Quick maintenance data
Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
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Updated:
Maintenance item | V700 | V7 Special / Ambassador | 850 GT / 850 GT California / Eldorado / 850 California Police |
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Spark plug type & gap |
Moto Guzzi: From NGK website: Bosch |
Moto Guzzi: From NGK website: Bosch |
Moto Guzzi: From NGK website: Bosch |
Note: Recommendations from the NGK website are listed here as a convenience only. I strongly prefer the NGK BPR6ES listed by Moto Guzzi over any other listed by NGK. |
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Maintenance item | V700 | V7 Special / Ambassador | 850 GT / 850 GT California / Eldorado / 850 California Police |
Engine oil |
3 liters (3.17 quarts) of 20W-50 motor oil Note: Many people in countries that sell oil in quart containers simply use 3 quarts of oil. The lack of 0.17 quarts of oil makes no appreciable difference in performance or longevity. I've never been one to concern myself with one particular brand vs. another. To the contrary, I've purchased and used Walmart's inexpensive Super-Tech brand oil for years. However, recent federal regulations have dramatically decreased the ZDDP content in most oil. ZDDP content of at least 1200 PPM is necessary for our flat tappets and camshafts to last. Therefore, I've now become quite picky as to which oil I purchase. Here are several that still have sufficient ZDDP levels (for now, anyway):
Due to cost and availability concerns, I am currently using Shell Rotella T4 15W-40. Some of these oils are highly detergent. When switching oils, it is best to perform a couple of very quick oil changes to remove all of the deposits the detergents removed. Here are some articles on the subject: |
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Maintenance item | V700 | V7 Special / Ambassador | 850 GT / 850 GT California / Eldorado / 850 California Police |
Transmission oil |
750 cc (1.585 pints) of 80W-90 gear oil GL-4 gear oil is preferred. I extracted this information from Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle off of the old Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group (which has now moved to Groups.io). Like engine oil, I've never been one to concern myself with one particular brand vs. another. To the contrary, I've purchased and used Walmart's inexpensive Super-Tech brand gear oil for years. However, I've learned that the GL-5 rating for gears oils contains sulphur compounds that attack brass and bronze. Since the 4 speed transmission use bronze bushings, the GL-4 rated gear oils should be used. Here are some brands that are still available in GL-4: |
750 cc (1.585 pints) of 80W-90 gear oil GL-5 gear oil is fine. |
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Maintenance item | V700 | V7 Special / Ambassador | 850 GT / 850 GT California / Eldorado / 850 California Police |
Rear drive box oil |
The same rear drive housing with the same capacity was used. However, official documentation varies widely as to what quanity of oil should be used (variations sometimes occur within the same document).
GL-5 gear oil is fine. |
360 cc (12.7 oz) total capacity; of which:
GL-5 gear oil is fine. |
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Maintenance item | V700 | V7 Special / Ambassador | 850 GT / 850 GT California / Eldorado / 850 California Police |
Fork oil |
160 cc (5.4 oz) of 30 weight fork oil (per tube) Some people report improved damping using 8 oz of 30 weight fork oil (per tube) |
Drum brake forks 160 cc (5.4 oz) of 30 weight fork oil (per tube) Some people report improved damping using 8 oz of 30 weight fork oil (per tube) Disc brake forks 50 cc (1.8 oz) of ATF (per tube) |
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Maintenance item | V700 | V7 Special / Ambassador | 850 GT / 850 GT California / Eldorado / 850 California Police |
Intake valve clearance | 0.1 mm (0.00393 inch) | 0.15 mm (0.0059 inch) | |
Exhaust valve clearance | 0.2 mm (0.00787 inch) | 0.25 mm (0.0098 inch) | |
Maintenance item | V700 | V7 Special / Ambassador | 850 GT / 850 GT California / Eldorado / 850 California Police |
Contact breaker points gap |
0.42 mm - 0.48 mm (0.016 inch - 0.018 inch) When static timing the number 2 cylinder (left side), the narrow lobe on the distributor shaft should be opening the contact breaker points. Correspondingly, the number 1 cylinder (right side) is opened by the wide lobe. |
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Number 1 cylinder location | right side | ||
Number 2 cylinder location | left side | ||
Maintenance item | V700 | V7 Special / Ambassador | 850 GT / 850 GT California / Eldorado / 850 California Police |
Maintenance intervals | Everyone has their own opinion based on their personal experience and riding characteristics. I follow the Moto Guzzi guidelines and change the engine oil every 1,800 miles. I also change the transmission and drive box oil at the same time (although Moto Guzzi recommends changing the gear oils every 6,000 miles). I also check and set the valves every 1,800 miles. I change the fork oil yearly. |