What I Am Doing WithOUT My GRiSO These Days

[At least I think I fixed the url.  I am an IT maroon.    ]

It didn’t seem right to put this post into the “What did you do with your GRiSO today?” thread as this is about what I am doing without mine while Jim Barron at Rose Farm Classics “rollerizes” it.

So, here are a few pix of how I am spending my time: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Best viewed in full screen.

Bill

P.S. For those who noticed, and the fewer who care   , I had trouble posting this album because the forum’s setting’s forced the change to GRiSO, thus corrupting the url.  That led to the “G-Beast" label in the album's name.

Nice photo essay Bill. I note with interest two sets of mirrors on the Enfield. Function or fashion?

Also your Cali seems to be doing what my GRiSO does.

Good one Bill

Great photos and quite mesmerizing at times...

Great format that Bill!

Thanks for taking the time to post it all.........amongst Grandkids, food,travel,Christmas Decorations,entertaining, and getting lost on your bike.

Hey Bill what year is your GRiSO and how many Kms (Mls) when you discovered the buggered tappets?
Great photos, been in your part of the world last summer during our 16 states 16 capitals odyssey
Thanks

Your all set for Santa Bill

Good looking wife

Have been too busy or traveling to respond.  Apologies.

Now in Atlanta on “Eldercare Duty” for my 95-YO mom. The right thing, but, as all here who have "been there" know, hard work … and hard on the heart.

Here goes.

First, for both of you who care, here's the route of my trip with Kathi.  So fine.


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And, while a mere cage, drove our little Mini 600 or so miles yesterday from our home at the top of Virginia to Atlanta, with an a stop 75 miles north to pick up my brother, whose Norge is getting serviced at Riders Hill in Dahlonega.  That great place closes this month.  Sad.  Anyway, the ride down, tho mostly on the slab, was great, especially on I-26 and on the "nonslab" south of Waynesville, N.C.


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beetle wrote:

Nice photo essay Bill. I note with interest two sets of mirrors on the Enfield. Function or fashion?

Also your Cali seems to be doing what my GRiSO does.

Function.  Travis was looking for alternatives for buzzy OEM.  Left both sets on to compare.  Says he’s getting used to both now!  OBTW, he sold his Tenni GRiSO.  Regrets it already and muttering about getting another.

Omnis wrote:

Hey Bill what year is your GRiSO and how many Kms (Mls) when you discovered the buggered tappets?
Great photos, been in your part of the world last summer during our 16 states 16 capitals odyssey
Thanks

Next time this way, stop by.

I only have 12.6K or so miles on my GRiSO, a 2010.  Have to say that I was surprised to see damage that soon (as shown on pic I posted), as I do not think I ever “just rode it to the grocery and back on wet days,” but nearly every ride was 100 miles or so plus and ridden “as intended.”  

But, obviously, c’est la vie.

I stopped on the road yesterday in my drive down to Atlanta and, while marveling at the fine weather (and some local scenery in shorts!   ), got a call from Jim Barron.  

As I had a complete service history and the obvious damage, Piaggio had just approved my “free” parts kit.  Whew.  Now, it has to come from Italy and have Jim fit it.  

OBTW, while the top end was apart, Jim sent the heads off to Bruce Blake (http://www.mei-inc.com/machine/) to do some metal magic. I doubt that I will be able to tell the difference, but you never know, and it’s only money.    Now, to figure out a way to launder the money from Kathi’s “Bill, I thought you said the fix on the GRiSO would cost less than that?"  

Speaking of “The Wife" ...

Laker wrote:

Good looking wife

And, she’s a sweetie, too.    In fact, there are some burdens associated with being married to a saintly person … especially if one isn’t one.  

Hard, too, to believe that Kathi, my beloved wife and talented pillion, is on Medicare!  

Bill

You have camera skills too. Very nicely done sir.

My GRiSO just at 10K on her, similar looking tappets. Short rides, long rides, pretty much all over the board.

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This is nothing short of awesome.

Nice part of the world so lush compared to Oz

Apologies for continuing this thread, but it is hepful for me while my GRiSO winters in Woodstock.

So, today, I started my annual Nekkid Norge service event.  


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In addition to the usual oil & filter change, valve adjustment, and tupperware repairs, etc., I am going to replace the front rotors and pads, and remove the stanchions for a suspension pro to do some magic.  I've never removed forks, and need to see what YouTube might have to aid a dummy like me.  

I also need to check on the crank position sensor.  Constant PITA for dashboard errors.  Weeps some oil.  Hoping I just need to pull, clean, and reinstall.

Back to your regular GRiSO programming now, but thanks for the therapy.  

Bill, forks are as simple as:
- support crankcas so front wheel is off the ground;
- remove front guard;
- remove brake calipers;
- remove wheel;
- loosen off the triple clamps;
- slide forks out;
- "adjust" forks;
- reassemble in reverse order;

Always good to mark where the top of the fork tubes are in the top triple clamp so they go back in the same place (or, higher gives sharper steering, lower give slower steering)

Easy peezy - should take about 1/2 hour to remove, slightly longer to reverse, and whatever time you need in the middle

MANY thanks, Tony.

