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1986 Moto Guzzi California ii starting question.

trebor49

trebor49

Just got it firing!
Joined
Apr 24, 2024
Messages
11
Location
York Beach, Maine, United States of America (the)
Just bought the bike, 1986 California 2. 26000 miles. Has been sitting inside storage. Ran 2 years ago. Maintained fairly regularly. I drained all the old gas. Filled the tank with new gas and some dry gas. The ignition key has 3 positions. The first position is off. Second position everything lights up and the engine will crank, but not turn over. 3 position, the dash lights will turn off, head light stays on, and the engine will not crank. Any thoughts are appreciated.

B
 
Hi.
From memory:
Pos 1-off.
Pos 2-Ignition on and ready to start.
Pos 3-Parking lights (I think).

Can you be more specific when you say, "the engine will crank, but not turn over."? Do you mean the starter engages but won't spin the engine sufficiently? If that's the case, probably battery. Have it checked for a high voltage discharge (specialist job).
 
Check your kill switch on RH of bar, it turns on the coils with key in 2nd position. I have an 86 Cal2
Make sure coils under side cover have 12V going to them.
 
kenrover said:
Hi.
From memory:
Pos 1-off.
Pos 2-Ignition on and ready to start.
Pos 3-Parking lights (I think).

Can you be more specific when you say, "the engine will crank, but not turn over."? Do you mean the starter engages but won't spin the engine sufficiently? If that's the case, probably battery. Have it checked for a high voltage
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for your reply. With the key in the second position. I press the ignition switch, the starter engages and spins the engine. The engine will not turn over, it will not start. I put a new battery. The new battery needed a charge. Once I did that the starter turned the engine fine. The magneto has been replaced with an electronic start.
 
trebor49 said:
Thank you for your reply. With the key in the second position. I press the ignition switch, the starter engages and spins the engine. The engine will not turn over, it will not start. I put a new battery. The new battery needed a charge. Once I did that the starter turned the engine fine. The magneto has been replaced with an electronic start.
Click to expand...

You are confusing and contradicting yourself here.

If the starter is “spinning” the engine, then IT IS turning the engine over.

If it turns over but then fails to start, this is a different issue entirely.

Also, you do not have an electronic start. You have an electronic ignition as opposed to a breaker points ignition.

Terminology is everything here if you are to successfully communicate what is precisely going on with your motorcycle.

Who installed the electronic ignition and when?

Did this motorcycle ever run for you and if so, when?

What have you done since it was running that it now no longer runs?

Being that we cannot see or touch the motorcycle, your information must be spot on accurate in order to adequately diagnose this with you.
 
That model takes a larger 32AH battery, in case batt is too small it won't turn over. Did you look at coils or kill switch?
Are the spark plugs sparking?
 
Also, your motorcycle has dual Dell’Orto VHB 30 carburetors. There is no way that they will not need to be completely disassembled and cleaned due to their age and having sat for 2 years, especially if they were not properly drained completely of all fuel before storage.

Just trying to spray carb cleaner in them will almost certainly fail.

The important thing to remember here is that everything inside those carbs can be cleaned or renewed with real Dell’Orto parts.

Please, do not swap out your excellent Italian carb parts for cheap Chinese knockoff garbage parts.

That is a recipe for disaster.

Yes, Dell’Orto has production facilities in India and China now, but parts for your carburetors are still quality Italian made parts.
 
V700Steve said:
Check your kill switch on RH of bar, it turns on the coils with key in 2nd position. I have an 86 Cal2
Make sure coils under side cover have 12V going to them.
Click to expand...
Hello my friend. We have the same bike! How exciting. I got mine started! I took out the plugs and cleaned them up a little. I also learned if the kick stand is down she will not start, Now that I have it going, I have another question. There is a tube that comes off the gas tank. I think it is a vent tube. Some one gerry rigged it. The tube runs from the tank to a plastic bottle attached to the frame with zip ties. I think it originally ran through the frame. Anyways the bottle overflowed today. Where does yours drain?
 
scottmastrocinque said:
Also, your motorcycle has dual Dell’Orto VHB 30 carburetors. There is no way that they will not need to be completely disassembled and cleaned due to their age and having sat for 2 years, especially if they were not properly drained completely of all fuel before storage.

Just trying to spray carb cleaner in them will almost certainly fail.

The important thing to remember here is that everything inside those carbs can be cleaned or renewed with real Dell’Orto parts.

Please, do not swap out your excellent Italian carb parts for cheap Chinese knockoff garbage parts.

That is a recipe for disaster.

Yes, Dell’Orto has production facilities in India and China now, but parts for your carburetors are still quality Italian made parts.
Click to expand...
 
kenrover said:
Hi.
From memory:
Pos 1-off.
Pos 2-Ignition on and ready to start.
Pos 3-Parking lights (I think).

Can you be more specific when you say, "the engine will crank, but not turn over."? Do you mean the starter engages but won't spin the engine sufficiently? If that's the case, probably battery. Have it checked for a high voltage discharge (specialist job).
Click to expand...
Thanks for the response. I got it started with your help on this switch thing. Thank you!
 
I disconnected the sidestand switch in 86, right away. I don't have a tank vent, I have a vented gas cap, came stock that way. Glad you got it started, you'll like it
 
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