To Carlo's concerns first: The header and entire SS exhaust system of one of the last of Steve Munro's parts. It has a baffled muffler, and the extendable tube at the the V head allows it to fit the 12mm taller 900 engine; he did not realize that, but I tried it out and BINGO! Also has more room off the engine side cover. I had this engine in mind when I bought it from him about 10 years ago.

These are FBF (Feracci) pistons, and were advertised at 11 to 11.5 CR. I will accept that as a good estimate, and will check the hot cranking pressure once it has had some heat cycles. Damned sight better than 9:1. I do not want to run really high CR, and then have to find race fuel to carry to the track. And/or ruin an engine with 13:1 by having the fuel go bad (ask Palmer and Munro about that). I am not going to set a lap record anywhere anyway, or win a club championship, by having more compression. The TT900SS has similar 92mm FBF pistons and still reads 182+/- lbs hot cranking pressure, and everything is still happy after six years.

Squish is just under .040" here and there. I did not even check V-to-Piston clearance (Yikes?) because I am using similar FBF pistons in the TT900SS engine with higher-lift ST2 cams and have never had a problem. The P cams do not lift as much. In fact, these valves have been sunken slightly in an attempt for more V-to-V clearance, and when that failed (I could see the valves going down the toilet --- can you say "shrouding"?) I used 42.5mm intake valves and cut the exhausts to 37.5mm. You gotta do what...……….. Again, this can always be changed using the law of "incrementalism" --- if this works then something else might be better later, or not.

Finally, the ST3 oil line to the cam caps. It will work, and it is something that can always be easily changed later. I am also going to use an ST3 oil cooler, and it has a tap that will allow another line off the cooling side. You may see a different line in the future.

Hope this eases your concerns Carlo. Your fan, MikeV.

Now the Cranky: I have experienced that float with simple 40mm Dellortos and light springs on an 1100cc Guzzi of similar build. I think the big valves and amount of air going in just keeps them up there. At least it won't be puzzling to me.

I have now added old-style clamp-on, tickler-choke, no-idle-circuit 40 Dellortos to the 1980 Pantah Factory racer replica, and learned how to live with them. Bent one of the float arms at first, and then learned how to flood (seems awful) the carbs without doing that. Got through a track day without the idle. Oddly, they seem so happy they want to idle, with ORSP F1 race cams, and you can cheat with the cable adjustment if you want 2000 rpm or so.

Thanks,
MikeV

Since we are talking about some of this stuff...……….

The V head cam from Red Fox without valve guides or seats. In the past I have had great difficulty finding someone in the US who would do some simple things with these damned Dewcaatee heads, or even something like making minor changes and porting. One person took over 18 months to get them back, with nothing much great done (rang up a nice bill though), and another took 20 months to return them somewhat F'd up, and not anywhere close to finished! Only Carlo seems to be able to get this task done, but he is thousands of miles away, surrounded by hungry Italian customs agents.

So, in order to deal with this engine, and some others in the future, I purchased some vintage equipment and hit the books and You tube. This allows me to install guides, and seats, and valves, and to machine them all as needed to work. A long way from JR Precision work, but not bad. We will see how things go with this engine.

MikeV

Looks great Mike! The whole bike looks amazing! Lou

Hay Mike Now Im truly impressed that you did all the head work.
I went the same "do it myself" route many years ago after experiencing numb-sculls claiming to be experts.
I can have just as much fun screwing things up!
Here,s a few pics making valves and guides for the TT1.
-Cranky-

Dear Mike, I am very proud to have a Fan like you, and I am very proud to see how you are evolving towards technical modifications that I still struggle to perform, to carry out the elaboration and upgrading work you need to be equipped, but the most 'important, I don't know if the translator will be able to say what I mean, you have to bang your head on it, that is, you have to try, make mistakes, try again, see that it's better, disassemble again, modify, reassemble and finally see that it works. ..... but perhaps it could have been done better.
I lost a dear friend, a pancreatic cancer took him away, he taught me a lot of technical things, he was a professional miller and turner, and he had dedicated his passion to making modifications to mono ducats one day I'll show you what he was capable of.
You mike are very good, you kranky are a genius, and both of you are humble people, thanks for this.
Greetings from Italy hungry for duty taxes and more.
Carlo.

Thanks for the good words Lou, and Cranky, and Carlo. And thanks, especially Carlo, for your understanding (about me doing this work) and humor (about the Customs agents). I file away all your (all three) recommendations in my head, so they will bug me while doing something.

But I remain most impressed with those on the site that decide they want to build a TT1 or HD750XR and need to build a frame. But, wait, first they need to build a jig for that. So they do --- and build both. And then the bike. Or they decide to pound out an aluminum TT tank --- or some other kind of bodywork (Like a front fender, Lou?). Or, some say, I will mold some exotic CF fairing parts for my F1 --- and they do. Far beyond the basic mechanics and machining to assemble this bike.

MikeV

Now here is something I am really proud of: A bracket for the shock remote made out of the Harbor Fright fender that almost fell off coming back from the 2013 Adamo/TT gathering. Perfect.

it's true Mike, there is always someone who can surprise you !!

Small things are progressing. Here is something that might be of interest to others. Carlo said something about "jets", and it got my mind working. Here is my solution to the .060" or so oil feed to the cam caps that Cranky harps on. Tap the banjo bolt, and drilled a too-small Dellorto main jet to .063". Maybe this what Carlo did? MikeV

PS: jets in the range of 145-148 are close to .060”.

A few more small things done. The parts have been cleaned up since and will look better.











Trying to decide if I can install, and actually use, this Double System shock. I do not really know how to manage it --- help Carlo, Cranky, Lou, others? HELP SOS!





Now off to be a couch potato for the Superbowl. (Kinda like the World Cup for many of you)