That's 100% Paul, no super-accurate CNC, so variations must occur. One of the first Mag articles I read had a line about SFC twin builds and people walking down the assembly line looking for best quality parts to blueprint race engines. That would explain variations in clutch pulls, etc.
The fall and rise of a works SFC engine
- Thread starter sfcpiet
- Start date
piranha-bro2
Hero member
- Location
- Melbourne
Pretty bizarre to find such suspect gear on an Elettronica, selon moi. Stories of X-rayed cranks and rods, nothing but the best, hand-built, premium attention and all that - and a wonky crank web finds its way onto their centrepiece model! Obviously it was never trued, or they would have picked it up.
It was reported to me afterwards that somebody had built the crank from individually sourced bits and bobs... who knows where they came from and how they got out of the factory!! The entire bike was actually built from bits, #3028 of 549?
piet
As a good friend of mine once said, after the closure of the factory, local dealers would go and help themselves in the factory stocks, to quote "there were big thieves and little thieves".It was reported to me afterwards that somebody had built the crank from individually sourced bits and bobs... who knows where they came from and how they got out of the factory!! The entire bike was actually built from bits, #3028 of 549?
piet
Quality of parts certainly depended on the quality of the seller.
Paul
Laverdalothar
Hero member
- Location
- Germany
That is a known fact and I think we all know who they were... That said, Diesel did not care and these two helped all of us with parts availability over the years. Still enough left to fill Andy Wagners "sprinter" type "truck" and another full truck load for OCT, when Aprilia took over.
Last edited:
motoddrob
Hero member
- Location
- S/W Australia
I brought a set of NOS Ceriani yokes from a major parts dealer for my Motodd. The top yoke stanchion bore was about 10deg out of alignment to the L/H side. I ended up reusing the original one I had fitted years before after welding up a couple of cracks. That one probab ly camed out of the reject bin.
The crank on my 750SFC threw a rod with only a few hundred miles on it. That resulted in a new crank and unstamped 75 cases. Also replaced the pistons and the chipped r/h sleeve. Now done 29000 miles and has never missed a beat.
The crank on my 750SFC threw a rod with only a few hundred miles on it. That resulted in a new crank and unstamped 75 cases. Also replaced the pistons and the chipped r/h sleeve. Now done 29000 miles and has never missed a beat.
78jotadave
Hero member
Your 'Half Moon Bay' SFC purchase could be considered the best Laverda deal anyone ever made; the stars aligned for that one.
motoddrob
Hero member
- Location
- S/W Australia
yep and 44 years later still riding and enjoying it.
78jotadave
Hero member
California Highway 1, a cruiser compared to Skyline Drive, sorts the men out from the boys. It is 1983 ??? or thereabouts, Rob on his SFC, me on my Gold Jota. We had very recently done Baja California and mainland Mexico/Yucatan, Rob on his SF2 and me on my old 74,3C.
The Gods shone brightly upon us, and we are a couple of Ozzies checking out the USA, both having found fantastic deals on Laverdas, moving on from the SF2 and my 3C.
Skyline Drive in the 80s was IT, destination was 'Alice's Restaurant,' yeah, that one. It wasn't about the restaurant or the destination; it was the ride. Half Moon Bay to anywhere, north, south, or east (west is the Pacific, and Mavericks break) is a motorcycle rider's paradise, well, it was in the 80s, not so much these days, but still fun.
I rode my Jota to Alice's, and coming back, I rode Rob 74 SFC, and my impression was that every corner, every corner, I could have taken faster, let's just say we were not "taking prisoners". A good tale, eh?
That's it, I'll shut up now, I'm sounding like Ron. Is he still with us?
Sorry, maybe not the right thread.
The Gods shone brightly upon us, and we are a couple of Ozzies checking out the USA, both having found fantastic deals on Laverdas, moving on from the SF2 and my 3C.
Skyline Drive in the 80s was IT, destination was 'Alice's Restaurant,' yeah, that one. It wasn't about the restaurant or the destination; it was the ride. Half Moon Bay to anywhere, north, south, or east (west is the Pacific, and Mavericks break) is a motorcycle rider's paradise, well, it was in the 80s, not so much these days, but still fun.
I rode my Jota to Alice's, and coming back, I rode Rob 74 SFC, and my impression was that every corner, every corner, I could have taken faster, let's just say we were not "taking prisoners". A good tale, eh?
Before the 'Skyline' days, and they were fun, fun, fun, were the San Francisco Bay Area rides. Jumping and getting serious late night, when the bars closed 'airtime' on the SF2 and 3C, on the streets of San Francisco, Steve McQueen (Bullitt) had nothing on us, but to be honest, Kenny and Mark on their Triumphs were flying high; we all were, but those Triumphs flew on the way to the 38-footer in the Marina.
That's it, I'll shut up now, I'm sounding like Ron. Is he still with us?
