Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

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Mark King
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Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#1

Post by Mark King »

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First some notes.

The three GL’s I have rebuilt in the past have been done as quickly as possible because they were also the only riders I had. This time I have my VTX 1800 to ride so I can take my time and think while doing this one.

I’m calling it Sunrise for several reasons. Morning is my favorite and most productive time of the day. The colors of the sunrise in the 1000 Islands can be spectacular at almost any time of the year – especially on the water – as anyone who has been here will attest. And finally, for many reasons, I personally feel like I have hit a new sunrise with all the anticipation a new day brings.

The problem of course will be painting it to match the expectation behind the name. :-D

Now the technical stuff.

The bike was parked many years ago and of course it was running when it was parked.

The carbs –which are 77 correct - that were reportedly rebuilt, are coated on the outside top with road grime – so probably not.

The tank is a rusty mess with about two inches of slime and gum and varnish in the bottom.

The chrome is lightly pitted in most places, more so down low, but an initially trial clean up with stainless steel polish and a well-worn Scotch Bright pad shows remarkable recovery.

Exhaust is all there but the tail pipe on one side is hanging so I expect rust throughout.

Many smaller parts – nuts, bolts, etc are missing.

Wiring has been cut and disconnected and is baked hard in several places, especially near the battery box.

Brakes while functioning sort of – are preparing to seize and fluid is black. Good news - discs have lots of wear remaining.

I do not yet know if the engine is functioning, but my buddy who delivered the bike assures me it was running before the guy who owned it before him left it sitting.

One of the lips that hold one side cover in place is broken off.

The starter and seat have still not been located but I am assured they will be along soon.

This was about a 15 minutes assessment one evening this week.

Here is the list of work to be done – starting with the most critical but not in any other particular order.

Gas tank – priority number one as it is in the worst shape. On my 76 I did the tank almost last and felt I rushed it a bit. I know it should be pulled but I am going to try to clean it in situ. This weekend it will get a lacquer thinner treatment to dissolve the gum and varnish so it can be pumped out. Then after removing as much loose rust as possible it will be treated to a little electrolysis.

Engine confirmation. I will make sure the engine is not seized. Drain and replace oil and filter.

Acquire legal ownership

Then the rest – not necessarily in this order – as disassembly proceeds:

Inventory and acquire or repair missing and broken parts as I proceed
Clean up painted areas as I work (frame) and check for corrosion and touch up / repair where required
Chrome clean up and preservation before winter
Lube and check cables
Clean and rebuild carbs
Clean and polish engine
Change belts
Check engine components as best as possible cold - Compression test, valves, plugs and wires etc
Fork seals and probably polish forks
Brakes and lines
Tires and wheels
Drive – clean and lube
Wiring and electronics – check all wiring and replace where necessary – including the usual recommended fixes. Maybe electronic ignition and new coils
Install carbs and new gas lines and filter
Test engine and stator – repair and adjust as required
Clean up and repair gauges as required
Wheels, tires, and brakes re-installed.
Test engine, gear box, stator etc and make repairs adjustments as needed
Exhaust – repair or replace
Paint
Reassemble
Windshield
Battery
Ride

And the year will be ____ ???
M King
1977 GL1000 - Under s l o w restoration
1981 CB900C - Rebuilt but stripped spark plug thread
2002 VTX 1800 -Current Rider
1984 GL1200 Aspencade - Restored and Sold
1980 Suzuki GS850G - Restoration on hold
1985 750 Nighthawk SC - Sold
1976 GL1000 - Yellow - Restored and Sold (regret the sale)
1981 GL1100 - Naked - Restored and Sold
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#2

Post by desertrefugee »

Looks like you have your hands full. But, when there's another or three in the stable there's no pressure to get things done. Not only that, you have all winter to plan, acquire and (if heated garage) begin to carve into your list.

Looks like a solid candidate for the effort.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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Mark King
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#3

Post by Mark King »

Update: 1/2 litre lacquer thinner in tank this evening and propped the bike up on blocks so it is even.

Engine seized - won't crank with kick starter - even on a breaker bar - but the good news is I removed the belt covers and the belts are still intact. Must be seized from sitting. It has been in a dirt floor barn for a number of years and I don't know before that. Oiled the cylinders through the spark plug holes for a start and will let it sit for a day or two before I try something more caustic.
M King
1977 GL1000 - Under s l o w restoration
1981 CB900C - Rebuilt but stripped spark plug thread
2002 VTX 1800 -Current Rider
1984 GL1200 Aspencade - Restored and Sold
1980 Suzuki GS850G - Restoration on hold
1985 750 Nighthawk SC - Sold
1976 GL1000 - Yellow - Restored and Sold (regret the sale)
1981 GL1100 - Naked - Restored and Sold
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5speed
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#4

Post by 5speed »

pour some diesel fuel in the cylinders. It will work better then engine oil. Or a 50/50 mix of diesel and atf fluid.
1982 1100 standard. (sold)
1986 Yamaha FJ1200
2000 Yamaha Roadstar
1976 GoldWing. running but not on the road
1978 Goldwing. future cafe project.
2019 Can-Am ryker (boss's new ride)

2002 Shadow American Classic(sold)
1983 Shadow 500. (sold)
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Mark King
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#5

Post by Mark King »

Today I removed the exhaust, got the center stand working, pumped up the tires so it could roll around the garage and undid the bleeds on the brakes to relieve the pressure on the calipers so it will roll around the garage.

