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carbs needed

fossilrder

Tuned and Synch'ed
Joined
Sep 22, 2014
Messages
25
Location
Chattanooga, Tn.
Hey guys, Steve here. I have a friend who is needing a carb/set of carbs for a '60s V7 Ambassador he picked up. All of the Guzzis I have owned have been later models, T3,etc. so I really am not familiar with what he is telling me came with this bike. The numbers on the carbs (one of which is not repairable) are SS129D and DS. The carb that is not useable is the left side (DS). I told him the later carbs might work but I'm not sure. Any help or info would be appreciated. R
Thanks, Steve
 
Steve, check with Moe at CycleGarden.com or Mark at MotoGuzziClassics.com - if those both turn up nothing, post again.
 
Be prepared to pay lots of $$ for a pair of SS1s. And then be prepared for leaks and poor fueling. If he's going for a 100 point, totally correct restoration that won't be ridden, then they might make sense. If he actually wants to ride the bike and have it perform like it should, then it would be better to find a pair of VHB 29 from an Ambassador or Eldorado or VHB 30s from a T, T3, Convert etc. Buy the matching manifolds to go with the carbs - they're different than the ones for SS1s.
 
Thanks, Charlie. That is the info we needed. So, to be sure I understand, the bolt pattern for the manifolds for these early carbs is the same as the bolt pattern for the T/T3. So we just need the stock manifolds and carbs for the T/T3? He just wants the bike for a rider and "correctness" doesn't really matter. Thanks again for the help. Steve
 
The bolt pattern for all of the manifolds is the same. There are two important differences: the angle of the bend and the "spigot" diameter. If one uses VHBs on SS1 manifolds, the float bowl may interfere with the engine case. The "spigot" (machined section of the manifold that the carb slips onto) is different diameters for VHB 29s (35 mm) and VHB 30s (37 mm), so you need the manifolds to match the carbs.
 
I believe that I have some old VHB 30 carbs and manifolds that will be really inexpensive if you think you might use them. I will look in my carb box tonight when I get home and verify.


I looked and I have 2 each VHB30CS and VHB30CD. One set is complete with slides, jets etc. The other set has intake manifolds and intakes attached but no slides. Let me know.
 
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Thanks guys. I found a set of manifolds on ebay
and got them today. Hopefully they are correct for his carbs. One additional question is concerning the manifold gaskets and phenolic spacers. The gaskets I got are really thick, maybe 1/8" or more, and I looked at my T3 and found that it doesn't have the phenolic spacers but has what appear to be the thick gaskets. I believe I have bought and used a much thinner gasket on previous T3s. Question is, do you still need the spacers if using the thick gaskets? I don't remember running into this situation before. Also, Gyrorex, I might be interested in a set of the carbs for a spare, since I have 2 T3s and seem to find it hard to pass on an orphan needing a home.! So let me know what you are asking and I will think about it. Again, much appreciated. Steve
 
There should be two (approx. 1/8" thick) manifold gaskets on each side. On the V700 there is a "reducer tube" that fits into the intake port - the flange gets sandwiched in between the two manifold gaskets. I've never seen any phenolic spacer.

There are also fiber isolator washers that fit into the manifold at each attaching bolt.
 
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Thanks guys. I found a set of manifolds on ebay
and got them today. Hopefully they are correct for his carbs. One additional question is concerning the manifold gaskets and phenolic spacers. The gaskets I got are really thick, maybe 1/8" or more, and I looked at my T3 and found that it doesn't have the phenolic spacers but has what appear to be the thick gaskets. I believe I have bought and used a much thinner gasket on previous T3s. Question is, do you still need the spacers if using the thick gaskets? I don't remember running into this situation before. Also, Gyrorex, I might be interested in a set of the carbs for a spare, since I have 2 T3s and seem to find it hard to pass on an orphan needing a home.! So let me know what you are asking and I will think about it. Again, much appreciated. Steve


Steve,
I was thinking about 100 for the complete pair, I have no forseeable use for them and they need a good home!
 
Well, another question: I gave the manifolds to my buddy and he says he now needs the insulator sleeves between the manifolds and carbs. All I can find are listed some places as only fitting the VHB29 carbs another place they are listed as fitting 27-30 carbs.? The carbs he has are VHB30s and the manifolds measure 37mm on the spigot OD. Should this require a sleeve? I haven't seen the carbs yet but might run by his place tonight and see what is going on.? The sleeves listed at MG Cycle say for 29 and do not include the 30. Very confusing. As listed by Ambo man, the two ODs of the spigots for the 29 and 30 carbs are different so the same sleeve can't work for both. Thanks for any more info.
 
Well, another question: I gave the manifolds to my buddy and he says he now needs the insulator sleeves between the manifolds and carbs. All I can find are listed some places as only fitting the VHB29 carbs another place they are listed as fitting 27-30 carbs.? The carbs he has are VHB30s and the manifolds measure 37mm on the spigot OD. Should this require a sleeve? I haven't seen the carbs yet but might run by his place tonight and see what is going on.? The sleeves listed at MG Cycle say for 29 and do not include the 30. Very confusing. As listed by Ambo man, the two ODs of the spigots for the 29 and 30 carbs are different so the same sleeve can't work for both. Thanks for any more info.

No, they should not require a different sleeve - the VHB 30s have the 37 x 40 sleeve to fit onto manifolds with a 37 mm diameter "spigot". They are a tight fit, so maybe he thinks they're the wrong ones?It's always possible that someone could have changed the sleeves to 35 x 40 though.

The sleeves on MG Cycle are 35 x 40 and will not work on manifolds with a 37 mm o.d.
 
Sorry to have to keep asking about this, but are you saying there are actually two different sleeves, one with a 35mm ID and another with a 37mm ID but both with a 40mm OD? If that is the case, where can I get the ones with the 37mm ID, since all I see are the 35mm ID. Thanks again.
 
Sorry to have to keep asking about this, but are you saying there are actually two different sleeves, one with a 35mm ID and another with a 37mm ID but both with a 40mm OD? If that is the case, where can I get the ones with the 37mm ID, since all I see are the 35mm ID. Thanks again.

Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. I don't know of a source for the 37 x 40 sleeves - they've been unavailable for years. When I needed some for a customer's G5, I machined them out of Delrin tube.
 
I thought that might be the case so I also turned a set on my lathe out of a bar of HDPE I had left over from another project. That suff machines really nicely. Thanks again, Steve
 
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