Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police Special tools

Special Moto Guzzi tools made by Stephen Brenton

Updated: 2011 Mar 20

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Stephen Brenton makes many of the special tools that you see on this page. His prices are reasonable and I've enjoyed using every tool I've ever purchased from him. Please contact Stephen Brenton directly to place an order. For reference, here are the special tools that Stephen creates:

• Brake shoe spreader tool
• Clutch hub securing nut tool
• Crankshaft holding tool
• Crankshaft pulley hub removal tool
• Fork bottom bushing from fork tube removal tool
• Fork chrome spring housing removal tool
• Fork tube puller tool
• Rear drive pinion nut tool
• VIN tag rivet removal tool
• Swing arm spindle adjustment tool
• Transmission layshaft / output shaft nut tool

Brake shoe spreader tool

Updated: 2011 Mar 20

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Clutch hub securing nut tool

Updated: 2011 Mar 20

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Stephen Brenton is kind enough to manufacture this tool. Contact him directly for price and availability.

This tool is applicable to 5 speed transmissions only. 4 speed transmissions utilize a snap ring on either side of the clutch hub. Use with ¹⁄₂ in breaker bar. See Guzzi Manual, Fig 79/2, tool 28. MG# 14912600

Crankshaft holding tool

Updated: 2011 Mar 20

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Stephen Brenton is kind enough to manufacture this tool. Contact him directly for price and availability.

See Guzzi Manual, Fig 17, tool 24. MG# 12905300

Crankshaft pulley hub removal tool

Updated: 2011 Mar 20

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Stephen Brenton is kind enough to manufacture this tool. Contact him directly for price and availability.

After removing the 3 bolts holding the pulley together I had a pulley hub which didn't want to break free from the crankshaft. This tool removed it easily.

Dell'Orto enricher jet O-ring installation tool

Updated: 2012 Feb 29

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Thanks to Gary Frankel for sending me this information in a private email. In Gary's own words:

After attempting the two assembly ways on your site, I knew there must be an easier way to install the o-ring.

Submitting for your site is my quick installer which after down sizing a caulk nipple that you size to the bead you wish. Buffed off the steps and pushed the jet into the end. I cut off the excess with a razor blade and polished the OD down and tapered the end so the O-ring zips right on in seconds without any headaches! I did use a dab of silicone [spray lubricant, not sealant]. This will be able to be used countless times.

Dell'Orto enricher jet O-ring installation tool.

Photo courtesy of Gary Frankel.

Dell'Orto enricher jet O-ring installation tool.

Photo courtesy of Gary Frankel.

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Dell'Orto enricher jet O-ring installation tool.

Photo courtesy of Gary Frankel.

Dell'Orto enricher jet O-ring installation tool.

Photo courtesy of Gary Frankel.

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Disc brake sleeve nut tool

Updated: 2012 Feb 21

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I extracted this recommendation from Carl (carl_wnnr) off of the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group. In Carl's own words:

I use one of these to remove the fork tube top cap sleeve nut: Air cooled Volkswagen oil filter nut removal tool, part number AC000139

Thanks to Ralf Brinkmann for sending me this information in a private email. In Ralf's own words:

Tool is home made by hand with iron saw and a file set.

Parts list:

• 1 × tube 30 mm × 5 mm, 28 mm total length (EN 10305-1-E235+C)
• 1 × bolt 18 mm × 1.5 mm × 41 mm (old Volkswagen part)

The two pins at the end of the tube are 4 mm in length

I did file two grooves to fit to a 27 mm wrench.

The bolt is either from one of my VW Bugs or a VW Split Screen Bus. Two of them are bolting the gearbox carrier to the rear end of the chassis.

The sleeve nuts where tightened so strong by a pre owner - I suppose with an air chisel - that I had to extend my 27 mm wrench to double the length.

Tool for tightening the sleeve nut.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tightening the sleeve nut.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Tool for tightening the sleeve nut.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tightening the sleeve nut.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Tool for tightening the sleeve nut.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tightening the sleeve nut.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Tool for tightening the sleeve nut.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tightening the sleeve nut.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Tool for tightening the sleeve nut.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tightening the sleeve nut.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

I extracted this recommendation from Leon Karlak off of the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group. In Leon's own words:

A few months ago we had a discussion regarding the best tool to use to screw/unscrew the slotted front fork sleeve that screws into the top of the fork tube and has an O-ring about 40% of the way down from the top.

An air cooled Volkswagen engine tool was recommended. When I showed the one I purchased to my son, he said that he had a Craftsman socket he hadn't used in 20 years that he thought would do a better job. Here it is: Craftsman 1³⁄₁₆ in Socket, Drag Link, Sears Item# 00944514000 | Model# 44514

I figured you would need something no wider than 30 mm. This tool is 30.1625 mm wide. You can hardly feel the over hang. Just wanted to offer another option to everyone.

