1970 Ambassador

[toolittletime]

  keep it coming....Brings back memories.......

[surffly]

Been super busy with work, wedding planing, and SCUBA diving.
All bike stuff has been on the back burner.  Actually rather bummed about that.

Ended up with Sunday free, so worked on the Guzzi a bit.
Also helped install long tube headers on my friend's TrailBlazer SS.
If one of your friends ask you to help with that job......RUN AWAY.

Fork springs and new seals.

I really LOVE they way that you change the seals on this bike.  Very simple.

While the tires are new, I might need to change them anyway due to dates.
They are also hard and cracking.



Started to put everything back into the transmission, but decided that this was a job best saved for a quite evening.
I want to sit with the diagrams and manuals.
Only want to due this job once.


Also need to figure out how to move this junk from one shaft to the other.
Anyone know how this works?


Took one of the valve covers off.
Wouldn't you know.....the valves are not adjusted correctly....
SUPER tight.  Lucky this is an easy job.



Did get the motor back into the frame, so that was a good thing.
Thrilled that the front end is back on, and sitting properly.


Anyone have some recommendations on fork fluid?

Even got done with enough time to go home, shower and wait for GoT!


Feels great to be crossing some stuff off the list.
Still need to order some parts for the rear drive rebuild.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Also need to figure out how to move this junk from one shaft to the other.
Anyone know how this works?


Anyone have some recommendations on fork fluid?

I've found it easiest to do the job with a hydraulic press. Piece of pipe with suitable i.d. for the beveled retainer, holes cut in the side so you access the keepers. Compress the spring, remove keepers. Kind of like removing valve springs.

I use 8 oz. of 30w fork oil, usually Bel-Ray or PJ1. With the factory spec'ed 5.4 oz., you end up with absolutely no damping for part of the travel, with 8 oz. you have damping (as much of it as you'll ever have anyway) for full travel.

[surffly]

THANKS!

[surffly]

Called in sick Tuesday.
Was WAY to nice out to be stuck in a office.

Went up to Blue Mountain Lake to SCUBA dive.
I wanted to get my Altitude Certification.  Also almost done with my Divemaster for PADI.

Lake was really clear.  Had an interesting coal train car in about 30 feet of water to explore.


The parts boxes are starting to get fairly small, so that is a good thing.
-Air cleaner
-Carb boot
-Random transmission O-Rings
-Shifter fork spring thing
-Throw out bearing bearing thing.
-Seal/gasket kit for rear end


Need to drop that airbox off at my coater for some gloss black.
Might have a few other random parts for the bike done at the same time.
The mounts for the floor boards are chipped.

I hope this weekend I can tackle the transmission and get that re installed into the bike.
After that I will go trough the rear drive.
Fingers crossed the gears are shimmed and set correctly as I really would rather not have to deal with that.

[normzone]

Great thread, brings back lots of memories of going into my first Guzzi - thanks for posting. LAPD .... odd that somebody would mark it like that. Like he was worried about getting the transmission he owed the cops mixed up with the other one.

I met a California Highway Patrol officer who spent a few years on a Guzzi - he loved my Eldo, and we watched his partner chew out my riding buddy while we traded Guzzi tales.

[surffly]

Was looking at the Harper's solo seat that I have for the bike and it was suggested that I look into the LAPD style rack they make.


Seems to fit the bill.
Tucks in night and tight, but is a usable size.
Neat part is they sell a pillion seat pad, so this could be converted to a dual seat....but keep the comfy tractor seat!

Just one problem.....
My rear frame does not seem to have the three needed tabs?



Maybe I am missing something?
Did not all the bikes come with these mounting tabs?
I do not actually see evidence that they were removed, but I did not look that hard.

Kinda bummed as I really like that rack seat combo.
Wonder what my options are now?

[surffly]

Kind of looks like the tabs should be on the frame.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Someone has "detabbed" your frame. 

[surffly]

What did those tabs normally do?
Seems like the seat still attaches just fine.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

They were for the police radio rack, no real use on "civilian" Loops, other than... mounting a rack. 

[surffly]

Guess I will have to figure out a different option for a rack now....

[toolittletime]

I used this rack from MG Cycle.....

http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=316&products_id=3299

You can buy the passenger seat that sits on top of it.  Although I did have the "tabs" to bolt it on..... it also has a front part that rest on the frame. Perhaps it could be drilled and fastened to the frame somehow.......just a thought.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Guess I will have to figure out a different option for a rack now....

I've seen Loops fitted with Harley racks, but then you have to drill the fender.

If you know of a good welder/fabricator in your area, it wouldn't be too difficult to make one that mounted to the top shock studs and the tabs on the underside of the frame where the dual-seat fastens.

[surffly]

Issue is the fame is powder coated already....

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Issue is the fame is powder coated already....

That's why I suggested making one that bolts on at the shock studs and dual-seat tabs. No welding or anything else to the frame.

