Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

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!

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Liam
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#16

Post by Liam »

Everything about this thread is really nice.
The deal you got was really nice.
The bike you got is really nice.
The bike you ended up with is really nice.
Your writing too is really nice. It reads almost as though we were sitting beside you.
Thank you for sharing.
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Track T 2411
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#17

Post by Track T 2411 »

^^^^ What he said!
Enjoy the ride!
"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.
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rjdoles
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#18

Post by rjdoles »

Liam wrote:Your writing too is really nice. It reads almost as though we were sitting beside you.
Thank you for sharing.
Liam thanks to you and others for the compliment. There were times when I wished someone was sitting beside me. Like when I was wrestling with the new tires trying to get them on.

I have diverted a little from the bike to help my sister sell her pontoon boat. Her husband died in January and she has no interest in the boat without him. She sent me a thank you note and I told her that "Projects preserve sanity". I would be going crazy if it weren't for having something to do.
Started with an Allstate stooter made by Cushman and then a series of Honda motorcycles. 305 SuperHawk, CB750, VT600DC, VT750CD and then 4 years ago I left motorcycles for scooters with an Elite 125, Reflex 250 and Silverwing 600. Most recent is a barn find 77 GL1000 that I plan to resurect.
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pidjones
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#19

Post by pidjones »

A broblem a lot of them get is the brakes not releasing. Most of the time it is caused by a "splooge" hole in the master cylinder - almost invisible small, that gets plugged. Unhappily it us usually hidden by the reservoir on the front and behind an extra fitting on the rear. I use a high "E" steel guitar string in a pin vise to clear it. Keep tgat tool - you will need it eventually for cleaning the #35 pilot fuel jet in each carb when you eventually get to it (and, you probably will). If 100% 87 octane gasoline is available in Columbus, use it! Avoid ethanol, and the 1000 really does not need premium - it eventually carbons up the cylinders as this is not a high-compression engine. You can try SeaFoam for getting the carbs in better shape, but if those tiny pilots are plugged, they usually need cleaned mechanically (carefully!).
"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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rjdoles
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#20

Post by rjdoles »

I have taken a few short rides now and things seems to be coming together. The bike runs very smooth and pulls strong. What it doesn't have is a steady idle. The previous owner had drained the fuel tank and ran the carbs out of gas so I thought I may not have to take the carbs off and clean them. If I can't get this idle problem solved I may have to do that yet.

I have tried balancing the carbs but after a few days if I check again the carb balance is way off. The engine goes from hanging at a high rpm (3k) and at other times it almost stalls with the engine making sounds like I left a socket in the crankcase.

The idle speed is also dependent on engine temperature. Hotter temperatures gives me a faster idel. It has been very hot here recently and the temperature gauge moves to just a little past halfway. The cooling fan kicks on around there on the gauge and the fan has been running even while traveling at 40 mph. The temperature gauge has never gone further than that. Maybe that fan running is normal on a 90+ degree day.

After searching several articles on here about unstable idle, I began to check for vacuum leaks. I guess that I was so happy to hear the engin run that I skipped that step. It has been a blind spot that I was trying to fix with carb adjustments. I don't know why it took me so long to realize. I ordered a set of 40 x 2.6 o-rings for the bottom of the carb elbows. The rubber sleeves molded on the other end of the elbows are no longer pliable either so that may be where my leaks are. Not sure what my next step is if the o-rings don't fix it and I can't get the tops to seal.
Started with an Allstate stooter made by Cushman and then a series of Honda motorcycles. 305 SuperHawk, CB750, VT600DC, VT750CD and then 4 years ago I left motorcycles for scooters with an Elite 125, Reflex 250 and Silverwing 600. Most recent is a barn find 77 GL1000 that I plan to resurect.
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pidjones
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#21

Post by pidjones »

When you pull the carbs (and I'm sure you eventually will), the molded-on rubber sleeves will need to rotate on at least one side. Heating to not-to-hot-to-touch warm with a heat gun will give them added pliability and reduce chance of damage when you rotate them. I have had good luck coating the snouts and rubber with Dow Corning High Vacuum Grease whenever they require removal (like for putting the bodies in an ultrasonic cleaner). There are several good instructions on removal of the set here and on web sites such as Mike Nixon's motorcycleproject.com, Randakk's https://www.randakksblog.com/honda-gl1000-carb-removal/ and others. Read them all to get all of their hints and tips. Also, before going further acquire #2 and #3 JIS screwdrivers and/or bits (I use the Motion Pro 1/4" hex bits in my screwdriver handle hex driver for the #2 and T handle for the #3). Phillips screwdrivers will just damage the screws and increase your curse vocabulary. The #35 jet that I spoke of in a previous post is 0.35 mm! If you don't yet have one, get a Honda FSM and read the section on carbs. Then correct it with info from Randakk's site for correct jet sizing. The Clymer manual has errors to correct also. Given time, patience, proper tools and instructions - rebuilding GL1000 carbs is just another job. But, six jets times four carbs plus four emulsion tubes and four pilot tubes gives plenty of potential places for error, along with the soft parts. Some throw up their hands and send the rack off to one of the fine recognized rebuilders (I recommend only carb specialists). There are several that are members here.

