Another learning curve.

[Guest]

1980 GL1100.

My son-in-law drug this out of a shed and asked if he could keep it in my garage.
He got it for free and has a desire to get it roadworthy again. He having little money and no skill means I may have a project on my hands.
He has watched me with my Suzukis and helped on the quad so I think I have piqued an interest.
He is a cutter, bobber, modder type but I'll try to raise him right, meaning get it running and safe before doing anything else. This will be his first bike and he is so stoked.

 

[Rijko]

cool bike, nice project.
Big motorcycle for a first bike
Subscribed, will follow this with interest.

 

[Guest]

cool bike, nice project.
Big motorcycle for a first bike
Subscribed, will follow this with interest.

Yeah, first behemoth, scares me a little.
He does have a realistic time frame, he told me "this will probably be running this time next year".

 

[dorkburger]

I've come to appreciate old 'Wings. The shop near me had one in for work. Such cool bikes

 

[Guest]

I've come to appreciate old 'Wings. The shop near me had one in for work. Such cool bikes

He's going to go naked with it at first and thats the way I like them too. I agree with you that they are becoming more interesting to me also.

 

[Boriqua]

I am seriously considering a naked wing as my next project. I still have some learning to do but those old wings are tough old suckers and can be had pretty cheap and parts are plentiful. Only issue I have is because they are wings the ones that pop up have like 8 billion miles on em. Guys who bought them .. rode em! Good luck with your project and a little prayer that you two can mange to get through it and still kinda like each other.

 

[Guest]

I am seriously considering a naked wing as my next project. I still have some learning to do but those old wings are tough old suckers and can be had pretty cheap and parts are plentiful. Only issue I have is because they are wings the ones that pop up have like 8 billion miles on em. Guys who bought them .. rode em! Good luck with your project and a little prayer that you two can mange to get through it and still kinda like each other.

Heh heh heh, thanks for the little prayer. He and I will more than likely be fine, its my daughter that is "overjoyed ".
This one has 81,000 miles but is somewhat rough. I'm glad to hear there are plenty of parts, I'd just like to find him a Wing forum even half as good as this one.

 

[Steve]

Just a couple tidbits to offer:
1. The carbs are a pain. They are a bit tricky just to get to them, then just a bit fiddly to work on. Pay attention to details.
2. Check the stator. Yep, it has a stator and R/R, just like the GS, but the big difference is that you have to remove the engine from the frame to access the stator. It would benefit from a Polaris R/R, just like a GS.

.

 

[Wingsconsin]

Go here -->> http://goldwingdocs.com/

Join the forum - seek the GL1100 section and READ - there are MANY tutorials, and helpful members
The GoldWing Docs forum is exceptional - much like the GS forum here.
I was able to do a lot of resurrection including a carb rebuild and fuse box rewire thanks to the help I found on that website
My son had a 1980 GL1100 a few years back ..

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[Guest]

Thanks Steve.
I think I saw the R/R on top hidden under the faux tank.
The throttle doesnt move and the choke cable is frozen. There is a lot of work here.
I'm going to charge the battery today and he's still waiting on the keys.
The biggest obstacle I see now is keeping my hands off and letting him do the wrenching. But my fork parts arrived today for the '83 so that should tide my wrenching fix for awhile.

 

[Guest]

Go here -->> http://goldwingdocs.com/

Join the forum - seek the GL1100 section and READ - there are MANY tutorials, and helpful members
The GoldWing Docs forum is exceptional - much like the GS forum here.
I was able to do a lot of resurrection including a carb rebuild and fuse box rewire thanks to the help I found on that website
My son had a 1980 GL1100 a few years back ..

<strong>

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

 

[chuck hahn]

AMK...I have the pro series carb rebuilding CD if youd like to borrow it. Also if you register here youll find many helpful mods such as the air jet mod to help eliminate hard starting.

https://www.ngwclub.com/forum/page/Welcome


And heres your go to source for the carb rebuild kit that goes along with the CD I have on hand.

https://www.randakks.com/

 

[Guest]

That would be great, Chuck.
I pm'd my address.

 

[Wingsconsin]

AMK...I have the pro series carb rebuilding CD if youd like to borrow it. Also if you register here youll find many helpful mods such as the air jet mod to help eliminate hard starting.

https://www.ngwclub.com/forum/page/Welcome


And heres your go to source for the carb rebuild kit that goes along with the CD I have on hand.

https://www.randakks.com/

There are other rebuild kits available online --

DO NOT USE THEM !

Use only the Randakks kits - they are the best -

I was able to rebuild the GL1100 carbs twice - thanks to using the inferior parts the first time -
So take it from one who has been there and done that . :cool-new:

Removing the carbs from the bike is an act of patience as well...
They only fit out one way - I can't tell you which way it was - I was drinking heavily at the time due to the frustration when they came out.
It does help to hold you tongue out the side of your mouth just so ...that gives you concentration ...:very_drunk::grey::dejection:

PS: The 1980 GL1100 had a small bit different gearing in the final drive - a bit more peppy than the 81-83 models if I remember correctly.
Once we had it sorted out and running well the bike was pretty quick and delivered MPGs in the mid-40s all the time.
That was a fun bike - I wish we still had it.

 

[Guest]

Carb kit noted, thank you.
From what I've seen so far in my research the naked bikes look nice. Im hoping he gets overwhelmed and dumps it on me

 

[earlfor]

He's going to go naked with it at first and thats the way I like them too. I agree with you that they are becoming more interesting to me also.

I think you should convince him to at least wear a helmet. he eh

 

[Guest]

I think you should convince him to at least wear a helmet. he eh

Oh, no. I'll take a picture and post it on Fakebook

 

[850 Combat]

Just a couple tidbits to offer:
1. The carbs are a pain. They are a bit tricky just to get to them, then just a bit fiddly to work on. Pay attention to details.
2. Check the stator. Yep, it has a stator and R/R, just like the GS, but the big difference is that you have to remove the engine from the frame to access the stator. It would benefit from a Polaris R/R, just like a GS.

.

Are the cam belts an issure? If they haven't been changed, they are pretty old now.

 

[Guest]

I turned him on to ngwclub and goldwingdocs and he has been doing his homework.
He's read about the timing belts.
Right now the starter is locked up but the engine and tranny are free.
I want to test the stator and clutch first but the engine needs to come out for the starter as well. I love my GS even more now!
Still in triage to determine a methodical approach before he spends money on it.

 

[Steve]

Cam belts should be done every 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. They will likely still look brand-new, but you will KNOW their condition when you replace them.

Also, be sure to replace the tensioners while you are in there. Yeah, it's a few more bucks, but the price is rather small, compared to replacing an engine if it grenades because the cam belts slipped a tooth or three. I don't remember for sure if the 1100 was an "interference" engine or not. I think that there WILL be considerable damage if a belt breaks, because the valves will be open and hit by the pistons, which are still moving. If that happens, it is MUCH easier, quicker and cheaper to get a new engine.

.