Paging the Guzzisti

The Quota's 27K mile service is now due and it's a biggie.

The question is: is there any special servicing required by the drive
shaft? As far as I can see without dismantling it, there are no oil
seals between the bevel box and the drive shaft, so it looks as though
that's where it gets its lube from. Is this right?

 

No. The drive shaft is unlubricated. The UJ has sealed for life (around 25-
30k miles) bearings. I once tried sealing the swingarm tube and introducing
ep90 as a way of extending the life of the uj. It didn't work, the EP90
dissolved the polysulphide grease in the UJ, which blew 5k miles later when
the ep90 had seeped through into the bevel box.

 

If it's like the older 850/1000s, the drive shaft has splines at each end
which need greasing. The shaft is not lubed by anything other than what you
apply. Moly grease seems to be the most popular for this. The bevel is
self-contained and has its own type of oil/additives. Check the condition of
the large dia oil seal on the bevel too The U/J needs a good clean and
grease-up too. Check for any play or wear here. If it lets go on you it *is*
bloody entertaining. (trust me on this).
While you're in there, it is always worth cleaning/lubing the fine threads
on the swinging arm pivot 'adjusters'.
All this lot will take an afternoon but it *will* give you confidence that
all your bearings and most importantly the U/J are all in good order.
Of course I've not worked on a Quota back end so this could all be bollocks.
:>)

JB

 

Assuming (and I reckon this is fairly safe) that Guzzi haven't
fundamentally changed the design of the final drive then the only
servicing required by the bevel box is oil changes.

There are no seals between bevel box, drive shaft and UJ on the round
barrel big twins.

This allows the oil expansion room up the driveshaft. There is an O ring
between the bevel box mating face and the driveshaft tube. The splines
on the driveshaft at the UJ end benefit from a smear of CV grease.

The final drive on my T3 had over 100,000 miles on it when it lunched
itself:
http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/t3beveldrive/

 

Ah, ta.

Oh, Courtesy of your suggestion of a while back, my bike now sports a
pair of Cibie headlights. Much better.

Did yours ever crack collector boxes? I've had to weld both of mine
and in both cases the internal baffle has subsequently broken loose,
so it rattles like marbles in a tin at idle.

 

This is on a Quota or a one of the round barrel twins?

 

On the Quota, but it's the same with the earlier bikes. A vibration through
the right footrest is the usual indication that the UJ is on the way out. I
once managed tpo get home on one which after I removed it, came apart in my
hands like a cheap chinese puzzle ;-)

 

Way to go.

They all do that sir. Mine had been with a jolly nice custom made stainless
two into two with very posh Remus end cans. The guy I bought it off said he
could post me the bits if I really wanted. I didn't bother.

 

Pretty much the same, except I think the increased angle of the UJ on the
taller suspension prolly reduces it's life a bit.

 

Motorworks did offer an aftermarket one which was basically a two-into
one bit of tubing. Trouble was, it needed an EPROM change too and I
was too stingy to pay the extra couple of dozen quid - plus I was
worried that it might not be a perfect map.

The other bonus would've probably been easier access to the gearbox
drain plug.

I do kind of regret not buying it now.

 

Didn't know there was a such a thing as a "big" service on a Guzzi.

 

Mine has the chip upgrade. It certainly pulls cleanly up through the rev
range. I'm considering selling, know anyone tall who want's one?

 

Hah. My youngest GS has the original driveshaft on it - 230,000+ miles
and still no discernable wear. Given that, allegedly, Suzuki copied (and
doubtless improved on) a BMW design, it amazes me that Guzzi couldn't
and can't do something equally long-lived with the design of theirs.

 

Didn't know there was a such a thing as a "big" service on a Guzzi.[/QUOTE]

Well, valves & engine oil as per usual, but also: bevel box & gearbox
oils have come up together this time, and the fork oil, the brake
fluid, the oil filter, and the air filter. In fact, all that doesn't
need doing is the fuel filter.

 

I've put a good 50,000 + miles on a 1979 ex Police bike that is still
running on the UJ bearing and UJ that I got it with.

Well, that's fate well and truly tempted.

 

My first U/J however chose the A23/M23 interchange to 'let go'. Sideways on
a Guzzi at over 80 is no bloody fun at all. How I stayed on is anyones
guess. Back wheel locked solid, nice flat section on the tyre the whole lot!
I check the whole drivetrain for any impending doom at least once a year
now. Mind ewe, the U/J did have over 120k on it.

JB

 

Yep, defective memory on my part. Guzzi UJ's should be good for 40 -50k, I
think the quota may suffer from a more acute angle due to the taller
suspension though.

 

Well, valves & engine oil as per usual, but also: bevel box & gearbox
oils have come up together this time, and the fork oil, the brake
fluid, the oil filter, and the air filter. In fact, all that doesn't
need doing is the fuel filter.[/QUOTE]


That's just standard service stuff, really, and I've neve rbeen one for
believing you should change brake fluid at the recmommended intervals
anyway.

i know it sounds silly, but I just change it when it starts getting
grubby or when the brakes start getting spongey.

 

And the extra load imparted by the fat bastards who buy them.

 

Use the urine test. If the brake fluid is the colour that if you were
pissing it would make you think about going to the doctors then change
it. If it's the normal urine colour, it's OK.