Afternoon Gang
I would like to carry out servicing on my 2022 V7 850. Not very mechanically skilled\minded - apart from regular maintenance on my commuting bicycle. Wondering if Its better to go for a full tool kit or just specific tools for the V7?
ps Only One more sleep to go until I get her 
Cheers
Jim
My vote: specific, mate.
that way you also get to look for the perfect tool roll, EDC pouch, etc. then there’s the ‘tools for the road’ kit which could go in a pencil case if you go for stubby spanners (Seigen, eg), a stubby 3/8 ratchet (Lazer, eg), torx/allen head sockets.
Don’t forget the little bottle of hand cleanser, packet of wipes, sticking plaster, folded £20 note…
All part of the fun.
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i use a cheap plastic clear pencil case with some stuff i need to keep a bit cleaner, like tyre pressure gauge and cleaning cloth, inside the bag the oxford bike covers come in which holds bigger things like spanners. since those covers only last me about 6 months i have plenty of the bigger bags spare, and the pencil cases are only a couple of quid.
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I made a posh case in leather. It was on the bike unused for a about a year as I used my full tools at home to service/ check bike. Unfortunately it encouraged rusting of my tools. After I de-rusted, oiled and cleaned my travel tools, I put posh leather case in the fire. If you check over your bike properly, there is very little chance of ever needing tools. I do a 4-5000 mile solo trip in France each year. I used to carry a full service set of tools. In 6 years I only used a tyre pressure guage, hex wrenchs, small adjustable spanner on BMW so that is all I carry. In 25 years Guzz, same but with stubby screwdriver. Stick with the toolkit that (may) have come with the bike. I added a small first aid kit and space blanket last year
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My current toolkit has evolved over many decades and the exact contents is largely dictated by what vehicles I’ve got at the present moment it time, so what it’ll actually fit. Generic reversible screwdriver, adjustable spanner (opens to 19mm), selected double-ended metric spanners (ring at one end, open the other) roughly 8 to 17mm (or which are mostly likely to actually fit something on the bike), feeler gauges (valve clearances), box spanner and tommy bar for spark plugs (currently, 16 mm at one end (for V7 850) 17mm other end (for AJS Cadwell) - otherwise, 21mm etc.), select Allen keys and Torx keys (note V7 850 also has (or exclusively has?) Torx-Plus screws! Do not try to use ‘normal’ Torx keys in this case, fit will be loose and may round out the screw head if tight), spare fuses, short lengths of wire and odd connectors to (hopefully) bodge together an electrical repair, cable ties, any special tools for adjusting carburettors, cable repair kit … do you also carry a battery booster and OBD code reader - where does one stop (I do, but then I’ve got a sidecar to carry them in 
)
For V7 850 you will need these ‘special’ tools (from my notes) -
Filler & drain plugs -
Engine filler: plastic cap (search eBay for ‘Moto Guzzi V7 Stone 850, V85TT oil filler cap wrench’, is 3D printed plastic, it works OK, or use strong fingers or big pliers)
Engine sump: 17 mm flat ring spanner
Filter bolt: 13 mm socket (spanner won’t reach)
Gearbox filler: 10 mm Allen key (no room to use an Allen socket bit, if you had one)
Gearbox drain: 24 mm open-ended spanner - (can insert this sideways between the bottom frame rail and exhaust heat shield, secure it firmly onto drain hex with right hand, then can tap the other end (rearwards) with a rubber or wooden mallet to unscrew it. Note this also houses the removeable gearbox oil filter, which is a nylon gauze cup shaped thing, can be washed out with solvent spray - I use Wurth chain and brake cleaner)
Final drive filler / level plug: 6 mm Allen key
Final drive drain: 17 mm ring spanner (note, plug is recessed on the inside! So cannot use a socket unless it is thin-walled. Also an open ended spanner fits better than a ring, again the ring may not completely fit over the hex sides)
Cyl. head spark plug covers: 3 mm Allen & T20 torx
Rocker cover screws: 5 mm Allen (I think)
Spark plugs - 16mm long reach socket, special spark plug wrench or box spanner.
26mm thin-walled socket for rear wheel spindle hex head.
Ideally, you want to be able to remove both wheels, of course the first issue will be can one raise the wheel off the floor without a mainstand - front wheel is quite easy, however rear requires both silencers to come off (can’t even get the spindle out otherwise), and, both supension lowers detached. The swingarm then has to be supported somehow (not figured out how yet) and not left to ‘hang’ at its lowest limit of travel (according to the instructions). This is not a side-of-the-road job!
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Really appreciate the effort and detail Mike_H. Thank you
Looks like I have a few tools to buy. Keep me out of the way from my better half for a few hours 
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Preventative maintenance for me, and good breakdown cover- even though it must be at least 20 years since I needed to call them out.
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Yes the chance to be recovered - my experience has sometimes been what can go wrong is something you didn’t plan for, so have no tools and spares for.
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Think positive and enjoy the ride. you cannot plan for everything- unless you can attach a caravan or RV, but then something else to worry about
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Hello Mike, as someone with a good selection of tools, you can probably tell me what size of C-spanner / hook spanner I need to adjust the preload on the rear suspension. I’ve always had these things in a toolkit but I sold my last bike complete with its toolkit and my Guzzi V9 arrived without one.
Difficult to measure but the internal arc seems to be 56mm diameter.
The spanner is 5mm thick.
The peg (hook) is about 3mm long, x 3 mm wide at its base, and about 2mm wide at the tip.
HTH
You could get something close but might have to file it to fit. (?)
Thanks Mike,
I sent off for a set of three, hoping one would be right. Only a tenner for the set. They arrived today and the smallest spanner was a good fit. I have evened out the preloads and slightly increased them. I’ll try it on the road tomorrow.
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