New to Me GRiSO - Issues Abound - Could Use a Hand

So after lurking for a while, lusting for a while, and researching for a while I bought a 2007 1100 from a Guzzi enthusiast who sounded like and honest chap selling a good bike over the phone. Had the bike shipped across the country by Federal, whom I have used before and found reliable and professional.

The bike shows up early in the expected physical condition but upon picking up the bike from the shipper's terminal I checked all the fluids, the operation of major components, and the tire pressures and noted a couple of undisclosed issues:

1. The shift lever felt a little vague and,
2. The turn signal switch (and menu select buttons) didn't work at all

I judged that it would be OK to ride home and did so. For those 70 or so miles everything was fine with the exception of the two issues noted above. The next day, however, the bike was difficult to get get into gear, would slip out of gear when you did get it in and would eventually stall. I took the pork chop off to get a look at the shift lever mounting and found the mounting bolt bent and the thread into which it screws stripped so I got the bolt straightened and the pork chop re-threaded.

That took the slop out of the shift lever and it no longer slips out of gear, but when the revs climb above 3250 and/or I start riding up a slight grade the engine stutters and eventually stalls out.

The seller claims everything worked prior to shipping and suggests that the shipping company damaged the bike somehow. As there was no visible or impact damage, the lights and horn both work, and a bent bolt with stripped housing suggest the lever had been loose for a while, my guess is that the bike had these issues when shipped and they just weren't disclosed to me.

Any thoughts on what the issues might be? The MG dealer is 7 hours from me.

So its a process of elimination.

Does it stall at 3250 in each gear? Does it stall at 3250 when you rev it without load out of gear?

When it stumbles is it cutting out on both cylinders or one?

Have you tried running it with the fuel cap open to see if its just an air lock in the tank?

Stalls in neutral, first, and somewhat lower in second. Have not been able to get going fast enough to get beyond second.
Cutting on both cylinders.
Have not tried running with fuel cap open.

Thanks!

Like Sidrat says (subject to assuming it's correctly tuned & balanced and TPS is reset etc) it sounds like either fuel starvation (tank breather - lift cap, fuel pipe kinked - lift tank, crap in tank - empty tank etc) or ignition breaking down under load (plug caps ripped - switch garage lights out and check).   Later down road could be timing chain slipped but Threads on sorting all these are around here somewhere & I'd start with the easy ones first.

Long shot but easy.

Remove saddle.

See if anything is blocking air intake. BTDT. Similar symptom.

Best wishes on resolving this whatever it is.

Oh, and welcome.

Bill

Gear changing or not. I had this once on mine when I took off the gear shift lever, and put back on one tooth out on the spline - kept hitting something solid and wouldn't go into gear properly. Rotated it one spline tooth and the problem went away.

Also had a piece of stone (presumably picked up on the road) and jammed into the gear change mechanism on top of the gearbox - right royal pain to get it out tool - I now have a piece of insertion rubber mounted under there which stops road rubbish from getting flung up there, with the added bonus of keeping the rear shock cleaner.

Let us know you outcomes.

I believe (and hope) Mr. Hagen is correct!

Right before I started to have the stalling issue I placed my paperwork in a plastic bag under the seat! That’s gotta be it.

Side stand switch? I had this problem on my 1100 GRiSO years ago and that was the culprit.

Pete (Street)

Turns out the air box was clogged with the plastic bag containing my registration and insurance cards that I had placed under the seat. Doh!

As for the menu related switchgear (and turn signal switches), any color would be appreciated.

Menu related switchgear and turn signal switches just started working automagically one afternoon, and have worked perfectly ever since.

Unfortunately, however, both valve cover gaskets are now leaking, and the right one is did so profusely enough to have ruined a pair of riding pants and boots.

Fortunately this is an easy enough fix, and I might as well check the valve clearances and change the spark plugs while I’m at it since I’m only 2000 miles shy of the 25k mile service.

Get a pair of the Valpolini gaskets, I think MG Cycle carry them. They'll never leak again.

NewApriliaGuy wrote:

I believe (and hope) Mr. Hagen is correct!

Right before I started to have the stalling issue I placed my paperwork in a plastic bag under the seat!  That’s gotta be it.

NewApriliaGuy wrote:

Turns out the air box was clogged with the plastic bag containing my registration and insurance cards that I had placed under the seat. Doh!

As for the menu related switchgear (and turn signal switches), any color would be appreciated.

Wait a minute!  Just saw this.  Don't I get a prize or something?

OBTW, you Philistine, it's HagAn, not Hagen.  

Seriously, saw your "Relatively" re Free State and the Selkirks mention elsewhere.  Assume former is Maryland?  If/when this way again -- the top of Virginia -- stop by the Moto Grappa.  If your GRiSO is out west, you are welcome to borrow one of my moto-harem's Guzzis.  Great roads out of my driveway.

Bill

Credit due Bill you called that dead correct.....not sure what the prize could be though

BTDT ? (my brains nor workin)

But your prize is an old black billy and 14 rusty rabbit traps.

Hagan fixed something without breaking it first?

That's news!

School of hard knocks is finally paying dividends. Onya Bill!

Bin There Dun That BTDT

Bill Hagan, gave you some GRiSO cred on your original post and your bald faced plea as well.