Topic: 78 GL1000 20 year sleeper! Old Blue.

[Don R]

 It's running the best it has since I've owned it, last year it turned over 60,000 miles and I sent a picture to the PO, he knew exactly how many miles I've ridden it. He kept his newer yellow Goldwing and moved back to the area, We talked about doing some riding.
  I hope I didn't just jinx it running good. I did the Randakk's 77 model carb mod, putting 750 main jets rubber lines going to,,, the emulsion tubes?

[Don R]

 I did a parts run today, left the parts store with a tractor battery strapped to the luggage rack. A guy left right behind me on a Grom or similar small Honda so I asked him if he wanted to race. He said yes but we each get a gallon of gas and race until we run out. L0L. I should have spent more time talking, I think he has more bikes at home.

[RAFster122s]

Lots of people hate the grom but it is putting a lot of young riders on bikes and that in my opinion is a win. Personally I don't find the Grom that offensive and lots of young riders are able to appreciate the bike while they are young and it is very versatile and economical after you get past the initial price...

[Don R]

 Tonight, I wanted to take old blue for a rip but she's jealous of the GS1100 and said no. I guess I'll need to bribe her with a new battery. It's been 10 years since I got it running so I guess it's deserved. I rode to Sturgis in 2015 and it took most of the previous year to get it going. That means the Michelins are also 10 years old. Hmmm.

[grcamna2]

Tonight, I wanted to take old blue for a rip but she's jealous of the GS1100 and said no. I guess I'll need to bribe her with a new battery. It's been 10 years since I got it running so I guess it's deserved. I rode to Sturgis in 2015 and it took most of the previous year to get it going. That means the Michelins are also 10 years old. Hmmm.

Get it going and take a few good Fall rides Don.
Give the tires a good look.. see if they can sustain traction for a few more.

[Don R]

This is our last weekend drag racing so a day or two next week will finish winterizing it, I have a 41 willys coupe to work on but it's 45 minutes away. That will make a few nice fall rides.

[Don R]

 I got a yuasa agm battery ordered today, they really wanted to sell me an acid battery.

[Johnie]

No way, why would they try to sell you the acid battery? Maybe they make more $$$ on those. I am 100% AGM...

[Don R]

 The old Mom and Pop unofficial Honda business is Pop and Son now. The Mom had enough of working with her Kid and Ex. and retired.
 They had a bunch of 4 wheelers in there, an XR75 and one 74 cb750 that a guy bought out of a barn for $150.
 He had the acid battery in stock and I'm sure wanted to move it. No thanks, the Yuasa agm was 11 years old, I don't mess with success.

[Johnie]

Wow 11 years Don is unreal. I went 9 years with a Yuasa AGM in my 1500, but changed it just so I wouldn't get caught with a dead battery on a trip.

[Don R]

 I don't know what it is about the GL but I love turning it, even with the windjammer, crash bars, driving lights, saddlebag brackets and rack on the back.
 I found myself going to the end of the street and doing tight U turns, then in my driveway and then back around the block for a lap. It lays over nicely and then a little throttle stands it right back up. Must be the low center of gravity. 
  There's a 110* tee intersection with a little banking near here, I like turning tight there but one day I found a piece of sheet metal in the sweet spot. Thank goodness I missed it.
  Yesterday I took it to the red line in a couple gears, still sweet as ever.

[Don R]

 I let the GL get stranded in the storage unit, now it has snowed and the streets are salted.  This is the first year it's been out of a heated area since I've owned it and likely a long time before.

[grcamna2]

I don't know what it is about the GL but I love turning it, even with the windjammer, crash bars, driving lights, saddlebag brackets and rack on the back.
 I found myself going to the end of the street and doing tight U turns, then in my driveway and then back around the block for a lap. It lays over nicely and then a little throttle stands it right back up. Must be the low center of gravity. 
  There's a 110* tee intersection with a little banking near here, I like turning tight there but one day I found a piece of sheet metal in the sweet spot. Thank goodness I missed it.
  Yesterday I took it to the red line in a couple gears, still sweet as ever.

I never owned a GL,but had a good customer whom I did repair/maintenance work for.
He had a GL1200I and I had opportunity to drive it around a good bit:test rides..
The bike had the full Honda touring set-up with saddlebags and top box,although I never did and slow,tight maneuvers on it.

[Don R]

 That piece of sheet metal laying in the turn reminded me of finding a small flat Lexan race car window in the shutdown area of Cordova Dragway, it was badly scuffed on one side and had a tire tread imprint melted into the other side. Obviously, it got under a tire that was braking and stayed there until the driver let off the brake to turn. I bet that was an odd sensation.
 

[Don R]

 I took old blue for a stretch tonight, it's a little hesitant when feeding throttle. I'll reserve judgement until I fill up the fuel tank with fresh gas.
 The top of the motor has some stains, it appears either the carbs or the coolant piping is leaking a little, I washed it and will keep an eye on it. The plenum has newer seals in it and I think, bowl gaskets too. It was tight in storage and I left it on the side stand, the low cylinders smoked for a bit when I got it going. No excuse, it's easier to get on the center stand than my 750's are.

