1978 GL1000 Restore

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Track T 2411
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#46

Post by Track T 2411 »

I understand the limited budget, and it's always a balancing act for me. IMhO, I'd do as much troubleshooting as possible for now and keep a very close eye on it. Oh, and another place that is common for leaks is the crossover pipe o-rings running between the heads, under the carbs. It can be very hard to spot, and the antifreeze tends to find its way down along side the head and onto the exhaust. Temperature changes usually have the greatest affect on these joints.

I will add that I'm typically a 'fix it right, fix it once' proponent, and if the bike's been sitting for a long period of time (years) and you intend to ride it as a commuter or long trip bike, replace the gaskets and be done with it. Nothing kills the buzz faster than a major failure miles from home...
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

"He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail" - Abraham Maslow

"If you can't take the time to do it right the first time, how are you ever going to find the time to do it over?" -Unknown

Current Rides:
'Grumpy' - '81 Standard, now fully dressed.
'Layla' - '81 Standard w/dealer installed fairing and Hondaline bags.
'Scarlett' '76 'Survivor' nekkid as a j-bird!

Under Construction:
The 'Jalopy' '78-'79 Mash-up
'Quikie' '81 gl1100I back on the lift, project with the step-son!

In The Shed:
'81 gl1100I barn find aka "Josie, the farmer's daughter." (almost comatose build)
'77 gl1000, roller parts bike.
'82 gl1100I, 'Old Crusty' titled roller parts bike (free!)
'82 gl1100I, My first 'Wing, and an expensive lesson!
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robin1731
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#47

Post by robin1731 »

What do the spark plugs look like?

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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#48

Post by Stealth126 »

I'll pull the plugs again and give you a report. But now for two days I have started it and let it warm up until the radiator fan comes on 3 or 4 times and it is using about a quarter inch of coolant out of the overflow tank both days. I'll look very closely under the carbs to see if I can see anything leaking at the crossover pipes. It's not leaking anything onto the ground. So if I'm thinking right, the only place it can be going is into the combustion chamber.
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Track T 2411
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#49

Post by Track T 2411 »

Be sure to check the oil level and condition as well...
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

"He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail" - Abraham Maslow

"If you can't take the time to do it right the first time, how are you ever going to find the time to do it over?" -Unknown

Current Rides:
'Grumpy' - '81 Standard, now fully dressed.
'Layla' - '81 Standard w/dealer installed fairing and Hondaline bags.
'Scarlett' '76 'Survivor' nekkid as a j-bird!

Under Construction:
The 'Jalopy' '78-'79 Mash-up
'Quikie' '81 gl1100I back on the lift, project with the step-son!

In The Shed:
'81 gl1100I barn find aka "Josie, the farmer's daughter." (almost comatose build)
'77 gl1000, roller parts bike.
'82 gl1100I, 'Old Crusty' titled roller parts bike (free!)
'82 gl1100I, My first 'Wing, and an expensive lesson!
New2U Bike? Read Me.
Stealth126
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#50

Post by Stealth126 »

Will do.
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#51

Post by Stealth126 »

I don't want to jump around too much, but I've got my planning ahead hat on. Yesterday in one of the warm-up sessions I mentioned above, I worked the gears through a couple times. Remember this is my first bike and I'm not a mechanic. With the bike running it only wants to shift up to third gear. Before I had the carbs back on it and it was just sitting I could work it up to 4th gear. I never did get it to engage 5th. So after reading through the forums I'm pretty concerned I've got a broken fork in the transmission. I jump to this because I already have to take the timing belts off and the heads. Is there anything I can look for while I've got it torn down to that level? I have to be honest I may be out of my element taking the engine off to tear into the internals. Thanks for all the help and advice so far.
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#52

Post by Stealth126 »

And by the way neutral and first gear are smooth. Second gear sounds like I didn't pull the clutch. It drops in hard every time.
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#53

Post by Stealth126 »

I have never done any transmission work, so for all I know, with a little use it may limber back up, but I hope somebody can tell me if that's just not the way things work.
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pidjones
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#54

Post by pidjones »

Some selector springs and such is under the front cover, but most resides in the cases. All of my 1000s have shifted smoother than my 1800.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#55

Post by Stealth126 »

Today I rolled it all around the garage. Put it in first gear and lightly rocked it. Put it in every gear and rocked it until it shifted into all 5 gears and neutral. That was a big concern to me. Ordered a head gasket kit to start that project next week. Making progress.
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#56

Post by Stealth126 »

Finally got that head gasket changed. Also changed the oil, changed coolant, and changed the timing belts. It fires up and runs good. It will now hold idle at 1000 rpms. If I increase the idle at all it starts popping occasionally from the right exhaust. I haven't synchronized the carbs yet though. Could it be a carb out if synch?
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pidjones
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#57

Post by pidjones »

Might. Could also be an air leak on either intake or exhaust. Balancing is easy once everything else is right, but everything else HAS to be right.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
Stealth126
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#58

Post by Stealth126 »

I checked for air leaks on the intake. Nothing there. I tightened up the bolts on the manifold. There is a muffler leak on that side, but that shouldn't have an affect should it?
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#59

Post by pidjones »

Stealth126 wrote:I checked for air leaks on the intake. Nothing there. I tightened up the bolts on the manifold. There is a muffler leak on that side, but that shouldn't have an affect should it?
Yes, it can. Unburned fuel can ignite in the exhaust when extra air is introduced. BTW, tightening the intake runners to the head won't help if you've pinched an o-ring.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
Stealth126
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#60

Post by Stealth126 »

I made sure no pinched ring. I was referring to tightening the exhaust manifold. Although I did tighten the intake runners too. I sprayed all around the boots. I can't find a leak. I tested for internal leaks before I put the carbs back on too.
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