Distributor drive gear clearance

Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Updated: 2010 January 14

Thanks to Craig Sheldrick for sending me some of this information in a private e-mail.

Every loop frame distributor I've seen has had a tremendous amount of end play on the distributor drive gear. Guzzi (or perhaps Magneti Marelli) installed shims in this location, but the end play can be huge (at least 0.01 inch or more...when the exhaust valve clearance is only 0.001 inch). I've routinely shimmed these to be much closer. Historically, I've done this by feel. Craig Sheldrick has asked around and has learned that a value of 0.004 inch - 0.005 inch is a good clearance to use. That sounds reasonable to me, too.