How do you tell if your motor has roller tappets?

Looking at buying a 2009 GRiSO, 2nd owner says the original owner said all the updates have been done.  Is there a way to tell if the engine has roller tappets?  Bike has 8900 miles.  Does Moto Guzzi keep track of the vins or marks the motor?

Thank You

Hi Keith, this has been covered many times if you do a search. Yes, the factory gave engine numbers for the change over but they were a bit rubbery. If you are looking at a 2009 it was built as a flat tappet bike. There was never a recall or update for rollerisations. The only way to know for sure is to lift a rocker cover and look. If the current owner is unwilling to do that? Walk away. How many miles on the bike?

8900. Like he said.


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I checked and it's a flat tappet, I talked to the owner and he said I could buy it for $4100. U.S.  It's super clean and white which is my favorite color.  My brother is half owner of a small Moto Guzzi and Aprilia dealership in Washington state.

One last thing there is no paint mark or drill mark on the valve cover.

The drill mark, if it were to have one, would be in the paint adjacent to the manufacturing date stamp on the side of the head that faces into the valley where the alternator sits.

If your brother half owns a Guzzi shop he should be familiar with the tappet issue. Good news for you, he can put in a warranty claim on your behalf with no haggling I'd hope. Even so $4,100 for a flattie would be top dollar in the US.

Ya it's a small dealership most of their income comes from mechanical work and riding schools.  
Optimum Motorsports in Kirkland, Washington.

Can you double check that I have this correct.

O-ring in sparkplug hole? Yes
punch mark on head? No

Kit C

Yes. 'C' kit.

If you are buying then the best way is to buy a 'B' kit and add the extra bits to make it into a 'C' kit from Europe I think. All the kits seem to cost the same in the US while elsewhere there are significant price discrepancies.

Hopefully your bro will do the right thing and source a warranty kit for you.

Thanks Pete.

Well my brother called Piaggio and they no longer cover the roller kit under warranty. He said this winter as long as it runs good until than he will tear it down.  If the parts show wear he'll send in pictures and see what they say otherwise I'm out the cost of the kit.  Can't complain could be a lot worse.

I really, strongly, VERY STRONGLY advise against this course of action.

The longer you leave it the greater the chance of further, more serious, damage occurring.

We at Motomoda have completed in excess of 200 rollerisations now, in fact I have two lined up at the moment, I've seen the damage. I know the risks.

Just don't.

Steve posted on WG on May 23 that the kits were still available.

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You might want to query that.

I’m looking to buy a 2012 GRiSO , registers in August 2012 and built to order from factory for owner.
When did they change to roller valves, as in engine numbers/year?
Thanks!

Stelvio- Motor#AC12596 Build Date 12 March 2012
GRiSO - Motor#A813524 Build Date 12 April 2012
Norge - Motor#AA12214 Build Date 18 April 2012

But I've read that a few flatties slipped through the cracks. Whipping off the valve cover is the only sure fired way to be sure.

Yes, roller campaign is still ongoing. This is directly from their TechRep here in GA. IF it is a newer dealership for Guzzi have the guy call CostaMesa, CA, warranty services. You don't call NYC.

KeithEMason wrote:

I checked and it's a flat tappet, I talked to the owner and he said I could buy it for $4100. U.S.  It's super clean and white which is my favorite color.  My brother is half owner of a small Moto Guzzi and Aprilia dealership in Washington state.

$3K to the knowing buyer max.

Do the Breva Sport models have the same issue? What year did the problem begin? Thanks. I’m looking at an 08 1200 Sport...

Nope, this issue only effects the 8V's. The Breva Sport uses the old 2V engine.

kiwi dave wrote:

Stelvio- Motor#AC12596  Build Date  12 March 2012
GRiSO  - Motor#A813524   Build Date 12 April 2012
Norge - Motor#AA12214   Build Date 18 April 2012

But I've read that a few flatties slipped through the cracks.  Whipping off the valve cover is the only sure fired way to be sure.

All of the Sport 4Vs with the A7 Engine require rollerisation too!

Yep, I understand that none of the 8V 1200 Sports were rollerized at the factory.

Pete Roper wrote:

I really, strongly, VERY STRONGLY advise against this course of action.

The longer you leave it the greater the chance of further, more serious, damage occurring. [...]

Just don't.

As Pete Roper said, the problem occured on 100% 8V engines, just at different time and mileage... Changing it before hearing it is saving your engine. You will just have to make the update, no needs to clean the engine, change oil pump, make a pray that no metal sparkling are strolling and potentially would destroy all the hard work.

Here, the fact is if you want Piaggio to offer you the Kit, you have to wait great noise of your flat tappets, and the bike must be all time followed by a Guzzi shop.

As I had no bills before I bought it, I chose to buy by myself the Kit C : 1500 euros (1800 US $). expansive, but bike cleared :-). 17000 km (10500 miles) and signs of wear but no destruction.

lablame wrote:

As I had no bills before I bought it, I chose to buy by myself the Kit C : 1500 euros (1800 US $). expansive, but bike cleared :-). 17000 km (10500 miles) and signs of wear but no destruction.

€1,500? Pity. I could of saved you €500 + on that price.

I put a deposit on a 2009 GRiSO. The dealer has told me the engine has had the roller conversion but doesn’t have documentation to back it up. I have asked the dealer to remove the rocker covers to verify it has rollers. My question, can you really tell if it has the roller conversion by only looking at the top end? What are the significant differences? This bike is 600 miles from my location so a hands on/ eyes on inspection by me isn’t possible. I need to rely on pictures from the dealer.