Musings of a madman

C

Cliveo

New member
Location
West Yorkshire,
Hello.

First time post here and it's about my recently acquired SF1.
This isn't my first SF- I had a 2 back in the early 90's. Sold it and regretted it!
Anyway I've had this one for only a few months and done around 1500 miles on it.
At first I was a bit disappointed as the bike felt flat and gutless, not how I remembered the previous one.
It also had what sounded like a half engine speed knock - like a loose tappet but worse. I delved into the forum and unearthed the cam keyway potential glitch.
Off came the covers and thank my lucky stars all was well!
Next valve clearances. Quite loose rhd cylinder inlet and same lhd cyl exhaust. Re-set bike a lot quieter but still not sparkling in the performance category.
Next Carbs. Removed stripped and ultra sonic clean, all new brass and gaskets etc. Cleaned and re-oiled K & N which p.o had fitted. Rudimentary balance, but near enough ,(remove slides from cables drop in carb and adjust till both are the same height from the top of the body. Refit cables and tops. Next screw cable adjusters right home, gently pull on cable to remove all slack then bring the adjuster till snug and back off 2.5 turns.)
The bike ran better and picked up revs quicker.
Finally I purchased some VW points and Fiat 128 condensors. Modified the points to fit bolted the condensers' on and wired it all up. Checked adv/ret and all seemed pukka with that.
Finally ascertained TDC with dial gauge and piston stop and spent a good hour getting the gaps and timing correct.
That was the final piece of the puzzle. The bike now ran great, idled smooth and steady and picked up revs rapidly on the road - boy she sure takes off at 6 thou right to the 7 - 7.5, only occasionally I might add normally 60 to 65mph is the norm for me nowadays.
So the conclusion of my musings is thus- make sure your ignition timing is spot on!
Anyway I love the bike and it just makes you feel so special riding it.
I also have the choice of a 76' Triumph T140 - love that too, a 72' Suzuki T500 - can't beat the smell of 2 stroke in the morning and finally 2015 Guzzi V7II which has taken my wife and I complete with luggage fro the U.K to Italy 3 times. Great forum, full of info.
 
Good work going through the basics to achieve a successful result. I would probably have checked cam timing - a 'flat' or a 'peaky' feel can often be a tooth out on the cam, retarded or advanced respectively - but sounds like yours is good (steady idle and good pickup). The timing issue highlights why some (or many) of us opt for electronic ignition. Once you've set it up, it's set up forever, and even removing and replacing the primary cover negates the need to reset your points. Can't guarantee the tacho reads accurately, but mine was very strong from 5000 til 8000 and would rev to 8k in top with std 19-40 gearing.
 
Hi clivio, just in case you ever consider fitting electronic ignition, enclosed is the solution I used a few years ago with excellent results. the biggest advantage I saw was the controlled advance curve and the pick up from quite low revs. it just so happens I have a spare pazon system complete with double output coil that I was going to use on a project but never did. I am over in York, north yorkshire so not far away if interested.
 

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Hi Corsaro.

Might be if not too costly and easy to fit - don't forget I'm a thick, tight loiner.
I have a pazon on the bonnie, partly cos you could only get shite pattern points which just didn't work. P.M me if you like with details.
I take it by your user name that you are a Morini man. Me too. Had several 3.5 and 500s'. Also had a 72' corsaro sport, very angular tank and lovely short sporty front guard, full instrumentation and went very, very well for a 125. Wish I'd kept it now as they were a very late short model run- rare I believe.
 
Yes I have a morini Corsaro 125 from 59 along with a Sbarazzino from the same year along with Gilera, Bianchi. Will post a pic of the pazon bits - I was going to fit the pazon to my Laverda alpino and made the parts but because the emitter would have been on the end of the crank I had rather too many sparks in all the wrong places!
The little Corsaro is a cracking bike and quick, I have had it for 16 years I had a 350 morini back in 1979 - now that one I should have kept...

Stu
 

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corsaro said:
Yes I have a morini Corsaro 125 from 59 along with a Sbarazzino from the same year along with Gilera, Bianchi. Will post a pic of the pazon bits - I was going to fit the pazon to my Laverda alpino and made the parts but because the emitter would have been on the end of the crank I had rather too many sparks in all the wrong places!
The little Corsaro is a cracking bike and quick, I have had it for 16 years I had a 350 morini back in 1979 - now that one I should have kept...

Stu
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You've got me a bit confused now Corsaro- told you i was a bit dim!
I know the Trumpet runs it's points off of the cam but I am right in thinking the Lav runs from the oil pump, which I assume runs at crank speed, and is then geared appropriately to run at half speed for the sparks, or is that complete nonsense?
Nice collection of Lightweights you've got there.
The Italians really know how to make them.
I've had a couple of Gilera's myself. A B300 and an Arcore 150. That really flew but had a real tingle at mucho rpm. Once nearly bought a Nettuno to go with the Airone I was flying around on at the time but potential spares problems put me off - that and the wife moaning about all the bloody bikes I wanted.
 
The alpino ignition works from the end of the crank hence the lost spark system creates far too many sparks in all the wrong places. I did a timing diagram just to see where the sparks occur. For the 750 as piranha says it is half crank speed. hence the pazon is suitable for the 750 but not the alpino range.

Stu
 

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Right so. Might consider pazon but to be fair the original points system is so robust. easy to work on and provides a nice fat spark. I reckon on perhaps covering 5 to 6000 miles a year on the Lav so ignition work is not much of a chore.
But on the other hand it transformed my Triumph.
Although the ignition set up on that was not as good as the Laverda, in my opinion.
Ooh eck. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
 
Cliveo said:
Right so. Might consider pazon but to be fair the original points system is so robust. easy to work on and provides a nice fat spark. I reckon on perhaps covering 5 to 6000 miles a year on the Lav so ignition work is not much of a chore.
But on the other hand it transformed my Triumph.
Although the ignition set up on that was not as good as the Laverda, in my opinion.
Ooh eck. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
Click to expand...
Besides the uncertainty re always correct ign timing, Lav SF points are as good as to be found. Make sure the adv unit is in good shape and greased where needed, also on the cam felt. The adv curve can be altered by spring tension. On mine I reduced max advance as well, ran for years with that before I fitted Ignitech.
 
Perry said:
I think you are on to something , this line of charming self deprecation, a willingness to concede the possibilty of error and the use of 'Ooh Eck' is fooling no one !
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I can assure you I know who I am but it could depend on whom you ask!
If this Paul chap is a fan of the points set up then I may well be a doppleganger.
Anyway checked gap and timing today - nothing changed all exactly as when I first did the job.
That's enough now I'll leave you all to do your thing. Au revoir
 
Cliveo said:
I can assure you I know who I am but it could depend on whom you ask!
If this Paul chap is a fan of the points set up then I may well be a doppleganger.
Anyway checked gap and timing today - nothing changed all exactly as when I first did the job.
That's enough now I'll leave you all to do your thing. Au revoir
Click to expand...
What are your thoughts on hydraulic clutches? :D
 
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