Moto RenzoJetting database

Dell'Orto jetting Moto Guzzi California 3

The factory jetting of the Moto Guzzi California 3 (1989, Switzerland) with the Dell'Orto PHF 36 is: main jet 125, pilot jet 50, throttle slide 60/3, jet needle K 18 (clip position 2 from top), atomiser 266 AR. 5 factory variants are documented in total – all model years and market versions are listed below.

Moto Guzzi California 3
Photo: Guzzista76, CC BY-SA 4.0

Moto Guzzi California 3

Factory record 19861000 ccDellorto PHF 30 DS/DD
Moto Speziale factory table · cross-checked
Main jet125from ½ to full throttle
Idle jet50idle up to ¼
NeedleK 23part throttle ¼ to ¾
Needle clip3notch counted from top
Needle jet264 ABpart throttle ¼ to ¾
Throttle slide503transition ⅛ to ¼
Pump jet38
Starter jet75
Float2 sources1 – gr. 8,5 · gr 10
Float valve250
Pump delivery2 cc

Figures apply to standard condition with the original air filter and exhaust. The year comes from the factory document and is not a production range: if your bike is a different year of the same version, these figures are your starting point.

Source and checks
  • Moto Speziale table, page 1, data row 21; sales designation: “California 3”
  • Cross-checked: workshop manual California III (I), ch. 15.1 Carburatori, p. 275 (1000Calif3_AtelierI.pdf, PDF-p. 9)
  • Float: Moto Speziale factory table “1 – gr. 8,5”, workshop manual “gr 10”. We show both and don't decide ourselves.
  • Sources & method
Dell'Orto PHF 30 (example picture)
Dellorto PHF 30Dell'Orto range with accelerator pump; jet needles of the K series.

Complete carburettor

We don't stock the complete PHF 30 at the moment. The individual parts are listed below.

Parts catalogue soon
Moto Guzzi California 3
Photo: Guzzista76, CC BY-SA 4.0

Moto Guzzi California 3

Factory record 19881000 ccDellorto PHF 30 DS/DDGermany / Austria
Moto Speziale factory table · cross-checked
Main jet125from ½ to full throttle
Idle jet50idle up to ¼
NeedleK 23part throttle ¼ to ¾
Needle clip3notch counted from top
Needle jet262 ABpart throttle ¼ to ¾
Throttle slide503transition ⅛ to ¼
Pump jet38
Starter jet75
Float1 – gr. 8,5
Float valve250
Pump delivery2 cc

Figures apply to standard condition with the original air filter and exhaust. The year comes from the factory document and is not a production range: if your bike is a different year of the same version, these figures are your starting point.

Source and checks
  • Moto Speziale table, page 1, data row 22; sales designation: “California 3 - Germania - Austria”
  • Cross-checked: Dell'Orto application catalogue, edition 12/1990, p. 22/23, section “G.B.M. (Benelli - Moto Guzzi)” (Betreiber-Foto IMG_6399), row “California III - Germania - Austria '88”, reg. 4678/79
  • Sources & method
Dell'Orto PHF 30 (example picture)
Dellorto PHF 30Dell'Orto range with accelerator pump; jet needles of the K series.

Complete carburettor

We don't stock the complete PHF 30 at the moment. The individual parts are listed below.

Parts catalogue soon
Moto Guzzi California 3
Photo: Guzzista76, CC BY-SA 4.0

Moto Guzzi California 3

Factory record 1988949 ccDellorto PHF 30 DS/DDUSA
Moto Speziale factory table · cross-checked
Main jet135from ½ to full throttle
Idle jet48idle up to ¼
NeedleK 27part throttle ¼ to ¾
Needle clip2notch counted from top
Needle jet261 AB1part throttle ¼ to ¾
Throttle slide503transition ⅛ to ¼
Pump jet38
Starter jet75
Float1 – gr. 8,5
Float valve250
Pump delivery8 cc

Figures apply to standard condition with the original air filter and exhaust. The year comes from the factory document and is not a production range: if your bike is a different year of the same version, these figures are your starting point.

Source and checks
  • Moto Speziale table, page 1, data row 24; sales designation: “California 3, MilleGT,SP II - USA”
  • Cross-checked: Dell'Orto application catalogue, edition 12/1990, p. 22/23, section “G.B.M. (Benelli - Moto Guzzi)” (Betreiber-Foto IMG_6399), row “1000 California III - GT SP II U.S.A. '88”, reg. 4674/75
  • Sources & method
Dell'Orto PHF 30 (example picture)
Dellorto PHF 30Dell'Orto range with accelerator pump; jet needles of the K series.

Complete carburettor

We don't stock the complete PHF 30 at the moment. The individual parts are listed below.

Parts catalogue soon
Moto Guzzi California 3
Photo: Guzzista76, CC BY-SA 4.0

Moto Guzzi California 3

Factory record 1989949 ccDellorto PHF 30 DS/DDSwitzerland
Moto Speziale factory table · cross-checked
Main jet125from ½ to full throttle
Idle jet48idle up to ¼
NeedleK 27part throttle ¼ to ¾
Needle clip3notch counted from top
Needle jet261 AB1part throttle ¼ to ¾
Throttle slide503transition ⅛ to ¼
Pump jet38
Starter jet75
Float1 – gr. 8,5
Float valve250
Pump delivery—

Figures apply to standard condition with the original air filter and exhaust. The year comes from the factory document and is not a production range: if your bike is a different year of the same version, these figures are your starting point.

