Subject: RE: Guzzi machinists near Sacramento, San Francisco CA?

Author: Greg Bender

Date: Mar 23, 2005, 12:37 PM

Post ID: 1718589234

Hello Loopframers-

A while back I posted about my El Dorado's difficulty idling steady. A
group of guys fed me with steady advice. Thanks again, all of you who
responded with suggestions.

I finally ordered a copy of Guzziology, and on page 3 of the 'basics'
chaper, always humbling, the author suggested the use of a leakdown test

over a compression test. The author explained that Pre 1980s big twins
can suffer from leakdown figures in excess of 65% while still seeming to

run fine. However, they have difficulty settling into a steady idle.

I pumped air into the Guzzi's spark plug hole at TDC compression with
the valves within spec and I could feel air coming out of the oil drain
plug hole. It was not even hissing which worried me. Incidentally a
vintage BMW friend came by and we took compression tests as a hoot. 175
psi, both cylinders. I have to be suspect of the compression reading.

I'm looking to milk all information I can about good machinists in the
Sacramento and San Francisco areas. I would like to do as much as the
teardown myself as I can. I am fully aware I will have to take a whole
lot of time and a whole lot of reading, and will probably have to do the

job twice, but I figure nothing quite beats the most 'intimate' of
relationships with a bike.

I must sound awfully lonely.

Thanks in advance-

Gerard