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INSTALLING THE LATE STARTER
The current starter is smaller, lighter, uses less amperage, starts more demanding engines, and tucks in better than all previous starters used by Moto Guzzi. It is almost a direct replacement, but please note the following suggestions.
Orientation: The current starter mounts with its solenoid (the smaller section) on top, as is true of all solenoid-equipped original-equipment starters except those on the V7, V7 Special, Ambassador, Eldorado, and 850 GT.
A caution for all starters: never run the starter more than about five seconds at a time. Starters are very high output electric motors for their size and are not capable of continuous operation without damage. If your bike doesn’t start in five seconds, there’s probably something wrong that additional cranking won’t solve. If repeated attempts are necessary, rest the starter between exertions.
Starter mounting bolts for early big twins originally using a stud: The best solution would be to remove the stud, drill out its blind hole, and then face off the front of the new hole so that a bolt can then be installed from the front, as on later models. The practical approach is to remove the stud and replace it with an 8 x 70 mm Allen bolt from the back. To accomplish this, the upper threaded mounting hole on the new starter must be enlarged and the vertical plate trimmed for clearance.
Clearance to the neutral switch on big-twin manual transmissions: Make sure the wire terminal post doesn’t contact the starter once installed. Otherwise either a direct short will result or the neutral switch will remain lit at all times. Although usually unnecessary, you may consider substituting 6 x 15-mm button-head Allen screws (98230615) for the original hex-head bolts.
Clearance to the clutch cable on four-speed models: Traditionally, it was not possible to fit the late Bosch starter with top-mounted solenoid to these early models (V700, V7 Special, and Ambassador) because the solenoid wouldn’t clear the mounting boss for the clutch cable on the battery tray. Although still a close fit, the shorter, better tucked-in solenoid of the new will clear, but check! The solenoid end cap can be rotated if necessary.
Solenoid ground wire from early big twins not necessary: On some very early big twins (V700, Ambassador, 850 GT, Eldorado, V7 Special) the original starter had three wires, not just the more usual two. In common are the very large wire directly from the battery + and the small red wire to the starter’s solenoid. If your original starter had a third wire, usually a small black wire to the solenoid, this wire can be eliminated as it’s only a ground, unnecessary on the new starter.
Starter relay for V700 and early V7 Special & Ambassador: Some early big twins did not have a relay (19732500) between the start button or key switch and the starter solenoid. One should definitely be used with the new starter. The usual mounting place is behind the battery and below the voltage regulator. In case you don't have a wiring diagram, the first illustration shows how the wires should be connected. The ground wire is traditionally black; the wire from terminal 87 is red.
Wiring revisions for the V7 Sport with the original centrifugal (non-solenoid equipped) Bosch starter: Although the standard relay (located under a black cover and attached to a bracket on the transmission’s left side neutral switch) can be used, the new wiring connections are easier with a more appropriate relay (19732500), using the second illustration. You will need a longer large cable (14748450) from the battery positive to the starter. The ground wire is traditionally black and the wire from terminal 87 to the solenoid traditionally red.
Eliminating the transmission-in-neutral interlock: Doing away with this feature makes it possible to start in gear with the clutch pulled in, which is handy - and also starting in gear without the clutch pulled in and watching your bike roll off its side stand - not a very likely possibility anyway. On bikes that have the feature, there are two wires attached to the neutral switch’s terminal, located on the left side of the transmission above the starter. The green wire operates the dashboard warning light while the black wire grounds the starter relay. By removing the black wire from the neutral switch and instead attaching it to ground, the bike will start in any gear. A convenient attachment point is to one of the two 6 mm bolts attaching the neutral switch to the transmission.
CHS VALEO