All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

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Easter
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All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#1

Post by Easter »

Sound familiar? Something like "it was running when I parked it last fall (or maybe three or five or ten years before that) "
Well, it takes a lot to surprise me anymore and amazingly there isn't much to keep these old gals down. I am wrapping up my Dumpster project (Goldie, the Dumpster G(a)L ) in the next few days so while I am waiting on the last of the parts, I dragged this '85 Full Dresser into the shop and started the disassembly. I wanted to do a compression check but the starter doesn't work and since it had already been converted to an external alternator, the stator was probably (?) bad. Fortunately I have a nice 1200 engine setting by waiting for a good use. Hopefully this will be a good use.

My plan is to install the engine, swing arm, and front end in an 1100 frame. Why? you ask and with good reason. Well, because I have a title for the 1100 and not the 1200. Plus I can use a conventional shelter cover for the 1100 since finding a good one for the 1200 frame is most likely fantasy.

I will most likely have a professional go through the carbs but I like to open them up and clean them a bit before I send them off, that way I have an idea if anything is broken or missing as is sometimes the case. Like maybe this case. I don't see anything broken but I am pretty sure there are some parts missing. And my my they are a mess. I don't think a battery would have gotten this one going!

And so the adventure begins, will keep you posted, just in case anyone is interested. type1
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Bikes at present:

83 XL 600r with a 2004 XR650L engine
And a slightly worse for the wear BMW GS adventure bike awaiting repair
83 GL in process :IDTS:
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robin1731
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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#2

Post by robin1731 »

Those carbs are purty. lolol lolol anim-cheers1

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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#3

Post by CYBORG »

Looks like you have your FUN cut out for you
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
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Easter
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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#4

Post by Easter »

A can of carb cleaner removed most of the orange stuff but the white crud is more stubborn. Have the rack in the ultrasonic now with a dash of Pinesol, will give it a few more cycles in the morning.
Bikes at present:

83 XL 600r with a 2004 XR650L engine
And a slightly worse for the wear BMW GS adventure bike awaiting repair
83 GL in process :IDTS:
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Easter
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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#5

Post by Easter »

Anyone tried to run these carbs without the vacuum set-up? In the interest of keeping my wiring simple it would be nice if I could eliminate the electronics associated with the vacuum box. (what ever it is called!)
Bikes at present:

83 XL 600r with a 2004 XR650L engine
And a slightly worse for the wear BMW GS adventure bike awaiting repair
83 GL in process :IDTS:
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CYBORG
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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#6

Post by CYBORG »

The electronic ignition has a vacuum hose going to it.....not something that can be eliminated...unless you are going C5
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
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Track T 2411
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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#7

Post by Track T 2411 »

Easter wrote:Anyone tried to run these carbs without the vacuum set-up? In the interest of keeping my wiring simple it would be nice if I could eliminate the electronics associated with the vacuum box. (what ever it is called!)
IIRC, Mike Coleman (mike-c, maybe) did a quick write-up on eliminating some of the smog stuff on the 1200 carbs...
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#8

Post by Rat »

Mike-C is his handle ....

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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#9

Post by desertrefugee »

The biggest chore is filling the air injector holes in the heads. Everything else is pretty easy.
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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#10

Post by Easter »

I reviewed his thread and the link to the video and it looks like the process is virtually the same as I did with my Valkyrie. Makes installation and removal so much easier. Carbs have been in the ultrasonic tank all last night (heat but no vibration) and vibration most of today and are starting to look pretty good. First tank of 7 gallons of water, fresh when I started, looked just like Houston flood water. Second tankful is better but not clear by a long shot. Float bowls look great on the outside but are still pretty crusty on the inside. I haven't started on the small parts yet as I want to keep them separated by carb.
Bikes at present:

83 XL 600r with a 2004 XR650L engine
And a slightly worse for the wear BMW GS adventure bike awaiting repair
83 GL in process :IDTS:
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Easter
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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#11

Post by Easter »

Here are the results so far. Whatever was in those float bowls seems to be corrosive. No real damage so far but the finish to the aluminum is definitely gone. I wonder if this is the fuel itself or the result of additives of some sort. Don't want to name any but maybe long term the stabilizers or cleaners are eating into the aluminum? Saw the same thing on the last set of carbs I tore into.

