Moto Guzzi Mille GT ignition problem

Andy-Gadget · 06-09-2012, 12:37 AM

The newest addition to my (packed) garage is a '93 Mille GT in red, the day I received it.

The previous owner warned that the ignition was doing odd things, but there is nothing harder to track down than an intermittent fault, so what could I do.

The bike changed that on Sunday, two days after getting the bike, when the intermittent fault stopped being intermittent, at the monthly ride day of the Italian Motorcycle Club of Tasmania.

These photos are after I got a lift home to get a multi meter to try and find out why the spark had gone away, so I rode my weestrom down to Salamanca, but it didn't help.

Flat bed truck home, and up on the stand, displacing the Cali 2.

Adrian, a Jackel Guzzi owner, amongst others, contemplates the failed GT.

The bike had a Saprisa ignition fitted, with old coils, so it could be any part, but as both sparks were missing, it was most likely the ignition trigger in the distributor that was the fault.

It was easier to fit a Saches alternator mounted ignition I had to fit to the Cali 2.

No photos of the fitting of the new ignition, but I found some interesting things wrong as the system was inspected, like the side stand kill switch that wasn't bridged, even though it was not fitted anymore, and so the bike shouldn't have run at all, rather than intermittently.

Part of the work was fitting the Cali 2 headers, with Lambda probe mounts, to the Mille, and finding the carburation to be way too rich, which proved to be the needle as high as it could be.
It started running much better after lowering to the factory position.

So a test ride was in order to confirm the jetting.

The bike is now a "Moto Tractor" again, a delight to ride, and sounds like a Guzzi should with "roll a golf ball through"mufflers fitted again.'
The PO couldn't get it to idle with them on before.

joe cool · 06-09-2012, 06:16 AM

That's a really clean Mille you got.

chris a · 06-09-2012, 11:08 AM

Really clean bike...the ZDG sachs unit's a champ isn't it !

Tosh Togo · 06-09-2012, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe cool

That's a really clean Mille you got.

A story with a happy ending: a nice-but-neglected bike finds a happy home.

Just Dan · 06-09-2012, 09:30 PM

Did some one say neglected

It did look like this, not that long ago

06-09-2012, 12:37 AM	#1
Andy-Gadget ^OP Any bike can go anywere Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Hobart, Tasmania Oddometer: 1,252	Moto Guzzi Mille GT ignition problem The newest addition to my (packed) garage is a '93 Mille GT in red, the day I received it. The previous owner warned that the ignition was doing odd things, but there is nothing harder to track down than an intermittent fault, so what could I do. The bike changed that on Sunday, two days after getting the bike, when the intermittent fault stopped being intermittent, at the monthly ride day of the Italian Motorcycle Club of Tasmania. These photos are after I got a lift home to get a multi meter to try and find out why the spark had gone away, so I rode my weestrom down to Salamanca, but it didn't help. Flat bed truck home, and up on the stand, displacing the Cali 2. Adrian, a Jackel Guzzi owner, amongst others, contemplates the failed GT. The bike had a Saprisa ignition fitted, with old coils, so it could be any part, but as both sparks were missing, it was most likely the ignition trigger in the distributor that was the fault. It was easier to fit a Saches alternator mounted ignition I had to fit to the Cali 2. No photos of the fitting of the new ignition, but I found some interesting things wrong as the system was inspected, like the side stand kill switch that wasn't bridged, even though it was not fitted anymore, and so the bike shouldn't have run at all, rather than intermittently. Part of the work was fitting the Cali 2 headers, with Lambda probe mounts, to the Mille, and finding the carburation to be way too rich, which proved to be the needle as high as it could be. It started running much better after lowering to the factory position. So a test ride was in order to confirm the jetting. The bike is now a "Moto Tractor" again, a delight to ride, and sounds like a Guzzi should with "roll a golf ball through"mufflers fitted again.' The PO couldn't get it to idle with them on before. __________________ "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest" Benjamin Franklin. '95 Sport 1100 Guzzi,'84 Cali 2 Guzzi, '95 Guzzi mille, '84 R65LS, '84 R100, '82 R100RS, '05 DL650, '72 Bultaco Sherpa T 350, '78 Montessa 348, "00 XR650R

06-09-2012, 06:16 AM	#2
joe cool Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2004 Location: southwest,ohio Oddometer: 753	That's a really clean Mille you got. __________________ "One more day I find myself alive Tomorrow maybe go beneath the ground" Garcia/Hunter

06-09-2012, 09:30 PM	#5
Just Dan Bugger, Burnt toast Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Hobart, Tasmania Oddometer: 1,548	Did some one say neglected It did look like this, not that long ago __________________ 82' BMW R100RS (Miss Pearl) 13' kawasaki W800, Yep the twin Honda CT110- 250,000+km later, I am over riding postie bikes. "About as usefull as a chocolate teapot"- Johnyteabag

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06-09-2012, 11:08 AM	#3
chris a Adventurer Joined: Oct 2011 Location: Southern France Oddometer: 38	Really clean bike...the ZDG sachs unit's a champ isn't it !