My cheap, easy "1400" upgrade

Tanabuso Posts : 51 Join date : 2014-03-19

Alright, I just painted the valve covers. I mean who's going to know? Never see another Guzzi on the road let alone a GRiSO.

One pic with the heat shield and one without. Can't decide which I like better.

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Cheers,
Tod

Grignapoco Posts : 146 Join date : 2013-07-26 Age : 57

Ooooh. I'm pondering doing exactly that.

Friend of mine suggested my bike could use more red...

I think I like it with the heat shield better.

GRiSO Capo Posts : 10626 Join date : 2013-05-29 Age : 67

Just split tin' hairs but it isn't a heat shield, it's an electrical insulator. Very Happy

GRiSO Capo Posts : 10142 Join date : 2013-09-30

Hi Tod! Long time! What you been up to?

Oh yeah, with 'shield'.

cheers

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In GRiSO we trust!
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GRiSO Capo Posts : 1785 Join date : 2015-02-02 Age : 63

Fishbulb, what's the knee pad you have there ? Nice Red bits BTW

GRiSO Capo Posts : 1657 Join date : 2014-09-22

waterbottle wrote:: Fishbulb, what's the knee pad you have there ? Nice Red bits BTW

Yes, i am thinking about knee pads as well!

Tanabuso Posts : 51 Join date : 2014-03-19

Pete Roper wrote:: Just split tin' hairs but it isn't a heat shield, it's an electrical insulator.

Curious, what's its purpose? I figured it kept a bit of heat off your knees.

tod

Tanabuso Posts : 51 Join date : 2014-03-19

waterbottle wrote:: Fishbulb, what's the knee pad you have there ? Nice Red bits BTW

Make by TechSpec. I ordered the type with aggressive adhesive to be sure it stuck well to the plastic of the GRiSO as well as the textured plastic on my Versys.

Tod

Tanabuso Posts : 51 Join date : 2014-03-19

beetle wrote:: Hi Tod! Long time! What you been up to?

Oh yeah, with 'shield'.

Hey Mark. Got myself retired but my wife has found many ways to keep me busy. With a get away place in the Blue Ridge mountains where I keep my Versys tucked away, I get out on the Blue Ridge Parkway whenever I can get away for a few days.

Tod

GRiSO Capo Posts : 1732 Join date : 2014-07-03

"With."

Looks great.

BTW, where in the Old Line State are you?

Bill

Tanabuso Posts : 51 Join date : 2014-03-19

Bill Hagan wrote:: "With."

Looks great.

BTW, where in the Old Line State are you?

Bill

Hey Bill. I'm in Catonsville. I'll have to make it up the VA/MD/DC monthly ride sometime. Always seems like something comes up for me that day of the month. One way to see another Goose on the road. I have a track day buddy in Jefferson who owns a Monster, an Indian,and a Buell he blew up on the track. I'll drag him along as well.
Tod

Don Abbondio Posts : 116 Join date : 2016-12-20

I too like it with the heat shield/insulator whatever, it looks great.

Tanabuso Posts : 51 Join date : 2014-03-19

zebraranger wrote:: I too like it with the heat shield/insulator whatever, it looks great.

Just a rattle can from the auto supply store.

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GRiSO Capo Posts : 10626 Join date : 2013-05-29 Age : 67

fishbulb wrote:

Pete Roper wrote:: Just split tin' hairs but it isn't a heat shield, it's an electrical insulator.

Curious, what's its purpose? I figured it kept a bit of heat off your knees.

tod

It's actually a second line of defence against getting zapped if there is a problem with one of the plug caps or leads.

Because the rocker covers are insulated from the rest of the motor by rubber gaskets and o-rings there is a chance, albeit slight, that the spark from a damaged cap will earth out through your knee which could be, errr? Disconcerting!

When you have the rocker cover off you'll see, on early bikes, a washer with a tang on it on the upper rear head stud that contacts the rocker cover when it is installed. On later bikes this is replaced by a small tang bolted to the top of the rocker support assembly that touches the roof of the rocker cover. These are earth paths for any errant electrons so they don't go through your knee. As a second line of defence the rear of the rocker covers have the plastic shrouds so that if the earth tangs have been bent or misplaced there is still something to protect you!

Pete

Tanabuso Posts : 51 Join date : 2014-03-19

Pete Roper wrote:

fishbulb wrote:

Pete Roper wrote:: Just split tin' hairs but it isn't a heat shield, it's an electrical insulator.

Curious, what's its purpose? I figured it kept a bit of heat off your knees.

tod

It's actually a second line of defence against getting zapped if there is a problem with one of the plug caps or leads.

Because the rocker covers are insulated from the rest of the motor by rubber gaskets and o-rings there is a chance, albeit slight, that the spark from a damaged cap will earth out through your knee which could be, errr? Disconcerting!

When you have the rocker cover off you'll see, on early bikes, a washer with a tang on it on the upper rear head stud that contacts the rocker cover when it is installed. On later bikes this is replaced by a small tang bolted to the top of the rocker support assembly that touches the roof of the rocker cover. These are earth paths for any errant electrons so they don't go through your knee. As a second line of defence the rear of the rocker covers have the plastic shrouds so that if the earth tangs have been bent or misplaced there is still something to protect you!

Pete

Thanks for the explanation Pete. I had always noticed a similar tang on BMW oilheads I have owned which made you depress their springiness when aligning and installing the rocker cover bolts. For anyone wanting to omit these pieces of insulation, I found that an appropriately sized o-ring will take up the space of the missing plastic piece and leave the mounting bolt shoulder in the right place to mate with the oil seal.

regards,
Tod

GRiSO Capo Posts : 156 Join date : 2016-07-07 Age : 51

ah...looks fantastic. +1 for "with".

Nibbio Posts : 634 Join date : 2013-12-23

With.

"late" valve covers are $77.88 at AF1 Racing
"early" are $278.43...

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