Topic: Johnie's 76 GL1000 Sulfur Yellow Build

[Johnie]

Found 76 GL1000: This past week a picker friend saw this bike. The owner passed away a few months ago and the family was cleaning out the home. The bike was in the garage for the past 20+ years and not ridden. Some parts were missing - rear grab rail, all blinkers, foot pegs, throttle, right handlebar switch, grips, key, radiator screen, headlight rim and bulb. Gas tank was empty and there are 5 cut wires to trace. Good news there is a title. Mileage is 15,500 which would explain the excellent paint, chrome, gauges and the pristine seat. I was going to part it out, but after seeing the nice condition, low miles and 50,000+ parts on eBay decided there was no need to flood the market. So this is now a build thread which I am pretty excited about. Bike is located 8 miles from me and I will pick it up the first week in April. More to come with pics when I get it on the trailer, in the shop and cleaned up...

[grcamna2]

Good to see you back Johnie 
I was reading your other thread about this bike and was wondering why the grandson didn't start this yellow one as his project but instead grabbed the red GL1000 to begin working on?  He might have wanted the red GL more because it's the one he remembers most?   Better for you !   

[Johnie]

You know I talked to the grandson yesterday. He's a wonderful person and loves working on the bikes. I asked him why he didn't take this 76GL with the 75GL and he said he was so tired moving that 75 onto his trailer by himself he was spent. I told him I watched him on the video get that 600 pound bike up the ramp by himself and that he was now my "hero." We talked about our other projects, but he had no idea why his grandpa stopped riding the 76 and bought the 75. Said his grandpa said he was going to get this 76 running again soon. He said he took the 75 because it was really complete as far as parts. That 75 had 54,000 miles. It was fun talking to him.

[grcamna2]

I think the grandson may have removed some of the parts off the yellow one to get the red one running?

[Johnie]

To be honest I wouldn't blame him. I mean the bike was right there with the 75 next to it and as far as he knew this was going to the scrap pile. So no I do not mind if he did take some parts. Besides I have a bunch of these blinkers in my stash so glad he could use them.

[MauiK3]

Following

[70CB750]

Nice project!

[Stev-o]

Congrats, Johnie.  Yes, those bikes are heavy!   I helped a friend sell two GL's last year, he inherited them from his father, sold both bikes for $1500 to a father and son, both were non-runners that had been off the road for many years. It took all three of us to push those bikes up the ramp into the box truck that they brought.  Bring plenty of help when you go to pick them up!

[bek1966]

Tuned in and ready for the show. 

Great to see you back Johnie!
Regards,
Brad

[Johnie]

I was able to find the previous owner of this bike. He sold it to the family I got it from in 2002-2003. You guys were right...there was a faring on it with side bags and trunk. I found more evidence of that with the many worm clamps on the front of the frame. The front and rear fender have polished up nicely. Pics to come. At least the rear wiring for the blinkers he left the grounds intact and just covered them with black tape. Choke cable is free. Throttle in not around. Speedo and tach work great look great. Been cleaning the frame from years and years of sitting. Dunlop 491's on the bike and no cracking. Not sure how long they have been on here, but it will be a while before I get this on the road. Tins cleaned up very nice. Still no key, but no hurry for it yet. Supposed to be a code on the switch. I took the gauges off to get at the switch and I could not find a key code. The other owner is going to look around to see if he kept one. Says he gave the owners manual and tool kit to PO. I happen to find a owners manual and Honda service manual which I got at an auction 5 years ago. It was a Honda dealer closing and selling out everything. Got lucky to have those.

[Johnie]

Dang...I just realized I put this in the wrong area. I contacted Glenn to see if he can get it in the Project Shop...sorry.

[Alan F.]

That's amazing you found the previous PO, how'd you manage that?

[grcamna2]

I was able to find the previous owner of this bike. He sold it to the family I got it from in 2002-2003. You guys were right...there was a faring on it with side bags and trunk. I found more evidence of that with the many worm clamps on the front of the frame. The front and rear fender have polished up nicely. Pics to come. At least the rear wiring for the blinkers he left the grounds intact and just covered them with black tape. Choke cable is free. Throttle in not around. Speedo and tach work great look great. Been cleaning the frame from years and years of sitting. Dunlop 491's on the bike and no cracking. Not sure how long they have been on here, but it will be a while before I get this on the road. Tins cleaned up very nice. Still no key, but no hurry for it yet. Supposed to be a code on the switch. I took the gauges off to get at the switch and I could not find a key code. The other owner is going to look around to see if he kept one. Says he gave the owners manual and tool kit to PO. I happen to find a owners manual and Honda service manual which I got at an auction 5 years ago. It was a Honda dealer closing and selling out everything. Got lucky to have those.

Johnie,if you remove the helmet lock,there will be a key code# on the back side of that.

[newday777]

Dang...I just realized I put this in the wrong area. I contacted Glenn to see if he can get it in the Project Shop...sorry.

This works here in 'Other Bikes'


If you have the lid open for the false tank, there is a key number on the lock.

