Moto Guzzi 1100 EV self diagnosis

Moto Guzzi 1100 EV Touring from 2003, broke down 4 times on a trip of 3000km. The poor quality Valeo starter motor burned out and was not readily available in France. Spare tank sensor had broken inside the tank. The starterkey got stuck in the fuel filler cap! Was 90€ to replace by an all aluminium cap. Finally failed completely just before I got home with a torn petrol tube inside the tank. It took me a long time to discover that fuel pressure was too low (see UPDATE below!!) Discovering that none of the relais were marked for their functions, did not help as well. To overcome the problem with the very hard to (de-)install pump assembly, I moved the filter outside the tank. Now installing the pump back in is easy and replacing the filter 20000km from now, as well !!
See my other vid too : • Moto Guzzi 1100 EV fue...
UPDATE 1;
forgot to mention in the video, keep the saddle-lock well greased at regular intervals. It has a spring-latch that blocks easily when dry or rusty. Not getting your saddle off of your bike is SO very frustrating. Especially when somebody is waiting to give you a jumpstart...
Glad I solved it all in the end and now back on the road again :-)
UPDATE 2:
2 months later the new original expensive (20€/20cm) submergeble fuel hose broke again! I installed special ring clamp protectors and another 2 months later it broke for the second time on the other side then before and clearly not even close to the ring clamp. Rubbish to use silicon tubes!!! Better use black hose from the automobile industry. That helped me at last. What a downer, again.
Also improved : • Moto Guzzi 1100 EV fue...
UPDATE 3:
Much later I learned that the quick-fit joint on the tank is easier disconnected if there is no pressure in the tubes. To release this pressure before disconnecting, with a running engine, disconnect the connector of the pump below the tank. Then switch off the ignition, raise the tank without putting any pressure on the red outlet joint of the tank, if it breaks you're in for a new pump!
The extra tube on the tank below is not a breather tube but an overflow outlet for spilled or overfilled tank.

[@bm7760]

Thanks for the video. Glad you got it sorted.

[@wolfgangwind788]

Thank,s Ernie , for your helpfull Videos, its great done , hope i never need them ❤ because i,m not a Specialist like you

[@Ernie-Tech]

Hopefully you've come to a good buy??? Or is this still in the future?

[@mudslinger888]

Glad I found your video, I just got a 2003 EV with 9600 miles from a friend who bought it new but just parked it one day 10 years ago. First 7 years in his garage, but last 3 outdoors in a winter climate, but it looks great still, just need to go through it and hope nothing major wrong. I wasn't sure if the ignition also worked the gas cap, so it is just stuck, now it all makes sense, hope spraying penetrating oil will help, any tips really appreciated like pushing down or tapping it as I try the key. It had a big Corbin seat on it, took that off and put the still-new original on, had the same cable issue, until I found if I pulled on the cable underneath the side cover it activated the latch open, but I agree it is not a good design, hope to improve this by installing either a pull knob on a separate cable not shared with the helmet lock, although the Corbin didn't even latch down. Are you reachable by email or text? I am at kr8peace at g mail if you find this please reply, I am in CO and had a few questions, like what is the gas tank outlet twisty knob for? And, Is the box next to the battery just a carbon filter I can remove to install a 30L battery, or is it emissions CA model where I have to leave it intact to run right? I'm fairly mechanical but electrical is my weak link. Plan to do that fuel filter you explained, oil pan clean out and new filter with fresh oil, and empty the gas, hopefully I won't find rust in the tank! Really great to find your tip on the cap ring.

[@Ernie-Tech]

will reply by your given address, glad to see my info is usable!

[@stephensaunders4668]

There is a growing move in the world of early Harley fuel injection to revert to carbs and even points ignition kits are available to replace the factory supplied ignition. The Guzzi would convert easily with earlier model parts or even some aftermarket mikuni kits. Great bike but made less enjoyable with poorly supported and newish technology.

