Some of you seeing this thread's title may be disappointed that this is not my obit 
, but for most of you, here is the story with a bad start and a happy ending, but also one that should give any Norge owner, at least, some pause.
Bottom Line Up Front: Norge CARC is trashed; Piaggio warranting a complete replacement.
I regret having to post this, but Guzzisti need to know about such things.
Hmmmmmm. Piaggio may not even allow me to buy a Tenni -- which I still very much wish to do when (yes, OK, if) it gets to USA -- as I have been an expensive customer for them. I sometimes feel like a Piaggio "Pig Pen," the character in the Peanuts comic strip, who was always being followed by a dust cloud.
It appears that [code for -- paraphrasing what I've been told and do not understand all the inner workings of the CARC or nomenclature] the ring nut (spanner nut ?) that keeps the drive shaft from back and forth movement came off. That allowed the drive shaft to part ways with the pinion gear -- you can see how I'm in way over my head now! -- on decel, which caused a distinctive metallic whirring sound I heard when backing off throttle on a recent trip to Cheaha in Alabama. That was more than sound, too, as, of course, it caused metal shiny bits to appear in the gear oil.
How did I discover this? Well, I did not make the connection (I'm just slow, I think, as it seems pretty darn possible now) between a pronounced "guh - THUNK" I heard beneath me when starting out on that Alabama ride and still very near my house. Actually thought at the time my center stand or side stand had not been fully up and had smacked up or, more likely, I had run over something unseen on Edgewood Avenue which, in that area, is a pretty Third World sort of place, and where one stops at at least at perceived peril, i.e., a nasty part of town.
But got off and checked my undercarriage. Nothing seemed amiss. Got back on and the Norge seemed fine. All seemed well, and I neither felt nor heard nor sensed otherwise anything else awry for at least 100 miles. Still not sure of any connection, btw, but mention this in the event that any of your CARCsters hear/feel such an unexplained sound. Only when well out on the ride in Alabama, 100 or so miles later, did I detect that metallic whirring when going off-throttle.
Took the Norge immediately to Riders Hill in Dahlonega. Ian, the Guzzi wrench there, in consultation with Papa Piaggio, did a partial autopsy, then sewed the patient back up, and pulled the sheet over the CARC pending replacement.
Apparently (again code, for I am not quoting any one person and am possibly garbling what several told me, so accept this as a likely flawed translation, not gospel), when the pinion is damaged, it is best to replace the entire rear-drive unit on the ground that it is not easy to set up a ring and pinion correctly and is not worth rebuilding only to find it makes some whine or noise because the backlash or gear meshing is not perfect.
I have asked if this -- what happened to mine -- is something the average owner (or "unaverage" owner!), dealer, wrench, etc., could ascertain as a looming problem without tearing the CARC down to pieces as had to be done to mine. The general view seems to be that if one were to pull the CARC unit and feel for play in the pinion one MAY be able to see the problem before a catastrophic failure, as was the case with my Norge.
If I were reading this post (and for sure if my Norge was no longer in warranty, which, happily for me, mine still is), I'd seriously consider at next major maintenance to either spend the c.$100 of labor to have the pinion looked at or do it myself. At $4K (yes, $4000! :woohoo: :woohoo: ) for a unit, no question. At some point, especially if we hear this being more than a literal one-off event, might need to see about becoming a forced official recall item with NHSTA, tho I am not sure about the life-and-limb concerns beyond wanting to pull one's hair out. For lots of reasons, hope we don't have to go there. Besides, Luigi may have had a bad night before doing my CARC. And, remember, too, that mine is (along with a couple of yours) one of the earliest Norges off the boat.
Anyway, will have it back soon. Cannot thank Riders Hill and Ian, especially, enough for his caring competence. He worked with Piaggio and the eastern tech to make this all happen quickly. For those (including me) who curse Piaggio for parts and other problems, know that Ian asked for approval of his diagnosis last Friday, got approval Tuesday, ordered new CARC on Wednesday ... and got it Friday. He's putting in on Saturday, today. That's service from top to bottom ... and why I still see a Tenni in my future.
Bill
Will try to post some pix soon so you can see what this looks like in metallic flesh.
