V7 single throttle body engines. How tough are they?

[voncrump]

I have asked a question on various sites about the single throttle body V7 engines. My V7 seems to want to go. It doesn't wind out like my 1100 Sport but it seems to want to motor along with a few revs on the Tachometer.  The question is, has anyone actually blown one of these motors up? How much can they take? I had a V50111 and it liked the revs, and also a V65 Lario that spun up and went so smoothly over 6000 rpm that I valve floated it several times. I obviously don't want to blow my V7. I was lucky with the Lario.

[pete roper]

Only thing I've heard of, but not experienced, is busted-arse, incorrectly speced thrust bearings or cranks causing issues. Other than that they are nowadays as tough as buggery.

Pete

[voncrump]

There is a story that 1 V7R hung a rod in Europe somewhere, but no other horror story's have popped up. A couple of thrust bearing issues also. But in Guzzi terms they have sold shitloads of these things. Some to first time owners and no doubt some of the servicing will be dodgy. My theory is that they are not powerful enough to do any damage if they are thrashed and they are protected by a very conservative rev limiter. About 7200rpm sees the end of the exercise. I purchased my V7 to slow down and relax but I find that is really wants to run and it is that easy to throw around that I can't seem to slow myself down. Even the brakes have improved seemingly after a track day but I guess also my trust in the ABS has built up enough to really give them a good yank. I have just fitted Hagon shocks and wow what another improvement. What a great little bike.
Cheers, voncrump.

[Kev m]

There is a story that 1 V7R hung a rod in Europe somewhere, but no other horror story's have popped up. A couple of thrust bearing issues also. But in Guzzi terms they have sold shitloads of these things. Some to first time owners and no doubt some of the servicing will be dodgy. My theory is that they are not powerful enough to do any damage if they are thrashed and they are protected by a very conservative rev limiter. About 7200rpm sees the end of the exercise. I purchased my V7 to slow down and relax but I find that is really wants to run and it is that easy to throw around that I can't seem to slow myself down. Even the brakes have improved seemingly after a track day but I guess also my trust in the ABS has built up enough to really give them a good yank. I have just fitted Hagon shocks and wow what another improvement. What a great little bike.
Cheers, voncrump.

I was going to say that's one of the reasons I bought mine too and it's been great.

 

[v65tt]

They are very tough... mine goes to 8600 rev limiter and loves it along with the big carbs and arrow exhaust

Seen few with damaged rear cranks due to poor thrust bearings or running with less than 2l of oil

In Uk condensation seems to be biggest prob, we run them on 10w50 and seem to get less of it

[DaSwami]

What is a thrust bearing, what does it do, and how do you tell if it is going bad??

[Darmie]

That's a great idea. My first 600m oil change looked like this out of the rear oil drain. If it looks like that again, I may consider 50, but here in Texas summers, it should be ok.

They are very tough... mine goes to 8600 rev limiter and loves it along with the big carbs and arrow exhaust

Seen few with damaged rear cranks due to poor thrust bearings or running with less than 2l of oil

In Uk condensation seems to be biggest prob, we run them on 10w50 and seem to get less of it

[sib]

They are very tough... mine goes to 8600 rev limiter and loves it along with the big carbs and arrow exhaust

Are you sure you're talking about the V7 single throttle body?  Everything I've read indicates the rev limit is around 7000-7200.  Big carbs?

[sib]

That's a great idea. My first 600m oil change looked like this out of the rear oil drain. If it looks like that again, I may consider 50, but here in Texas summers, it should be ok.

It seems that people fret about emulsion in the oil, but is there any information on whether a few mL of it down at the bottom of the oil pan is harmful?  I'd like to know.

[Kev m]

What is a thrust bearing, what does it do, and how do you tell if it is going bad??

It's a little like a thrust washer, a sized bearing surface that controls longitudinal (axial?) play on the crankshaft. Keeps it from moving forward and backward.

