Pop's Bike

[Millwright]

Hello to all, first thing I must say is that this web site is fantastic. There is an unbelievable amount of information for someone like myself wanting to get an old bike back on the road. .My daughter purchased a scooter this past spring,and loved it. She starting after to me to get the bike in the barn running again for 2013 so that we could ride together. The bike in the barn is an 1983 GL1100 standard that my father bought new, drove about ten years and then sold to me. I drove it off and on, right up to 2008, when I decided to take it off the road because the insurance was getting too expensive and my wife and I would only get out 3 or four times a year. I started searching the web for old wing information and saw one of Randakk"s restorations and was immediately hooked on getting this old bike running. I do not have a heated shop and winter is on its way so I decided to take it down the stairs and into the basement for the winter. A good warm place to work on it when I get time. Prior to bringing into the house, I started it and found several problems, front brake collapsed, rear brake pedal seized, carbs gelled up , will not idle, and rust starting where you do not want it. I did a compression test and it looks great. All four between 165 and 168. I will try an include some photos as I progress, I have about three million questions as well. I think bobber style is my direction.
Glad to be hear


That was a couple of months ago, so I wanted to start this new restoration thread to show you were I am at. Just a few pic's to recap.

Millwright

[Millwright]

Okay this just about brings this project up to date. I feel like spring is not that far off and I better get moving. Now if I could only remeber were everything goes.



Millwright

[Bugdaddy66]

Nice bike! Can't wait to see the ride out of the basement, video please. Nice to know all the history on a bike, looks like she has lead a pampered life. Enjoy all the help here, I know I do.

[transitman]

yes, I too want to see a video of it riding up the stairs.

[Neil]

Good stuff

[scootsx2]

I fully understand your rationale for bringing the bike indoors. I do my work in an unheated underground garage (it has in and out ramps) with a propane space heater which makes it bearable in the winter.

Its going to be really interesting to see how you get it back up those stairs. Perhaps a winch to assist?
My late father-in-law had an old Indian in his basement when I first met him. I have no idea how it got in in let alone how he got it out when he sold it. I occasionally kick myself for not latching on to it.

[ole496]

This is how Paul Sr. from OCC got his start...building bikes in the basement!

[Fred Camper]

Cookie used to keep them in his basement and would find enough muscle to get them back out in the spring. So we have hope you have friends too.

[Easter]

Looks like a thorough restoration. Seeing one come back to life is almost as much fun as riding it. Good luck with those stairs.

[ericheath]

Anyone ever try pulling the sparkplugs and using the starter to motor it out?? I think it would be fairly smooth not having to fight the compression. New Goldwings use their starters to go in reverse. I have meant to try it, but I'm always in such a hurry, I muscle it.

[Placerville]

Looks like you're doing great and have things well in hand. Now, I don't want to see you on AFV trying get that bike out so, get some help.

[dritzman]

Pretty darn cool.. Just don't do this to get it out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcUyG72OGCc

Idiots!

[Millwright]

Hello guys As far as getting it out of the basement, it will be winched like scootsx2 says.I think it will be a lot safer with a slow pull. The bike has no gas in it and I do not want the smell inside, so I will not even start it inside. In some ways the bike has been pampered as far as never been out in the rain, probably very seldom even ridden in the rain. It has 36762 klm on it, but it is 30 years old and in need of some care. For example, I am looking at the brake system next, and found that the rear reservoir was dry. After taking it and the master cylinder apart, it looks like the Dot 3 brake fluid crystalized. Bone dry. I pulled off the calipers and they still seem wet. I have rebuilt the master cylinder and I am going to reinstall it and try to pump fresh fluid out the flex lines to confirm that they are not blocked.
Also , today I picked up my Christmas present. Two new wide white wall tires.


Millwright

[Oldewing]

Nice white walls

[Roady]

This looks to be a fun project. Watch it with the cleaning fluids in the basement too. I did my carbs in ours and the smell of brake cleaner hung around the house for a week.