, but for most of you, here is the story with a bad start and a happy ending, but also one that should give any Norge owner, at least, some pause.Bottom Line Up Front: Norge CARC is trashed; Piaggio warranting a complete replacement.
I regret having to post this, but Guzzisti need to know about such things.
Hmmmmmm. Piaggio may not even allow me to buy a Tenni -- which I still very much wish to do when (yes, OK, if) it gets to USA -- as I have been an expensive customer for them. I sometimes feel like a Piaggio "Pig Pen," the character in the Peanuts comic strip, who was always being followed by a dust cloud.
It appears that [code for -- paraphrasing what I've been told and do not understand all the inner workings of the CARC or nomenclature] the ring nut (spanner nut ?) that keeps the drive shaft from back and forth movement came off. That allowed the drive shaft to part ways with the pinion gear -- you can see how I'm in way over my head now! -- on decel, which caused a distinctive metallic whirring sound I heard when backing off throttle on a recent trip to Cheaha in Alabama. That was more than sound, too, as, of course, it caused metal shiny bits to appear in the gear oil.
How did I discover this? Well, I did not make the connection (I'm just slow, I think, as it seems pretty darn possible now) between a pronounced "guh - THUNK" I heard beneath me when starting out on that Alabama ride and still very near my house. Actually thought at the time my center stand or side stand had not been fully up and had smacked up or, more likely, I had run over something unseen on Edgewood Avenue which, in that area, is a pretty Third World sort of place, and where one stops at at least at perceived peril, i.e., a nasty part of town.
But got off and checked my undercarriage. Nothing seemed amiss. Got back on and the Norge seemed fine. All seemed well, and I neither felt nor heard nor sensed otherwise anything else awry for at least 100 miles. Still not sure of any connection, btw, but mention this in the event that any of your CARCsters hear/feel such an unexplained sound. Only when well out on the ride in Alabama, 100 or so miles later, did I detect that metallic whirring when going off-throttle.
Took the Norge immediately to Riders Hill in Dahlonega. Ian, the Guzzi wrench there, in consultation with Papa Piaggio, did a partial autopsy, then sewed the patient back up, and pulled the sheet over the CARC pending replacement.
Apparently (again code, for I am not quoting any one person and am possibly garbling what several told me, so accept this as a likely flawed translation, not gospel), when the pinion is damaged, it is best to replace the entire rear-drive unit on the ground that it is not easy to set up a ring and pinion correctly and is not worth rebuilding only to find it makes some whine or noise because the backlash or gear meshing is not perfect.
I have asked if this -- what happened to mine -- is something the average owner (or "unaverage" owner!), dealer, wrench, etc., could ascertain as a looming problem without tearing the CARC down to pieces as had to be done to mine. The general view seems to be that if one were to pull the CARC unit and feel for play in the pinion one MAY be able to see the problem before a catastrophic failure, as was the case with my Norge.
If I were reading this post (and for sure if my Norge was no longer in warranty, which, happily for me, mine still is), I'd seriously consider at next major maintenance to either spend the c.$100 of labor to have the pinion looked at or do it myself. At $4K (yes, $4000! :woohoo: :woohoo: ) for a unit, no question. At some point, especially if we hear this being more than a literal one-off event, might need to see about becoming a forced official recall item with NHSTA, tho I am not sure about the life-and-limb concerns beyond wanting to pull one's hair out. For lots of reasons, hope we don't have to go there. Besides, Luigi may have had a bad night before doing my CARC. And, remember, too, that mine is (along with a couple of yours) one of the earliest Norges off the boat.
Anyway, will have it back soon. Cannot thank Riders Hill and Ian, especially, enough for his caring competence. He worked with Piaggio and the eastern tech to make this all happen quickly. For those (including me) who curse Piaggio for parts and other problems, know that Ian asked for approval of his diagnosis last Friday, got approval Tuesday, ordered new CARC on Wednesday ... and got it Friday. He's putting in on Saturday, today. That's service from top to bottom ... and why I still see a Tenni in my future.
Bill
Will try to post some pix soon so you can see what this looks like in metallic flesh.
hmy: