Ignition switch replacement
Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
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Full featured ignition switch available from MG Cycle
MG Cycle sells a suitable replacement switch, MG# 12735300. Other than the original switch supplied by Moto Guzzi, I consider this switch to be the best of the options available today.
Ignition switch without spring loaded starter
My Ambassador arrived with an aftermarket ignition switch already lovingly installed. Unfortunately, it was in bad shape...it didn't make contact half the time, etc. I took it apart and cleaned it all up, put it back together and it worked great. The only problem was that the key could be removed from the switch in any position. For some reason, I don't cherish the notion of retracing my ride in a useless attempt to locate a tiny key on the road.
I replaced this aftermarket switch with another aftermarket switch. Specifically, I bought Emgo part number 40-64000 from Dennis Kirk with two keys. It fits the hole without modification and provide simple off-accessory-on functionality (there is no momentary spring loaded start
position).
Note: This switch accepts ring terminals, which can be quite difficult to fit in the available space under the dash.
Ignition switch with spring loaded starter
Contributed by Rob Prins on the old Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group (which has now moved to Groups.io).
This switch would be an appropriate replacement for the V700 and early Ambassador models that did not use a separate starter button. NAPA part number ECH KS6180.
Note: This switch accepts ring terminals, which can be quite difficult to fit in the available space under the dash.
Gregory Bender's thoughts:
While the universal replacement switches sold by Dennis Kirk (Emgo part number 40-64000) and Napa (Echlin Ignition ECH KS6180) are readily available and inexpensive, they both lack a key design feature. Specifically, the threaded portion of the switch is not keyed to the notches cast in the original dash. Therefore, the switch will eventually loosen up and want to rotate within the hole. This is annoying and proves, once again, how much forethought Moto Guzzi put into the original design.
Furthermore, both of these two switches accept ring terminals, which can be quite difficult to fit in the available space under the dash.
If you are really on a budget, these switches can get you by. But a much better plan is to source a used original switch and then rebuild it.
Please do not ever remove the tabs in the hole in the original dash. They are quite difficult to replace.