'76 Yellow Wing - Winter '24/5 Project is On

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Fred Camper
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Re: '76 Yellow Wing - Winter '24/5 Project is On

#16

Post by Fred Camper »

The grab rail alone is the worth of the purchase price. Have fun working on her, as it will not result in retirement savings but may actual delay retirement for a year.
Proud member of the NGW Cartel (Rochester MI)
1977 GL1000 BADDOG (April 2012 BOTM)
1976 LTD - '993 LTD...and so it begins'

You should remember that it's peace of mind you're after and not just fixing the machine. R.Pirsig
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NotSoLilCrippseys
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Re: '76 Yellow Wing - Winter '24/5 Project is On

#17

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

It's been slow going, mostly owing to work, my wife getting sick for a week, and then me following her down that path. And we've been in the path of a recent, regular snowfall weather pattern. I think we have another 8" coming overnight, after about 12" in the last week - and maybe another dump later in the week.

I will admit to being less-than-all-in on sourcing the needed components.

Not that carbs are keeping this project from wrapping up, but I do continue to check Randakk's weekly for the carb rebuild kit. Still out of stock.

Today, I decided to tackle the caliper and rear master rebuilds. I've had the kits for a couple/few weeks. I didn't take a lot of photos, but I have a few to share.
PXL_20250208_165350668.jpg
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PXL_20250208_165410239.jpg
As the parts were already clean, I pulled the box into the den, set up a workspace in front of the TV, and got busy while watching a blast from the past: Live and Die in LA.

I don't think I've seen that film since it came out in the mid-80s. Lots of those actors went somewhere in their careers. Interesting, but a digression.

As the whole set was ice cold from being in the shed, any potential difficulties getting pistons to slip past the rubber seals were minimized do to metal shrinkage. I've often had to freeze caliper pistons to ease them past the seals, so I decided to begin by seating all pistons.

Then I went back and handled the other bits and reassembly. It's kind of nice to have an 8000 mile, 50-year old bike that's mostly been hiding in the corner of a garage. All the original brake parts are there. If something goes missing, it's on me.

Now I definitely need brake lines.

In other news, I scored a gorgeous (hardly) used pair of Progressive rear shocks for a GL1000. Including shipping, $50. No pitting, no rust on chrome, rubbers not deformed or cracked. I wasn't thinking I'd upgrade the original rear shocks, and then something like that showed up. I know they're stiff, as I have a pair on my '79. I can only guess that someone mounted them and hardly rode the GL after that. Eventually the bike found its way to a breaker who lists on that old internet auction site. Sad, actually.
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Avatar is a summer '21 photo of the Blue Phoenix, our 1983 GL1100I rescue gone naked.

In the Stable and Ridable
1992 ST1100 - my longer haul tourer
1987 VFR700 - son's latest, in blue/silver
1983 GL1100I - son's naked Blue Phoenix
1982 GL1100I - naked bagger Cabernet (surf bike)
1979 GL1000 - Ginger Lynn, but not that Ginger Lynn (Wing and a Prayer)
1978 CB550K - son's cafe
1983 CB550SC - one owner, 5k, great paint & seat/good chrome (will soon sell)
1986 VFR700 - fun throwback in RWB

Active and Semi-active Project(s)
1976 GL1000 - sulphur yellow, original paint (it's now official: winter '24-5 project)
FrankenWing - 1980 GL1100 motor in 1982 or 1983 frame (still deciding, so maybe semi-active).

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Not lookin' back to avoid regrets
JAMi_750
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Re: '76 Yellow Wing - Winter '24/5 Project is On

#18

Post by JAMi_750 »

Nice build! I too am waiting for the carb kits to restock.
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