Source and checks
  • Moto Speziale table, page 1, data row 23; sales designation: “California 3 Svizzera”
  • Cross-checked: Dell'Orto application catalogue, edition 12/1990, p. 22/23, section “G.B.M. (Benelli - Moto Guzzi)” (Betreiber-Foto IMG_6399), row “1000 California - Svizzera '89”, reg. 4682/83
  • Sources & method
Dell'Orto PHF 30 (example picture)
Dellorto PHF 30Dell'Orto range with accelerator pump; jet needles of the K series.

Complete carburettor

We don't stock the complete PHF 30 at the moment. The individual parts are listed below.

Parts catalogue soon
Moto Guzzi California 3
Photo: Guzzista76, CC BY-SA 4.0

Moto Guzzi California 3

Factory record 19891000 ccDellorto PHF 36 DSSwitzerland
Dell'Orto catalogue 12/1990
Main jet125from ½ to full throttle
Idle jet50idle up to ¼
NeedleK 18part throttle ¼ to ¾
Needle clip2notch counted from top
Needle jet266 ARpart throttle ¼ to ¾
Throttle slide60/3transition ⅛ to ¼
Pump jet33
Starter jet70
Float1 – gr. 8,5
Float valve300
Pump delivery8 cc

Figures apply to standard condition with the original air filter and exhaust. The year comes from the factory document and is not a production range: if your bike is a different year of the same version, these figures are your starting point.

Source and checks
  • Dell'Orto application catalogue, edition 12/1990, p. 22/23, row “Motociclo California III - Svizzera '89” (11570.603 / 8530.18 K / 9593.266 AR / 6413.125 / 1486.50 / 7746.70 / 7851.33 / 8649.300 / 7450.1)
  • Sources & method
Dell'Orto PHF 36 (example picture)
Dellorto PHF 36Dell'Orto range with accelerator pump; jet needles of the K series.

Complete carburettor

PHF 36 DD1€264.95PHF 36 DS1€264.95

Current Dell'Orto version. It may differ from your original (PHF 36 DS); set the jetting to the figures above afterwards.

Parts catalogue soon
Not running right?Pick the symptom, we show the part responsible.
Pale, greyish-white plugs; flat and gutless at the top end; overheating
Throttle rangefrom ~1/2 to full throttle
Responsiblemain jet
What to dotry one size larger
Runs better on choke; popping/banging on the overrun
Throttle rangeidle to ~1/4
Responsiblepilot jet + mixture screw (check for air leaks first)
What to doricher: larger jet or screw further out
Hesitation/flat spot when opening the throttle
Throttle rangetransition (accelerator pump)
Responsiblepump jet/pump function, then needle position
What to dorichen, check function
Surging/leaning out at steady speed and mid throttle
Throttle range~1/8 to 3/4
Responsiblejet needle (clip) and atomiser
What to doraise the needle one notch (clip lower) = richer
Sooty black plugs; burbling running; smell of fuel; high consumption
Throttle rangenarrow it down: idle ↔ mid ↔ full
Responsibledepending on range: pilot jet / needle + atomiser / main jet
What to doleaner: smaller jet or needle lower
Gets worse the hotter the engine runs
Throttle rangeusually idle/part throttle
Responsibleoverall setup too rich; also check float level
What to dolean it out, check the float height

Always change in single steps (“one or two jet sizes, then check the plug colour”), judge only on a warmed-up engine and make just one change per test ride.

These notes do not replace a proper check. When in doubt use a lambda meter, a dyno or a specialist workshop – an engine running lean for long periods can be damaged.

Further reading

Frequently asked questions

The spark plugs are black and sooty — what should I do?

Sooty black plugs show a mixture that is too rich. Which circuit is responsible depends on where the bike runs rich: at idle and steady speed it is more likely the pilot jet and mixture screw, in the mid range the needle position and atomiser, at full throttle the main jet. Also check for a sticking choke, the float level, a leaking float needle valve and an oil-soaked air filter. Change one step at a time and check the plug colour after every change.

Discussion: guzzisti.de

Air filter or exhaust modified — what jetting do I need now?

There is no blanket figure, and nobody can name one honestly without testing. More open intakes and exhaust systems lean out the mixture, so the setup has to go richer, usually starting with the main jet and often at the needle/atomiser too. Real-world reports show: the factory value is your anchor, and from there you test in steps (plug colour and how it rides, better still a lambda reading). Concrete community examples with full context are on the carburettor pages under “Real-world setups”.

Discussion: groups.google.com

In what order do I tune a Dell'Orto?

The proven order: full throttle first (main jet), then part throttle (needle position, atomiser if needed), and idle last (pilot jet and mixture screw) — and above all: only one change per step, tested on a warmed-up engine. The reason: the circuits overlap, and a wrong main jet falsifies any part-throttle judgement. The detailed procedure is in the guide “Tuning a Dell'Orto step by step” (German).

Discussion: caferacer-de

Do both carburettors need the same jetting?

Yes. Both cylinders need the same set of jets, and the factory figures always apply per carburettor. After every job the pair belongs synchronised (same slide lift, same mixture screw setting), otherwise one cylinder runs richer than the other and the plug colour becomes unreadable. Unequal jetting is almost always a sign of a previous owner tinkering.

Discussion: 2-ventiler.de