Old Guzzi used as fence post..........

[smdl]

     I was able to get the hinge pin out. Thanks for the suggestion. Inside I found a little bit of sand and a rusty nut and washer. At least the mystery is solved. The lock is pretty trick. Does anybody know if it interchanges with any other locks? Those tool boxes are in really great shape. Nice and straight. I'm definitely not going to try to start it. I'm really anxious to start disassembly, but have to wait until the state patrol does their thing.
     I guess I have been spelling Moovit wrong the whole time. I never really paid that much attention to the label. About 12 or so years ago I was coming into New Denver BC from Kaslo on my t3. Just as I was entering the downhill 25km curves, my front tire instantly deflated and I got launched. I was able to push it down the hill into town, and a friendly PetroCan station attendant let me disassemble the bike inside the shop, so I could fix it. He lent me a can of Moovit to take things apart and I was instantly hooked. I bought a couple cans and have been smuggling it across the border ever since. We legalized pot a couple years ago. Maybe we can legalize Moovit!  I don't know what is so magical about it, but it sure works good.

I don't know if the locks are the same as those on a Loop, but there is some information on Greg Bender's site relating to those.  Rebuilding info:

http://www.thisoldtractor.com/moto_guzzi_loopframe_tool_box_lock_rebuild.html

Suitable replacements (I have used these):

http://www.thisoldtractor.com/moto_guzzi_loopframe_tool_box_lock_replacement.html

Thanks for the additional information on Moovit -- I'll definitely be picking some up!

Cheers,
Shaun

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I don't know if the locks are the same as those on a Loop, but there is some information on Greg Bender's site relating to those. 

Yes, same Neiman locks as the Ambassador and Eldorado. And IIRC, the seat lock for a BMW /5 /6 /7? is very similar but has a different "latching arm" on it.

[siabeid]

     Thanks for all the info from all of you. When I purchased my Eldo, the guy gave me enough boxes of extra parts to fill up the back of my RAV 4, with the seats folded flat, to the ceiling. I have been sorting through all these parts and organizing them. Yesterday in  the bottom of one box, I found a little baggie with 2 of the original locks for the tool boxes and a set of keys!

Si

[Triple Jim]

That's pretty amazing.   

[johnr]

You are obviously meant to have that bike!

[OlDogface]

I agree that trying to start it is a bad move at this point....especially until you figure out why the original owner abandoned it. You have all winter to fiddle with it. Let the anticipation build.

....now if I could only learn to take my own advice!

Good luck and can we get some more 

[lti_57]

Simon congrats  cool story
I obtained my Suzuki t-500  as a bike no title did the state patrol thing.
got the provisional title.
really pretty easy and if need be can be sold with that provisional title.
I am helping Simon finance it haha back on a Guzzi soon
dang like a revolving door of motorcycles in my house

[Tom]

Left index in left ear and right index finger in right ear......lah...lah. ...lah....lah....  I don't want to hear about a Titan T500 café for sale.....you have pix???   

[o1marc]

Please post more pics, your first ones don't work.

[siabeid]

     I went to see the WSP today with my treasure. The officer was a very nice, helpful guy. He enjoyed the story as to how I got it.  He thought it looked pretty good compared to a lot of the old car hulks he sees that people want to restore. According to him, it is a 1974, even though it was built June of 1973. He had quite a lot of info about v7 sports on his computer. My numbers checked out OK. A half hour later and I was on my way to the courthouse with all the paperwork. A half hour and $246.75  later, I had a registered and taxed 1974, v7 sport with a collector plate on it's way. This included sales tax on $500, the collector plate, the WSP inspection, and all the other little fees. On Dec 1, 2019, I can get the normal title. In the mean time, I can use it and or  sell it. All in all, a fairly pleasant experience and not very expensive. It wasn't nearly as daunting as it first seemed like it might be - at least not in Washington.  The most important thing was to have a bill of sale and the "title in doubt" paperwork from the auditor's office.  He did say that if the numbers had shown that it was stolen, they would have impounded it.
     Now the tear down can begin. First though, I will figure out how to post pictures. Thanks for all the help and encouragement from you all.

Si

[Tom H]

Congrats!!  

Tom

[Tom]

 

[Nic in Western NYS]

Great news about the title and the tool box lock. It's all coming together - there will be some great before-after pics eventually.

[lti_57]

I saw this bike over the weekend.
Looks better in person than in the pictures.
 Good news on the bike I have done a few bikes thru the state patrol
it has always been a nice experience .
Si you can post pic from your PC by using the "add image to post "  when you reply

[Caffeineo]

Really happy to hear it all went well getting the bike registered.  Now the fun (???) begins. 

[siabeid]

free image upload


This is my first attempt ever at trying to send pictures. Hope it works ok. Here is the "fence post" in my shop as I took it to the state patrol for inspection. After this, I am going to start teardown. As you can see, it is very shabby, but mostly there. I put the funky old t3 mufflers on it, so it would look "complete" for inspection. I don't know why that matters to the wsp, but I am told that it does. It looks a lot better in the shop than it did as a yard decoration.

Si

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

 

[Tom]

 

The WSP doesn't want you running the bike w/o mufflers. 

