Moto Guzzi V700, Ambassador, V7 Special, Eldorado, 850 California, 850 GT
Body, tank, fenders, side covers, tool boxes
Engine, clutch, & related components
Interesting photos and information
Workshop manuals, spare parts catalogs, rider’s handbooks
Moto Guzzi Round Head Tonti Frames
Turn signals as running lights
Princeton Graphics VL1918 Monitor Repair
Moto Guzzi V700, Ambassador, V7 Special, Eldorado, 850 California, 850 GT
Jens Lyck's Guzzitech.dk website archive is now hosted on This Old Tractor Jens no longer owns a Moto Guzzi and has turned his attention toward his new motorcycle. Rather than let his wonderful online resource fade into oblivion, he has asked me to host his content (both the Danish and English versions). I am proud to do so. I have referenced his excellent compilation for years doing my own work and will continue to do so. Please update your URLs: | |
Other Moto Guzzi resources hosted on This Old TractorCarl Allison's wiring diagrams Guzzitech.dk website archive - courtesy of Jens Lyck | Antietam Classic Cycle - Excellent service spanning tune-ups to restorations Decals from John Prusnek - Very nicely produced decals you'll be proud to adhere Relays from Dan Prunuske - Great product, great prices MG Cycle - New Parts & Accessories for Moto Guzzis Moto Guzzi Classics - Used and New Parts for Moto Guzzis plus excellent service Stainless Cycle - Conveniently assembled and polished stainless fastener kits Steering Damper Kit from Joe Jump Zydeco Racing - Top notch transmission & rear drive service at unbelievable pricing |
Table of contents
A
- Accelerator pump check valve/ball
- Advertisement - Half a century is a long time.
- Advertisement - Our line has a long line behind it.
- Advertisement - The new Guzzi. It took fifty years to make.
- Advertisement - Virginia Slims
- Air box
- Air filters
- Alternator conversion
- Amal carburetor information
- Auxiliary gauge mounts
- Auxiliary rear light bracket
B
- B&M Model MC Friction Drive Siren
- Backrest
- Batteries
- Battery hold down bracket - as original
- Battery hold down bracket for Odyssey PC925
- Battery size/dimensions
- Battery tray - putting it all back together
- Bearing retaining compound recommendations
- Bearing sources
- Books
- Borrani wheels
- Brackets to mount a Tonti timing cover in a loop frame
- Brake/clutch cable specifications
- Brake actuation rod (for the rear brake)
- Brake adjustment
- Brake cable replacement information
- Brake cable-to-lever angle
- Brake lever length (on rear brake plate)
- Brake light switch alternative 1 (front)
- Brake light switch alternative 2 (front)
- Brake light switch replacement (rear)
- Brake line replacement information
- Brakes - External brake return spring
- Brake shoe spreader tool
- Brakes - Turning brake drums - 4 leading shoe brakes
- Breather box - a look inside
- Breather box - hose sizes
- Breather box - how to get the washer out
- Brochure - 850 California
- Brochure - 850 GT
- Brochure - Ambassador 2 page black on orange
- Brochure - Ambassador 2 page black on yellow
- Brochure - Ambassador 2 page red on blue
- Brochure - Ambassador 2 page white on green
- Brochure - Ambassador 4 page
- Brochure - Ambassador 6 page
- Brochure - Eldorado 1 page
- Brochure - Eldorado 4 page
- Brochure - Eldorado 6 page
- Bullet terminal connections
C
- Cable barrel end size
- Cable end repair
- Cable length - lower enricher (choke) for Dell’Orto VHB 29 carburetors
- Cable length - lower throttle for Dell’Orto VHB 29 carburetors
- Cable lube / luber
- Cable soldering
- Carburetor balancing/synchronizing
- Carburetor balancing/synchronizing without carb sticks
- Carburetor enricher cable holder o-rings
- Carburetor float bowls - checking for leaks
- Carburetor rebuild - Dell'Orto VHB
- Carburetor - setting them up
- Carburetor - single manifold
- Center stand stop tab
- Check list
- Clutch hub securing nut tool
- Clutch plate / intermediate plate alignment
- Clutch push rod tube seal installation
- Coil alternatives
- Coil information
- Coil terminal connections
- Condenser cross-reference
- Condenser wire bolt
- Contact points cross-reference
- Conversions (fractions to English to metric)
- Converting to left side shift/right side brake
- Core measurements and muffler internals
- CrampBuster (Cramp Buster) review
- Crankcase cracks
- Crankshaft holding tool
- Crankshaft pulley hub removal tool
- Cruise control
- Crush washer sizes
- Cush drive upgrade, 850T rear wheel upgrade
- Cylinder head exhaust nuts - solving the loosening problem
- Cylinder head exhaust thread repair
- Cylinder head guard end caps
- Cylinder head work
- Cylinder material identification
- Cylinder plating services
- Cylinder stud o-ring locations
- Cylinder stud o-ring size
D
- Dash indicator light placement - civilian dual gauge
- Dash indicator light placement - civilian single gauge
- Dash indicator light placement - typical police version
- Dash indicator light replacements
- Dash indicator lights - Head light indicator or High beam indicator?
