Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

Discuss everything about Honda GoldWing. Feel free to ask any question related to GoldWing.

Moderators: CYBORG, Oldewing, robin1731, Forum Moderators

Post Reply
MattMcCoy
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:12 pm
Location: Fort Worth, TX, United States

Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#1

Post by MattMcCoy »

I have two racks of carbs (48A & 48C). It’s been my understanding that the 80/81 carburetors have pressed-in idle jets, while the 82/83 have screw-in idle jets. However, at a quick glance, it appears that the 48A and 48C carbs on my bench both have screw-in jets. Also, from what I gather here and elsewhere, all original 1100 carbs were all jetted the same, including the one-off ‘83 Aspencade. Do I have this right? What about 48B — were there any differences?

Thanks.
1983 GL1100A Aspencade
1977 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1979 GL1000

“I see Angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swoopin' down from Heaven to carry me home."
MattMcCoy
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:12 pm
Location: Fort Worth, TX, United States

Re: Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#2

Post by MattMcCoy »

Here’s some pics of the 48A carbs, if anyone is interested.
GL1100 48A Carburetors
GL1100 48A Carburetors
8643B332-C087-4B8E-B366-7D3CABE94ECC.jpeg (224.04 KiB) Viewed 585 times
48A Jets
48A Jets
235C5294-06B0-40BF-AEB3-90552E1488C1.jpeg (263.34 KiB) Viewed 585 times
48A Idle Jet
48A Idle Jet
AAF54E60-8F20-4958-AD51-EB99FE1CCEC1.jpeg (272.13 KiB) Viewed 585 times
1983 GL1100A Aspencade
1977 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1979 GL1000

“I see Angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swoopin' down from Heaven to carry me home."
User avatar
Whiskerfish
President
President
Posts: 36850
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:34 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/whiskerfish/
Location: Norfolk Va

Re: Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#3

Post by Whiskerfish »

Unfortunately I am not a 1100 carb guy. I think I have one rack in the garage somewhere that came on a bike but otherwise I have never worked on one. Hopefully someone will chime in with some answers to you inquiries.
"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!!!!
MattMcCoy
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:12 pm
Location: Fort Worth, TX, United States

Re: Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#4

Post by MattMcCoy »

Thanks for the reply. I get the impression that the Internet has come to an understanding on the 1000 carbs and would imagine that’s the same case with with the 1100 sets too. I’ve rebuilt a 48C and have two more sets (48A/48C) and can’t spot any differences. From reading, the 80/81 has pressed-in jets, but don’t know how those are designated on the carb bodies. I reckon there’s a 48B as well?

Thanks again.
1983 GL1100A Aspencade
1977 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1979 GL1000

“I see Angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swoopin' down from Heaven to carry me home."
User avatar
Track T 2411
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 8482
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 9:37 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/Track+T+2411/
Location: Prairie du Sac Wisconsin

Re: Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#5

Post by Track T 2411 »

16104118058275616076875846385774.jpg
16104118058275616076875846385774.jpg (151.74 KiB) Viewed 535 times
This is a jet from a 48C carb that was on my '81. The middle shiny ring is where it seats in the carb body. I can't really tell much difference between the bore of the 48C and the 48A, and I couldn't find the screw- in jet from the 48A in my carb parts stash right off hand to do a side- by- side comparison. Maybe I'll dig some more tomorrow...
"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.
MattMcCoy
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:12 pm
Location: Fort Worth, TX, United States

Re: Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#6

Post by MattMcCoy »

Strange. I have 48C on my ‘83 Aspencade and it has screw-in jets.
1983 GL1100A Aspencade
1977 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1979 GL1000

“I see Angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swoopin' down from Heaven to carry me home."
User avatar
Track T 2411
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 8482
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 9:37 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/Track+T+2411/
Location: Prairie du Sac Wisconsin

Re: Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#7

Post by Track T 2411 »

MattMcCoy wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 9:12 pm Strange. I have 48C on my ‘83 Aspencade and it has screw-in jets.
Are you sure you're not mixing up the letters? 48C is '80-81, 48A is '82-83, IIRC...
FWIW, the 48C carb body does 'look' like one could tap the tower to accept a threaded jet, but that's just a quick eyeball measurement, lol. It does make me curious...
"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.
MattMcCoy
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:12 pm
Location: Fort Worth, TX, United States

Re: Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#8

Post by MattMcCoy »

