has anyone ever experimented with adding pure silicone oil to the ATF in a Convert?

[twodogs]

I already have the rottela t4 and just picked up the valvoine max atf, never heard anything about running the silicon. After I finish up on the wiring clean up I'm going to start on the fluids, everything looks good so far. I went to title the bike and it got flagged, they say it has been purged from the system, so now I wait just like the 76 they have to make sure it's a motorcycle 
Bruce

[twodogs]

Well I pulled the front cover and everything to me looks good, what do you guys think? I talked to the PO and he said he had it all serviced and went through the air filter box with a new filter, I'm still going to change the fluids though 

[twodogs]

Inspection plug out, is this good or bad?




Sorry, I'm trying to take pics with a iPad.
Bruce

[TOMB]

@twodogs

Looking at your pictures i would say you have the later flywheel

It one of the three types that i know of

1. Heavy with a separate bolt on starter ring. I believe this is what you have. Good

2. Heavy flywheel with the starter ring (teeth ) machined directly to the flywheel.   .This is the version that I'm using. Good

3. The original version. This is the one you don't want.  Bad

Ohers may disagree but that's my 2cts.

TOMB

[twodogs]

Thanks TOMB, that's good to know, plus I found my guzziology book, I put it away after I got it because it was not really for the newer models but now it is starting to make sense 
Bruce

[twodogs]

Well I buttoned everything back up and went down the street and back a few times and it did not seem like it was charging, so I'm trying to put the meter on it and rev it up by myself and only got 12.7 so I went back in and unplugged the 3 wire connection which I should have done the first time but it looked so good, and I found the whole back side melted, so I replaced the ends and wala it is charging at 14.7 at a higher rev.now I'm just waiting on dot to give me a plate for it so I can give it a proper test ride. 
Bruce

[jguzzi]

This is a great thread for us Convert owners. Pics are really helpful.  Twodogs can you tell me where your 2 throttle cables enter under the tank area.....I can see they are zip tied on the spine but I am wondering if they enter at the front of the tank in the open area near where the key/ignition is or under the tank on the side.  Also, TOMB can you tell me what you looked at to determine the flywheel?  Mine is 1978 so I assume it is the latter one.....can you tell by looking in the inspection hole?

[fotoguzzi]

I too believe you have the heavy FW. This is the one with ring as part of the FW


The early light flywheel has a narrower edge, seen here, ignore the tabs, I put those on to trigger the FW sensor when I put it on an EV 1100 motor to build the SPEVert.


SPEVert,

[twodogs]

Hi jguzzi, the po had it set up like this and then split under the tank, nice foto, love that look.
Bruce

[twodogs]

Well I had this windshield laying around for about 8 or 9 years that I took off the wife's sportster when I sold it and the kid that bought it didn't want it, so I pulled it off and kept it, well today I was wondering what it would look like on the convert, the bottom is blacked out so it kinda hides the breadbox in front.I think it was a Memphis shade but I can't remember, so what do you folks think 
Bruce

[brider]

Notice the additional non-factory brazing around the center mounting boss, at the juncture between the ~2-in diameter boss and the flywheel pan. This is what I did on my '77 Convert, in an effort to still use the lighter failure-prone flywheel. People said you could feel the difference between the lighter flywheel and one of the heavier later versions, but I couldn't. It is really amazing that MG let the lighter flywheels leave the factory without this critical reinforcement. Seems to me it would have been MUCH cheaper production-wise to just add this bit of reinforcement, rather than commit to machined-aluminum flywheels.

[Don G]

Guzzi is famous for letting half baked stuff out the door, just be glad that they finally rectified the flywheel problem, now for the Hokey pump drive.........   DonG

[Tom H]

On the shield.

The question is....Do YOU like it??

Looks fine to me. I'd go with it. I'm pretty sure Memphis Shades. They do a lot of shields with the colored lower section.

Tom

[Bulldog9]

Looks great!

I concur that you have the heavy drive plate. I have a 76 which has the thin plate, but AFAIK, it is the original and unmolested w/ 45K miles now. Some believe that the center plate tears out when the unit is not perfectly aligned. Dave R (Guzziology) reported about a few that lasted the life of the bike.  I have an heavy unit on the shelf if I ever need, or end up tearing the bike down.

I also have a small bar mounted windscreen I recycled out of my 'boxoparts' I like how the darker section bridges the gap from the headlight to the gauge.




If you (or anyone else) are interested I have a windjammer, king/queen seat and rear luggage rack with the lollipop turn signals gathering dust. I'm keeping the DB Bags and Bench seat, but won't use the Fairing, rack or K/Q seat. Fairing has the wire harness.




Some pics of the items mounted before I removed.

[twodogs]

I won't know if I like the shield till I ride it, I'm still waiting on the plate from dot. I think I'll drop it down closer to the headlight bucket like on yours bulldog, I like your bags better, mine are about the size of a kids lunch box.
Bruce

[twodogs]

Ok, so I forgot to post when I was changing the fluids the transmission where the clutch is had a bit of metal on the magnetic fill plug and when I drained it there was a bit more in my container, is this something to be concerned about? All the fluids I drained looked like everything had just been done and looked real clean except for some metal swarf, what do you folks think?
Bruce