Topic: Magpie's/Cliff's 1982 GL1100 "Recovery"

[Magpie]

Yes, my OCD often kicks in. I spent the afternoon going through the whole system again being much more careful on cleaning and installing the bits. After several hours the rear wheel spins freely and the brakes work. Amazed myself. Lesson learned - "patience grasshopper".    Cliff.

[BenelliSEI]

Yes, my OCD often kicks in. I spent the afternoon going through the whole system again being much more careful on cleaning and installing the bits. After several hours the rear wheel spins freely and the brakes work. Amazed myself. Lesson learned - "patience grasshopper".    Cliff.

I’ll say it again: “if this was simple, anyone could do it!”. Congrats!

[Magpie]

Well, in for a penny in for a dollar. The tires are well over 20 years old so I took a deep breath and dove in. Sad thing is that it "ran when parked" but I have no idea if it will now. The bike came to me with one condition - take the widow for a ride on it. So, that's the goal.

[BenelliSEI]

Looks like she will get that ride!

[grcamna2]

How does the inside of the tank look Cliff ?

[Stev-o]

I always chuckle when I hear/read "Ran when parked"!   They [the seller] typically doesnt realize that "parked" is the worse thing for a classic bike!

[Magpie]

Inside of the tank was very rusty. Since I've read that some owners would rather crawl through a mile of broken glass than remove the tank I'll try to get the rust out while it's in the bike. I filled it with 10% vinegar about 3 weeks ago. Last week I pumped it out and used a big brush, like a huge toilet brush, to scrub down the inside, flushed it out and refilled it. I'll pump it out today and have a look and give it another scrub. If it looks okay I'll rinse it with some baking soda, empty and blow dry with my heat gun and spray the hell out of it with WD40. I'll report back with the results and photos. Cliff.

[grcamna2]

Inside of the tank was very rusty. Since I've read that some owners would rather crawl through a mile of broken glass than remove the tank I'll try to get the rust out while it's in the bike. I filled it with 10% vinegar about 3 weeks ago. Last week I pumped it out and used a big brush, like a huge toilet brush, to scrub down the inside, flushed it out and refilled it. I'll pump it out today and have a look and give it another scrub. If it looks okay I'll rinse it with some baking soda, empty and blow dry with my heat gun and spray the hell out of it with WD40. I'll report back with the results and photos. Cliff.

I've removed the tank on a past customer's GL1200 and it does require(swingarm)many components to be disassembled,but it makes a difference on how complete of a cleaning it gets.
I sent the tank out to my favorite radiator shop(Hyannis,Ma. at the time & he was careful applying the Red Kote around the strainers)who prepped it for Red Kote;I let it fully dry for a week+ in the dry sunlight and it turned out great.

[BenelliSEI]

Cliff….. while you’re working on the tank (this is from memory) have a good look at the two suction pipes that go down into the tank. After I spent days cleaning out mine, I discovered the pipes had completely rotted away and fallen off about 1/2 down the tank! Ended up finding a good tank at a local bike scrap yard……. Hope yours is OK!

[Magpie]

Hi! Both pipes and the little baskets on them look good. Still some rust but lots came out with repeated rinsing. If the filter clogs up fast then I guess the tank must come out. Now just waiting for my friend doing the carbs to get them done. Cliff.

[grcamna2]

Hi! Both pipes and the little baskets on them look good. Still some rust but lots came out with repeated rinsing. If the filter clogs up fast then I guess the tank must come out. Now just waiting for my friend doing the carbs to get them done. Cliff.

The tank can be removed and then have a helper who doesn't mind lots of exercise,get a large container of BB's and then the two of you together roll/shake that big tank 'every which way' vigorously many times and you will have manually 'bead blasted' the rust out of it. Final rinse,and done.  This procedure is strong aerobic exercise and not for the 'faint of heart'.
You'll be sore for a few days after.  lol  oh,wear earplugs 

I have done this before with standard size motorcycle tanks;it was the option I chose,rather than getting the tank lined.
I took about 2 hours(split up during a 36hr. time frame)of time using very vigorous shaking the tanks around in every conceivable angle;looked a bit like huge maracas Lol  and it made all the rust disappear.
 I was able to get all the steel BB's out by letting them roll out the bottom(60% worth)and the rest,I used a telescoping magnet to get every last one out. The tops of the tanks also were rust free when I finished. 

[BenelliSEI]

Hi! Both pipes and the little baskets on them look good. Still some rust but lots came out with repeated rinsing. If the filter clogs up fast then I guess the tank must come out. Now just waiting for my friend doing the carbs to get them done. Cliff.

Excellent!

[Johnie]

Cliff...the guys on the GW board suggested to me to do the electrolysis l method with the tank in place. I am planning to try that on my 76 GL1000 in the future. Just not that far on it yet. Currently roughing up the exhaust for paint.

[MauiK3]

Electrolysis works, if a bit slowly.

[Magpie]

Got the gas tank fairly rust free, an inline filter should take care of any rust coming off the inside of it.  Got the carbs reinstalled and a new used starter installed. Thankfully I got the carbs to stop pissing gas. I had poured some Marvel Mystery Oil down the plug homes just because. Touched the starter button and it fired up. First time in about 23 years. Great smoke show. A neighbour came out on his deck to see where the fire was. You can just see the outline of the bike in the photo. I started it again outside this time and no great smoke show just some blue smoke. It needs a good ride. Now I can start the reassembly of body parts. Cliff.

[RAFster122s]

Cliff, congrats of the first test fire and now she’s burned off the smoke she will be ready to enjoy and show off soon. Your riding season is tempered by the coastal climate somewhat?

[BenelliSEI]

Well done. “First starts” are the best reward!

[Magpie]

Thanks guys! We can ride all year round here. It does get down to our 0 and your 32 degrees. Snow sometimes. However they really like to use salt liquid on the roads which eventually turns to salt dust. When that happens my bikes get put away except for the really really nice days.
Cliff.

[Johnie]

Very nice Cliff. Great to hear it run the first time for sure.

[MauiK3]

Exciting, great feeling when it springs to life.

[Magpie]

Getting closer! And the smoke is gone too. It's a miracle.

[BenelliSEI]

Sweet!

[Johnie]

Amen brother!

[BenelliSEI]

Cliff….. what are the red clips for on the hoses?

[Magpie]

They are restrictors to stop the needles from bouncing. You just roll the round "wheels" up until the needles stop bouncing or at least slow them down.  Cliff.