[@Ernie-Tech]

I do agree that an ecu made things more or less out of reach for repairs by hobbyists, which is one of the reasons to have a bike; the fun of doing maintenance and little repairs yourself. The carbs are indeed easily put back, but the ignition I'm not too sure of assuming you'd go back to mechanical ignition. Especially the governor for more or less pre-ignition needs the original cast and then you're more or less back easier buying a good old 850T3. I do have to admit that since I'm driving this ecu-tech Guzzi, it starts very easily and runs stationairy as steady as a swiss clock. Something I'd never seen before, which pleases me most. But nowadays you need a laptop, usb-ecu adapter, software and knowledge of it all, not so common as it was before indeed!

[@stephensaunders4668]

Yes, you're right about the mechanical ignition advance unit. A good electronic ignition with built in advance might be a halfway solution. Not completely free of electronic demon potential but better than a full-on ECU. Perhaps an older Cali 2 is in order. They looked great. I fixed one for a mate when one set of points had closed up. Took half an hour and then ran great. Nothing matter though so long as you are enjoying it.@@Ernie-Tech

[@patriciavanengelen1538]

These repairs should give you at least 20.000 km of trouble free touring ! Good luck !

[@Ernie-Tech]

Thanks! Forgot to mention and show the rubbish saddle lock. I advise everybody to keep that lock well greased. See text below video

[@chinwakebhai]

Great video, but obviously a big headache for you. I am not mechanically minded by any means; just get oil changes and simple jobs on my bikes. I am looking at a 2003 bike just like yours. I research extensively before I open my wallet, and I'm glad I found your video. I am retired and with fixed income I try to let my head rule over my heart. This is the time to reconsider that great buy ! Besides, there are no Guzzi dealers in my neck of the woods. Jay.

[@Ernie-Tech]

Guzzi has always been known for making the best technicians out of their clients :-) But getting to know your bike in detail, is a good thing and helps you 'survive' if you get stranded out there. Does your bike have the same colour? I love this darkish red nearly purple, don't see that very often.

[@chinwakebhai]

@@Ernie-Tech : The bike I've been looking at is blue. Pretty bike, but not mine, at least not yet unless I win the big lottery. I like tinkering, maintaining, not good at fixing !

[@Ernie-Tech]

@@chinwakebhai If the investment is too big, why not buy a simple bike first and while doing so learn to fix things! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWaxonenj9NkqNk

[@georgetrakadas8595]

nice job your guzzi!!!

[@wardmontgomery9259]

Most excellent - thank you for the instructions ! New to the channel and subscribed.

[@Ernie-Tech]

Welcome, are you driving a similar monster too?

[@wardmontgomery9259]

@@Ernie-Tech I am looking at a 97 California 1100 with 13K mikes on it this weekend - start simple like you said.

[@Ernie-Tech]

@@wardmontgomery9259 Exciting Howard, I guess that milage is somewhere somehow a mistake, most likely 113KMiles? Even in KiloMeters it would only be like 21KMeters or a typo? :-)

[@wardmontgomery9259]

@@Ernie-Tech I will look closely at the mileage but I was told the tires are the originals - the owner is retired and losing his eyesight ...

[@kimdleavitt6892]

They had a recall on fork bearing on my 04 California, EV

[@Ernie-Tech]

A recall by the manufacturer is usually very specific on a certain range of serial numbers build in a specific time frame. Do you have any more info on that?

[@coyotemotorider]

did you removed the tank to remove the pump fuel system ?

[@Ernie-Tech]

Of course, there is no other way. Have a look at details in my other video kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXjKeGqpqNyDr6c

[@coyotemotorider]

@@Ernie-Tech yes i saw that video today. i don't know if i can do it by myself . it looks complicated ) i think i have a same issue that you had

[@Ernie-Tech]

@@coyotemotorider It is not complicated, but experience and good tools help. First make sure you understand my videos and if you try, make sure you have a way to get your bike on a trailer to transport it to a dealer/garage or have somebody to help you, in case you get stuck totally. First above all, make sure your tank is as empty as possible. If you decide to put the filter outside the tank, you may as well cut the fuel hose and safe the trouble of detaching the -not-so-quick-fit-at-all joint underneath the tank! 🙂 Release the pressure by letting the engine run, is out of the question I guess. So big chance that joint will give you a problem. Do not underestimate the quality of tube necessairy in the tank and their special rings to lock them. Good luck!

