T3 850 piston pin clips alternatives?

[Bug]

I see that these pin clip are about £8 plus post etc, any one know of a cheaper option? £8 for a bit of bent wire is a bit of a rip off....

 

[scott_m]

It’s not expensive if it never comes loose.

Using an unproven aftermarket substitution, creates a risk that most anybody would gladly trade £8 to avoid an engine catastrophe.

Point to ponder…

 

[john zibell]

BTW, unless damaged, they can be re-used.

 

[Moto-Uno]

I kinda know of this sense about being taken advantage of financially , just ordered a crank key (front sprocket, chain drive) and was charged $11.00 and tax was added to that ! A simple half moon key , sorry but this is simple thievery. It was on an 1100 Jackal . Peter

 

[john zibell]

I kinda know of this sense about being taken advantage of financially , just ordered a crank key (front sprocket, chain drive) and was charged $11.00 and tax was added to that ! A simple half moon key , sorry but this is simple thievery. It was on an 1100 Jackal . Peter

Here it is, each step of the supply chain adds a bit of profit for that organization. The cost to make it, then it goes to a supplier, then it goes to Moto Guzzi, then it goes to the dealer. Each step needs to make a profit or the part won't be there. On top of that there is shipping cost at each step. Now if the part is not used by any other manufacture, the costs go even higher.

 

[scott_m]

The savings on aftermarket pieces vs. expensive OEM, are soon overshadowed by the poor quality and fitness for intended purpose of the former.

We just had this exact thing occur here…

Caught

A, late, update to the (suspected) reason for the cable fraying. It was my aftermarket lever. Compared to the MG lever the cable ferrule holding hole was several mm further away from the lever pivot point causing the cable to rub in the cable adjuster slot. I've reverted to the MG non...

www.guzzitech.com

OEM stuff costs because it is the real stuff and in Moto Guzzi land, with her limited production, it cost a lot like John Zibell said. Lots of mouths to feed.

 

[Moto-Uno]

Gentlemen, stop making excuses for what this , I've spent 43 years in the motorcycle industry. This enormous part 1/2" long by 1/4" deep and an 1/8" wide and over 3 weeks to arrive is not feeding many mouths ! It's the reason so many run from dealerships shortly after purchase, isn't that the reason you were (or are ) in business ?

 

[scott_m]

Gentlemen, stop making excuses for what this , I've spent 43 years in the motorcycle industry. This enormous part 1/2" long by 1/4" deep and an 1/8" wide and over 3 weeks to arrive is not feeding many mouths ! It's the reason so many run from dealerships shortly after purchase, isn't that the reason you were (or are ) in business ?

In my shop I used OEM parts always unless they were NLA and even then, I would search for NOS.

I only used aftermarket parts if I had no other choice.

It’s not making excuses. I buy parts for my collection and it is always factory parts.

Motorcycles are not cheap! They never were and quality parts have never been cheap.

If you are going to play, then plan to pay!

 

[scott_m]

I kinda know of this sense about being taken advantage of financially , just ordered a crank key (front sprocket, chain drive) and was charged $11.00 and tax was added to that ! A simple half moon key , sorry but this is simple thievery. It was on an 1100 Jackal . Peter

Oh Peter, come on now…

I had to ponder this for a day to be able to translate Canadian into English.

An $11 Woodruff Key is expensive but knowing Moto Guzzi, it’s an unusual size.

Again, that’s one of those components that if it fails, you have an ugly mess on the end of your expensive crankshaft.

The real question is what did you do with the original one?

I’ve never needed to buy a Woodruff key before. I just gently knock the old one out with a drift, put her in a ziploc plastic sandwich baggie, and reuse her on reassembly.

 

[john zibell]

Gentlemen, stop making excuses for what this , I've spent 43 years in the motorcycle industry. This enormous part 1/2" long by 1/4" deep and an 1/8" wide and over 3 weeks to arrive is not feeding many mouths ! It's the reason so many run from dealerships shortly after purchase, isn't that the reason you were (or are ) in business ?

Not so much mouths to feed, but profit to keep functioning. It is lucky to still get a factory part for a bike that is as old as an 850 T3. Try that with a Japanese bike!

 

[scott_m]

Absolutely John!

Clearly evident when you go to Italy and you see how many really old Piaggio vehicles are still running around all over the place, like the Ape, which has been in continuous production since 1948.

You can still get most every component today!

I’m so glad to be out of the mainstream motorcycle industry.

The ubiquitous, unbridled hatred and resentment of anybody actually making a living or any profit whatsoever, is just disheartening and disgusting.

Members here use the term “Stealership” all the time and it angers me so much.

None of them has any idea how quickly you can tie up hundreds of thousands of dollars if not a million plus, just opening and stocking a facility like that, only to be berated and maligned every single day.

Why this negativity exists nowadays is just so beyond my understanding.