[ekpent]

I was able to find the previous owner of this bike. He sold it to the family I got it from in 2002-2003. You guys were right...there was a faring on it with side bags and trunk. I found more evidence of that with the many worm clamps on the front of the frame. The front and rear fender have polished up nicely. Pics to come. At least the rear wiring for the blinkers he left the grounds intact and just covered them with black tape. Choke cable is free. Throttle in not around. Speedo and tach work great look great. Been cleaning the frame from years and years of sitting. Dunlop 491's on the bike and no cracking. Not sure how long they have been on here, but it will be a while before I get this on the road. Tins cleaned up very nice. Still no key, but no hurry for it yet. Supposed to be a code on the switch. I took the gauges off to get at the switch and I could not find a key code. The other owner is going to look around to see if he kept one. Says he gave the owners manual and tool kit to PO. I happen to find a owners manual and Honda service manual which I got at an auction 5 years ago. It was a Honda dealer closing and selling out everything. Got lucky to have those.

Did the previous owner say it "ran when parked" ?  That would be an encouraging bit of info going forward and nice to know he is around if you have any more questions. Title still in his name and that is how you found him ?

[Johnie]

To answer a few questions...I found the PO easy. The deceased guy who owned it never titled it so I contacted the guy with name and address on the title. He told me about the fairing and bags. The key code...the helmet locks are gone, but thanks for that tip. I did get the lid open and there is a 3 digit number on the mechanisms that move. Maybe we have something here. Thanks for that tip. The the previous - PO said it ran great when he sold it. Okay so if it's okay to leave this build here then Glen won't have to move it. Eventually I will remove that gas tank and clean it. However, I do have the small auxiliary tank I can hook on my helmet to run it when I get to that point :-)   Thanks for all the comments and help guys! I know I know I will get some pics up...she really cleaned up good.

[Stev-o]

Dunlop 491's on the bike and no cracking. Not sure how long they have been on here....

Check the date codes on the sidewall, betting they are 20+ yrs old.
Amazing that you found the PO PO!
Small world up there in Oshkosh!!

[newday777]

If the tank is rusty, you can clean it in place. Electrolysis is the best way, then use a shop vac to suck out the water/washing soda solution through the float hole.
Or you have a drain hole on the 76 tank....

https://goldwingdocs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1007

[Johnie]

Newday thanks for that info on the gas tank and key code. I had heard of electrolysis and now will try it. I see there is a drain on the gas tank which will probably take out about 75% of the water. Good that it is already empty.

[BenelliSEI]

Note the ‘Wing uses a mechanical fuel pump. On occasion, the metal suction line, in the tank, has been known to develop pin holes. This line runs from the outlet, a fair way down into the tank portion in front of the rear wheel. On my ‘76, the line  actually fell off and it took a while to diagnose the “poor mileage”. When I got the tank out (not a five minute job), it was so rotten, I had to find a good used one.....

[Johnie]

Thanks for that tip Benelli. Is that metal line part of the float from the outlet down? I see one of the 2 male connections on the top is broke off if I want my fuel gauge to work.

[BenelliSEI]

Thanks for that tip Benelli. Is that metal line part of the float from the outlet down? I see one of the 2 male connections on the top is broke off if I want my fuel gauge to work.

From memory, the top plate rotates and comes out like most automotive sending units. A large float mechanism hangs underneath and works a “rheostat” type switch that connects electronically to tha gauge..... The fuel pick up line comes out of the side of the tank and the pipe is inside. Some of the later ones were removable (plate held on with a pair of screws)? I’m on vacation, so can’t look at my friends bike, but you should be able to tell.

[Bankerdanny]

Thanks for that tip Benelli. Is that metal line part of the float from the outlet down? I see one of the 2 male connections on the top is broke off if I want my fuel gauge to work.

From memory, the top plate rotates and comes out like most automotive sending units. A large float mechanism hangs underneath and works a “rheostat” type switch that connects electronically to tha gauge..... The fuel pick up line comes out of the side of the tank and the pipe is inside. Some of the later ones were removable (plate held on with a pair of screws)? I’m on vacation, so can’t look at my friends bike, but you should be able to tell.

yep, the Wing's fuel gauge sending unit is automotive style. They are pretty robust and can be repaired. I had to fix mine on my '77 that I owned a while back.

If you've never ridden a Goldwing they are amazing bikes. ponderous at low speeds, but once moving you can hustle them quite nicely around corners. The engine is super smooth, the mirrors stay crystal clear at any RPM's. They are also quite powerful and even the OEM exhaust like yours has sounds great as it winds out.

I am looking forward to working on the '77 project bike I acquired last summer, although it has a later 1100 engine in it.

[Johnie]

I guess this will be a step down for me as I sold my GW 2000SE last year. It was the 1500 and a very nice bike. But looking forward to this 1st generation bike. Got some new pics as promised. The front and back fenders cleaned up very nice. Got a pic of the wiring project ahead of me. The really good news is I got a call from the daughter of the deceased and she found a key that says "76 Goldwing". Plan to pick it up this weekend. The Progressive Air Shock will be coming off. I want to go with something more to the OEM look.

[Johnie]

Bringing it home...