Disc brake spring tensioner tool

Updated: 2011 Nov 10

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Thanks to Ralf Brinkmann for sending me this information in a private email. In Ralf's own words:

Tool is home made by hand with iron saw and a file set.

Parts list:

• 3 × flat iron 25 mm × 5 mm, 100 mm length
• 2 × flat iron 50 mm × 5 mm, 50 mm length
• 1 × washer 20 mm
• 1 × threaded bar 10 mm × ca. 300 mm length
• 1 × washer 10 mm
• 1 × nut 10 mm

The inner diameter of the 20 mm washer is 21 mm, one of the 50 mm × 5 mm flat iron has a hole with 11.5 mm diameter the other hole I did file to 26 mm diameter (On standard threading the pitch is omitted usually in Germany)

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Tool for tensioning the disc brake spring.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

One last note to Wirth springs

My theory: the narrow windings of the spring must point to the top - not into the bottom sleeve. The Wirth spring has little or no clearance to the bottom sleeve. If you put the narrow windings into the bottom sleeve due to the strong friction you will loose much of the smooth response.

Exhaust header pipe nut tool

Updated: 2009 Feb 10

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I extracted this recommendation from Ralf Brinkmann off of the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group. In Ralf's own words:

I use “DIN 1810 A” wrenches - very common and low priced in Germany.

To get the appropriate wrench size just measure the outer diameter of the nuts in millimeters - and look into a tool table ( “DIN 1810 A” ). The two numbers punched into the wrench are telling you the range for use in millimeters. Outer diameter of the nuts may differ from bike to bike. Searching a little bit I found some different pairs and measured the outer diameters of each pair:

• Very antique chrome plated brass pairs with worn out slots - 55 mm
• Zinc plated steel sets with nut and counter nut - 56 mm / 57 mm
• Aftermarket stainless steel set with nut and counter nut - 58 mm / 64 mm

Here are a few places where you can purchase the special hook wrench that will permit you to easily tighten and loosen the exhaust header pipe securing nuts. You'll need one wrench. The outside diameter of the exhaust nuts is not yet measured mm.

• Newman Tools Inc
• Andreas Maier Fellbach (US site)
• Andreas Maier Fellbach (Switzerland site)

Flywheel / ring gear holding tool

Updated: 2008 Nov 10

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See Moto Guzzi Workshop Manual, MG# 12911801

Ray Hale originally suggested using a flywheel lock / flywheel holder for a Volkswagen Beetle. Not as good as the original tool (as it only holds the flywheel in place when the ring gear is fitted), but it works well and is far cheaper. Toss the bolt and nut it comes with. Just slip the hole over one of the protruding studs in the bell housing and the teeth will engage with the ring gear.

These are commonly available from many locations, including:

• JC Whitney search for item number ZX150745T.
• JBugs search for item code 5003.

Fork bottom bushing from fork tube removal tool

Updated: 2011 Mar 20

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Stephen Brenton is kind enough to manufacture this tool. Contact him directly for price and availability.

Tool is shown attached to ¹⁄₂ in breaker bar, fork and bushing are shown on right. MG# 12525900 T1

Fork chrome spring housing removal tool

Updated: 2012 Jan 03

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Stephen Brenton is kind enough to manufacture this tool. Contact him directly for price and availability.

Four tabs on tool fit into the notches inside the chrome housing. Made from 4140 steel. See Guzzi Manual, Fig 104, tool 11. MG# 12912600

Thanks to Benjamin Mauceri for sending me the following information in a private email:

The fork collar tool fits the steering stem nuts perfectly.

Fork tube puller tool

Updated: 2011 Mar 20

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Stephen Brenton is kind enough to manufacture this tool. Contact him directly for price and availability.

Tool threads into top end of fork tube. Affords pulling fork tube up into triple tree during reassembly. See Guzzi Manual, Fig 105, tool 4. MG# 12909500

Piston ring compressor tool

Updated: 2011 Dec 15

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While I've always used my fingers and/or a wooden popsicle stick to compress piston rings when fitting the cylinder to the piston, you may prefer a dedicated tool. Many of the automotive tools are far too tall and unwieldy for our application. Ralf Brinkmann sent me this information in a personal email. In Ralf's own words:

My 650 cc Ural with high compression pistons has very fragile oil rings. I used a ring compressor for car engines as base to build my own tool. My antique sheet-iron shears did cut the thin hardened sheet metal very easily like paper.

The tool did also work with great success on new 83 mm Guzzi pistons for the 850 cc engines.

Piston ring compressor tool.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Piston ring compressor tool.