 

[rwortman]

They charge several dollars for a sump plug seal that costs a nickel too. So what? It costs money to stock things. If I don’t want to pay, I find another source. I’ve known people that owned dealerships. They weren’t getting rich. They were nice folks too. If you hate your dealer so much you can’t stand to see them make a profit, go somewhere else.

 

[john zibell]

They charge several dollars for a sump plug seal that costs a nickel too. So what? It costs money to stock things. If I don’t want to pay, I find another source. I’ve known people that owned dealerships. They weren’t getting rich. They were nice folks too. If you hate your dealer so much you can’t stand to see them make a profit, go somewhere else.

And if you don't support your dealer, he goes out of business then no support from him for you. And if you don't support this site by donating, it to may go away.

 

[Moto-Uno]

Just to continue this discussion , the charging output from my 2018 Eldorado was very low , 13.6 v max . The dealer agreed to get me a replacement alternator, pretty big job ( I arranged to replace it myself and they could charge Guzzi for the labour) good deal all around . A little over a month later it arrived ( 4 holes punched in the box , no packing what so ever) The packing slip showed both the retail and dealer cost . Around $1200 retail and their cost about $800 , not crazy percentage wise , however (remember it's Chinese) , on line the exact same alternator ,( as per the tag on the alternator) would be shipped to me for $212.00 ! That's not the dealers fault, but really who is responsible for what must be just random pricing . So maybe the woodruff key I'm waiting for (and keep in mind , there's no stocking fee , as I had to prepay) is being hand filed by a staff machinist in Lake Como just for me . As an aside , the same dealership has taken my payment for a 2020 Triumph Bonneville clutch cable (no cables in stock at all) , expected delivery 6 to 8 weeks . So in fact I still use the dealer , and That's My Rant for now . Good thing I have another Guzzi to ride .

 

[Nordicnorm]

If you don't like your dealer here, Calgary is only 1200 km away.
I fully support your idea of 2 MGs !
I have used Fuller Metric in Langley for metric, but Woodruff keys?

 

[tobinh]

I usually get my woodruff keys from mcmaster carr, they come in boxes of 50 or 100. Not sure you can buy one though, and I'm not sure you'll save any money... but it will be here the next day!

 

[Moto-Uno]

Just got back from International motorsports and the key will be another couple of weeks . The one I jury rigged is still working fine, after all , where's it gonna go ! And hey , good things take forever ! Thanks for the updates though , Peter

 

[moparnut72]

Peter I am not familiar with your actual application but a Woodruff key is usually nothing more than a locating part. Once the part, flywheel etc, is located correctly by the key the part is torqued down to hold it securely in place. The key is then just a long for the ride. When I raced Mercury outboards I never even used the key as I timed them with a dial gauge and didn't need the timing marks. BTW good hardware stores will usually have various Woodruff keys available in the fastener section.
kk

 

[Moto-Uno]

Thanks again for all the follow-ups, but as mentioned a bit earlier I'm going to suffer through with the supply delays . The Peterbuilt chopper with its new to me 1100cc Jackal is running great , and it'll give me something to do next winter , and I need projects ! Peter

 

[Mc Tool]

The savings on aftermarket pieces vs. expensive OEM, are soon overshadowed by the poor quality and fitness for intended purpose of the former.

OEM stuff costs because it is the real stuff and in Moto Guzzi land, with her limited production, it cost a lot like John Zibell said. Lots of mouths to feed.

Wow Scott , to blanket all after market pieces as poor quality and fitness for purpose is just plain unfair and untrue ....... .
"Oem stuff cost more because it is the real stuff "............... Moto Guzzi dont make piston pin clips , clutch levers or woodruff keys any more than they make spark plugs and tires. There is a whole industry manufacturing oem parts for untold motorcycle manufacturers.
Our Guzzi's come from the factory loaded with components not made in house .
In the good old days if you wanted motorbike parts you had to go to a motorbike shop , and 3 families got fat on one mans woodruff key , throw in a piston pin clip and a clutch lever and they all get new shoes . Those days are gone , now all you have to do is visit the keyboard and there are peeps falling over themselves to supply your parts . To be fair Scott , some of them sure are shite , caveat emptor , and if peeps dont have the nouse to tell the difference ( be honest ) they should use the local shop where inspection and some guarantee of quality is the insurance your paying extra for .
Speaking of Running a business , I run my life as a business.... I have to due limited finances . I can get an oil filter for my Ducati at 1/4 the oem price , and made in the same factory .
Things have swung around a bit , in the old days you had little choice but to support the local shop , now with the parts purchasing options available the shop needs to be working to get our support coz now days if the shop parts dept goes down the pan I have other options available .... dont need them any more .
I do understand that anyone running a workshop associated with a particular brand would use factory supplied parts for warranty reasons , coz the sort of guy that cant service his own bike aint going to be interested in hearing his baby has had wog parts thrust upon it, but this isnt for everybody , some of us do our own servicing and can take advantage of the other parts options available.
I guess if one has the skills to repair/ service ones own bike they would also be able to spot crappy parts ........ but there are LOTS of good/high quality spares out there .