Moto Guzzi Falcone Nuovo — Example photo: Palauenc05, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Moto Guzzi · Pushrod four-stroke single, dry sump, separate gearbox oil, chain drive

Falcone Nuovo

Library entry covers 1969-1976

21 factory 50 guideline

Published source

Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone 500 cc Use and Maintenance Manual [English] (Moto Guzzi), Lubrication and General Maintenance Chart p.27; scan hosted by Gregory Bender

Factory owner's handbook. Covers Nuovo Falcone 500 use and maintenance manual (English edition); chart in km with miles printed alongside.

71 items for a 1972 model, grouped by interval the way a factory chart is laid out.

How this bike is built (what the schedule is based on)

Engine cycle: Four-stroke
Engine lubrication: Dry sump (separate oil tank)
Oil filtration: Mesh screens / strainers only
Valve gear: Overhead valve, pushrods, adjustable tappets
Ignition: Battery and coil with contact points
Charging: Alternator / stator with rectifier
Battery: Wet cell (flooded lead-acid, needs topping up)
Fuel system: Single carburetor
Cooling: Air / oil cooled
Primary drive: Gear or chain inside engine, shares engine oil
Gearbox oil: Separate gearbox oil
Clutch control: Hand lever, cable
Final drive: Chain
Front suspension: Telescopic fork
Rear suspension: Swingarm, twin shocks
Front brake: Drum (or band / stirrup)
Rear brake: Drum (or band / belt rim)
Wheels: Spoked, tubed
Sidecar: No sidecar

Maintenance schedule

1972 Moto Guzzi Falcone Nuovo

On the road: every 300 mi

4 items

Check engine oil level

Pre-ride / on the road

Factory

Manual: Check and top up the crankcase oil. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 500 km (300 miles); level between the dipstick marks
Check lights, horn, brake light switches

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Check tire pressures

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Lubricate drive chain

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Lube warm, ideally at the end of the riding day so it soaks in overnight. Sooner after rain.

On the road: every 500 mi

1 item

Walk-around: check nuts and bolts for vibration loosening

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Old machines shake things loose: exhaust nuts, mudguard stays, footrests, tank mounts, battery strap.

On the road: every 600 mi

1 item

Check chain slack and rear wheel alignment

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

On the road: every 1,000 mi

1 item

Check road kit: plugs, points file, master link, tube patches, wire, tape

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Every 600 mi

2 items

Clean drive chain thoroughly (remove and soak, re-lube)

Final drive

Factory

Manual: Wash chain in gas and smear lightly with grease. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 1000 km (600 miles)
Lubricate control cables and lever pivots

Controls and cables

Factory

Manual: Lubricate cable ends (clutch, front brake, air lever, valve lifter). Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 1000 km (600 miles)

Every 1,000 mi or 6 months

4 items

Check gearbox oil level

Primary and gearbox

Guideline
Adjust front drum brake

Brakes

Guideline
Adjust rear drum brake and rod / cable linkage

Brakes

Guideline
Inspect tire tread, sidewalls and date codes

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 1,500 mi or 12 months

1 item

Adjust clutch free play, lubricate cable and lever pivot

Primary and gearbox

Guideline

Every 1,800 mi

4 items

Change engine oil

Engine

Factory

Manual: Replace oil in crankcase. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 3000 km (1800 miles); first change after 500 km; about 3 litres
Check and adjust valve clearances

Engine

Factory

Manual: Check tappet clearance. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 3000 km (1800 miles); first check after 500 km
Clean oil strainers / mesh screens

Engine

Factory

Manual: Oil filters: wash in gas and blow through. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: done at each oil change (Cleaning operations p.45)
Inspect, clean and gap spark plugs

Engine

Factory

Manual: Check and clean spark plug, check gap. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 3000 km (1800 miles); gap 0.6 mm (p.41)

Every 2,000 mi or 12 months

1 item

Grease swingarm pivot

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 3,000 mi or 12 months

14 items

Check engine mounting bolts and plates

Engine

Guideline
Check throttle cable(s) free play and return

Fuel and air

Guideline
Clean / inspect air filter

Fuel and air

Guideline

Mesh or oiled foam: clean and re-oil. Paper: blow out or replace. Some very early machines have no filter at all.
Check / set ignition timing

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Adjust clutch pushrod / clutch adjuster

Primary and gearbox

Guideline
Check chain guard, chain oiler (if fitted), rear chain case

Final drive

Guideline
Inspect chain and sprockets for wear (measure stretch)

Final drive

Guideline
Check steering damper (friction or hydraulic)

Front end

Guideline
Check steering head bearing adjustment

Front end

Guideline
Inspect fork seals, stanchions and fork boots

Front end

Guideline
Check footrests, pegs, rear brake and gear lever pivots

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Grease and check center / side stand and springs

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Check spoke tension and wheel true

Wheels and tires

Guideline
Check wheel bearings for play

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 3,000 mi

1 item

Clean and gap contact breaker points, oil cam felt

Ignition and electrics

Factory

Manual: Check condition of the contact points and gap. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 5000 km (3000 miles); cam felt pad lightly oiled every 3000 km (p.40)

Every 4,000 mi or 12 months

2 items

Replace spark plugs

Engine

Guideline
Lubricate brake cam spindles, check linings and drums

Brakes

Guideline

Every 5,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Check cylinder head bolt torque

Engine

Guideline

Air-cooled iron and alloy engines can lose head bolt tension; follow your manual's sequence and whether it is done hot or cold.