You can check Randakk's blog for his recommendations of liquid carb cleaners that are fed in through the fuel inlet. I suspect that they might be effectve for light varnish removal, but if a pilot jet is fully plugged they won't be able to get in them to work.
"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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rjdoles
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#22

Post by rjdoles »

Received the o-rings for the carb elbows today. Installed them. I did the carb sync with my homemade manometer, balanced the right 2 carbs, balanced the left 2 carbs and then balanced the left to right carb sets. I got them pretty close. The bike will idle at 1000 rpm now but idle speed is not steady and it changes with engine temperature.

I tried adjusting the idle mixture screws and two of them affect the idle speed and two of them do nothing. Looks like I need to order a carb rebuild kit and get busy. I was hoping to avoid taking the carbs off and rebuilding them but with a bike that has been sitting for 15 years that was not bloody likely.

Attached is a pic of my homemade manometer which I hang from my garage ceiling. It was made from a 25' length of 1/8" plastic tubing wire tied along both sides of a 6' section of 1x2. I cut a 1/2" long section of a 3/16 brass bolt and drilled a 1/32" hole through it to create a restriction to dampen the fluid movement. I cut the tubing in half at the bottom of the manometer and spliced the two halves back together by pushing my brass restriction into the hose ends. I added enough automatic transmission fluid to fill about 5' of the tubing or about 30" of tubing on either side of the manometer.
manometer.jpg
manometer.jpg (118.83 KiB) Viewed 331 times
Started with an Allstate stooter made by Cushman and then a series of Honda motorcycles. 305 SuperHawk, CB750, VT600DC, VT750CD and then 4 years ago I left motorcycles for scooters with an Elite 125, Reflex 250 and Silverwing 600. Most recent is a barn find 77 GL1000 that I plan to resurect.
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rjdoles
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#23

Post by rjdoles »

I had been doing test rides that were longer and longer to check out everything on the bike. First trip was around the block. The second was about a mile or so. I smelled fuel after the second trip and discovered a leaking fuel line. I replaced the lines from the tank to the fuel pump and from the fuel pump to the plenum.

I felt the front brake rotors after the ride and they were a little warm. I replaced the front reservoir/master cylinder and had rebuilt both of those calipers and other than problems bleeding, they worked good. I checked the rear rotor and it was pretty hot. I had a rebuild kit for the rear but was not sure I would need it. What was I thinking.

I had to drop the mufflers and get the rear caliper off. The rear brake caliper doesn't float like the front ones, it has a piston on either side of the rotor. I removed the pads and pumped the pistons as far as they would go. The outside piston moved quite a ways and then stuck. The inside piston didn't move at all. I tried compressed air to remove them but no joy. They are steel pistons inserted in an aluminum body and aluminum expands at a higher rate than steel so I will try to apply a little heat. Bernz-o-matic time. I heated the aluminum around the pistons for maybe 10 seconds and was able to remove both of them. Both of the pistons are pitted so I had to order new ones. I have bought several service parts from K&L and they seem to be good quality. Waiting on parts again.

Hoping the rebuild kits for my carbs arrive soon and I can get started on them. This sure is a journey.
Started with an Allstate stooter made by Cushman and then a series of Honda motorcycles. 305 SuperHawk, CB750, VT600DC, VT750CD and then 4 years ago I left motorcycles for scooters with an Elite 125, Reflex 250 and Silverwing 600. Most recent is a barn find 77 GL1000 that I plan to resurect.
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pidjones
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#24

Post by pidjones »

Best to add an inline filter in one of those new fuel lines.
"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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rjdoles
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#25

Post by rjdoles »

I received my new rear brake pistons and rebuild kit. The pistons that I received are the wrong ones. They are too tall. I should have been suspicious when the site said 1975-77 front/rear. I had just rebuilt the front calipers and I knew that those pistons were taller. These look more like a hockey puck. I sent them back and reordered the correct ones.

