Comments on: Check your Guzzi California shift linkage

By: Jan Biesel

Jan Biesel — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 07:41:49 +0000

I have created this video “Moto Guzzi California 1100 – Shift/Brake Levers Maintenance” which might help others:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyGB3IvjLPE

BR
Jan

By: Ade Beckham

Ade Beckham — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 10:14:36 +0000

Thanks John, I just bought a CalVin with a sloppy gearchange which I might otherwise have categorised as character had I not read your post. My Allen bolt had been abused so I was unable to tighten it through the existing holes. After battling with it for what seemed an age, I gave up and simply drilled another hole directly above the bolt and was then able to sort the problem, much better now.

Ade

By: John Parsons

John Parsons — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 20:07:26 +0000

Hii Everyone, on a slightly similar note.

I had a problem with the long gear shift link rod that bent (part 9) on the diagram. I checked to see if I also had the same problem with the small lock bolt but find I was just toooo heavy on the gears. That bolt was good and tight.

In trying to fix the link rod I found the stock part was not available in any really normal time frame so ended up having a stainless steel rod made up at 8mm diameter and threaded to take two RS ball joints. In the mean time (waiting for delivery) I cut and fitted a 6mm threaded stainless rod and new ball joints. That bent within 5 gear shifts.

The stock guzzi part is a toughened 6mm part so no simple fixes are possible unless you buy and wait for a stock part (month plus) or get an oversize 8mm part made like I did as a substitute. This has worked very well so far and one key point is that it is made with a standard R/H thread so any ball joints can be substituted. None of the LH/RH issues with the guzzi parts.
Regard
John

By: Larry Atkins

Larry Atkins — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 13:00:20 +0000

Hello John,
Good on you mate, I m sure you have the answer to my problem of dodgy down shifts on my California Stone. I will check the spline clamp this week end.
Cheers from Larry, Perth, West Australia.

By: John

John — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 11:35:51 +0000

In reply to Tony Imbimbo.

Hi Tony, Thanks for sharing your journey with us, that sounded like quite a ride. A habit I do that I’d like to recommend to all riders is to keep an eye on fasteners, especially all of the heel-toe shift linkage fasteners on your California, routinely whenever you wash your bike. )I’m not yet familiar with any similar issues with the California 1400.) The lock washer I mentioned is one that I put on the small bolt that clamps a lever arm to the splined shaft on the transmission that rotates slightly when you move the foot lever. When that loosens, it creates a lot of extra play, so while you feel you are moving the foot lever properly, there ends up being too much play for the little lever arm on the shaft because it is no longer clamped very tightly onto the spline. Of course. I’ve also had the kickstand safety switch nut and bolt loosen and cause the bike to stall when, but that was an easy one, again, keep an eye on that too. I don’t think vibration-induced loosening of fasteners is unique to Guzzi to be fair, but we have to keep an eye on these sorts of things, like a pre-flight check if you will.
John

By: Tony Imbimbo

Tony Imbimbo — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 01:51:52 +0000

John
I just returned today from a 1000 road trip on my 09 Vintage to the World SBK races in Monterey CA. On the way outbound, not 60 miles from home, I got a flat rear tire (I read your article tonight about your flat and rear wheel removal). 4 hours and $260 later, I was back on the road. The bike ran perfectly and I did 9 hours in the saddle and made my destination. On the way home I ran into a lightening storm and was caught in a torrential downpour. The MG was stable and performed brilliantly. About 30 miles from
Home, after travelling some 950 miles, my shift linkage fell off! Luckily, I was in 5th gear and was able to get down the freeway, through a green light off the exit, and make it to my garage without stalling!!!. It appears that the nut, holding the bolt, that attaches to the frame, came loose and fell off unnoticed. With no nut the bolt backed out.

Since I’m going to take the bike into my mechanic to have the bike looked over, is there anything specific I should have the mechanic adjust or address regarding the linkage and shifter?

You mention a lock washer and to tighten the adjustment rod if I read that correctly, in order to keep the linkage tight and not miss gears. I too have had trouble finding first, and have had a difficult time finding neutral.

Please advise comment

Thank you!
Tony Imbimbo, San Diego