Hydraulic tappets in 1100 California ’03-’05
For those looking for a pre-owned Moto Guzzi California, something to be aware of is a recall that involved several 2003 to 2005 models.
Those California 1100 engines were designed with hydraulic tappets. Because of some manufacturing problems, a recall campaign was issued by Moto Guzzi for refitting these engines with new components.
If the present owner is not sure, you should check the VIN number with a dealer to find out if the recall service was performed on the bike.
You don’t need to avoid or fear these model years. Owners have described these as the smoothest running and smoothest sounding Calis ever. A multitude of riders have put very high mileage on these without a problem.
In fact, I know of a sweet ’03 EV Touring near Charlotte, NC that I would buy it right now if I didn’t already have my own Cali. It’s a one-owner bike, had every scheduled dealer-performed service, and has been described as the best running California that some of the highly experienced Guzzi riders there have ever been tested. ($4900 ready to ride – contact me if interested and I’ll send you the details.)
There were two groups of bikes addressed, one was the group of unsold Calis and the other was the group that was already sold.
Back in 2003, there was a service communication issued to dealers regarding “noisiness of the timing system” due to premature camshaft wear. This involved the Guzzi California motorcycle models of Stone, Titanium, EV, and EV Touring.
- California Titanium, frame number: ZGUKDC1203M133654
- California Titanium (USA), frame number: ZGUKDD0074M133659
- California EV and EV Touring, frame number: ZGUKDC1203M112261
- California EV Touring (USA), frame number: ZGUKDD0024M112346
- California Stone with frame number: ZGUKDC4203M111687
- California Stone (USA), frame number: ZGUKDD0164M111418
The remedy was to inspect the wear of the cam, and if found to be excessive, to inspect the oil sump and engine for metallic debris. Aside from replacing the cam and tappets, the engine itself would need to be overhauled if the metallic debris was found to have circulated through the engine.
To do the fix, dealers needed to order two different kits which were readied for delivery around February of 2005. One kit included the special tools required, and the other kit included the new parts. The factory calculated this to be a 6 hour job per motorcycle. Once all new unsold Guzzi Californias were fixed, then the recall campaign for customer’s motorcycles would begin, around March 2005.
It has been argued how Moto Guzzi handled this problem, but in the end, the problem was addressed, bikes were fixed, and many owners of “hydro” Moto Guzzi Californias have reported years of enjoyment. If you’re considering buying a used California 1100 “hydro”, just have a Moto Guzzi dealer run the VIN number to see if the recall service has been performed.
Another thing about the 2003-2005 hydraulic tappet California 1100, is to remember to use the proper engine oil. These are supposed to use 5W40. Solid tappet Calis call for a different weight of oil. For example, my ’07 California Vintage calls for Agip 4T Racing SAE 10W60.
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About J.Clay
John Clay is the author of MotoGuzziCalifornia.Com. He and his family reside in North Carolina in the United States. A graduate of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Experienced Rider Course, he enjoys riding and maintaining his Moto Guzzi California Vintage. John participates in local charity rides and also serves as a volunteer motorcycle marshal for one of the largest annual bicycle charity event in the Carolinas.
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[...] 2003 Moto Guzzi California Stone Metal Motorcycle Posted on July 9, 2010 by merledua239 Guzzi California hydraulic tappet recall for 2003-2005 models … [...]
Thank you for the info. I am looking at a 2003 Aluminum with only 712 miles and noticed a comment about the camshaft not being subject to any known recall. Your post cleared up everything. I will go back and ask the right questions and get the right VIN info. Thank you again.
Hi Sir, I have a 1995, 1100i, california with 117,000 km on it, I was told to use 20w/50. in the engine, is that the right oil, I live in Brisbane, QLD., australia, with plenty of hot weather in the summer
Hello and welcome! The California 1100i workshop manual specifies SAE 10w40 engine oil. Later California models specify 10w50 and then 20w50. My California Vintage specifies 10w60. So, with all this in mind and considering the higher temperature of your location, I doubt there is anything wrong with using 20w50. This is just an opinion. Any one else want to comment on this?
