Timed out

October 15th

Not much done with various summertime to's and fro's

I had a chat with the guy who rebuilt the engine.   He pointed out that the timing would need to be checked as he built it on the bench - no electrics available.

I had attempted to do this but the strobe I have would'nt work, and as it was starting ok just assumed it was near enough.

So last week I bought a new strobe, superior model vs the old one

The motor was about 15 degrees retarded!

Put it right - now the bike pulls cleanly in transition to main jet, although spits and coughs above 4000 rpm on over half throttle, so still some main jet and needle set ups to play with.  

Both plugs looking a bit white!  CF all the sootiness before.  Both cylinders now running up to same temperature.

Progress  though!  Raining today so work on hold.  Soon be time for wintering

Electricals

August 26th
Had a play with headlamp internals, some connections coming adrift, warning lights flickering so fixed issues with supply.  Also insulated a connection that I thought was to earth but no!  Connected up front brakelight switch now AOK

Pressure Drop

Week beginning 17/8

Decided to take up an offer of help from Steve J  up at number 14.

Session 1 - diagnosed low compression in rh cylinder
Session 2 (Saturday, 2pm - 6.30pm)  plan was to take of cylinder head but Mark spotted loose subsidiary spoark plug.  Tightened up.  Pressure UP!!

Test ride - much MUCH better, now have baseline to work off.

SNAG.....  don't seem to be charging, have had a look and all that fiddling with carbs and filters has dislodged a connection, will make good and do a proper generator test.

Details for reference

Fitted as per thisoldtractor.com

Escape from the Lab

Out front after test run, hopefully it will soon go as well as it looks

Carb tune road test 1

Road test
11 June

Pretty jerky response on quarter throttle
Improved by opening air screws 2.25 turns
Plug check, sooty with a white earth electrode
But not right, still very rough pick up at quarter throttle onto needle jet
So...
Took pilot jets out and replaced with smaller set (35 changed to 30)
Air screws seemed best at 1.5 for these jets, indicating going in the right direction
Some improvement but still not right on pick up
Right plug more sooty.  Left plug less sooty!
Progress!
Will have another run and maybe go up to 2 or 2.5 turns (which is about the max)
After that may fiddle with needle and needle jets etc.

Best with some volume.......

Rolling...

Tuesday June 9th
14.45 hours
Leather jacket down from the loft
Helmet also, cleaned up and ready, suitable gloves found
Guzzi out of the lab, onto the patio, rolled down the side of the house to the front
Brakes tested
Leg over
Fuel on
Go button pressed, engine fires straight up on choke
Clutch in
First gear in, no clunk
Clutch out - and away!

Few runs up and down the village
Steers straight
Brakes fine
Pulls strong on choke, once warmed up very poor pick-up on small throttle opening, better with choke back on
Despite problem with carburetion, engine feels pretty smooth and potent
Sounds good
No oil leaks, not overheating,
Full of promise

Next steps
Lift needle up one
or
Try other needle again
and
Maybe get the 2.5 cutaway slides as this size will generate stronger vacuum at small throttle opening

Keep fiddling on until it comes together

Last Gasp?

May 13th

Getting closer.  New carburettor parts arrived and fitted.  A little adjustment on the idle and air screws resulted in a steady tickover - and a decent pick up on throttle - none of the cough-splutter-gasp die routine.

Meanwhile also replaced bottom fork washer on damper rod retaining screw, was weeping fork oil.  Great difficulty removing fork until realised that the tight top yoke pressure on the new fork shroud/headlamp mount rubbers was generating a massive squeeze preventing all movement, had to loosen the big central nut on the top yoke to release.

The next report will I hope be based on some actual on road experience.... YIKES

For interest here are the carb settings.

Air filters dry wire gauze type, original filter long since ditched

 Number plate a photoshop job pending real one

Jet Set

But not yet.....

Saturday May 9th

During a carb setting session one of the units started pushing fuel from the float bowl overflow.  Diagnosed dirt in the needle valve, took of float bowl, blew through and re-fitted - ok.  Then the other carb did the same - clearly there is still too much rust sediment in the tank despite the nine rinses.  So invested in some in line filters and new fuel line.  Fitted quite easily and had an extended session on Thursday playing with needle settings in pursuit of a direction of travel.  No problems with overflow.

