Most of you have seen this kind of thing before and are probably thinking "Here we go again" but this is MINE! For the Readers Digest story of how I got into this mess.... I got a new mower, guy at works wants my old mower, has a cycle to swap... He says "it's an '83 Gold Wing". Never being really keen on Dressers I wondered what was under all that fiberglass and did some searching on the web... That's how I found you all! Arranged the swap and he trailered it over. Come to find out it was a '81 GL1100 standard. He had stored it outside and the #1 intake valve was open and that cyl was full of water... engine is stuck
So here we have the start of a Loooong saga to get this back on the road. I am not under a time limit and the price was right so lets see if I can "Make a silk purse out of this sows ear".
Posting this will not only document the build, and help with problems I may have... but I am sure you folks will help me stay motivated!
So far I have been trying to get the engine to turn over by filling and draining the cyl's with penetrating oil. I have the crash bars and exhaust removed and next comes the cooling system.... then the timing belts... then the heads and I can see just how bad it is.

Day 1 when it arrived at it's new home


Where we are today
Right side


Left side


Wiring mess, Counted 7 Scotch-Locs spliced in for old aftermarket fairing!

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Bulldoged '81 GL1100 "BOMBER!" BUILD THREAD
Cafe' '74 CB350F "Lil Sister" LINKY
Bratstyle GS750L "GADZOOKS!" LINKY

rainstromrider say's I'm "addicted to the build"... I think he might onto something

WOW, good find and a lot of TLC later you will have a nice machine.
Dontcha just hate how some PO's treat machines

Good luck with that and keep us posted.

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"Live Long, Ride Free"
"Life is too short to work all the time ... get out and ride"
"Integrity is doing the right thing when no one else is watching"

1982 GL 1100

1972 CB 750 K2 SOHC
1973 CB 450 K6 DOHC
Member AMA

Fun times ahead.

We'll be watching.

Gord

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"I'd rather Ride than Shine" -
'80 GL1100 Interstate, 'R2B' (RAT TO BE)
My Original 'RAT' was an '82 CB900/1100F
And now Team 898

You fell into a pretty nice pile of __it there.

It seems that if the PO didn't neglect it, I can't afford it. So, willing to put in the time and effort will net some dang fine results.

Good luck. I'll pull up a lawn chair, grab a brew and watch the progress from over here.

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Steve -- IBA #8078 -- Winnie, the '81 Nekkid Bagger build

Wow, that wiring actually might look worse than what my PO did!
That's amazing!
I wish you much learning, luck & enjoyment.

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KB
1976 GL1000 Nudewing

Heck, it's already a bobber, so you don't have to do that! Enjoy

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Brian Crow
1977 gl1000, with California sidecar
"KBO"!! Keep bungling on! Winston Churchill
"Bound is boatless man"

Good Job! You're gonna have some fun there. Lot's of knowledge and inspiration on this site. Welcome.

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Mark
There's only one thing better than a GoldWing, and that's two of them.

1975 GL 1000 Candy Antares Red
1977 GL 1000 Pearl White
1978 GL 1000 Candy Limited Maroon
1984 GL 1200 Black

I think the same guy may have wired a couple of mine. Take your time with that engine, WF has had good results freeing up frozen ones.
Looks like a good base even if you do have to change the engine later.

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Enjoy life,
Cookie


A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad.
Owner of 4.4 76s and one lone 75 Wings (does a spare engine make .2?)

good luck with the resurrection... if i were you i'd be looking for a replacement harness, but i hate wiring thus prefer to throw money at the problem so i can do the mechanical stuff

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hi
1975 gl1000... and a few other

Thanks for the support and a BIG thanks to Octane for his write up "Head Job"! So here is todays progress... "Strike while the iron is hot". Thankfull I am off work this week and it was raining today. Plus this part doesn't take any cash!

So far so good, this side looked clean... started to get optomistic


Then the bad news. Here is the left side showing #1 that was full of water.


And the left sides head... glad I decided to tear it down.

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Bulldoged '81 GL1100 "BOMBER!" BUILD THREAD
Cafe' '74 CB350F "Lil Sister" LINKY
Bratstyle GS750L "GADZOOKS!" LINKY

rainstromrider say's I'm "addicted to the build"... I think he might onto something

I'd be tempted to turn it on it's side and pour acid in to clean it up, followed by ATF for a few days soaking.

_________________
Enjoy life,
Cookie


A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad.
Owner of 4.4 76s and one lone 75 Wings (does a spare engine make .2?)

If that was mine I would start shoping for a replacement engine. You will probably be able to get it cleaned up enough to run but it will wear prematurely and eventually she will start burning oil like crazy. Might be next week or next month or next year. Just putting that engine back together is going to cost you close to a hundred for gaskets and such.

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"I prefer the abstract concept of incoherence in the face of great feeling to beautiful, full sentences that convey little emotion." DDL
1978/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

HOOOOOLLLLLY S#%T That's going to take some cleaning

Me thinks a replacement engine would be more cost effective

_________________
"Live Long, Ride Free"
"Life is too short to work all the time ... get out and ride"
"Integrity is doing the right thing when no one else is watching"

1982 GL 1100

1972 CB 750 K2 SOHC
1973 CB 450 K6 DOHC
Member AMA

I agree with WF. There is almost always an engine on ebay. Or someone on here near by may have one for sale. That cylinder looks pretty bad. I wouldn't take the chance on it.

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1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1982 GL1100 Standard Bagger (in progress)
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases

I'd want to see it cleaned up before I decided. If it has big pits that would be easier to replace.

_________________
Enjoy life,
Cookie


A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad.
Owner of 4.4 76s and one lone 75 Wings (does a spare engine make .2?)