They typically don't just "go bad" anymore than any other bearings in there.

Any failures that have occurred on such young motors are most certainly isolated incidents of improper components/assembly at the factory. Do they build the motors in Mandello or just assemble the bikes with the motors shipped in from another Piaggio facility?

[Kev m]

That's a great idea. My first 600m oil change looked like this out of the rear oil drain. If it looks like that again, I may consider 50, but here in Texas summers, it should be ok.

I suspect that was an isolated incident that you won't see again unless you start making lots of really short trips in winter (around freezing temps).

[Darmie]

Thanks, and yes in fairness, the bike was purchased in Dallas Texas last month. It does get cold there. It was a demo bike with only 112miles on it. What surprised me the most was this only came out of the rear drain plug. Nothing at all looking like this out of the front oil drain plug. So, is the rear compartment designed to keep bad oil away from engine? I know it's not but it sure looked that way.

I suspect that was an isolated incident that you won't see again unless you start making lots of really short trips in winter (around freezing temps).

[v65tt]

Are you sure you're talking about the V7 single throttle body?  Everything I've read indicates the rev limit is around 7000-7200.  Big carbs?

Yes I am talking about a 2015 V7 single throttle body engine, its in my v65tt, with 2 36mm carbs , monza cam with dyna ignition





The trust bearing problem covers all small blocks from v35 through to the v9's   if there tolerances are incorrect or the block / crank is badly machined they rattle, or cause the crank to push forwards when you open the clutch.  If you have bad thrust bearings you will hear a rattle when holding in the clutch especial on a hot engine or notice the engine struggle to idle and appear to labour when holding the clutch in

mayo is a killer,  here in the cold damp uk 10w50 seems to make a difference.

[v65tt]

It's a little like a thrust washer, a sized bearing surface that controls longitudinal (axial?) play on the crankshaft. Keeps it from moving forward and backward.

They typically don't just "go bad" anymore than any other bearings in there.

Any failures that have occurred on such young motors are most certainly isolated incidents of improper components/assembly at the factory. Do they build the motors in Mandello or just assemble the bikes with the motors shipped in from another Piaggio facility?

on older v35/v50 and in particular  the v65 there were a lot of problems, so back that the factory altered the crank to add a second oil gallery and drilled the trust bearings to improve oil flow

[v65tt]

It seems that people fret about emulsion in the oil, but is there any information on whether a few mL of it down at the bottom of the oil pan is harmful?  I'd like to know.

i see its as a big issue, anything diluting the lubrication  properties of the oil is not good , constant levels of contamination form condensation being pushed round the engine is not good.

worst of when people start playing at mechanic and lowering the oil level to stop the non issue of oil in the condenser tank in the air box.

My advice has always been to vent the valve covers to the rear mudguard and junk the rest of the breather

[guzzisteve]

You have the bike MG should be making instead of the Scrambler.

[v65tt]

You have the bike MG should be making instead of the Scrambler.

thank you sir :-)

yeah its is what they should be producing

[redhawk47]

What is a thrust bearing, what does it do, and how do you tell if it is going bad??

It's not a matter of the thrust washer going bad, it is that it is missing. Here is a copy of my earlier post:

I bought a V7II in August 2016. Took it in for first service in October. Told the shop manager that I had had to adjust the clutch at the engine end because there was not enough adjustment at the lever. He said "Oh, there are a couple of tests we will run".

Next day he called and said "I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that there was lots of metal in the engine oil. The good news is that you are getting a new engine, under warranty." Timing worked just right for me. I was headed out for a two week trip with a different motorcycle. Two days after I got home I picked up my V7 with a new engine. Great service from Moto Guzzi and my dealer, Moto Italia of Northern Colorado.
It is my understanding that a thrust washer was not installed on the crankshaft.

So, how do you know you have a problem? The clutch is seriously out of adjustment, with low mileage.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Thrust washers, #9 in this drawing: