Hi
I’m new to the forum so hope I’ve posted this in the appropriate place.
I have a le mans 1 and try to make improvements over the salty road months.
Does anybody know what the correct finish is for the rocker covers. Mine are polished but I don’t think this is correct.
i believe that rough cast was the original finish and they are still available in this finish.
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Hi Barry
Thanks for that but do you know how to revert back to that. I know you can buy them from gutsibits but I wanted to refurb the ones that are on.
I confess that I do not know how you would “revert” - some form of grit blasting, I would imagine. For that you might enquire with vapour or grit blasting companies?
I also don’t know what the cost might be in comparison to acquiring replacements and then, perhaps, selling your shiny ones on.
I’m not sure there is any easy way to get them rough again, but if you put them in the dishwasher the finish will go dull.
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Ok thanks for that I’ll give it a try
Looking at the photos in Ian Falloon’s book “Sport an Le Mans Bible” the small panel with the name “MOTO GUZZI” on was polished but the rest was rough cast. I would think that it would be very difficult to return to the original finish and if you wanted that you should try a source some replacement covers.
Thanks for your advice and opinion.
Plenty to pursue.
I’ve tried several finish types on V Twin rocker covers. On my T3 Cali I had them vapour blasted. I like this finish as it has a subtle sheen and the vapour blasting seems to seal the surface, making it easy to keep clean.
DSC_2275 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr
On my V7 Sport I had them vapour blasted and just the Guzzi plate polished. On my Loop Frame I decided to go full bling and have them polished
IMG_3103 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr
Personally I think the vapour blasting only gives the most authentic and attractive finish. And it’s cheap. Don’t think of buying replacements unless yours are damaged. They can be brought back to life!
Hi
That’s looks good. I was worried that taking it back to a sand cast finish would be too difficult to clean.
Thanks for the pics and advice
I like Glawster’s vapour blasted finish a lot. My own rocker covers are the earlier high ones like on Glawster’s V7 Sport pictured above. Mine were polished when I got the bike they have been broken and welded over the years and have now managed to find replacements from the USA that are not polished but have a fine sand cast finish (apart from the Moto Guzzi name plate as above)
I have promised the polished ones to Richard in the Essex branch but have not got around to swapping them and also I have not been to a branch meeting for ages, something I intend to do both this year.
The new ones from the USA cost me over £200.00 which I thought was cheap as the older high covers are quite rare. You will, of course, want the newer sloped ones like the top photo that are more readily available. If they are being sold as Le Mans items for a ridiculous price, any other large block round barrel engine covers will fit. If the oil feed is on the wrong side of the cover, just swap the covers over side to side. There were no specific Le Mans rocker covers.
Best of luck
Chris
Polished ones are easier to clean in my experience!
Hi Yes I agree but I don’t this the bike looks right.
Hi Chris
Thanks for that I think vapour blasting is the answer. They are available from gutsibits but not sure what the current price is.
Thanks again for the valued input
Nice Martyn
Not for me though, but I do like your rocker cover protectors
I have done what I have done to my previous three Le Mans by picking out the letters in a red enamel. It really makes the covers stand out.
I have found that no matter how hard you try the alloy Guzzi used does not lend itself to a high shine. Mine now have a 49 year old luster and patina, that I am not going to work too hard to remove - its is not intended to be a concours level presentation - it is a real and fantastic bike that I have loved since my first one at 19 years old in 1979 - (RCU817S if anyone still owns it).
At 49 years old the current one is as close to looking as new as most bikes just 3 or 4 years old.