[Johnie]

Don I had those stains on my GL when I got it. I found denatured alcohol took the stains off with no paint damage. I did the cleaning when I had the carbs, cooling tubes and stuff off so might be a little harder with all that on. Maybe you can reach in there. I found it easier to put the 750's on the center stand and harder on the GL. I'll have to see what I'm doing wrong. When I had my 2000 Wing I had no problem with the center stand.

[Don R]

 It really didn't get properly stored, I was riding it, next thing I knew it was in the storage unit and there was salt on the roads. I think I'll drain the fuel, have a look inside the tank (was rusted once) and gas up the lawn tractor with the GL's gas.
 
 

[Don R]

 I looked on the Goldwing site, it appears I've had the old blue 78 for 9 years now. The 79 was a year before that. I'm going to start a list of things I've serviced that need looked at again, I've more recently upgraded the brakes but a fluid flush might be good. I'm also thinking about looking at the drive system. I did grease the zerk on the driveshaft although I was told it doesn't do a lot.
 An Asian type antifreeze flush would be good although it did test to -20F last fall. New thermostat, and fan switch is done, the hoses are 9 years old as are the timing belts and idlers. I'm kinda thinking out loud more than asking things. I think I've added only 5,000 miles or so in that time although over 2K was the in same trip.

[grcamna2]

I looked on the Goldwing site, it appears I've had the old blue 78 for 9 years now. The 79 was a year before that. I'm going to start a list of things I've serviced that need looked at again, I've more recently upgraded the brakes but a fluid flush might be good. I'm also thinking about looking at the drive system. I did grease the zerk on the driveshaft although I was told it doesn't do a lot.
 An Asian type antifreeze flush would be good although it did test to -20F last fall. New thermostat, and fan switch is done, the hoses are 9 years old as are the timing belts and idlers. I'm kinda thinking out loud more than asking things. I think I've added only 5,000 miles or so in that time although over 2K was the in same trip.

Don, will you be running Old Blue more this year ?

[Don R]

Don, will you be running Old Blue more this year ?
[/quote]
   
 Yes, for sure. It's one of my favorites and the one my wife likes to ride on. I have 4 bikes plated and insured, 3 used to be the limit but the Suzuki came along.
  I just realized that the GL1000 could use the Polaris R/R swap. A little dose of voltage helper would be kind to the GL too. That alternator is buried inside the engine, we don't want that coming apart.

[grcamna2]

Don, will you be running Old Blue more this year ?

   
 Yes, for sure. It's one of my favorites and the one my wife likes to ride on. I have 4 bikes plated and insured, 3 used to be the limit but the Suzuki came along.
  I just realized that the GL1000 could use the Polaris R/R swap. A little dose of voltage helper would be kind to the GL too. That alternator is buried inside the engine, we don't want that coming apart.
[/quote]

Have you ever seen the stator's condition,taken the engine out and pulled the rear cover on it ?

[Don R]

 No, I have not. Recently I noticed that overbore pistons are available for them. I don't ever plan to take it apart, but they would be good to have under the bed for just in case. The Polaris/ Late Honda Shindengen R/R swap takes load off of the windings. I'd also rebuild the starter clutch if it was ever apart.

[grcamna2]

No, I have not. Recently I noticed that overbore pistons are available for them. I don't ever plan to take it apart, but they would be good to have under the bed for just in case. The Polaris/ Late Honda Shindengen R/R swap takes load off of the windings. I'd also rebuild the starter clutch if it was ever apart.

Yes, it's a task to remove the engine,then lift the frame off of it enough and spin the engine  to one side to gain access to the rear cover;may as well replace the starter clutch while you're in there.
Certain bikes have spent time outside and the electric harness(including -Ground connectors and the engine cases)have gotten corroded/oxide.
The harness connectors really should all get cleaned-up and that will help the stator to run cooler.

PO's have sometimes overloaded the electrical systems on many vintage GL's w/ lots of lights and accessories,which doesn't help.

[Don R]

 I've been through the wiring and cleaned the connections. I even added an ignition relay, Dyna and gl1500 coils. I did however like the MOSFET regulator/rectifier on the GS1100.

 The GL was pretty boggy this morning, it got a dose of seafoam and the tank topped off. It also warmed up but the hesitation has faded away and it's running more normal.
  It always makes me think of the 83 carb swap. The bike ran awesome when I had the borrowed 1100 carbs and still got great mileage. 40mpg+ going 80 mph on I90 all day. I should have bought the carbs instead of returning them.

[Don R]

 Old blue needs the starter serviced, I think it was the 79 that I did before, we had an awesome automotive electrical shop back then. It since closed so I'm on my own but I'm thinking it might need brushes. It's been intermittent, and today it didn't crank at all until I bumped the starter with a mallet. The headlight goes out when the button is pushed and the battery was just on the charger. I'll still load test it though.
 I remember dropping the exhaust and a header stud on the 79.