[Cam3512]

This should make you feel good about rescuing that 'ol girl...

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=192041164439&globalID=EBAY-US

[SED]

Congratulations Simon.  Looks great in a project sort of way.  That should keep you busy this winter.   

[fotoguzzi]

that bike would be extra cool if you do all the work to get it into a good running bike but kept it "as is" in the cosmetics.. new bike inside, rat bike exterior.. name it the "Fence Post.. "

[johnr]

Si you can post pic from your PC by using the "add image to post "  when you reply

Some of us, preferring to have the Image posted rather than a thumbnail, still use Image hosting sites as the intermediary. 

It's a slightly more time consuming route but worth it in my opinion to get a nice image posted without the viewer having to enlarge it.  I'm using Flickr for this now. (and sadly miss the now extinct form of Imageshack) 

I find it useful to resize my pics before uploading to the image hosting site even if it can be done at the site.  I use Irfanview for this (and as my computers default picture viewer) 640x480 seems to be the size that fits posts the best.

(edit) For example;

[siabeid]

Actually, that has crossed my mind. The road I live on doesn't lend itself to immaculate paint jobs and I was thinking today how hard it would be to really do it up and then try to keep it nice. I kind of like the shot gun pellet look on the tank. It seems kind of sacriligeous to leave such a beautiful machine all funky looking, though. I have another project, a BSA Rocket3, "Gypsy Woman" that my uncle put a ridiculous psychedelic paint job on in 1970. That is definitely staying that way. Unlike v7 sports, 1969 R3s never won any beauty contests. When I got the collector vehicle plate, yesterday, I asked the lady if I could get a vanity plate that said "f post". In Washington, you can get a collector plate or a vanity plate, but you can't have it both ways. I'd rather have a collector plate and not have to buy tabs every year. I'm going to start with the mechanicals. By the time I get to the cosmetics, I might not have enough money left to dress it up anyway!

that bike would be extra cool if you do all the work to get it into a good running bike but kept it "as is" in the cosmetics.. new bike inside, rat bike exterior.. name it the "Fence Post.. "

[lti_57]

Some of us, preferring to have the Image posted rather than a thumbnail, still use Image hosting sites as the intermediary. 

It's a slightly more time consuming route but worth it in my opinion to get a nice image posted without the viewer having to enlarge it.  I'm using Flickr for this now. (and sadly miss the now extinct form of Imageshack) 

I find it useful to resize my pics before uploading to the image hosting site even if it can be done at the site.  I use Irfanview for this (and as my computers default picture viewer) 640x480 seems to be the size that fits posts the best.

(edit) For example;

I know Si and his  statement above " I will figure out how to post pictures"  lent me to offer up the easiest  way to upload a pic.
 Si obviously figured it out. by getting a cloud storage solution.
so cool thanks for the suggestion.

[Tom H]

It all depends on your taste and sense of humor. Leave it as is (de-rust it and with a clear coat or the like to protect it) and make it run like a scalded monkey, or make it look factory fresh, or make it your own colored bike.

My Eldo and Ambo, I was toying with changing from the stock black and white paint, couldn't do it when I repainted them. Had to leave them stock as I bought them. If I find another one that I can afford in bad paint, then I'll paint it how I want.

Good luck with your new bike!!!
Tom

[jacksonracingcomau]

Actually, that has crossed my mind. The road I live on doesn't lend itself to immaculate paint jobs and I was thinking today how hard it would be to really do it up and then try to keep it nice. I kind of like the shot gun pellet look on the tank. It seems kind of sacriligeous to leave such a beautiful machine all funky looking, though. I have another project, a BSA Rocket3, "Gypsy Woman" that my uncle put a ridiculous psychedelic paint job on in 1970. That is definitely staying that way. Unlike v7 sports, 1969 R3s never won any beauty contests. When I got the collector vehicle plate, yesterday, I asked the lady if I could get a vanity plate that said "f post". In Washington, you can get a collector plate or a vanity plate, but you can't have it both ways. I'd rather have a collector plate and not have to buy tabs every year. I'm going to start with the mechanicals. By the time I get to the cosmetics, I might not have enough money left to dress it up anyway!

 :1:  & many more
Good home for bike, cosmetics last, not that many of us, ditto paying for plate, just paint "fence post" anywhere, or even better, spend ages painting a real fence post over the old petina.
R3 special too, you've got good pair from era, show us paint job please

[johnr]

I have another project, a BSA Rocket3, "Gypsy Woman" that my uncle put a ridiculous psychedelic paint job on in 1970. That is definitely staying that way. Unlike v7 sports, 1969 R3s never won any beauty contests.

Egads my dear fellow! You obviously should not own the Rocket 3. Give it to me!

[chuck peterson]

Kept as is, and running, it'll become legendary like the rusted T3 overgrown in the bushes in California

Restored, it'll be like all the other $20k v7 sports...

Just me, though, I've never had a perfect restor...

[Tom]

Get it running into riding condition then spray clear over the whole bike.  Great story. 

[Cam3512]

Screw that.  Just take some pictures for posterity then tear it down and give it the full monty. 

It deserves that.