Continuing to work on the Stornello Scrambler. My new Vape electronic ignition system arrived for it yesterday so working out where’s best to mount the various boxes.
Oil change time on the Spada this afternoon. The obligitary photo up her skirt. Not looking bad for an old girl, although she does have a bit of incontinence from the bell housing that I suspect is due to the oil breather return pipe.
Guzzi Upskirting. by Don West, on Flickr
Durham, up to the Border, back over to the East coast, Seahouses,(fish+chips) then back down the road, Cracking (but a bit chilly early on)
DSC_2380.JPG
Out on a minor photographic assignment last night so took out Hardley the XLH. First run for that one in a couple of years. Pulled over at a pub on the way back and enjoyed a pint of Adnams. For a moment there life was very nearly good.
First ride on the Breva since the autumn of 2019. Nice sunshine (with a strong Northerly wind though) for a ride. First outing since replacing fuel filter and all fuel lines. She went like the wind, East out of Bristol and turned around outside the gates of James Dyson’s Gloucestershire stately pile.
Only about 20 miles, but blew a few cobwebs away. Been a long time.
Alex
Not much Guzzi action for me this weekend. I’d bought new waffle grips from Gutsibits and swapped out the throttle side on Blue on Friday night. That was enough of a job that I figured I’d leave the clutch side as it is. It was the twist grip I needed a better hold of anyway.
Yesterday I fabricated a rack for Hardley the XLH. That’s now strapped on Blue and will be taken down to the Maldon based powder coaters some time this week.
Thought about taking the Swiftmobile (Nimbus) out for a spin yesterday but as usual couldn’t quite be Rsed.
Done a bit of tinkering on the little red Turismo yesterday and today. I always felt the performance was pretty poor and it had a tendency to kick back on starting so nudged the ignition timing round by about 1 degree nearer TDC. That made quite a difference, quite a bit more go, especially on hills where it would really struggle. I might be tempted to go another smidgeon further round to see if that makes it even better.
The front drum brake on the bike is truly awful so I gave that a good dose of looking at. The wear marks on the shoes showed only a small area of contact with the drum, so I cleaned everything up to try and get them sitting better but nothing really worked. Tried a pair of new shoes I had on the shelf, they were little better. I have a spare wheel from a later 5 speed model that fits the earlier forks so will treat that to a new rim and spokes and see if that makes it stop any better!
Is the pivot pin adjustable?
Meanwhile, a different solution to a different problem, but might work here. The front drum on my SP370 had gone slightly oval. I used double sided tape to stick emery cloth to the shoes and then spun the wheel (by hand) whilst gradually pulling the shoes onto the drum with the adjuster. If you tried the opposite, sticking the emery cloth to the drum, you could maybe skim your shoes in? Be warned, I don’t think it would take much.
There is no adjustment on the pivots. It is a very simple fixed pin at one and and a basic cam set up attached to the lever, then to the cable at the other. I did wonder about trying to true up the shoes to the drum. I’ve been doing bits by eye with a file. I did wonder about putting the hub in the lathe and taking a shaving off the high spots, but would need to open up the shoes so the diameter matches when it is in contact with the drum. I guess I could pack out the cam end to replicate the initial pull on the cable. Something to think on and have a try. I would need to find a 15mm bolt to mount the brakeplate on so I could spin it in the lathe.
There is a trick you can do with chalk, rub it all over the shoes, assemble the brake plate in the hub, spin it a bit while gently operating the lever - remove, chalk will show where shoes are touching. Modify as desired … 
Having done this a bit with a file, no it doesn’t.
I can generally see where it is contacting by the fresh wear marks on the shoes.
I will have a try at mounting the plate in my lathe and see if I can get it a bit better. I can’t make it any worse!
Got my first proper ride out on Blue since all the work I did over winter, and the old gal is running real peachy. 26 miles there and back to the powder coaters so not real proper, but the only other run out had been to the MOT station down the road.