[@coyotemotorider]

@@Ernie-Tech thank you. Will see maybe it will be easier to send it to garage and pro mechanic will solve it. First i couldn'it understand why the bike was not turning on normally . But from what i checked i see that the isse can be fuel pipe or fuel filter and maybe the pump system itself (hope no) if you have any messanger i can send you videos and maybe you can have another point of view

[@Ernie-Tech]

@@coyotemotorider Hi, you can send a video to xxxxxx@yyyy/zzz but please let me know when you do, so I can remove this emailaddress from my YT channel (and not get spammed)

[@kimdleavitt6892]

Anybody know what 04 California, EV with roughly 10,000 Mile on it is worth

[@Ernie-Tech]

I guess you mean with "04" the fourth version of California model, like mine is called "California EV-touring" ? You need to specify where you are located, cause prices between EU and US for example can't compare. For example; I paid 5500€ in France for my 2003 California at the time had run 38000km and that was in 2016 at a local Guzzi dealer who gave me 6 months warranty.

[@bm7760]

I just bought an '09 California Vintage with 6,000 miles on it for £5,000. Some cosmetic work to do (just bits of chrome really). Not sure how that compares to your part of the world.

[@Ernie-Tech]

@@bm7760 seems very very cheap to me with hardly any distance on the clock. Congratulations, I hope you'll have plenty of fun with her!

[@wudntulike2no32]

I bought a 03 california ev for 1500 with 37k in Utah. I was very lucky but about 2500 seems to be normal around me.

[@sidneywhite749]

Need help removing fuel tank on California 11, 1998 model

[@Ernie-Tech]

What is the problem? No workshop or user manual? I have an English pdf workshop manual. Try this and please let me know if your download went okay, so I can remove the link.

[@sidneywhite749]

Thank you, unfortunately the download did not work. I am new to the game just buying my first Guzzi. Trying to learn. I will bother you no further and look to eBay. Did not see where they offered a Haynes manual for my 1998 Cali EV. I need just a basic manual don’t plan to do engine work. The bike has 40,000 miles.

[@Ernie-Tech]

@@sidneywhite749 Hi Sidney, did the pdf downloads work? Please let me know, so I can remove them.

[@sidneywhite749]

@@Ernie-Tech thank you, the second attempt went thru fine. I appreciate your time and effort. I am 77 years old and this is my first Guzzi. The motorcycle needs a thorough going over, it had 40,000 miles and might have had two previous owners. Bought it not running knowing it had a bad fuel pump. P,us there was some added bits and bobs that I don’t care for and after I get it running I will tend to. I like an original look and take off the Harley type stuff.

[@Ernie-Tech]

@@sidneywhite749 probably your computer has no pdf viewer installed, that's why it shows the pure characters in the pdf file, which in deed is unusable. You can add a pdf viewer on FireFox-browser or install for example Adobe (all for free). Some text-editors like Word or open-office can also show pdf documents. I will remove those links now, since I do not know if it is ©opyright sensitive...

[@kimdleavitt6892]

I have an offer for California EV I had the same problem Who would ever know that they put a external Hose inside a gas tank mine was just rotted ? Fix the hose put a filter on the outside.👍

[@Ernie-Tech]

Thanks for sharing that! It's good to know about this issue when dealing with this specific model.

[@wolfgangwind788]

? A Guzzi Rider need special nowleddge about technic... Or : the lovefull Grace of God - lastone include,s all cases of adventures

[@Ernie-Tech]

There is indeed a saying that "Guzzi makes perfect technicians of their customers" which says a lot!! I'm not a believer in any god, so can't relate to the second part of your reaction, allthough I did have a near-dead-experience and 'know' there's more to our lives, than what meets the eye....