Every 6,000 mi or 12 months

4 items

Check charging voltage and regulator / cut-out

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Check swingarm bushes for play

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Inspect rear shocks for leaks and damping

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Lubricate speedometer / tachometer cables, check drive

Controls and cables

Guideline

A dry speedo cable whips the needle and eventually kills the instrument.

Every 6,000 mi or 2 years

3 items

Check engine breather and oil return

Engine

Guideline
Lubricate and check automatic advance unit

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Change gearbox oil

Primary and gearbox

Guideline

Every 6,000 mi

4 items

Decarbonize head, grind / lap valves (top-end decoke)

Engine

Factory

Manual: Remove and clean cylinder head, check valve seats. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 10,000 km (6000 miles); Cylinder head, pistons and valves p.47
Clean carburetor float bowl(s), check float level and jets

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Strip the carburetor and check all parts; clean all ducts with an air jet. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 10,000 km (6000 miles); p.36
Clean fuel tap filter / sediment bowl

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Clean fuel taps, filters and lines. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 10,000 km (6000 miles)
Clean battery terminals, check charge and strap

Ignition and electrics

Factory

Manual: Check cleanliness and tightness of battery connections, smear with vaseline. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 10,000 km (6000 miles)

Every 9,000 mi

1 item

Replace air filter element

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Air filter element: replace. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 15,000 km (9000 miles), sooner on dusty roads (p.37)

Every 10,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Compression test (or leak-down)

Engine

Guideline

Every 10,000 mi

1 item

Replace chain and sprockets (wear based)

Final drive

Guideline

Every 12,000 mi or 3 years

1 item

Replace points and condenser

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 12,000 mi

3 items

Change fork oil

Front end

Factory

Manual: Replace oil in the fork legs. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 20,000 km (12,000 miles) or earlier if necessary; about 0.160 litres per leg (p.29)
Repack / replace steering head bearings

Front end

Factory

Manual: Check steering races and cups, pack with grease. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: after the first 20,000 km (12,000 miles); repeat every 20,000 km per p.29
Repack / replace wheel bearings

Wheels and tires

Factory

Manual: Check wheel bearings and pack with grease. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: after the first 20,000 km (12,000 miles); repeat every 20,000 km per p.29

Every 15,000 mi or 5 years

1 item

Inspect clutch plates and springs

Primary and gearbox

Guideline

Every 15,000 mi

1 item

Replace brake linings / skim drums (wear based)

Brakes

Guideline

Every 25,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Replace swingarm bushes / bearings

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 30,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Rebuild forks: seals, bushes, springs

Front end

Guideline

Every 1 month

1 item

Check battery electrolyte, top up with distilled water

Ignition and electrics

Factory

Manual: Check electrolyte level in battery. Factory: Lubrication and general maintenance chart p.27: every 15 days in the summer

Every 12 months

1 item

Check speedometer / odometer against a known distance

Controls and cables

Guideline

Old speedos drift with tire size and drive wear. Use phone GPS over a measured 10 miles / km.

Every 2 years

3 items

Inspect fuel tank for rust, sealer failure, leaks

Fuel and air

Guideline
Inspect wiring, bullet connectors and ground points

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Inspect frame, welds and lugs for cracks

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 4 years

1 item

Replace fuel lines

Fuel and air

Guideline

Old rubber and modern ethanol fuel do not mix well.

Every 6 years

2 items

Replace inner tubes and rim tape with tires

Wheels and tires

Guideline
Replace tires on age (regardless of tread)

Wheels and tires

Guideline

No interval set

4 items

3) Replace the crankcase oil.

Engine

Factory

Factory: As printed: After the first 500 kms (300 miles)
4) Check tightness of all nuts and bolts.

Engine

Factory

Factory: As printed: After the first 500 kms (300 miles)
5) Check and eventually adjust tappets.

Engine

Factory

Factory: As printed: After the first 500 kms (300 miles)
2) Check tire pressure with a gauge (See «Tires»).

Wheels and tires

Factory

Factory: As printed: Periodically

Guideline lines: Intervals here are general guidelines for the machine's era and layout, compiled for this app. They are not factory manual figures. Check your workshop manual, and edit any interval in the bike's Schedule tab.