[surffly]

I see what you are saying now.

Will have to look into it.
At this point I should focus more on getting it ridding then how I can haul beer home.

[Tom H]

Getting closer all the time!

Tom

[surffly]

Project is still alive, just moving slowly.
Time has been taken up with wedding planing, generally lack of motorcycle motivation, and some traveling.

Two weeks ago I was down in Aruba for some R&R.


I am not one to go fishing often....
But when I do.....


They were tasty too!

Then the world almost ended.
I blame Obama for this.


Some of the wedding gifts are rather cool!

Always wanted one of these.

But now onto the Guzzi.
Like the rest of the bike, the seals in the rear were dry, hard and needed to be changed.
Sucks because they looked brand new.
Oil was clean too.




Did not know the best way to remove the bearing race and shim to change this seal.
Had to wait to read the manual, and consult with some experts.



Everything should be able to go back together just fine.



One more thing almost crossed off the list.

I really need to get off my butt and swap over that transmission shaft I damaged.
Once that is done the gear box can go back together and into the frame.

Then it is just basically hooking the harness up and trying to run the bike for the first time.

[crazyfool]

Regarding the rear rack mountings - have you seen Norton Commando passenger grabrail 'p' clamps?
I think that they could be used as a substitute for the original welded tags on the frame.
If you look at Andover Norton's website, they have parts diagrams.

[surffly]

Those might actually work.
Will have to measure the diameter of the frame and see what size clamps they have.
I know there are some aftermarket "three piece chrome" clamps too.

[surffly]

Had some time to wrench.
Felt good to be back in the garage and get a few things done.

And by done I mean 95% done....but not 100% because every single job has some "issue"

FIRST:
Used a press and swapped the parts from the broken main shaft, to the new replacement one.


Easy peacy.

SECOND:
Finally put the oil in the forks, so now the forks are 100% done.
Was able to install the dash and wire that all back up.


THIRD:
A little heat and that bearing race popped right out.
Thanks for that tip!
New seal, shim and everything went together without a hiccup.



That was up until I went to install the gears.....
The gaskets I have a wrong.  Unsure if they are cut wrong?  Or if there are two different options?
Any help here would be wonderful.
I have everything cleaned and ready to go back together....but cant because of these gaskets.

Less then trilled.

FOURTH:
Slowly putting the gearbox back together.
I need to sit quietly.  That will give me the best chance of doing it correct the first tim.

Does this "bend" in this direction, or the other way?
Does it matter?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

That was up until I went to install the gears.....
The gaskets I have a wrong.  Unsure if they are cut wrong?  Or if there are two different options?
Any help here would be wonderful.
I have everything cleaned and ready to go back together....but cant because of these gaskets.

Less then trilled.

FOURTH:
Slowly putting the gearbox back together.
I need to sit quietly.  That will give me the best chance of doing it correct the first tim.

Does this "bend" in this direction, or the other way?
Does it matter?

Your gaskets are fine, they've just shrunk a bit. Try using a spray bottle to mist water onto them - not too much, just enough to "rehydrate" them. You should be able to (carefully) slip them onto the flange while they're damp. I use Permatex 300 along with the gaskets.

Yes, the bend goes that direction.

[surffly]

shrunk?
They are two months old!

Never had a gasket change that much, but will try the hydration trick you talk about.
Maybe I will use Gatorade.....it has electrolytes.....pl ants want it.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

shrunk?
They are two months old!

Never had a gasket change that much, but will try the hydration trick you talk about.
Maybe I will use Gatorade.....it has electrolytes.....pl ants want it.

You may have had them for two months, but they were likely made years ago and have been on a shelf somewhere since. Same with the gasket for the rear cover of the transmission. I always have to dampen those gaskets to get them to fit.

You can use a damp sponge or dampened paper towels to "rehydrate" them also. 

[surffly]

This is the kit I bought.
http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=284&products_id=4605


So you dont think I need to buy these?
http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=170_176&products_id=706

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

This is the kit I bought.
http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=284&products_id=4605


So you dont think I need to buy these?
http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=170_176&products_id=706

No, just moisten the ones you have. The lower ones are for disc brake bikes.

[surffly]

What is it and where does it go?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

It's the retainer for the outer race of the needle bearing in the older rear drives. Numbers 62 & 63 in this illustration:

[surffly]

Still has not resulted in a CL add!
I know some of you are thinking that is how this story ends......

Well at the end of September I got married!


Kinda of crazy!

That great progress that I made on the gear box?
Yeah that all had to come back apart because I did something wrong the first time.
Oh well, live and learn.

At least the mistake was caught before the trans was back in the bike.


Can see in the background that the later flange sized gaskets came in, so the rear is all read to install into the bike.


Stuff going back together!


Almost looks like a motorcycle again.


But then I had to stop.
Seems that the guy that "restored" the bike before I got it neglected to use all the needed parts to install the swing arm.
Oh well....off to ebay.....


Urg

Much better