Sediment clearly visible in the in line filters - hmmm.

Despite fiddling on was unable to get a baseline.  Starts well on choke and revs up fine, but off choke it won't pick up and struggles to tick over.  Whilst on this job took opportunity to raise rear wheel and run through all gears, box works great - changes very slick by classic Guzzi standards.

Anyway took details from Gregory Bender's ThisOldTractor website (link here) and purchase same from Allens, except the 2.5 slides (3.0 fitted)  which add a lot to the bill so I'll leave those till later.

Despite these difficulties feeling good about prospect of 

riding away now it's insured (Carole Nash, fully comp).

Bloomin close

It's been really grand for a couple of weeks now so have had the T3 out fuori as much as possible.  Been busy with various system sorting whilst the daffs have bloomed and the blossom busted out.  Joy!

Brakes - pipes connected and system bleed through, new pads have arrived and ready to fit.

Electrics - connections to horn, earths from headlight loom, three pin block connector to bulb assembled - all lights and horn work as per loom plan - no in situ mods needed - phew!

Breather pipes - better fittings and routing.

Replacement rear mudguard (SH from Gutsibits) fitted, big improvement after the welding disaster.

Re-started and ran till fully warmed up - some carburettor tuning to do - plugs look very sooty and I don't think it will pull.  Ticks over fine but gargles and dies at revs.

Speedo and tacho cables fitted.

So all in all pretty busy couple of weeks - once the rear lights are sorted we should be ready to throw a leg over - carb tuning permitting.

Rev Connections

14th April

Bridging around the battery

The standard set up with fuse box under the side panel seemed to contort the loom.
So Re-Made -Re-Modelled using Teesdale Rules.
Re-positioned fuse box, now mounted with rubber washers on plastic internal mudguard shield.
RR45 Rectifier Regulator unit bolted to side panel carrier (left middle on photo)
Lucas Rita on RHS frame on photo (LHS actual)
Battery secondary +VE terminal carries lead from RR45 rectifier regulator unit (frame left red cable) and connection to ignition switch to power fusebox via Maronne on lower fuse box terminal
Secondary -VE  terminal carries Lucas Rita earth and RR45 earth (frame left green cable).
Standard connector blocks for brake light switches and rear brake light hook up at top right of battery.
RR45 connector block to forwards to alternator at bottom left of battery
HiCap leads to frame earth and starter motor ready to connect (battery RHS main connectors + and -ve)

Plus points:-
Better cable flow
Easy to see and manipulate fusebox terminals and connections
More weatherproof spot for fusebox.
Spare space under side panel
Easier access to brake master cylinder under side panel, less constricted by fusebox
Easier to visualize connections via multiblocks to various systems
Documented in this blog!

Blimey!

Saturday April 11th 2015
17.25pm

After weeks of piddling about with ancilliary stuff the inevitable test has to be taken.

HT cables connected up.
Turned over without spark plugs - sparks evident!
Breather pipes connected up.
Fuel lines connected up.

Wheeled out onto patio (plastic sheet in the event of unexpected oil incident!)

Results
click here

Blimey!

Plug and Play

Ready to connect up with the hand made bridging loom from switches to main harness

Hours of fiddling about spent, got to bite the bullet and molex the whole thing together.

Looming.....

Thursday 19th March

Homing in in the details;

Wiring loom now finally fitted, just connections to switch gear, (the headlight shell is in play!) relays, rectifier, lights and so on to complete, maybe a short day's work.  New brake line on the way. Soon be pushing that S-button....

Playtime with all the toys

Moto Home

Wednesday 18th February

Guzzi Lab re-located to West House
Thanks IB for all good works

Still some things left to do but not far to go

From the vaults

Picture of a previous rebuild somewhere around 1984 in Acklam, 18 Keswick Grove
That was a proper garage!
Still have the same trestle table (legs only, top replaced)

Thanks to George for the nostalgia drenched pixels

Brake through

January 13th

After the Christmas and New Year break - time to make progress

Discs lightly skimmed, Front brake feels good.

Other caliper seized, sent away for rebuild.



Manifolds sawn off ready for welding to new carb connectors (made by Hughie).

Various new parts bought, new battery and straps etc.

Once the carbs are in place and the electrics set up it should be good to fire her up.

Ian's wondrous Rocket Three