1978 GL1000 Restore

A forum for stories, pics and updates of your resto's. Be it a barn find, Grampas hand me down or a bike being brought back to it's former glory.If you are restoring it, show us your stuff!

Moderators: Brant, Sagebrush, Forum Moderators

Post Reply
Stealth126
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 136
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2019 5:33 pm

1978 GL1000 Restore

#1

Post by Stealth126 »

2 weeks ago I bought a GL1000 with the carbs off it for a winter project. I was told it had been sitting for a "couple years". I was told it ran rough at the end of the last season he rode it so he tore the carbs apart and never got around to finishing it. I just turned 40 and maybe it's a midlife crisis or something, but I've never owned a bike before. I have worked on garden tractors and that kind of thing and am kind of mechanical so for 300 bucks I thought I'd figure it out over the winter and have a cool vintage bike to ride in the end. So I found his old registrations and insurance in the papers he gave me and have deduced that he bought the bike in '07 had it registered until Spring of '10, but looks like it was only insured until the fall of '09. So if my detective work is right, his "couple years" is 10 years of sitting.
I have determined what few parts were missing from the torn apart carbs and ordered them. I ordered a complete carb rebuild kit from Randakk. Front and rear brakes are frozen. Front master cylinder appears to be working properly. Rear is leaking. I took spark for granted because I figured with points and condenser for 30 bucks you could have new components and be down the road. I opened up the points to find an electronic ignition set up which you may have guessed I know nothing about. So here I sit with no spark. The positive is that it turns over, lights work, has new looking tires with no rot, brake pads are in good shape, very few dings, no sizable dents.
Now to my question. Where do I start? I've got the endurance and patience to take my time, but never having done this, the projects seem endless and I'm having trouble prioritizing. Any advice is appreciated.
Stealth126
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 136
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2019 5:33 pm

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#2

Post by Stealth126 »

20191016_153742.jpg
20191016_153742.jpg (93.35 KiB) Viewed 515 times
User avatar
Whiskerfish
President
President
Posts: 36852
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:34 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/whiskerfish/
Location: Norfolk Va

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#3

Post by Whiskerfish »

Welcome to the Club!!

Your learning curve is steep but very doable ;) ;)

First for your personal safety accept 10 year or more tires are not good. They are unsafe no matter how good they look. General rule is a 5 year shelf life for bike tires. Same with the timing belts. This is a interference engine so if a timing belt fails they you will have valve and piston contact possibly destroying the engine. For some basics go to the top of the page and under menu go to Shoptalk. Spend some time there reading.
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
Stealth126
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 136
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2019 5:33 pm

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#4

Post by Stealth126 »

Okay. Will do. Thank you. It also looks like I posted in the wrong area, so if somebody moves it, I'll know where it went.
User avatar
robin1731
Membership Admin
Membership Admin
Posts: 21724
Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 8:31 am
Location: Decatur, Indiana

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#5

Post by robin1731 »

Stealth126 wrote: It also looks like I posted in the wrong area, so if somebody moves it,
done

.
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
low-side
Silver Member
Silver Member
Posts: 569
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2017 5:00 pm
Location: Canton, Ohio

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#6

Post by low-side »

I'd concentrate on getting it running first. Get a points plate and advance - even if your electronic ignition turns out to be a good one, it's good to have a backup plan if it fails. I'd change the belts, hoses, thermostat, plugs, filters, oil and antifreeze. Clean and bench sync the carbs, set the valves and the timing and then fire it up the way Randall recommended on his site. Once you know she's a runner, you should have the confidence and motivation to do the rest.
Stealth126
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 136
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2019 5:33 pm

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#7

Post by Stealth126 »

Okay. Thank you for the advice.
User avatar
Pony Ruiz
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Posts: 1923
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:17 pm
Location: Seatown - WA

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#8

Post by Pony Ruiz »

The electronic ignition isn't that hard either. Like low-side says good to have a back up though. I have a 78 with points and a Hondaman ignition/box. Works good - saves on the points pitting. You can do that down the road or not. The elec. ignition is probably a dyna? Go to their website and download the instructions. I'd change the spark wires and caps too. Make a list - go through it. One thing at a time. It might (usually does) take longer than you think and cost more than you think.

I second and third the tip on new tires.

You may get lucky the first go round with the carbs. They can be a challenge. I think there is a tutorial in shop talk. Not sure if its for a 1000 or 1100 though. You can always spring for the video off Randakk.

Working on these things can be difficult and frustrating a times. But the payoff is great. The 78 has a definite following. I think they are becoming rare. why? They look good all fixed up!!

One thing is for sure if you get stuck just jump on here and ask the GL collective. You'll get answers and encouragement. I know I did. I knew Nuthing when I started but I've kept at it and now I have a bike I really like. I didn't force myself to work on my project but did it when I was motivated - kept my frustration and learning curve in check. Took longer ( I had other projects) but I got it done.
1978GL1000 naked - kinda sadly gone. no bike at the moment.

"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." Albert A. Bartlett.
User avatar
pidjones
SUPER BIKER!!!!
SUPER BIKER!!!!
Posts: 3237
Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 4:06 pm
Location: East TN

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#9

Post by pidjones »

A plus on the '78s is that many parts swap from other years. In '79 changes were made to tail light, turn signals, and a few other things. '78s are pretty plentiful in my experience. For '79, Honda and the rest of the world knew a major model change was coming in '80. BTW, my '79 has a build date of May '78!
"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
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 136
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2019 5:33 pm

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#10

Post by Stealth126 »

Thanks a lot everyone. Great advice and encouragement. I've kind of set my mind not to get in a hurry. I have to wait for the finances to catch up anyway so that paces me. I don't know, but I'm hopeful I'll build a relationship with this bike by working on it before riding. Here goes.
Stealth126
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 136
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2019 5:33 pm

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#11

Post by Stealth126 »

The ground wire for the electronic ignition was tucked up where I didn't see it until I started looking for it. I've got good spark in all cylinders.
User avatar
Whiskerfish
President
President
Posts: 36852
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:34 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/whiskerfish/
Location: Norfolk Va

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#12

Post by Whiskerfish »

tumb2 tumb2 tumb2 tumb2 tumb2
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
User avatar
robin1731
Membership Admin
Membership Admin
Posts: 21724
Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 8:31 am
Location: Decatur, Indiana

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#13

Post by robin1731 »

So what kind of ignition? Dyna does not use a separate ground wire. Can you post a pic of it?

.
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
User avatar
desertrefugee
SUPER BIKER!!!!
SUPER BIKER!!!!
Posts: 3947
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 9:33 pm
Location: Chandler, AZ, USA

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#14

Post by desertrefugee »

Stealth126 wrote:... I don't know, but I'm hopeful I'll build a relationship with this bike by working on it before riding. Here goes.
I pretty much always go through that extended bonding period on a new bike. Sometimes it's just sitting on a chair in the garage eyeballing it whilst drinking and listening to tunes.

It's part of the process.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
User avatar
CYBORG
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 24538
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm
Location: Muskegon mich

Re: 1978 GL1000 Restore

#15

Post by CYBORG »

desertrefugee wrote:
Stealth126 wrote:... I don't know, but I'm hopeful I'll build a relationship with this bike by working on it before riding. Here goes.
I pretty much always go through that extended bonding period on a new bike. Sometimes it's just sitting on a chair in the garage eyeballing it whilst drinking and listening to tunes.

It's part of the process.
It's a process that works for me !!!
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Members Restorations and Projects”