- Dash light bulbs / indicator lights / idiot lights
- Dash rubber isolator mounts
- Dash variations
- Dash wrinkle paint
- Dealer prep tag
- Decals
- Differences between V700, Ambassador, and Eldorado models
- Disc brake front fender - fork mount measurement
- Disc brake information
- Disc brake parts
- Disc brake rear
- Displacement - ways to increase it
- Distributor ball bearing
- Distributor cap cross-reference
- Distributor cap securing screws
- Distributor clamp improvement
- Distributor drive gear clearance
- Distributor drive gear pin removal
- Distributor drive gear pin replacement
- Distributor drive gear shims
- Distributor rotation (advance vs. retard)
- Distributor rotor cross-reference
- Distributor shaft o-ring size
- Distributor spring
- Dyeing Granturismo grips
E
- Electricity usage by component
- Electronic ignition - alternatives
- Electronic ignition - Harper's Pertronix unit
- Engine (and transmission) removal
- Engine and transmission mounting bolts
- Engine animation
- Engine displacement
- Engine drain plug size
- Engine fill plug/dip stick size
- Engine mounting spacers
- Engine oil leaks from the bell housing
- Engine out? Check these things
- Exhaust - flexible crossover pipe
- Exhaust header pipe nut tool
- Exhaust pipe connections
F
- Fairing (the stock or Polizia one)
- Fasteners (nuts and bolts)
- Fender reflectors
- Flywheel / ring gear holding tool
- Footboard brake levers
- Footboard comparison - Bates vs DB
- Footboard comparison - early vs. late Moto Guzzi as used on the loop frames
- Footboard engine and transmission mounting bolt length
- Footboard or foot board vs floorboard or floor board
- Footboard replacement rubber mat
- Footboard set up - Bates
- Footboard shift levers and linkage
- Footboards with leg shields
- Fork bottom bushing from fork tube removal tool
- Fork chrome spring housing removal tool
- Fork lock pieces and parts
- Fork lock removal
- Fork rebuilding
- Fork seal carrier leaks/spinning at crimped area
- Fork seal cross-references
- Fork top plug o-ring alternatives
- Fork tube puller tool
- Front main seal cross-reference
- Fuel tank repair
- Fuse block
- Fuse block alternatives
G
- Gas cap gasket dimensions
- Gas cap replacement
- Gasket removal
- Gauge repair
- Gauge trim ring removal
- Generator bearing cross-references (Bosch)
- Generator bearing cross-references (Magneti Marelli)
- Generator belt cross-references
- Generator bracket
- Generator brush cross-references
- Generator field coil insulating wrap
- Generator field coil screws - Magneti Marelli
- Generator repair - Magneti Marelli
- Gilardoni Vittorio S.p.A.
H
- Handlebar switches for accessories
- Handlebar switch - Kawasaki 004 (ASAHI-DENSO)
- Handlebar switch - Suzuki 577-6 (ASAHI-DENSO)
- Handlebar switch - Yamaha YHA 205
- Handlebar switch - Yamaha YHA 206
- Headlight gasket replacement
- Headlight replacement
I
- Ignition coil operation test
- Ignition contact points cross-reference
- Ignition switch boot
- Ignition switch rebuild
- Ignition switch replacement
- Inner tube use in tubeless tires
- Intake manifolds
- Internal images of the engine, transmission, drive train, and bevel drive
K
L
M
- Machine work
- Magazine articles
- Miles Per Hour Calculation
- Mirror mounts
- Model identification - frame numbers, engine numbers, and special codes
- Moto Guzzi archive/history contact
N
O
- Oil filter addition
- Oil filter addition - Adapting an existing block to use an internal filter
- Oil filter addition - Bill Dudley
- Oil filter addition - Escher kit
- Oil pressure
- Oil pressure gauge
- Oil pressure relief valve
- Oil pressure sending unit
- Oil pressure sending unit cross references
- Oil pump gear - woodruff key
- Oil tray and passages - 4 speed transmissions
- O-ring for special top cylinder nut on V700 models
- O-ring sources
P
- Paint codes
- Painting
- Paint protection when installing the engine
- Paint removal - before you blast...