As with all such things -- like that first kiss  and, especially mechanical work for me -- it is Terra Incognito.  

When successful (in both of those examples!), it is quite fine.  

Bill

Again, thanks, Tony, but I am stymied by an unexpected obstacle.

I followed your (very clear and concise) directions and everything worked ... to a point.

Oh, first, as you may see, I had to pull the airbox, which was not part of the planned program.  That's because, in checking on the air filter, I found a surprising amount of oil in the air box and even some in the throttle bodies!  


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I am careful not to overfill when changing, so this seemed odd.  I do not look forward to reinstalling that as it's always painful, even literally sometimes.  OTOH, Kathi is awestruck when she sees it all apart like this and thinks I am a wrenching god.    Let's not tell her the truth.  

But, yes, I digress.

So ... when it came time for the stanchions to "fall out" ... well, they didn't.  


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Tried gently prying the triple-tree "splits" apart. Tried (again gently) tapping assembly with rubber hammer.

Nada.

Hmmmmmm.  

Then looked up top.

Mine are 1200 Sport forks, and are, I think, different than stock Norge ones.


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Anyone know if the answer is to remove that small PH screw at side, then back off that large (26mm?) top piece?  

If so, will have to get the right-sized, thin-walled socket.  I have nothing like that, as my sets are too small or too large.  Need a Goldilocks sized one.

Grazie.

Bill

P.S. Yes, I know this is a GRiSO forum.  As soon as I get mine back, I'll stop with Norge and EV posts.  I should probably cross-post this, too, on Guzzitech.

Bill, loosen off the top clamps, just like you did the bottom ones and the forks "should" just slide out - the nut and all it's trimmings can stay on, though it's a good idea to loosen the big nut as a precaution - fork sliders are not easy things to clamp. You can do this when out but they "might" be tight, though it is an O ring seal and should be easy to undo.

The top slider can then be unscrewed from the top nuts, the forks inverted and drained into a container - I hang a bit of rope form the rafters just for this.

What are you doing to the internals, Bill? Just the right amount of oil, or something else?

Yeah, as on the other site, Bill, loosen the mount for the handlebars - I always do this on my Sport, as they might pinch the top clamps.

As I know everyone's been on tenterhooks over my shocking situation, I wanted to bring you up to date.  

The BLUF is I am celebrating victory   ... while, as is the usual case in battles, mourning my missing and dead.  

Thanks to Oz1200Guzzi and some others here and on guzzitech.com, I broke the code on pulling the bars and risers off where I had started on the left side.  

There was - à la  the hidden 4 bolts under the Tonti sumps -- a secret fastener below.  

Once all fasteners were removed, it became clear to me (at last) that the top of the shock was indeed filling that opening and I could tap it through ... after a liberal dousing of lubricant and some appropriate and imaginative cursing.  


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It was then clear sailing down and out.


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Unfortunately, in my enthusiasm to repeat that success, I rounded out the large hex head on the right side.  More and even more colorful cursing ensued.  

Certain that I was boinked, I nonetheless tried -- after all other fasteners were out and lubricant on and in -- to remove the right-hand stanchion.


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Another victory!

Uhm.

Not so fast.

Study the next two pix.

Not enough clearance to get the shock by the wheel lock.  

What to do?  


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So, I called Kathi to help me hold the Norge steady while I would beat it into submission a few inches over at the front.

Kathi looks at me and asks -- innocently, I hope -- why I did not simply raise the scissors jack under the sump?

Hmmmmmm.

My mind raced to find a way not to let her know she was smarter than I had been.  

In, however, a rare burst of candor (I will no doubt later regret), I admitted that she was right, indeed brilliant.  


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I then posed for a triumphant photo with my favorite tools ...


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And, in answer to Oz1200Guzzi's question about "why" and "what next," topped off the day by adjusting the valves.


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While it's nekkid and on the lift, I'll also fiddle with that crank-position sensor, R&R plugs (which look pretty nasty after 5K), R&R oil & filter, tidy up some wiring, "weld" weak points on the cladding, and do some general cleaning, etc.  I will also R&R the front rotors, and, if time at my tortoise-like pace, the rear.

When I go to Atlanta on Monday to help out with Mom, I'll take those forks to Kent Soignier at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to see what should/needs to be done.

So, there, I knew you'd want to know.

Ciao from Cross Junction,

Bill

Awesome Bill, love the pictures. Give Kathi due cred often - always enhances the domestic relationship.

Would be interested to see what changes you end up with in the front forks - I rode my Sport today for the first time this year and the first time in over 3 weeks. Having the correct amount of oil in each leg (as well as the correct grade) made a huge difference - it took me a while to realise things were much smoother, while coming to work. Even the compression and rebound seem pretty good. A load of luggage will probably have me clicking one or two clicks either way for fine tuning, but for now I am happy.

Interesting to see your TiN coating on the forks is also wearing where it does the most work. Don't believe it is a problem, just looks a bit shitty.

Bill's having too much fun I swear

I thought Bill was the one swearing, Pascal...

Bill...you are an inspiration! Great pic's of your project...looking forward to more on the reassembly.

Oz1200Guzzi wrote:

I thought Bill was the one swearing, Pascal...

Exactly.