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Direct link to image

Rear drive pinion nut tool

Updated: 2011 Mar 20

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Stephen Brenton is kind enough to manufacture this tool. Contact him directly for price and availability.

Hole through center of 36 mm socket allows use with u-joint yoke. See Guzzi Manual, Fig 89. MG# 12356700 T1

Rear main bearing flange removal tool

MG# 12913600

Updated: 2011 Nov 28

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I used the following described technique with excellent success for years before purchasing the original factory-style tool MG# 12913600.

I extracted this recommendation from Curtis Harper of Harper's Moto Guzzi off of the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group. In Curtis' own words:

Actually there is a hardware store fix for the rear flange removal. 2 8 mm set screws and 2 10 mm bolts 50 mm long that are threaded all the way to the head.

1. Once all the 8 mm bolts holding the rear flange in are removed, find the two holes in the flange that are threaded to accept the tool. Then screw the 8 mm set screws into the case, just run them in flush. The purpose for these is the protect the threads from any possible damage from the bolts used in the next step.
2. Screw the 10 mm bolts into the flange until the contact the set screws in the case, then one revolution at a time alternate between the bolts pushing the flange out at at even rate.

Steering head lock-ring tool

Updated: 2012 Jan 03

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I extracted this recommendation from Ralf Brinkmann off of the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group.

Here are a few places where you can purchase the special hook wrenches that will permit you to easily tighten and loosen the two steering head stem nuts. You'll need two wrenches. The outside diameter of the steering head nuts is not yet measured mm.

Thanks to Benjamin Mauceri for sending me the following information in a private email:

The fork collar tool fits the steering stem nuts perfectly.

• Newman Tools Inc
• Andreas Maier Fellbach (US site)
• Andreas Maier Fellbach (Switzerland site)

Swing arm spindle adjustment tool

Updated: 2011 Mar 20

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Stephen Brenton is kind enough to manufacture this tool. Contact him directly for price and availability.

Two pins in tool fit into the two holes in the spindle. See Guzzi Manual, Fig 108, tool 13. MG# 12903000

VIN tag rivet removal tool

Updated: 2011 Mar 20

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Stephen Brenton is kind enough to manufacture this tool. Contact him directly for price and availability.

Allows removal of the rivets which hold the plate onto the steering head. Instructions:

• Place the tool inside the steering head.
• It's helpful to shine a light up the steering head while you look down.
• “Feel” around using the point to find the hole where the rivet is.
• Use a ⁷⁄₁₆ in wrench to turn the nut and advance the point to push the rivet out.
• You may want to put some tape over the outside of the rivet so it doesn't drop and get lost.

Transmission layshaft / output shaft nut tool

Updated: 2011 Mar 20

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Stephen Brenton is kind enough to manufacture this tool. Contact him directly for price and availability.

Hole through center of socket allows use with u-joint yoke. This tool is applicable to 5 speed transmissions only. 4 speed transmissions utilize a ring nut / spanner nut. See Guzzi Manual, Fig 79/1, tool 26. MG# 14905400

Valve spring compressor tool

Updated: 2008 Jan 15

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I first purchased, bent upon first use, and returned this Craftsman valve spring compressor. Maybe it will work for you, but it didn't for me.

Next, I came across an original valve tool on ebay. It is quite well made but I found it difficult to use.

I finally decided to make my own, homemade valve spring compressor. I'm certainly not the first person to make my own, but I thought I'd share my experience.

• I first picked up an 8 in C-Clamp from Harbor Freight for USD $8.55. A 6 in C-Clamp is easier to find, but does not quite have the opening needed and the throat is too narrow to get to the exhaust valve (although it works for the intake valve). The C-Clamp I found has nice smooth, fine threads…which give a much better mechanical advantage over rougher, coarser threads. I already had an 8 in Craftsman C-Clamp, but its threads were rough and coarse, so I decided on the Harbor Freight C-Clamp.
• Next, I picked up a ³⁄₄ in electrical conduit coupler from my local Ace hardware store for less than USD $1.50. The diameter is just right for fitting over the collar. I then had to grind out large chunks on two sides to facilitate removal and installation of the split collets.
• Finally, I welded the coupler to the C-Clamp.

There you have it. About USD $10.00 for a specialized tool that works absolutely beautifully!

Wrist pin puller tool

Updated: 2008 Jan 15

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I extracted this recommendation from Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle off of the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group. In Charlie's own words:

I made a wrist pin puller out of a PVC pipe nipple, a ³⁄₈ in stove bolt w/nut and some washers. Ground the head of the stove bolt down to the same diameter as the piston pin and wrapped a little duct tape around the shaft so that it would fit into the pin snug. Cost me about USD $2.00 and worked just fine.