My "outside the Barn" find GL1100.

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
User avatar
Hoosier Daddy
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2910
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 9:12 pm
Location: N.E. Indiana (Kendallville)

My "outside the Barn" find GL1100.

#1

Post by Hoosier Daddy »

Most of you have seen this kind of thing before and are probably thinking "Here we go again" but this is MINE! For the Readers Digest story of how I got into this mess.... I got a new mower, guy at works wants my old mower, has a cycle to swap... He says "it's an '83 Gold Wing". Never being really keen on Dressers I wondered what was under all that fiberglass and did some searching on the web... That's how I found you all! Arranged the swap and he trailered it over. Come to find out it was a '81 GL1100 standard. He had stored it outside and the #1 intake valve was open and that cyl was full of water... engine is stuck :roll:
So here we have the start of a Loooong saga to get this back on the road. I am not under a time limit and the price was right so lets see if I can "Make a silk purse out of this sows ear".
Posting this will not only document the build, and help with problems I may have... but I am sure you folks will help me stay motivated! :lol:
So far I have been trying to get the engine to turn over by filling and draining the cyl's with penetrating oil. I have the crash bars and exhaust removed and next comes the cooling system.... then the timing belts... then the heads and I can see just how bad it is.

Day 1 when it arrived at it's new home
Image

Where we are today
Right side
Image

Left side
Image

Wiring mess, Counted 7 Scotch-Locs spliced in for old aftermarket fairing!
Image
Bulldoged '81 GL1100 "BOMBER!" BUILD THREAD
Bratstyle '80 GS750L "OVERKILL"
Cafe'd '81 CB750C "ROCK-IT"
Basket Case '72 CB450 K5 "NO CLASS"
Resto-Mod '67 BSA Spitfire "STAY CLEAN"

rainstromrider say's I'm "addicted to the build"... I think he might onto something :)
User avatar
Neil
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5667
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:34 pm
Location: Davenport, Florida

#2

Post by Neil »

WOW, good find and a lot of TLC later you will have a nice machine.
Dontcha just hate how some PO's treat machines :roll:

Good luck with that and keep us posted.
User avatar
Rat
Photo Gallery Admin
Photo Gallery Admin
Posts: 15457
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:59 pm
My Album: https://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/rat/
RIP: cookie
Location: Toronto .... Canada

#3

Post by Rat »

Fun times ahead.

We'll be watching.

Gord :-D
"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
User avatar
Roady
Member Relations &_Graphics
Member Relations &_Graphics
Posts: 11957
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:35 pm
Location: Port St. John, FL

#4

Post by Roady »

You fell into a pretty nice pile of __it there.

It seems that if the PO didn't neglect it, I can't afford it. So, willing to put in the time and effort will net some dang fine results.

Good luck. I'll pull up a lawn chair, grab a brew and watch the progress from over here.
User avatar
kitbutterfield
Silver Member
Silver Member
Posts: 511
Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:39 pm

#5

Post by kitbutterfield »

Wow, that wiring actually might look worse than what my PO did!
That's amazing!
I wish you much learning, luck & enjoyment.
KB
1976 GL1000 Nudewing
User avatar
rogue1000
SUPER BIKER!!!!
SUPER BIKER!!!!
Posts: 3723
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:28 pm
Location: SLO, Ca.

#6

Post by rogue1000 »

Heck, it's already a bobber, so you don't have to do that! Enjoy
Brian Crow
1977 gl1000, with California sidecar
"KBO"!! Keep bungling on! Winston Churchill
"Bound is boatless man"
User avatar
Graham Cracker
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1133
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:24 pm
Location: Bradford, PA

#7

Post by Graham Cracker »

Good Job! You're gonna have some fun there. Lot's of knowledge and inspiration on this site. Welcome.
Mark

1975 GL 1000 Candy Antares Red
1976 GL 1000 Sulfur Yellow
1977 GL 1000 Pearl White
1978 GL 1000 Candy Limited Maroon
User avatar
Cookie
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 15821
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:37 pm
RIP: 1950-2011
Location: San Mateo, CA

#8

Post by Cookie »

I think the same guy may have wired a couple of mine. Take your time with that engine, WF has had good results freeing up frozen ones.
Looks like a good base even if you do have to change the engine later.
Enjoy life,
Cookie


A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad.
Owner of 4.4 76s and one lone 75 Wings (does a spare engine make .2?)
User avatar
bladredhead
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1478
Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:52 pm
Location: Santa clara, CA

#9

Post by bladredhead »

good luck with the resurrection... if i were you i'd be looking for a replacement harness, but i hate wiring thus prefer to throw money at the problem so i can do the mechanical stuff :-D
Broken 1976 gl1000... and a few others
User avatar
Hoosier Daddy
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2910
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 9:12 pm
Location: N.E. Indiana (Kendallville)

#10

Post by Hoosier Daddy »

Thanks for the support and a BIG thanks to Octane for his write up "Head Job"! So here is todays progress... "Strike while the iron is hot". Thankfull I am off work this week and it was raining today. Plus this part doesn't take any cash! ;)

So far so good, this side looked clean... started to get optomistic
Image

Then the bad news. Here is the left side showing #1 that was full of water.
Image

And the left sides head... glad I decided to tear it down.
Image
Bulldoged '81 GL1100 "BOMBER!" BUILD THREAD
Bratstyle '80 GS750L "OVERKILL"
Cafe'd '81 CB750C "ROCK-IT"
Basket Case '72 CB450 K5 "NO CLASS"
Resto-Mod '67 BSA Spitfire "STAY CLEAN"

rainstromrider say's I'm "addicted to the build"... I think he might onto something :)
User avatar
Cookie
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 15821
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:37 pm
RIP: 1950-2011
Location: San Mateo, CA

#11

Post by Cookie »

I'd be tempted to turn it on it's side and pour acid in to clean it up, followed by ATF for a few days soaking.
Enjoy life,
Cookie


A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad.
Owner of 4.4 76s and one lone 75 Wings (does a spare engine make .2?)
User avatar
Whiskerfish
President
President
Posts: 36853
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:34 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/whiskerfish/
Location: Norfolk Va

#12

Post by Whiskerfish »

If that was mine I would start shoping for a replacement engine. You will probably be able to get it cleaned up enough to run but it will wear prematurely and eventually she will start burning oil like crazy. Might be next week or next month or next year. Just putting that engine back together is going to cost you close to a hundred for gaskets and such.
"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
Neil
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5667
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:34 pm
Location: Davenport, Florida

#13

Post by Neil »

HOOOOOLLLLLY S#%T That's going to take some cleaning :shock:

Me thinks a replacement engine would be more cost effective ;)
User avatar
robin1731
Membership Admin
Membership Admin
Posts: 21724
Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 8:31 am
Location: Decatur, Indiana

#14

Post by robin1731 »

I agree with WF. There is almost always an engine on ebay. Or someone on here near by may have one for sale. That cylinder looks pretty bad. I wouldn't take the chance on 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
Cookie
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 15821
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:37 pm
RIP: 1950-2011
Location: San Mateo, CA

#15

Post by Cookie »

I'd want to see it cleaned up before I decided. If it has big pits that would be easier to replace.
Enjoy life,
Cookie


A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad.
Owner of 4.4 76s and one lone 75 Wings (does a spare engine make .2?)
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Members Restorations and Projects”