Awakening a 20 year sleeper. update.

[Don R]

I drug home a 78 GL1000 today it's gorgeous and all there but was parked in 1996. Probably needing the carbs cleaned back then. There is bad gas in the tank, hopefully rust is a minimum. The PO didn't plan to park it,( like most ) so he didn't preserve it. The electrical seems fine. I'll begin draining the fuel and cleaning the carbs tomorrow, Any tips from those in the know? I did recomission a 79 two years ago, no tank issues there. Brake seals are ordered. The M/C's oddly seem to work, no frozen anything this time except draggy calipers. So far.
I'll pull the plugs and oil the cylinders, is there an oil galley access plug? I have a cylinder I can use to pressure pre lube it before attempting a start up.

[robin1731]

Maybe check this out. http://www.randakksblog.com/starting-a- ... ng-lay-up/

Found in shoptalk.

.

[Don R]

Thanks that's a good read.

The plugs were loose, they pulled easily. I drained the bad gas, there is a little rust in the top and under the cap. What I can see inside looks clean. The petcock wouldn't flow anything. I removed it and shot some carb cleaner in the holes. The main feed may have opened, the reserve hole is still plugged. The two manuals I have don't show much about the gas tank.

With a jumper battery the motor spins over fine. Time for oil and a filter I'd say.

[chewy999]

The petcock wouldn't flow anything. I removed it and shot some carb cleaner in the holes. The main feed may have opened, the reserve hole is still plugged.

Is the petcock blocked or the two tubes in the tank itself? If it's the tubes inside the tank, I used a cable in a drill turning anticlockwise and carefully pushing the cable all the way in making sure it didn't push through the filters at the end. Then did the same thing with the drill turning the correct way, flushed it with white vinegar and an airline and Bob's your Uncle.....................
If it's the actual petcock, you can still buy them or at least a kit, or try soaking it in white vinegar first.

[Don R]

The petcock seemed plugged so I removed it, it's the tubes inside the tank, the main fuel did open up with some carb cleaner, I thought about using some lacquer thinner in the tank. At least the bad fuel odor will be gone. I dislike that a lot. somewhere I have a petcock kit that allows you to drill the rivets and tap for screws so the old one may be rebuilt.

Thanks for the cable idea, was yours plugged with dried fuel?

[Don R]

[Don R]

I bought 6, 74-76 cb750's from the PO, he wanted me to have this also. He's moving didn't use it for 20 years and decided to let it go. He has a sweet yellow newer Goldwing.

[chewy999]

Thanks for the cable idea, was yours plugged with dried fuel?

Must have been as hopefully that's all that should be in the tank! One tube appeared to be solid with crud, but the cable cleared it eventually. As I said, use the cable in an anticlockwise motion to break through the blockage, and then clockwise. When you do a clockwise rotation, the cable should start to unravel, and my way of thinking is that then the end of the cable will clean the inner surface of the tube. Once done, flush the bits out with clean fuel and discard. Worked for me really well.

[elwood440]

Thanks for the cable idea, was yours plugged with dried fuel?

Must have been as hopefully that's all that should be in the tank! One tube appeared to be solid with crud, but the cable cleared it eventually. As I said, use the cable in an anticlockwise motion to break through the blockage, and then clockwise. When you do a clockwise rotation, the cable should start to unravel, and my way of thinking is that then the end of the cable will clean the inner surface of the tube. Once done, flush the bits out with clean fuel and discard. Worked for me really well.

+1

I had a similar blockage and cleared it in exactly the same manner.

[Whiskerfish]

That is a good looking project!!

[Toehead]

What a great looking bike! You've got a good starting point for sure.

[Graham Cracker]

Congratulations...awesome bike!

[Don R]

Thanks, I was fortunate, I got it because the PO is moving away, it's a shame we didn't meet sooner. Both Honda guys, we might have ridden a few miles. I was forced to deal with some 750 engines I drug home from a barn today, (9 new to me bikes) and I'm out of room. I just poured some lacquer thinner into the GL's tank and took a couple engines apart.

[Don R]

I left the lacquer thinner in for 30 hours, being a former roto rooter guy, I prepped a cable and drill and was set to go. I put a fuel line on the tank and shot a small amount of air in on the on position and when I switched to reserve a bunch of black goo shot out and then came clean thinner. Needless to say I'm pleased, it seems to be open now and it seems the thinner helped the main fuel line too. The bad news is the tank vent is plugged, I'll need to find that problem.

[Don R]

I know the carbs will need cleaned, but for giggles I'm going to open the drain plugs and see what comes out. I bought a 750 last year that was at an airport for years. It fired right up and I never touched the carbs. Avgas I'd guess. I gotta get me somma that!