I don't think I can improve the float bowls anymore than they are at present. Plenum and carb bodies are looking good so now it is just the internal components. light is not good in these photos but they look almost new except for the inside of the bowls and where the gas set for a long period of time.
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Top view looks super
Top view looks super
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Ugly inside
Ugly inside
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Shiny as new outside
Shiny as new outside
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Ugly but clean
Ugly but clean
20170904_195002_resized.jpg (66.87 KiB) Viewed 516 times
Bikes at present:

83 XL 600r with a 2004 XR650L engine
And a slightly worse for the wear BMW GS adventure bike awaiting repair
83 GL in process :IDTS:
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Easter
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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#12

Post by Easter »

The engine is cleaned and painted and new timing belts are installed. The carbs are mostly back together and I have decided to proceed with the removal of the smog spaghetti. I can't go much farther till I determine which of my two 1100 frames will have the honor. At the moment I have written a letter per advice from DMV to the parties whose name and address are on the titles I have, if they supply me a signed Title Transfer Application, then I can proceed. If the registered letter is returned unopened I can supply that as evidence of my attempt to acquire the U-130 Texas form, and the DMV will supposedly accept that and issue me a new title (after I pay some outrageous tax fee for a box of parts that can only be turned into a motorcycle with substantial time, effort and money! The lady at the tax office did indicate there is a possibility that the transfer application process may be suspended. It certainly seems an unnecessary burden and a redundancy.
Bikes at present:

83 XL 600r with a 2004 XR650L engine
And a slightly worse for the wear BMW GS adventure bike awaiting repair
83 GL in process :IDTS:
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Easter
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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#13

Post by Easter »

20170906-_DSC0013.jpg
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Now that Goldie is off the lift table, I can move on to this project. My plan was to adapt the front end and swing arm to a GL1100 frame I had along with the 1200 engine. Fortunately I was able to track down the previous owner of the 1200 and he signed a title transfer application so I am good to go with the 1200 frame. The principal advantage to that is instead of canabalizing two frames to make one bike, I can save the 1100 for a later project. So today I finished stripping the 1200 frame and spent some time trying to decide where to go with the project. Because the 1200 was an Interstate, I don't have a shelter cover for a 1200 but it looks like I can make one of my 1100 shelters work with a few minor (but time consuming) alterations. This has to do primarily with locating the mounting tabs for the shelter and making some filler panels for the very front. Fortunately I acquired a good 1200 engine a few months back because this one has some serious problems. It may be salvageable but will need major work. The replacement engine is all cleaned up and painted with new belts and the carbs are just about ready to install when the time comes. I really liked working with the Motogadget M unit for wiring and although it is not cheap it may be the way to go on this. I will have to get my Valkyrie sold before I start spending much on this build but there is quite a bit I can do in the interim.
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20170928_171848_resized.jpg (100.96 KiB) Viewed 435 times
Bikes at present:

83 XL 600r with a 2004 XR650L engine
And a slightly worse for the wear BMW GS adventure bike awaiting repair
83 GL in process :IDTS:
Wangthang
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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#14

Post by Wangthang »

I heard that...
1977 Gl 1000
1976 F1 750 SS
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2007 Road King
1974 dohc 450 chopper project
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Easter
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Re: All it needs is a battery and maybe a carb clean

#15

Post by Easter »

In the interest of more photos less talk, here are a couple of shots of the engine. Polishing of covers yet to be done.
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20170929_123343_resized.jpg
20170929_123343_resized.jpg (71.08 KiB) Viewed 397 times
Bikes at present:

83 XL 600r with a 2004 XR650L engine
And a slightly worse for the wear BMW GS adventure bike awaiting repair
83 GL in process :IDTS:
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