The ‘79 California Rebuild Thread

It always amazes me, when you see just how basic an engine/gearbox is in reality that the bloody things work at all let alone drag our sorry arses across continents and to Tesco........whatever, really enjoying this thread :)

Andres
 
I had a load of photos of the bike from the PO, this is my favourite.

mandello.jpg


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Gearbox is starting to look promising.

0bdcf278c61e1f7bb3fd96883b5fc6f8.jpg
7665b2d25adbe569798881c390fdd93a.jpg



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Outtomunch said:
It always amazes me, when you see just how basic an engine/gearbox is in reality that the bloody things work at all let alone drag our sorry arses across continents and to Tesco........whatever, really enjoying this thread :)

Andres
Click to expand...

Couldn’t agree more. When I take a look inside the gearbox I think, oh yeah, I get how this works. But could I design one from scratch?
Ha!


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If I can see inside a gearbox I know something is amiss :blast
 
I had an hour spare this morning, so popped all the studs back into the main casings.

53d4681500281bdc5c35188631614336.jpg


And thought I’ll just have a quick look at the points etc.

IMG_2704.JPGIMG_2702.JPGIMG_2701.JPG

Just pop those off, I’ve got new points and condensers anyway

IMG_2711.JPGIMG_2709.JPG

Mmm, hang on. Isn’t there something missing?

ad44a557217ecbbc087e986cb1f9f33c.jpg


Ah well, it cleans up nicely.

f41270483722c4ebb2247bb93140155d.jpg



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Nin said:
I had an hour spare this morning, so popped all the studs back into the main casings.

53d4681500281bdc5c35188631614336.jpg


And thought I’ll just have a quick look at the points etc.

View attachment 455481View attachment 455480View attachment 455479

Just pop those off, I’ve got new points and condensers anyway

View attachment 455483View attachment 455482

Mmm, hang on. Isn’t there something missing?

ad44a557217ecbbc087e986cb1f9f33c.jpg


Ah well, it cleans up nicely.

f41270483722c4ebb2247bb93140155d.jpg



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Click to expand...

As much as i like authenticity, holding in your hand is the one component, i without giving a flying **** would change to electronic. The amount of time I've sat at the side of a motorway or main

road due to points & or condenser failure :blast. and you have two sets :eek: oh and some feckers had your balance weights away ;) so now is the perfect opportunity to upgrade :)
 
As Nin will know there are two ways of going electronic on a Guzzi; retain the distributer and fit the gubbins in there or mount on the end of the alternator and do away with the distributer.

The distributers often have enough play in them that you can never 'quite' get both pots timed up exactly so the alternator method makes more sense. However, after having a condenser let me down in St Malo on my Guzzi, I went with the distributer mounted system, it is after all just a low powered ditch pump engine :D so I really wasn't toooooooo concerned about getting the last n'th of timing cock on. As a result she now runs a lot better and starts on the merest sniff of the starter button :)

PS Where's the points 'cam' gone Nin? :D

Andres
 
Outtomunch said:
As Nin will know there are two ways of going electronic on a Guzzi; retain the distributer and fit the gubbins in there or mount on the end of the alternator and do away with the distributer.

The distributers often have enough play in them that you can never 'quite' get both pots timed up exactly so the alternator method makes more sense. However, after having a condenser let me down in St Malo on my Guzzi, I went with the distributer mounted system, it is after all just a low powered ditch pump engine :D so I really wasn't toooooooo concerned about getting the last n'th of timing cock on. As a result she now runs a lot better and starts on the merest sniff of the starter button :)

PS Where's the points 'cam' gone Nin? :D

Andres
Click to expand...

Unless i'm mistaken, the cam lobes are low on this dizzy, you can see the tab on both sets of points sitting on the cam very close to the backplate, (unless your referring to a guzzi specific part)
 
I got this one Slacky (from Gutsibits), for no particular reason other than it seemed a reasonable price and I few people I know have it fitted with no issues. FWIW I didn't bother with 4ohm coils as suggested, I'm still running the original 40 year old Guzzi ones and not had an issue :)

Edit: I linked the wrong image :blast

It's a Dynatek 'Dyna III' ignition.........I bought it from Gutsibits (a year or two ago?) but can't find it listed on their site now :confused:



Andres
 
Nin said:
So here's a thing. I've just registered an interest in the DGR on 27th Sept 2020 in London. The plan is to get the bike done, run in and ready to make it from Oxford to London and back again. And maybe see some of you there?

Feck, that's only 4 months off, and I've got to find a buyer for my kidney to fund the rest.
Click to expand...

I'll see you there on my 1978 Cali :cool:
 
It’s the balance weight springs that are missing.

Dynatech III is the setup that’s recommended in Guzziology, but like you say removing the distributor is going to make a big difference. And of course (once I replace the springs) I can sell it to make up the difference.

Time for some man maths.


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Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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