The exhaust has a few holes and one tail pipe is falling off. It's probably repairable if anyone wants to spend some time. I am not going to. I will hold onto it for awhile in case someone wants it.
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M King
1977 GL1000 - Under s l o w restoration
1981 CB900C - Rebuilt but stripped spark plug thread
2002 VTX 1800 -Current Rider
1984 GL1200 Aspencade - Restored and Sold
1980 Suzuki GS850G - Restoration on hold
1985 750 Nighthawk SC - Sold
1976 GL1000 - Yellow - Restored and Sold (regret the sale)
1981 GL1100 - Naked - Restored and Sold
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#6

Post by duke182 »

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Mark King
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#7

Post by Mark King »

Added a little ATF to the cylinders today.
M King
1977 GL1000 - Under s l o w restoration
1981 CB900C - Rebuilt but stripped spark plug thread
2002 VTX 1800 -Current Rider
1984 GL1200 Aspencade - Restored and Sold
1980 Suzuki GS850G - Restoration on hold
1985 750 Nighthawk SC - Sold
1976 GL1000 - Yellow - Restored and Sold (regret the sale)
1981 GL1100 - Naked - Restored and Sold
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Mark King
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Location: ON, Canada

Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#8

Post by Mark King »

Question.

The starter was removed from this 77 a number of years ago. The bike has been moved, shaken, leaned in both directions and pushed and pulled in gear several times.

Is it possible that the chain and gear that engage the starter to the drive could have fallen off, become entangled or otherwise have had a problem that would in turn seize up the engine movement?

Can that gear fall off or out of the chain and gum up the works?


Thanks
M King
1977 GL1000 - Under s l o w restoration
1981 CB900C - Rebuilt but stripped spark plug thread
2002 VTX 1800 -Current Rider
1984 GL1200 Aspencade - Restored and Sold
1980 Suzuki GS850G - Restoration on hold
1985 750 Nighthawk SC - Sold
1976 GL1000 - Yellow - Restored and Sold (regret the sale)
1981 GL1100 - Naked - Restored and Sold
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#9

Post by CYBORG »

Mark King wrote:Question.

The starter was removed from this 77 a number of years ago. The bike has been moved, shaken, leaned in both directions and pushed and pulled in gear several times.

Is it possible that the chain and gear that engage the starter to the drive could have fallen off, become entangled or otherwise have had a problem that would in turn seize up the engine movement?

Can that gear fall off or out of the chain and gum up the works?


Thanks
no it can't just fall off
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
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Mark King
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#10

Post by Mark King »

Thanks. Crawling on my belly I did see the gear and the chain. Rotated it - in one direction - and it seems to be all attached.
M King
1977 GL1000 - Under s l o w restoration
1981 CB900C - Rebuilt but stripped spark plug thread
2002 VTX 1800 -Current Rider
1984 GL1200 Aspencade - Restored and Sold
1980 Suzuki GS850G - Restoration on hold
1985 750 Nighthawk SC - Sold
1976 GL1000 - Yellow - Restored and Sold (regret the sale)
1981 GL1100 - Naked - Restored and Sold
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#11

Post by Rat »

Your VTX has dust on it ....

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My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
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Mark King
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#12

Post by Mark King »

Rat,

...had dust on it. I washed it Saturday after stacking wood and took it out for a 300k ride Sunday.

The dust was from cutting scrap for kindling - along with the end of my thumb.
M King
1977 GL1000 - Under s l o w restoration
1981 CB900C - Rebuilt but stripped spark plug thread
2002 VTX 1800 -Current Rider
1984 GL1200 Aspencade - Restored and Sold
1980 Suzuki GS850G - Restoration on hold
1985 750 Nighthawk SC - Sold
1976 GL1000 - Yellow - Restored and Sold (regret the sale)
1981 GL1100 - Naked - Restored and Sold
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Rat
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#13

Post by Rat »

Thumbs don't burn all that well ....

Gord anim-cheers1
"I'd rather Ride than Shine"
‘14 KLR650 ... not a rat ... yet
‘84 GL1200i ‘R2B6' (Rat to Be 6, the last, adopted by twowings)
My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
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Mark King
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#14

Post by Mark King »

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I'm normally a fairly patient man for a Type A but looking at the rust around the belt hardware I'm inclined to think I might get this freed up faster if I take the heads off and tackle it by hand.
M King
1977 GL1000 - Under s l o w restoration
1981 CB900C - Rebuilt but stripped spark plug thread
2002 VTX 1800 -Current Rider
1984 GL1200 Aspencade - Restored and Sold
1980 Suzuki GS850G - Restoration on hold
1985 750 Nighthawk SC - Sold
1976 GL1000 - Yellow - Restored and Sold (regret the sale)
1981 GL1100 - Naked - Restored and Sold
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desertrefugee
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Re: Sunrise - 1977 GL 1000

#15

Post by desertrefugee »

You might be surprised. Soaking the cylinders down with the elixir of your choice definitely works better on vertical designs, but it can work miracles on these, too. Is there evidence of rust in the cylinders? Spark plugs? For sure, the idler pulleys should be replaced - after you get it unstuck.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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