I have a 03 cal alum just talked to a dealer he looked it up and said it was still an active recall so i had him order the parts said he’d call when he got them im not having any probs yet but you never know 21500 miles, recalls are recalls just get them done just my 2cents
Just last year, I brought in my ’03 cali special sport for the recall. It took just 1 year and a few days to complete the recall, not the 6 hours the factory claims. The recall involves changing out the cam shaft because the alloy used was too soft. The factory in Italy sent my dealer the parts 3 or 4 times. Each time the parts arrived, the cam shaft lobes had little dings on them, some had metal debris in the box and there were virtually no packing material! When my dealer finally received a cam shaft that was usable, there were other parts that were sent that were mislabelled and therefore unusable as well. Each time parts are ordered, it takes months for the factory to send them out. And forget about the tool needed to do the recall. My dealer had to borrow it from another dealer because MG does not have it anymore. My cali had just 2500 miles on it and the cam already had some very very slight wear beginning to show. At least it is back on the road and rides like a dream…
The oil recommendations you state for the mechanical tappet and “hydro” California models (and various other Moto Guzzi models) were superseded by Moto Guzzi TECHNICAL NOTE No. 010-2006, dated 28-07-2006, which states in part:
1100 SERIES California – Mechanical Tappets
Engine oil: RACING 4T 10W-60 or as an alternative 20W-50
1100 SERIES California – Hydraulic Tappets
Engine oil: RACING 4T 5W-40 Oil to be compulsorily used for a correct operation of hydraulic tappets.
A few other notes about the star-crossed hydro EV’s:
1. Potential buyers need to investigate the bike’s history carefully, as some of the less-reputable dealers of the day reported to Piaggio that the recall was done for particular VINs, took the money for the valve train recall, but did not do the work. So, checking a bike’s VIN against the recall records can be misleading. If you don’t know or trust the dealer that claims to have done the recall, remove the valve covers and look. There is information on the internet as to what to look for. Be wary of a bike that has not had the recall; make sure Moto Guzzi will still pay for it, and that the parts and specialized tools necessary are still available.
2. As a corollary to #1, try to determine if the recall was done before or after the bike was put into service, and, in particular, if it was done before or after the engine failed. Ideally, you want a bike that had the recall done before the bike was first sold. Metal flakes from the defective parts have been known to damage the engine beyond the defective parts themselves. If the bike was in service before the recall, the good dealers flushed the engine carefully and took apart, cleaned, and inspected the oil pump, before putting everything back together, but not all dealers are or were good dealers.
3. The valvetrain was not the only serious problem with these bikes. Some left the factory with a single-plate clutch, instead of the more common dual-plate clutch. MG tried a single-plate clutch to lessen the clutch pull, and it was a disaster. Nearly every single-plate bike had its clutch implode within a few thousand miles of use. Most were changed out under warranty to the dual-plate design, but some were not. Any EV is no longer in warranty, so check to see which clutch is in the bike you are looking at. (There is information online as to what to look for.) Otherwise, it is an $1,800 repair bill to retrofit an EV with the dual-plate clutch. Since this was never the subject of an official recall, you would be paying for that, yourself.
4. Wait! That’s not all…. The hydro EV’s were also plagued with cracking lower triple trees. The good news is: there were (I believe) no reported crashes as a result of this; the cracks are easy to spot (again, the information on what to look for is online); and dealer recall information on this is fairly reliable. Also, since this was the subject of a US government (NHTSA) safety recall, Moto Guzzi is obligated to replace the defective part at their expense, regardless of whether the bike is out of warranty.
Other than those few things — it’s a fantastic motorcycle! No, I’m not being facetious. The hydro EV’s problems can be scoped out before you buy, and, IMO, it’s worth the effort.