8V tappet kits are beginning to trickle in...

[Vasco DG]

At least in Oz.

Box dropped into the workshop yesterday with a 'C' and an 'A' in it. Got a 'D' last week. Still waiting for a second 'A' but at least I can start pushing some of the broken munters out the door!

Pete

[jlburgess]

Are the roller kit parts being supplied free to the "B" kit victims? 

[Vasco DG]

Same rules for all bikes. They must have a full, documented, service history to receive a kit gratis. Owner pays for install if the machine is outside of its two year warranty period which most of the flat tappet models now will be. No exceptions.

Pete

[lucian]

Pete, are these kits you had ordered or is the mother ship ensuring dealers have a couple on the shelf? Just curios.

[canuguzzi]

Pete, are these kits you had ordered or is the mother ship ensuring dealers have a couple on the shelf? Just curios.

Looks like he got one of each kit so unlikely its a stock up thing. 3 kits with bikes waiting seems like a per issue deal, not to create dealer inventory.

[jlburgess]

Same rules for all bikes. They must have a full, documented, service history to receive a kit gratis. Owner pays for install if the machine is outside of its two year warranty period which most of the flat tappet models now will be. No exceptions.

Pete

Hurray!  Off to my dealer now to see how it looks.  Thanks Pete!

[pebra]

Same rules for all bikes. They must have a full, documented, service history to receive a kit gratis. Owner pays for install if the machine is outside of its two year warranty period which most of the flat tappet models now will be. No exceptions.

Pete

Is also documentation of excess wear required by Piaggio for them to supply the kit gratis?

[Vasco DG]

Pete, are these kits you had ordered or is the mother ship ensuring dealers have a couple on the shelf? Just curios.

Oh my aching sides! No these are warranty kits the 'C' kit I've been waiting for since July! No free inventory for us, that sort of fantasy is touchingly deranged getting anything from the mothership is like pulling teeth.

The two 'A' kit bikes have been clogging up my workspace since September. I actually pushed the 'C' kit bike out the door by cannibalising my blown up motor for it's roller kit and since I now have a new motive unit in my bike I'll keep rolling the 'C' kit over so my customers who need the 'C' kit won't, hopefully, have to wait but that of course depends on me not getting several in in quick succession.

On the subject of failures it's interesting to note that I now know of three bikes that have had bottom end failures after being rollerised due to tappet failure. Mark III's, mine and a couple of days ago Ralf's Z's motor ran its big ends. Further evidence, at least to me, that it's best to get it early before further damage can occur to oil pump or bearings.

Pete

[Vasco DG]

Is also documentation of excess wear required by Piaggio for them to supply the kit gratis?

Yes, pics of the damage, pics of the service history, pics of inside of cylinder head and rocker cover to determine which kit is required. So at least one cambox needs to be pulled to allow inspection of cam and tappets

Pete

[jacksonracingcomau]

Oh
On the subject of failures it's interesting to note that I now know of three bikes that have had bottom end failures after being rollerised due to tappet failure. Mark III's, mine and a couple of days ago Ralf's Z's motor ran its big ends. Further evidence, at least to me, that it's best to get it early before further damage can occur to oil pump or bearings.

Pete

That's going to cost em a lot, how does warranty work on big end failure after install by dealer with FSH ?

[jlburgess]

I would like to add that getting any manufacturer to provide free upgraded parts 4 years after the warranty has expired is virtually unheard of.  Big thanks to our imagineers for keeping the Guzzi faithful on the road 
This is why I love this brand and might even buy another Griso in the future if I wear this one out.  If they had done the abs and TC updates to it I would be standing in the delearship right now.

[Vasco DG]

That's going to cost em a lot, how does warranty work on big end failure after install by dealer with FSH ?

Oh I expect they'll deny the issue is related to tappet failure.

[lucian]

Ok now, what should we be looking or listening for in regards to a big end failing? It seem something to be aware of post roller install no?

[Vasco DG]

Big end knock. Believe me if you hear it you'll know it! Both Mark's and mine we caught before catastrophic failure. Ralf's wasn't so lucky, his blew at 160 chasing a KTM.

Pete

[Wayne Orwig]

Is there any point in pulling a rod bearing cap to inspect the bearing, when putting in a roller kit?

[Vasco DG]

Look, I really can't say as we're all learning as we go along. If you drop a rod cap you have the embuggerance of having to buy new bolts, (Well, you don't have to but I never, ever, re-use rod bolts unless they are torqued to a specified stretch like the ones Carillo use. The risk of one letting go and the consequent carnage is too high.) certainly though Mark S's shells showed considerable particulate contamination.

The cheap and nasty suggestion of simply flushing the motor with a couple of litres of oil is a joke. At the very least the sump must come off for examination and cleaning. I think that whether there will be damage or risk of particulate damage will depend on a raft of factors.

How badly worn are the tappets? How much material has been lost.

How the engine is used? If it has been ridden pretty hard from cold it is far more likely the filter will of gone into bypass allowing the particulate crap through to contaminate the bearings.

How long has the bike been ridden with muck running around inside it?

Has the oil pump been compromised?

Unfortunately we can't see through metal and don't have crystal balls to peer in.

Anyway, as I was writing this Ralf called up. He'll be up here on Monday and we can drop the sump and have a squizz and try to ascertain exactly how terminal his engine's condition is. Poor bastard, nobody deserves this sort of shit.

Pete

[Larry]

At least in Oz.

Box dropped into the workshop yesterday with a 'C' and an 'A' in it. Got a 'D' last week. Still waiting for a second 'A' but at least I can start pushing some of the broken munters out the door!

Pete

AWESOME.
I'm beginning to resemble that bloke that lost his Hilux in that Toyota advertisement.

Thanks Pete.

Larry

[Vasco DG]

AWESOME.
I'm beginning to resemble that bloke that lost his Hilux in that Toyota advertisement.

Thanks Pete.

Larry

Sadly Larry Norgeus Horriblis is first in the queue for an 'A' kit. you'll have to sit on your hands a while longer..... sorry.

pete

[Larry]

Sadly Larry Norgeus Horriblis is first in the queue for an 'A' kit. you'll have to sit on your hands a while longer..... sorry.

pete

Haha. Sent you a txt. No problems   

[Vasco DG]

Just got notified I've got another 'C' kit in transit I have no idea what it is for unless it's for my bike but I thought I'd not been approved so I think I'll keep quiet and whistle a lot.

My mate Dave has just bought a flattie that hasn't gone tits, yet, I reckon I'll fling it in that!

Pete