The first photo is the set on my ‘83 Aspencade, which has a threaded idle jet. I believe they are the original set and had never been opened before I rebuilt them. The red arrow points to the letter A, but you might be able to make out that 48C is stamped on the body as well.
‘83 GL1100A carbs
‘83 GL1100A carbs
D0E012FE-C3B9-4DF9-928C-77FBF0641EC1.jpeg (54.15 KiB) Viewed 504 times
In the second photo, I’ve marked where I might be getting confused. Again, the red arrow points to the stamped A, but the yellow one points to 48A. The idle jet is threaded on this set as well.
Unknown year GL1100 carbs
Unknown year GL1100 carbs
C0A3519E-2D1C-4774-A66A-AD383F3D447C.jpeg (186.02 KiB) Viewed 504 times
All three sets I have are stamped with A, but two begin with 48C and one begins with 48A. Does that make sense?
1983 GL1100A Aspencade
1977 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1979 GL1000

“I see Angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swoopin' down from Heaven to carry me home."
MattMcCoy
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:12 pm
Location: Fort Worth, TX, United States

Re: Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#9

Post by MattMcCoy »

The ‘80/‘81 Gl1100 carbs are stamped with VB48A [A]. The letter in the bracket indicates what factory they came out of, which would be Ohio in this case.
80/81 GL1100 carbs VB48A [A]
80/81 GL1100 carbs VB48A [A]
2BE41463-440C-404C-A94A-A0A84003C81C.jpeg (215.11 KiB) Viewed 492 times
The ‘83 GL1100 carbs will be stamped with VB48C [A].
‘83 GL1100 carbs VB48C [A]
‘83 GL1100 carbs VB48C [A]
C645C9B5-500C-4C3D-807B-5B503750C6AD.jpeg (114.93 KiB) Viewed 492 times
While it would appear that the 48A set came from an 80/81, it doesn’t explain why it has a screw-in idle jet.
1983 GL1100A Aspencade
1977 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1979 GL1000

“I see Angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swoopin' down from Heaven to carry me home."
redglbx
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1116
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2020 8:39 am
Location: NW Indiana,

Re: Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#10

Post by redglbx »

80-81 carbs are the 48 A’s,,, 82-83 use the 48 C’s ,,, the A’s have press-in jets, the C’s use screw in jets. Easy-peasy !

I personally would not mix carbs because there are usually things different that may not be obvious, like the 48c’s that I have on my 76 have coated slides (black, probably moly) that are supposed to help keep them from sticking, but I have another set of 48c’s that the slides are not coated. I would never mix & match different number carbs, it’s just a bad idea.
Red 1976 oe owner
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
2014 FJR OE owner, sold
1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
MattMcCoy
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:12 pm
Location: Fort Worth, TX, United States

Re: Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#11

Post by MattMcCoy »

redglbx wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 10:32 am 80-81 carbs are the 48 A’s,,, 82-83 use the 48 C’s ,,, the A’s have press-in jets, the C’s use screw in jets. Easy-peasy !

I personally would not mix carbs because there are usually things different that may not be obvious, like the 48c’s that I have on my 76 have coated slides (black, probably moly) that are supposed to help keep them from sticking, but I have another set of 48c’s that the slides are not coated. I would never mix & match different number carbs, it’s just a bad idea.
Thanks for the reply. I think I have it sorted out. The mystery is why the 48A carbs on my bench have screw-in jets instead of pressed. I suppose someone could have tapped it and replaced the jet, but they didn’t appear to have ever been opened.
1983 GL1100A Aspencade
1977 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1979 GL1000

“I see Angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swoopin' down from Heaven to carry me home."
User avatar
Old Fogey
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 7702
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:31 pm
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Contact:

Re: Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#12

Post by Old Fogey »

I've had 48As with screw in jets too, although most are pressed in. Oddly, in all the 1100 carbs I've done I've not had a set of 48C in. So, no-one is mentioning the 49A with pressed in jets, two sets of which I have but don't know which model they come off.
"Impossible Is Just a Level of Difficulty!..."
If I'd wanted you to understand, I would have explained it better! (Johann Cruyff)
I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous! :-D
MattMcCoy
Chrome Member
Chrome Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:12 pm
Location: Fort Worth, TX, United States

Re: Differences in GL1100 Carb Models

#13

Post by MattMcCoy »

Old Fogey wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:13 am I've had 48As with screw in jets too, although most are pressed in. Oddly, in all the 1100 carbs I've done I've not had a set of 48C in. So, no-one is mentioning the 49A with pressed in jets, two sets of which I have but don't know which model they come off.
Interesting — thanks for the info.
1983 GL1100A Aspencade
1977 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1979 GL1000

“I see Angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swoopin' down from Heaven to carry me home."
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “GoldWing Tech Discussions”