Airone or Astorino

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Richard Wood

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Jun 16, 2022, 3:17:09 AM6/16/22
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Never heard of the Astorino until seeing mention of it on this forum. The definitive history of Guzzi models by Mario Colombo makes not mention of it.  This is the Airone history from his book with production from 1939 - 1957.

1939 Intro with tubular frame 247cc, 22mm carb , open valve gear, girder front forks and friction dampers 9.5 CV, - 997 built
1940 Stamped sheet metal frame and girder forks
1947 Upside down front telescopic forks, hydraulic rear dampers
Late 1948 Aluminium head and enclosed valve gear
1949 Sport version, higher C/R, 25mm carb, higher revs giving 13.5 CV
1952 Painted tank, Turismo version with 9.5 CV
1954 Sport version reduced to 12 CV, lower rev limit. Pointed end silencer replaces fishtail, Auto- advance
1956-57 B.G.M. silencer/muffler 

So my question is when did the Astorino become the Airone (Heron) assuming it was factory recognised as such?

Regards, Richard

Alan Comfort

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Jun 16, 2022, 8:36:46 AM6/16/22
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I could be wrong, but Astorino may not have been an official factory name, but rather a diminutive or nickname that was adopted by dealers and enthusiasts for the little brother brother of the 500cc Astore.
Alan in Roberts Creek




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Richard Wood

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Jun 16, 2022, 8:58:13 AM6/16/22
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Thanks Alan. So baby Goshawk or Heron 😉 Makes sense that dealers and owners allowed the nickname Astorino to become folklore though.

I did find one for sale in the US with the owner insisting his "Astorino" was the early variant of the Airone with exposed valve gear, iron head etc.

Richard

Mac Dennis

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Jun 16, 2022, 10:31:09 AM6/16/22
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Like Guzzino which is an affectionate nick name for the Moto Guzzi Motoleggera and Cardellino, Astorino is a nick name for the Airone.

Nether Guzzino or Astorino are factory names.

Mac

Mac Dennis

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Jun 16, 2022, 12:47:23 PM6/16/22
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Forgot to add that it denotes smaller.

Mac

Jim Carey

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Jun 17, 2022, 9:33:05 PM6/17/22
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There is no 'official' referance to the term 'Astorino'. 

1947, 48, 49 Airone have the vertical hydraulic rear dampers with a steel tube loop supporting the tops of the dampers, bolted to the rear frame extensions similar to the 500cc Astore, the 47 ~ 49 Airone also have a stamped steel swing arm, a rear fender with a deeper valance and pressed steel rear frame extensions with fender stays unique to this series. The tool box mounts are also unique. The rear brake is smaller on the 47 -48 and the chrome gas tank is common across these years, the oil tank has the chorme circular bulbs on the sides and fasteners are black oxide and not chrome with the exception of a few items (handlebar clamp bolts, damper crown nuts), spokes are black oxide and rims are chrome plated steel (at least on the Tourismo). Fuel lines and fittings are all steel (no rubber sections). I have seen pictures of models described as a 1950 like the Astorino and some with the latter scissor friction dampers and tube / plate swing warm.

IMG_3218.JPG

Michael B.

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Jun 17, 2022, 9:39:27 PM6/17/22
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Here's my 1948 Astorino.  Not quite in the same condition as yours, Jim.   Alan in Roberts Creek got it running very nicely!

iPhone 018.JPG

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Jim Carey

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Jun 17, 2022, 9:44:54 PM6/17/22
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Beautiful survivor Michael! 

I really like the buddy seat and the rear rack extension.

Richard Wood

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Jun 20, 2022, 1:31:27 PM6/20/22
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Even on a slightly less than pristine bike the remarkably fine finish on the castings shows through, and to me is one of the endearing features of Guzzi singles. Castings on the later V twins had a noticeably rougher finish which allowed the dirt to stick 😟

BTW just invested in a grease gun adaptor to work with the plain lube nipples (zerts?) on these early bikes, especially if fitted with girder forks. It has a conventional grease nipple one end that allows attachment to clip on and a very fine hole in the other pointed end allowing grease into bearing shafts. Works better than expected with little spill.

