Subject: Ambo Throwout Bearing & Starter Questions
Author: Keith Ruff
Date: Jan 4, 2001, 1:14 PM
Post ID: 1704745612
Greetings Fellow Loopers,
My Ambo is in process of having new clutch disks installed as well as a
NOS throw-out bearing (thanx for the NOS bearing David Otis!!). I was
just reading through a June 1971 Cycle World mag review of the 71 Ambo,
and it mentioned:
"Internally, the most important modification occurs in the clutch
throw-out bearing, which was of the caged ball variety and was
predisposed to early failure. This is now replaced by a needle bearing.
The clutch operating arm mounting is also strengthened by a bigger
screw."
Here's my question: What is a needle bearing? Can I have my mechanic
install this needle bearing instead of the NOS caged ball type bearing
without major mods? What about the bigger screw on the clutch operating
arm? From what I understand, my options were either to use a NOS
bearing or completely dis-assemble the trans and bore it out to fit an
Eldo size bearing. My 71 has a mere 5100 original miles and I had heard
it was not uncommon, as this article also states, to have this bearing
go bad already. If I can install this needle bearing instead without
major mod, I'll do so and have some piece of mind that this NOS ball
bearing won't go bad again anytime soon. Can anyone shed some light on
this for me? I'm not anywheres near mechanically inclined this deep
other than the standard tune-up type stuff.
Also, I have an original starter on the bike which appears to work fine.
My question is relative to paint. My mechanic said the early Ambo
starters were not painted, just alloy. There is no sign of black paint
on my starter at all. I like the looks of the black painted starters I
have seen on many of my fellow loopers machines. I was wondering what
type of paint I can use to spray the starter body without having it melt
off, I gather some sort of automotive engine paint? Is it worth doing,
or should I leave it alone. Hey Ian, believe you told me that lots of
folks pointed this out to you - that your bike looked great except for
the unpainted starter - that has been in my mind since we spoke about
it. What did you do?
Can't wait till the spring! Can't wait to get the bike back. Look for
my "My First Guzzi" article in the MGNOC within the next few months,
waiting to finish the last para of the article once I get the bike back,
pix will be included - will also send pix to you David Otis for the
Loopframe webpage.
Thanx All!
Keith Ruff
71 Police Amabassador - NJ