Sorry, maybe not the right thread.
Attachments
Tippie
Hero member
- Location
- Dr?bak, Norway
Marzo Monday clamp?
Attachments
motoddrob
Hero member
- Location
- S/W Australia
Good memories Dave. Racing through that tunnel in San Francisco after the bars closed. the Laverdas and the Triumphs at full noise!!
Also the famous Sunday morning ride from Marin to Point Reyers Station. Motorcycling paradise
Also the famous Sunday morning ride from Marin to Point Reyers Station. Motorcycling paradise
Andy J
Hero member
- Location
- Isle of Man
More ‘modern’ version of the pony express transporting vital parts from Keith Nairn on the next leg of the journey to Germany.
Been pretty busy sticking the engine back together...
Aligning clutch plates.
Dropping the barrel
Then a little surprise popped up, something I'd completely overlooked. The liner spigots were far too tall at 4.2mm, the intact original only had 1.7mm, just enough to hold the gasket in place and to engage with the head recess which is at 1mm. This leaves a gap of 0.3mm for gasket compression. The head has apparently been drastically skimmed, probably to bump up the CR a bit. This called for a little creativity on my part as I no longer have a mill to my disposal. Thankfully I have a large angle plate that fits to the cross slide of my lathe. A couple of long studs, spacers and parallels and carefull aligning later, I was good to go. Stuck a turning tool with carbide bit in the 3-jaw and slowly attacked the spigots. Taking off 0.30mm per pass, took me a good 2 hours... but they came out perfect.
Improvised fly cutter
The remainder came together nicely, all bits and bobs were still in the bags and containers I had stowed them in 8 years ago.
Made some pretty bolts for the covers
Still got other stuff to get out the way but I'm hoping to install the engine this weekend.
piet
Aligning clutch plates.
Dropping the barrel
Then a little surprise popped up, something I'd completely overlooked. The liner spigots were far too tall at 4.2mm, the intact original only had 1.7mm, just enough to hold the gasket in place and to engage with the head recess which is at 1mm. This leaves a gap of 0.3mm for gasket compression. The head has apparently been drastically skimmed, probably to bump up the CR a bit. This called for a little creativity on my part as I no longer have a mill to my disposal. Thankfully I have a large angle plate that fits to the cross slide of my lathe. A couple of long studs, spacers and parallels and carefull aligning later, I was good to go. Stuck a turning tool with carbide bit in the 3-jaw and slowly attacked the spigots. Taking off 0.30mm per pass, took me a good 2 hours... but they came out perfect.
Improvised fly cutter
The remainder came together nicely, all bits and bobs were still in the bags and containers I had stowed them in 8 years ago.
Made some pretty bolts for the covers
Still got other stuff to get out the way but I'm hoping to install the engine this weekend.
piet
Laverdalothar
Hero member
- Location
- Germany
Hi Piet, looking amazing and I know you know what you are doing. I was just curious if the valve pocket on the right hand piston for the inlet valve is actually as damaged as it looks on the pics or if just the pics are missleading? I zoomed into the picture and was wondering if this is a real damage and if it could cause a heat nest eventually?!? Pretty sure you looked at it and it is just my missing knowledge and understanding, please.
Wasn't so sure at the beginning...
No damage there Lothar, just some carbon remnants. I just scrubbed off the easy-to-get-at, figured it'll coat itself again quick enough.
piet
Jo
Hero member
- Location
- Cologne, NRW Germany
At first, I thought you’d have to press the liners out to turn them down, but you found a clever workaround for the issue at hand - kudos!
Fascinating pictures to watch the progress! When the motor is back in the frame this leads to the question, where the shakedown test is planned. Hanfbachtal with borrowed license plate ..?
Fascinating pictures to watch the progress! When the motor is back in the frame this leads to the question, where the shakedown test is planned. Hanfbachtal with borrowed license plate ..?
Cylinder head has not yet recieved final torque as new shiny special head nuts are on their way. Those ugly, makeshift nuts are destined to the scrap bin...
I have a mate with a dyno in a neighbouring hamlet, hidden in the woods Shakedown through the valley does sound tempting though.
piet
Once the liners are removed, they cannot be replaced being certain that they remain as they were. Chances are there will be dents and bulges where there weren't any before. They would at least have required a light hone. Besides, the clock's ticking, so I was eager to get it together without further drama.At first, I thought you’d have to press the liners out to turn them down, but you found a clever workaround for the issue at hand - kudos!
Fascinating pictures to watch the progress! When the motor is back in the frame this leads to the question, where the shakedown test is planned. Hanfbachtal with borrowed license plate ..?
I have a mate with a dyno in a neighbouring hamlet, hidden in the woods Shakedown through the valley does sound tempting though.
piet
That's the ultimate goal Andre.
It's been in boxes for far too long, technical and financial restraints took their toll.
piet