- Petcock alignment
- Petcock alternative
- Petcock repair
- Pinging
- Pin striping tape
- Pin striping the tank - chrome panel
- Pin striping the tank - top rectangle
- Piston coating services
- Piston rings - alternative sources
- Plating (Zinc)
- Points-plate and condenser screw
- Points to points-plate hold-down screw
- Police photos
- Police side stand spring alternative
- Polishing
- Powder coating
- Powder coating - what to do, what not to do
- Premier Motor Corporation forms
- Price lists
- Prime the oil pump
Q
R
- Rain cover for motorcycle solo seats
- Rear crash bar reinforcement for the gussets
- Rear drive / bevel box rebuilds
- Rear drive bearing cross-references
- Rear drive drain plug size
- Rear drive fill plug size
- Rear drive leaks
- Rear drive level plug
- Rear drive level plug size
- Rear drive pinion nut tool
- Rear drive ring nuts / lock nuts / spanner nuts / prong nuts / retaining nuts / lock rings
- Rear drive seal cross-references
- Rear fender installation
- Rear main seal cross-reference
- Review of Mark Etheridge's Police Solo Seat
- Rider's handbooks
- Rivet removal tool
- Rubber boot for the oil pressure sending unit
- Rubber boot for the starter button
S
- Saddlebag rack
- Saddlebags - Calafia
- Saddlebags - Dan Brown (DB)
- Saddlebags - Enduro
- Saddlebags - Joseph Buegeleisen Company of Detroit (Buco)
- Saddlebags - LAPD
- Saddlebags - Moto Guzzi
- Saddlebags - Shoei
- Saddlebags - US Army Surplus ammo cans
- Saddlebags - Wixom
- Seal sources
- Seat cover adhesive
- Shift linkage
- Shift linkage bushings
- Shocks - Koni / Ikon rear shock rebuild
- Shocks - Koni / Ikon spring selection
- Shocks - Teardown and rebuild of the stock shock step 1: outer
- Shocks - Teardown and rebuild of the stock shock step 2: inner
- Side cover screws
- Solenoid cross-reference (for Bosch starters)
- Solenoid mounting
- Solo seat alternatives
- Solo seat - making a fiberglass mold
- Spare parts catalogs
- Spark plug cap replacement
- Speedometer drive gear
- Speedometer gauge o-ring
- Spline lube
- Spot light brackets
- Spot light replacement light bulbs
- Spot lights for civilian turn signal brackets
- Stainless fasteners
- Stainless steel exhaust nuts
- Starter, Solenoid, and Starter Relay
- Starter and solenoid repair (Bosch)
- Starter button bracket
- Steering damper kit
- Steering damper kit with leg shields
- Steering damper replacement
- Steering dampers, aluminum spacer blocks, fork travel, and fender dents
- Steering head bearing cross-references
- Steering head lock-ring tool
- Steering head travel side to side (how to limit)
- Swing arm bearing cross-references
- Swing arm pivot pin adjustment tool
- Swing arm seal cross-references
- Swing arm spindle adjustment tool
T
- Tachometer retaining bracket
- Tachometer terminal connections / wiring a tachometer
- Tail light CEV 9313 replacement
- Tail light CEV 9350
- Tail light lens fading
- Tail light lens replacement
- Tail light to tail light bracket gasket
- Technical drawings
- Thread locking compound recommendations
- Throttle cover hold-down screw (Super Pratic B)
- Throttle retaining ring (Super Pratic B)
- Throttle Rocker review
- Throw-out bearing cross-references
- Timing cover - gears vs. chains
- Timing gear replacement
- Tire changing
- Tire choices
- Tire size information - Alphabetic / British system
- Tire size information - Inch / American system
- Tire size information - Metric system
- Tire size to use in a loopframe
- Tire speed ratings
- Tires - tubeless conversion
- Tire width conversions
- Titles - titling an untitled loop
- Tool box lock replacement
- Tool kit
- Torque specifications
- Transmission (and engine) removal
- Transmission bearing cross-references - 4 speeds
- Transmission bearing cross-references - 5 speeds
- Transmission drain plug size
- Transmission - false neutrals
- Transmission fill plug size
- Transmission - Installing the rear selector cover plate on a 4 speed
- Transmission layshaft / output shaft nut tool
- Transmission leaks - a fix for the four speed layshaft (output shaft)
- Transmission leaks - a fix for the four speed pre-selector shaft
- Transmission level plug size
- Transmission mounting spacers
