Topic: 78 GL1000 20 year sleeper! Old Blue.

[Johnie]

The headlight system is designed to go out when you crank the starter. Designed that way to give the starter all the juice.

[Don R]

 Agreed, I mentioned it because I think that indicates the starter switch hasn't failed. I's also suspicious of the starter relay, My 79 wanted a strong pat on the sidecover before it decided to crank the engine.  It got a lawn tractor relay. I need to look but this one could be an ebay replacement. I drank a lot of beer since I worked on it.

[Don R]

  I've ignored old blue's starting issues, here's a picture of the windjammer mounted driving lights. The lights are old 1940's car housings with new 12V clear fog light bulbs installed. 

[grcamna2]

  I've ignored old blue's starting issues, here's a picture of the windjammer mounted driving lights. The lights are old 1940's car housings with new 12V clear fog light bulbs installed.

Nice protective Vetter and Lowers ! Don.\
Love that blue.

[MauiK3]

Yes, good blue.

[Don R]

 Due to my excellent deductive powers, I've determined that old blue has a bad start button. If I push it in just a little, it starts fine every time. If I push it all of the way in it stops cranking.
 Next up, where to get a proper replacement?

 Edit, no original controls seem to exist, I'm looking at a K&S universal right control or one from another Honda that has replacements available.

[Mikey G.]

Do you have a pic of the controls?  I MIGHT have a spare, oddly enough.

That said, any year GL1000 controls SHOULD work.  I think all they did was change the outer casing- the internals should be the same.  My main bike is a '76, so I'm about 75% sure.

[Don R]

 Here it is, not all faded like most of my 750 controls are but looks worse in the picture. You wouldn't know it's lived indoors its entire life it needs detailing. I did 965 mile days on it two times.

[Mikey G.]

I DID have one.  I think I bought it for my old '77 Goldwing before finding out they got changed switch housings in '78.

All the wiring looks intact, but I've never used it.

[Don R]

 I got a wild hair and bought a new control for a gl1100, hopefully it will wire up similarly. It's odd the aftermarket replacement parts skip over the gl1000, they fit 750, 900, 1100.
 I'm carrying a jumper wire and a remote start switch.

[grcamna2]

I DID have one.  I think I bought it for my old '77 Goldwing before finding out they got changed switch housings in '78.

All the wiring looks intact, but I've never used it.

Looks good.

[Don R]

 While spraying pb blaster on the control screws I accidentally cured whatever was going on inside it. I'm not trusting it yet but am not looking the gift horse in the mouth either.

[Don R]

 On a recent ride the sleeper picked up a tick sound, it's rpm related and sounds like the right side of the motor, either a rocker or an exhaust tick methinks.

[BenelliSEI]

On a recent ride the sleeper picked up a tick sound, it's rpm related and sounds like the right side of the motor, either a rocker or an exhaust tick methinks.

Look soon. Loose lock nut on an adjuster? Before it “disappears”……

[Don R]

 It's in for the winter now, we got over a foot of snow and they salted the streets. But yes, it will be checked before it leaves the shop again. It's battery maintaining season.

[grcamna2]

It's in for the winter now, we got over a foot of snow and they salted the streets. But yes, it will be checked before it leaves the shop again. It's battery maintaining season.

I hate salt on my bike.

[Don R]

 Salt belongs on the rim of a Margarita glass, not on the rims of my bike.

[BenelliSEI]

Sand and salt trucks came out today….. I’m done too.