Clutch Pushrod Receiver installed

I test fit the pushrod receiver onto the pressure plate, and stuck a makeshift rod in it for effect.  The receiver fit well.  I'll likely use a good epoxy and attach it permanently.  I'm still torn about using a ball bearing in this arrangement.  My Yamaha uses a ball bearing in the center of the rod.  This increases the loading on the rod to only the center.  With a Silver Steel (tool grade drill rod stock) this should not be a problem.  However, is it really needed?  The rod is SUPPOSED to turn, that's why there is a thrust bearing arrangement at the back of the gearbox where the lever pushes the rod.

I will consider this a little more.  Any commentary from those of you reading this are welcome.

Clutch Pushrod Receiver

Special thanks to my workmate Mikhail who went home last night and spun me a clutch pushrod receiver per Wilhelm's measurements and my DXF file.

All it needs is test fit... then figure a way to fasten it to the pressure plate (hopefully it will interference fit into the square hole)... put a ball bearing in the middle... figure a way to fasten that so the ball doesn't fall out, when the pushrod is pulled out the back (set screw, or center punch?)Harden it... then put it in with some grease.

Valve Timing

The chain tensioner was easy to remove.  I simply put a wrench on it, and screwed it out.  It will need new gaskets before re-assembly.

I carefully took the distributor off and laid it aside with the rest of the parts in a safe place.  I noted that the modern bolt was on the left side.  The drive pin goes UP into the hole in the crank.  Need to check the slop in that connection...  there seems to be a bit of wear, which concerns me.

I was trying to figure out the valve timing last night.  None of the marks on the crank lined up.  However, the crank did line up in the correct position with the camshaft.  It was hard to tell if it was one tooth off or not.  The next step is to get the camshaft pulley off.  Once that is off, the chain should drop down and the timing gear should pull out.  The bolt seems a bit tight and I can't hold it still to get it loose.

Armature and timing cover removed

I finally dedicated some time to taking the flywheel and armature off.  PBlaster is a great penetrating oil.  Just a few squirts and a day of waiting and everything came right off.

Well, I did have to fashion a slide hammer for the armature.  I tapped out a 7/16" bolt thread into the armature just a few threads.  Then I made this slide hammer and it came right off with a few pulls.

It here's what I found when the timing cover came off.  Not much to see, but I'll have to line up the timing marks to see how everything is supposed to go back together.  Long bolt goes in the top of the timing cover.  Why its chewed up, I don't know yet.

The seals are naturally petrified.  The timing cover seal has apparently no metal backing built into it, since it sits inside the timing cover and needs to be pried out rather than slid out the side.

A clean work area is a happy work area

The anticipation of buying a lathe has prompted me to clean my work area.  The warm weather this weekend was very oppourtune to get the frame out of the shop area and hydrospray it really well.  I managed to knock off almost all the caked-on grease from the frame and centerstand.

I put the bike on a new clean piece of cardboard and moved it out where the Guzzi was stored for the winter.  I stepped away for one second to grab a board to put the centerstand on.  Wouldn't you know it... the frame toppled over... I grabbed it just in time before it hit the red Imp.  That was a close one.

One side benefit to having cats is all the empty buckets left over from cat litter.  They make great storage buckets.  I gathered all the loose parts for the bike together, bagged them and put them in cat litter buckets.

Here's the lathe.  I had just enough room for it. Its an old model, but it still works.  The machined surfaces have some surface rust, but they cleaned up nicely.  I think I have all the gears for the auto threading system too.  I cleaned out the oil pots and filled them, ran the adjustments in and out to make sure they were fully lubricated.

Hopefully, I'll be ready to make that clutch pushrod receiver after I get the engine torn down the rest of the way.

Already been shimmed once

I got a spare moment over the weekend and popped the bearing shell out of the big end cap.  ha ha HA ... someone had already shimmed it once.

The shim measures roughly about 4 mils.