I also received my carb rebuild kit. I thought that I had ordered a set of 4 and as it turns out, I have the kit for one carburetor. Another error on my part from getting in a hurry while ordering on ebay. I ordered three more kits.

Here I am at a familiar stage, waiting on parts.
Started with an Allstate stooter made by Cushman and then a series of Honda motorcycles. 305 SuperHawk, CB750, VT600DC, VT750CD and then 4 years ago I left motorcycles for scooters with an Elite 125, Reflex 250 and Silverwing 600. Most recent is a barn find 77 GL1000 that I plan to resurect.
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Track T 2411
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#26

Post by Track T 2411 »

Just tossing it out there, don't use any of the aftermarket jets, needles, seats, etc. unless you absolutely have to. Lots of stories out there about poor quality and inconsistency...
"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.
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robin1731
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#27

Post by robin1731 »

Track T 2411 wrote:Just tossing it out there, don't use any of the aftermarket jets, needles, seats, etc. unless you absolutely have to. Lots of stories out there about poor quality and inconsistency...
I don't think any of the other aftermarket kits come with all the 0-rings you need to do a complete rebuild either. That's why we recommend getting the kit from Randakk.

.
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
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rjdoles
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#28

Post by rjdoles »

Track T 2411 wrote:Just tossing it out there, don't use any of the aftermarket jets, needles, seats, etc. unless you absolutely have to. Lots of stories out there about poor quality and inconsistency...
Are the jets from all these aftermarket companies suspect or just ones from certain companies?

I have purchased a number of K and L service parts for the bike and they have all been pretty high quality. K and L parts are made in Japan not China. The one K and L carb rebuild kit that I did receive was pricey but it looks pretty complete and appears to be high quality stuff.

Another question, I saw a thread that mentioned that increasing the size of one of the jets improves off idle performance. I didn't realize that a carburetor could have so many jets. Do you know which jet this might be, what size should it be increased to?
Started with an Allstate stooter made by Cushman and then a series of Honda motorcycles. 305 SuperHawk, CB750, VT600DC, VT750CD and then 4 years ago I left motorcycles for scooters with an Elite 125, Reflex 250 and Silverwing 600. Most recent is a barn find 77 GL1000 that I plan to resurect.
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gltriker
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#29

Post by gltriker »

rjdoles wrote:
Track T 2411 wrote:Just tossing it out there, don't use any of the aftermarket jets, needles, seats, etc. unless you absolutely have to. Lots of stories out there about poor quality and inconsistency...
Are the jets from all these aftermarket companies suspect or just ones from certain companies?

I have purchased a number of K and L service parts for the bike and they have all been pretty high quality. K and L parts are made in Japan not China. The one K and L carb rebuild kit that I did receive was pricey but it looks pretty complete and appears to be high quality stuff.

Another question, I saw a thread that mentioned that increasing the size of one of the jets improves off idle performance. I didn't realize that a carburetor could have so many jets. Do you know which jet this might be, what size should it be increased to?
https://www.randakksblog.com/how-to-cur ... flat-spot/
Cliff (74yrs ;) )

Keep your eyes and ears open and you'll learn something new, everyday. tumb2

New users please visit our "Shop Talk" for common tips and help: <---jdvorchak
http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/page/ST
^^^^^^^click up here^^^^^ :oldies

RE: a thorough fuel tank cleaning
"And your carbs will thank you. They no longer live down stream from a sewage plant." -gregforesi tumb2
"Can't see the paint when your looking thru the handlebars..........." -Oldewing ;)
"I'd rather Ride than Shine" -RAT tumb2 Me Too!!

Cliff

'75 GL1000 home built trike; http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=39996
October,2017 BOTM :shock: https://nakedgoldwingsclub.com/forum/page/Welcome

previous rides:
1953 H-D Servi-car, naked, 1969-1978 (serial#53G1559 committed to memory!)
1980 CB900 Custom (triked) 1997-2003 .... R.I.P.
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Track T 2411
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Re: Restoring a barn find 77 GL1000

#30

Post by Track T 2411 »

Here's a link to Randakk's off idle flat spot fix... https://www.randakksblog.com/how-to-cur ... flat-spot/
As far as carb kits go, seasoned carb veterans (such as Robin, above) nearly always recommend using OEM jets when possible. Yes, it takes time to properly clean them, but unless they've been horribly abused or a previous owner switched them out, they rarely need replacing. IMhO, better safe than sorry...
"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.
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