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Guzzi 1100 Custom build

The finished results, apart from a good polish... As I am going to use a Ducati rear calliper, I have also used a Ducati Master cylinder, and also used the same leverage ratio for the pedal... here is a short video




footrests-4.jpg


footrests-5.jpg
 
As I am taking off the linked brakes I needed to use a different rear caliper. I toyed around with making the rear caliper floating and using a torque arm… but in the end decided to use a neater, smaller bracket instead. It also meant that I could mount the speed sensor for the speedo as I am using a combined speedo / tacho.

rear-caliper-copy.jpg
 
Nice work. As an FYI... The 2-piston calipers will overheat and boil the fluid fast. I've made brackets to adapt the 4-piston caliper that comes on all of the California 1100s to the V11 Sports.
I'll keep watching here, thanks for the continuing posts.
 
The tank I am using is off a V7… It was cheap to buy because it had a couple of big dents, which I have managed to get out. To do this I had to cut a couple of holes in the bottom to give access with a 20mm bar with a dome on the end, which I then used to knock most of the dent out, just needing a skim of filler. I then welded some plates on the holes and leak tested them with dye penetrant.

I use this a lot, its great for checking for holes and cracks, they show up immediately. fortunately all was good in this case. I prefer doing it this way to filling it with petrol as if you do have a leak its a pain to clean it out again. I have taken to using the dye penetrant on frames before I have them blasted… its surprising how many have cracks! especially Ducati!

A while ago my mate welded an RGV 250 engine mounting on the alloy frame. When he had welded it, he used some dye penetrant around the joints on the frame to check for cracks… There were quite a few! he welded them up and re-checked. Here is a gearbox I recently welded that still had a leak after someone had already welded it, you could not see it with the naked eye, but its easily visible with the dye…

tank-weld.jpg


aaa.jpg
 
Would love to know the chemicals you used but the photo is way too small and poor resolution.

Can you post that information please?
 
Would love to know the chemicals you used but the photo is way too small and poor resolution.

Can you post that information please?


its a three tin kit, and its called NDT (none destructive testing) Dye Penetrant. here is a link below but of course I am in the UK, but you should find it across the pond!

there is a cleaner, dye, and developer. you clean the part to be tested first, spray on the dye, leave for 15 mins and wipe it off. Then you spray the developer on and that pulls any dye out of the cracks. its obvious where there is a crack. it also works well if you can spray the dye on from the back, and let it permeate any cracks and spray the developer from the front.


dye penetrant

here is a better picture of how effective it is!

leak-detection.jpg
 
With the new master cylinder mounted I looked at a way of mounting a reservoir. I could have used one of the small plastic ones, but instead decided to make one. I am pleased with the way it came out! here is a short video of how I made it! Last update for a while... I have to go on holiday apparently!




resevoir-123.jpg


resevoir-12.jpg


resevoir-1.jpg
 
Back from holiday where I unfortunaly got a dose of the virus! Not too bad though, I have had worse colds… But for a few day I have kept out the garage, and did some computer time instead and constructed the wiring diagram… I like to keep it simple, and wire from scratch, so many builds are spoiled by patching up the old loom. I am using an ignitech for the ECU, and its interesting that the the unit uses the cam sensor for one cylinder, and the crank sensor for the other. I like that idea!

guzzi-1-wireing-diagram.jpg
 
Back from holiday where I unfortunaly got a dose of the virus! Not too bad though, I have had worse colds… But for a few day I have kept out the garage, and did some computer time instead and constructed the wiring diagram… I like to keep it simple, and wire from scratch, so many builds are spoiled by patching up the old loom. I am using an ignitech for the ECU, and its interesting that the the unit uses the cam sensor for one cylinder, and the crank sensor for the other. I like that idea!

guzzi-1-wireing-diagram.jpg
Im looking forward to seeing your custom harness
 
Im looking forward to seeing your custom harness


thats going to be a while... I tend to build the bikes up, do all the fabrication, paint it, and do the loom on the bike near the end...

I have agonised over the rear light / number plate arrangement…

No matter how I plan it, it just does not look right with the number plate on the back, So I am going for a side mounted plate. that leaves the rear light to consider… the rear of the seat is angled (more later) so I needed an angled plinth to mount the light I am using on… here it is, bar a good polish.

A new addition to the workshop is a bandsaw... How did I manage without one all these years! I modified the top and bottom guides so they have bearing supports and it works an absolute treat!

51962496149_f90c22ef50_o.jpg


51962211521_cf7579fed6_o.jpg
 
I am truly impressed with your mad skills!

👏👏👏

Good thing you are not my neighbor because I would be knocking on your workshop door just to watch and learn from you. 😄😄😄
 
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The tank I am using is off a V7… It was cheap to buy because it had a couple of big dents, which I have managed to get out. To do this I had to cut a couple of holes in the bottom to give access with a 20mm bar with a dome on the end, which I then used to knock most of the dent out, just needing a skim of filler. I then welded some plates on the holes and leak tested them with dye penetrant.

I use this a lot, its great for checking for holes and cracks, they show up immediately. fortunately all was good in this case. I prefer doing it this way to filling it with petrol as if you do have a leak its a pain to clean it out again. I have taken to using the dye penetrant on frames before I have them blasted… its surprising how many have cracks! especially Ducati!

A while ago my mate welded an RGV 250 engine mounting on the alloy frame. When he had welded it, he used some dye penetrant around the joints on the frame to check for cracks… There were quite a few! he welded them up and re-checked. Here is a gearbox I recently welded that still had a leak after someone had already welded it, you could not see it with the naked eye, but its easily visible with the dye…

tank-weld.jpg


aaa.jpg
That looks like a Norton gearbox!

Jason
 
One thing I always like on a build is a light throttle… in these days of EFI its easy to forget just how heavy some carb throttles were, always a balance of lightness Vs a throttle spring strong enough to prevent sticking, As I am using flat slides on this build I really wanted to use a pull / pull throttle set up, which would either mean a pair of splitters, or a dual throttle. that way I can retain the light springs. Try as I might I couldn’t find a dual pull / pull one so I have ended up making one! If anyone knows of a company that makes them… DONT TELL ME! here is the story in pictures…

throttle-18.jpg


throttle-2.jpg


throttle-1.jpg
 
the wheels are back from the vapour blasters… they have come out FAR better than I expected, and I quite like the finish, so I will be leaving them as they are. just a coat of ACF – 50 should keep them looking good. the spokes are stainless and have also come up well. First time in MANY years I have put my own tyres on! they are tubeless so went on very easily. just got to get them balanced.

wheels-copy.jpg
 
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