- Transmission out? Check these things
- Transmission - pre-selector shaft rotation
- Transmission - Proper shaft alignment for assembly of a 4 speed transmission
- Transmission - reversing the shift pattern by moving the shift arm
- Transmission - reversing the shift pattern by using a Shift Offset Bracket
- Transmission ring nuts / lock nuts / spanner nuts / prong nuts / retaining nuts / lock rings
- Transmission seal cross-references - 4 speeds
- Transmission seal cross-references - 5 speeds
- Transmission shift hole fill plugs
- Transmission - shifting technique
- Transmission shift return spring - Installing a shift return spring
- Transmission - Shimming the shift drum
- Transmission - The loop 4 speed transmission: An exploration
- Turn signal replacements / replicas
- Twist Assist assembly order
U
V
- V700 Italian Police Models
- V700s manufactured in 1975/1976
- Valve cover removal and installation
- Valve spring compressor tool
- Valve timing
- Voltage regulator bracket
- Voltage regulator cross-references
W
- Wheel bearing cross-references
- Wheel bearing seal cross-references
- Wheel bearing shims
- Wheel hub replacement
- Wheel lacing and trueing
- Windage plate
- Wiring diagram - headlight relay
- Wiring diagram - relays
- Wiring diagrams (very large and easy to read)
- Wiring diagram - starter relay
- Wiring diagram - turn signals
- Wiring supply sources
- Workshop manuals
- World Record Breaking Ambassador
- Wrist pin puller tool
Featured sections
- Fasteners (nuts and bolts)
- Quick maintenance data
- Rider's handbooks
- Spare parts catalogs
- Titles - titling an untitled loop
- Torque specifications
- Wiring diagrams (very large and easy to read)
- Workshop manuals
Purpose, disclaimer, other resources, and credits
Purpose
The purpose of this site and the information it contains is to provide useful or hard-to-find information about Moto Guzzi V7 / V700, Ambassador, V7 Special, Eldorado, 850 California, and 850 GT motorcycles (commonly referred to as "loop frames", due to the shape of the frame designed by Giulio Carcano and Umberto Todero). The bulk of the data is information I collected while restoring and maintaining my 1971 Moto Guzzi Ambassador (manufactured in October of that year). However, most of it can be directly applied to the Moto Guzzi V7 / V700, V7 Special, Eldorado, 850 California, and 850 GT models as well.

My Dad and I about to go for a ride over Thanksgiving break, 2003. My Dad is on his 850T while I'm riding his Eldorado.
Disclaimer
I have done my best to present correct and accurate information. However, I do not consider myself an expert in the area of Moto Guzzi motorcycles nor loop frame models in particular. If you find this information useful, I'm glad to be of service. If you see something that is incorrect, I'd appreciate it if you would send me a quick email detailing the mistake. If you use any of the information I have provided, you do so at your own risk. I take no responsibility for the accuracy of nor the consequence of using any content on this site.
Other resources
Of course, all of this information can be gleaned from alternative sources.
Reading material:
- Factory workshop manual (Operating Handbook for Stripping, Checking and Assembling Operations)
- Chilton book (Chilton's Moto Guzzi Repair & Tune-Up Guide: All V7, V750 Ambassador, and V850 Eldorado Models from 1966-1972)
- Guzziology by Dave Richardson
Serious online discussions:
- Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group
- Topica Loopframe_Guzzi news group ARCHIVE
- GuzziTech main page
- GuzziTech discussion group
Parts
Clubs
Credits
My work was made much easier through the advice and assistance of a number of folks. I've said it before, and I'll say it again now, Thanks!
- Tom Bender - My Dad who gave me the unrestored Ambassador in exchange for painting the house.
- John Schwartz - John has provided and continues to provide lot's of advice.
- Ron Garcia - Ron provided lot's of help in the early stages of restoring my engine.
- MG Cycle - Rick and Gordon sold me lot's of parts, and gave great advice at the same time.
- Rob Reardon - Rob painted and pin striped the bike. He is easy to work with and did a great job. (952) 292-8886.