Problem with this bike is that you just don’t want to stop. I’d load up tomorrow and head out across Europe. If only I could.
Pulled the Spada out to take a run over to a plating company in Hinckley to get the Scrambler silencer plated. Popped into the Triumph factory as I was over that way hoping for a cuppa and browse of the museum, but it is still all closed up, and has been for over a year now. Good opportunity for a photo stop’
A flock of Starlings by Don West, on Flickr
Got back and re-arranged the garage to put things in a better order so dragged a few out for a photo There is one missing from this photo as it is up on the bench getting some new electrics fitted. I had the lighting power coil rewound by West Country windings and fitted it today. Connected it up to a £5 ebay Chinese special rectifier regulator and can get about 5volts just kicking it over so it looks very promising. My intention is to run the bike as 12V
This is most of my flock of starlings, plus the Bonneville at the end!
A flock of Starlings by Don West, on Flickr
Good looking line up, even with the imposter peeping out from the far end.
Hi Don,
I have had another look at the Stornello i am interested in. Firstly, the airbox is incorrect as it does not fit so I assume it is supposed to have the rounded box. The RHS engine casing has got the extra protrusion which , I think suggests it is a '68/'69 160cc. it has the high handlebars and the light/ horn switch is has a chromed cover and the working parts are integral to the clutch lever support casting. The silencer is as per 160cc version shown at the bottom of page 240 of Mario Columbo’s book, 80 years of Moto Guzzi. The carb is a Dellorto UB 20 B. The mudguards are painted white with red pinstripes Again, referring to Columbo’s book the bike looks exactly like the 125cc Sport America, except for the pinstripes, and the challenge of knowing whether or not it had the protrusion on the RHS casing and the 160 style silencer. Can you shed any light on the bike? Any comments would be appreciated.
Cheers
Phil
Hi Phil
I have seen pictures of some 4 speed bikes with the square shaped air box so it could be correct. The bellmouth on the carb doesn’t suit that air box, there is usually an s shaped rubber hose that connects from the carb to an air filter inside the box. In fact, looking back at your first photo, the carb looks a lot cleaner than the rest of the bike, so may well not be the original one.
I would say it is a very similar era model to the one in the recent Catawiki auction, same mudguard paint and single rear stay, same air box.
https://www.catawiki.com/l/32072953-moto-guzzi-stornello-160-cc-1970
I’ve not seen the mario Columbo book so am not sure how the ones in there compare.
The seat pan does look like a Sport America, the front mudguards doesn’t as the ones I have seen are more deeply valanced. The rear mudguard is slightly different to that on a Sport Americe
The frame and engine numbers may give a few more clues as to its identity. Have a look in the Dutch Guzzi clubs website database.
https://www.mgcn.nl/database/mg-framenummers
Another outing for the Spada today to pick up the silencer for the Scrambler from the platers. Great service, dropped it off on Wednesday, picked it up on Friday for £60. He said that he didn’t want it lying around in the shop for long as it would rust quickly in the atmosphere in the place. Lovely job in polished nickel as hopefully that should match the stainless pipe a bit better.
https://www.yell.com/biz/classics-and-chrome-ltd-hinckley-4504493/
Started on the wiring for the 5 speed road bike. Fitted the new power coil and connected it to a £5 chinese rectifier / regulator and it produces lots of electrickery just kicking it over.
Stornello scrambler silencer plating done. by Don West, on Flickr
No Guzzi action for me this weekend though I did get to wheel Blue off the table to get something else on there. So disappointing to find gearbox oil dripping from the bell housing. It’s an all new deep spline clutch in there and I’d had Nigel go through the box at the same time. Really not happy.
Washed down the Swiftmobile (Nimbus) that sits in one side of the garage and collects dust. Pumped up the tyres and got her running and headed round the block. All a bit hesitant so I freshened up the fuel and pulled the carb down - it’s a fairly simple device. And then we were fine. Good to have a bit of stick shift fun on that one.
Wow, that is nice. 