Richard

Stephen Brisken

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Jun 21, 2022, 11:16:47 AM6/21/22
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Richard can you give us the source of the adapter.
Thanks, Stephen

Richard Wood

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Jun 21, 2022, 11:46:49 AM6/21/22
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Stephen, eBay link to grease adaptor here:

Richard

Stephen Brisken

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Jun 21, 2022, 5:49:20 PM6/21/22
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Richard thanks for the link.  Will that adapter work on fittings like this that are on my Falcone?20220621_143610.jpg

Richard Wood

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Jun 21, 2022, 6:13:54 PM6/21/22
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With little doubt yes Stephen. It looks very similar to the several on my Airone.

Richard



pouma1954

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Jun 22, 2022, 3:21:46 AM6/22/22
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I've ordered one as well. I was considering changing the grease nipples on my Falcone.
Many thanks for the link.
Paul



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-------- Message d'origine --------
De : Richard Wood <rcw...@gmail.com>
Date : 22/06/2022 00:13 (GMT+01:00)
À : Guzzi Singles <guzzi-...@googlegroups.com>
Objet : Re: [guzzi-singles] Airone or Astorino

Barry Porter

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Jun 22, 2022, 3:58:38 AM6/22/22
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I found some metric thread nipples I can substitute to accept my grease gun then immediately change back to the originals. 
Barry 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 22, 2022, at 9:21 AM, pouma1954 <poum...@gmail.com> wrote:



Stephen Brisken

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Jun 22, 2022, 10:50:46 AM6/22/22
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Barry do you know the size of the replacement nipples?
Thanks, Stephen

Rick Yamane

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Jun 22, 2022, 11:40:09 AM6/22/22
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>> I've ordered one as well. I was considering changing the grease nipples on my Falcone.

>> Many thanks for the link.

>> Paul

 

After 25 years in auto repair, replacing is the logical thing to do.
Unless you have a concours bike and need to have the original grease nipples, a modern zerk is much neater and more convenient. Clip on the grease gun, give it a pump then unhook and wipe off the excess.
The needle adaptors work okay if you have a rigid tube grease gun. If your gun has a rubber hose, it’s impossible to hold the tip of the needle into the check ball and pump the gun without help. Beyond that there is always excess grease oozing out of the connection.  Even with a rigid tube gun there is enough wobbling around that having another pair of hands is a near necessity. At my service station I had an air powered grease gun so I could hold the needle and coupler junction in one hand and pull the trigger with the other.

Jerry put zerk fittings on my GTV. I won’t be changing them. It’s a small concession and most people will never know.

 

There was still the mess factor.

 

Rick

.

Barry Porter

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Jun 22, 2022, 12:17:41 PM6/22/22
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Sorry I don’t and I’m not at home to find out. 
I saw some nipples in hanging cards at my local hardware store, one said metric the other standard so I bought the metric ones on a whim. NOTE- the angles I used didn’t always screw in completely but when snug were secure enough to keep the grease in. Then I backed them out and refitted the originals. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 22, 2022, at 5:40 PM, 'Rick Yamane' via Guzzi Singles <guzzi-...@googlegroups.com> wrote:


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Mac Dennis

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Jun 23, 2022, 7:28:51 AM6/23/22
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If looking for original Greece nipples Santo Di Motocicli on eBay might still have some as they where also used on Motobi.

Mac

pouma1954

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Jun 23, 2022, 7:34:25 AM6/23/22
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Italian nipples are better.
Paul



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-------- Message d'origine --------
De : Mac Dennis <capr...@fastmail.fm>
Date : 23/06/2022 13:28 (GMT+01:00)

Richard Wood

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Jun 23, 2022, 8:49:07 AM6/23/22
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👍😆😆

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Mac Dennis

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Jun 23, 2022, 5:42:39 PM6/23/22
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Love spell check🤣
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