classic motorcycle forum

Motorcycle Discussions => European and Other Bikes => Topic started by: Steve Zodiak on June 27, 2013, 01:47:16 AM

Title: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: Steve Zodiak on June 27, 2013, 01:47:16 AM
Just received a new exhaust pipe for my Airone from Agostini's in Mandello. The only part they didn't have for me was the seal that goes between the cylinder and the pipe. Can anyone tell my if this is an 'O' ring, or is it some kind of metallic gasket material?

Steve.
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: JFerg on June 27, 2013, 02:26:35 AM
Steve,
It will be a composite copper gasket.  Once upon a time copper and asbestos, but now copper and asbestos substitute.  A thing designed to crush to seal.  Measure the port flange size inside and outside diameters, then hawk about the bike shops.  Some japper will have an exhaust port of near enough the same size.

Cheers,
JFerg
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: Steve Zodiak on June 27, 2013, 05:49:53 AM
Thanks JF -I'll go searching.
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: Steve Zodiak on June 29, 2013, 05:07:44 AM
Well, I found an exhaust seal - it's actually a solid copper ring.
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: 33d6 on June 30, 2013, 01:21:06 AM
Sometimes those solid copper rings are hollow and meant to be crushable to seal. If completely solid anneal it well before fitting. Standard copper annealing technique applies.
Cheers,
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: Steve Zodiak on June 30, 2013, 06:43:54 PM
Thanks for the advice 33. I'll take a closer look at it when I'm ready to install it, which won't be for a while yet.
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: Steve Zodiak on August 22, 2013, 04:35:22 AM
Does anyone know the size of the nut that goes on the exhuast flange where it meets the cylinder?  Also, is it supposed to be a brass nut?
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: Steve Zodiak on October 06, 2013, 08:10:36 PM
Ok -got the nuts and gasket issues solved. The new issue is this: I bought the header pipe for the bike from Agostini in Mandello. There's only one part number for it so I assume it's the only one for any Airone. When I fit it to the silencer and the bike the pipe went a long way into the silencer. Looking at photos and comparing them to my bike  I noticed that the mount on top of the silencer comes in three different places. Either it's left of the 'G' in the Guzzi stamping, or it's in the middle of 'Guzzi' or it's to the right of the 'I' which of course varies the length the header pipe goes. in. You can also see that the difference puts the fish tail in front of the rear axle,  covering the rear axle, or near the rear end of the bike. My question is; can I cut the pipe and not affect the performance of the bike? You can see too in the photo of mine that the bracket is not straight down like others.
Steve
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: Steve Zodiak on October 06, 2013, 08:16:49 PM
Looks like I need to move the silencer a bit forward to straighten out the bracket position like this one...
But my header pip goes about 7" into the silencer.
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: esometisse on October 06, 2013, 09:06:15 PM
I wouldn`t expect the exhaust header length to be tuned for performance on this bike - but you never know! If the header pipe goes right in the seven inches without hitting or restricting something inside the silencer I would just leave it as is for the time being. Run in your bike properly first and if there is something to be desired performance-wise you can then think about experimenting with header length - although I doubt it would make too much of a difference.

Cheers
Andy
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: murdo on October 06, 2013, 10:01:06 PM
I agree with Andy. Try it first and see how it goes, then cut if not happy. Can always weld it back on if not right.
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: Steve Zodiak on October 15, 2013, 02:20:47 AM
Thanks guys, I'll let you know how it goes once I receive the bike from the shippers (or should I say' pirates' as they always have some new hidden cost to add). Bike should be arriving sometime in November unless I don't pay the ransom for it. >:(
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: adkmac on October 15, 2013, 04:32:14 PM
FYI For people reading these posts here there is a Guzzi list for the singles on Yahoo Groups. Guzzi-single@yahoogroups.com I think that is it but if anyone has a hard time finding it PM me.

Mac
Airone, moto Leggera, Cardellino, Lodola
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: statik on October 19, 2013, 03:40:30 PM
Good luck with that one, I have the Super Alce Pre Facone and it's a bit of a handful.  I still have fun riding it most weekends but it suffers from clutch issues.  The spring mechanism is hit-and-miss but when it works it's a lot of fun.  My exhaust washer/seal is off a Suzuki and it works OK. 

Just a note my exhaust is on the left.  That's better for my because all my problems seem to happen on the right hand side.  :-)
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: Don-Spada on October 24, 2013, 12:15:31 AM
There are different models of the Airone, in particular Sport and Turismo, and differing silencers- fishtails and cigar type.  Maybe things changed over time.
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: Steve Zodiak on December 10, 2013, 05:19:34 PM
Well, my Airone arrived safe and sound after a 9 week boat trip (photos to follow), and all the ransom money was payed.  I've started going over it a little bit as I've other things to finish up.
I cleaned the gummed up carb but was surprised to see it was the 22mm carb for the Tourismo and not the 25mm for the Sport which my bike is. Should work though, but it would be nice to get the correct one. A question is, as I haven't translated the manual yet, is the oil in the tank (which I need to flush out) the only oil for the bike? Isn't the gearbox a separate oil? If so where's the drain plug and filler etc? I also fitted a new battery and was pleased to see all the electrics work except the brake light (easy fix) and there was a nice fat spark at the plug. Compression was a bit low though at 65lbs, which went up to 95 with oil squirted in the cylinder. Hopefully just stuck rings.
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: Don-Spada on January 04, 2014, 01:00:01 AM
I would recommend you join the Google Guzzi singles group, there is a great wealth of knowledge on there about these bikes
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/guzzi-singles

Don
Title: Re: Moto Guzzi Airone
Post by: Steve Zodiak on January 04, 2014, 02:17:08 AM
Thanks Don. I did that and they have been a great help.