I was in the garage doing some maintenance on one of my bikes this afternoon, so in a quiet few minutes I took the bevel drive apart to see what the problem was. As predicted, it was the bearing nearest the wheel that had started to go. You can clearly hear how bad it has become in this video.
Next steps are to get the shaft pressed out of the assembly, remove the failed bearing, refill it with oil and reassemble it as a back up.
The bearing in the bevel drive has failed on my Mandello after 13000 miles. Luckily I caught them early on, so they didn’t have the chance to do any damage to the bevel gears, but to get the dealer to change them was going to cost £1600 at On Yer Bike in Aylesbury. When I dropped the oil from the bevel box it was clear that there was a lot of metallic debris in it, but it was fine dust, not flaking bearing races or bevel gear detritus.
I looked into changing the bearings myself, as I’m pretty good with a spanner, but I needed to buy a hydraulic press and a 65mm bearing puller with a suitable slide hammer, which would have cost £300 before I even started with the bearings and seals.
The alternative was to buy a second hand swing arm and bevel box from Motomine Parts for £337.50 that had been saved from a bike that had done under 1500 miles. The parts came with a 30 day money back guarantee, so it was worth a spin.
I swapped the bevel box from one swing arm to the other in less than 90 minutes and hey presto, we’re back in business. I’ll probably still strip the damaged bevel box to try work out why it failed and possibly get the bearings swapped at some point. Unlike some reports I have read, the splines on the shaft were clean and well greased, but I still cleaned the old grease off and replaced it.
On the way back from Wales yesterday I could hear a slight whine from the back of the bike. Stuck it on the centre stand to clean and check her over to find that the whining is the bevel drive bearings failing.
When you rotate the wheel you can feel the roughness of the bearings, which isn’t great on a bike that is less than 4 years old and has only done 13k miles. It’s only just had the steering head bearings done, so this is a bit of a worry.
Finally home after 1723 miles of some great and some tough riding.
Got caught in a storm in the Welsh mountains yesterday and watched my wife go sideways on a wet cattle grid on her BMW R12, pushed off line by a 50mph gust. The Mandello felt like it was fighting me.
Today’s ride back in the sun was quite the juxtaposition, I can tell you.
Met some friendly folk, saw some unexpected things and enjoyed my wife’s company.
Now just short of 900 miles across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Essex, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Devon, Dorset, Cornwall and now in Somerset for an overnight stay. Wales is on the cards for tomorrow.
Two days into an eight day long tour of the south of England and Wales and we’re already 458 miles in. Highlight of the trip so far was an ice cream sitting on a bench looking at the sea off the south coast of Hayling Island in 24 degrees this afternoon. Devon and Cornwall await us tomorrow.
I had stripped my Mandello back to fit a new front wheel speed sensor/ABS sensor last weekend, so before I zipped it all back together I thought it made sense to switch out the increasingly self-centring head bearings.
When I disassembled the steering I found that the upper bearing was in pretty good condition, so I was a bit puzzled by the steering issue I’d been experiencing. However, when I got the forks and steering head dropped out of the bike I could immediately see what had caused the problem. The lower race was dry, full of dirt and bone dry. Why would Guzzi grease only the upper bearing?
Anyway, I fitted new taper rollers and hopefully I won’t have that task to do again any time, soon.
Side note about the ABS cable, which had been rubbing on the ABS wheel. The newer cables come with a shield/guide that keeps the cable away from the wheel. Mine is an early bike, so it was only held in place with a ‘P’ clip which allowed the cable to flop about. I guess Guzzi sorted that out in an update.
The front wheel sensor has been rubbing against the pick up wheel and has begun to wear through the outer sheathing, so I thought I had best change it.
A simple plug and play affair, except the plug is beneath the airbox, which is trapped by the petrol tank, which requires the removal of almost all the bodywork to get to.
What a pain in the ass!
I’ve been putting some serious mileage on the Mandello this weekend and last. 404 miles around Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Sussex and Bedfordshire. This weekend is likely to be similar mileage taking in Staffordshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
The more I ride it, the more I want to and I have plans for some time in Wales, Kent, Hampshire, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset this year, too.
After riding less than 2500 miles in 2025 due to both me and my wife having cancer scares last year, I’m already at 4000 miles and climbing 👌
Tonight I found out about the vagaries of the Brutale’s fuel warning system, ran out of fuel and got stranded in the bargain. At least it was warm and the setting sun gave me some nice light to admire my MV. Every cloud and all that!j
Tonight I found out about the vagaries of the Brutale’s fuel warning system, ran out of fuel and got stranded in the bargain. At least it was warm and the setting sun gave me some nice light to admire my MV. Every cloud and all that!
Hi all,
Has anyone had any experience using one of the OBD tools to reset the service light on their V100? I’m looking for recommendations as to which one to buy.
I used to use Guzzidiag on my Griso and Multistrada to good effect when I had carried out my own services, but I realise that I need something more sophisticated for the new canbus system bikes.
I took the T110 out for a shakedown after her rebuild and she ran fine for 2 miles in 28C heat today. She ran ‘flat’ and then stalled, as though she had fuel starvation. As soon as she cooled off she started up second kick!
She’s on electronic ignition, so sparks seem to be the least of my worries.
Help!
Having covered 2951 miles in 2 weeks, it’s time to rest up. After Scotland we came back through the Lake District, Northumbria and the North Yorkshire Moors….primarily as a way to ween ourselves off Scotland.
Just over 2250 miles touring Northern and Mid-Scotland this last 8 days. Today included the ferry from Gourock to Dunoon. Some epic roads were ridden and our “waterproofs” were put to the test….had anyone found actual waterproof gear yet?
Can’t believe our luck today, 26 degrees and no traffic just north of the Cairngorms. What’s not to like?
Despite some short rain showers, another great day in the Highlands for me and the Mandello. I can only presume that the World Cup is the reason for the extremely quiet roads this year, but I am not complaining 👌
Just ridden up to the Bealach Ratagan view point along the north shore of Loch Ness from Inverness. I’ve never ridden such quiet roads in the Highlands and in such glorious sunshine (26 degrees in parts so far today).
After my son bought me an F4S as a surprise, a bike I’d promised myself for 20 years, I found I couldn’t ride it. I handed him back the keys with a tear in my eye and he sold the bike on.
The same day the F4S left the garage, I replaced it with a slightly down at heel Brutale 750 that has the same motor, but a more upright seating position.
All I can say is that I love the engine on these bikes. Characterful, quick and the induction noise on the Brutale is addictive.
Next task is to clean the Brutale up and get her repainted.
After way too long and far too many set backs, I have finally finished getting the motorbike that my father dated my mother on ready to go back on the road. It has been upgraded with electronic ignition, a Morgo pump and indicators (to satisfy my dad’s request).
He’s 77 and I offered to get it back in the road when we lost my mum. I hope it serves him well.
I have to warn anyone thinking of doing this, restoring a 1956 T110 pre unit bike is not for the feint hearted.