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well, its the carbs again...
Moderators: Oldewing, CYBORG, robin1731, Forum Moderators
- Sidecar Bob
- Honored Life Member

- Posts: 8246
- Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:14 pm
- Location: Kawartha Lakes, Ontario
Re: well, its the carbs again...
That's what I thought when it happened to mine. I spent hours trying to figure it out before someone on the forum suggested it could be a bad carb to plenum seal.
Here's how it works: The pump pushes fuel through the fuel passages in the plenum casting. The carb to plenum seals seal the carbs to those passages and the seal between the plenum halves seals where the passages in the halves meet so if any of them is leaking that pressure can force the fuel past that seal and into the plenum where it pools on the bottom until it is deep enough to run through one of the carbs and flood the cylinder.
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
- CYBORG
- Moderator

- Posts: 25206
- Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm
- Location: Muskegon mich
Re: well, its the carbs again...
As I said in my first post. Re-building Goldwing carbs is not for whimps. I do my own, so I understand all the above comments. And agree with them. Spend the time, and money, on a steep learning curve, or send them to someone who has already put in the time, and knows how to do it correct. In my opinion Robin is your man. And on another note. These bike do not like to sit. Carbs are usually the first thing to complain. Fix it ... ride it....and enjoy it. I've had my 78 since 79. It has over Half a million miles on it. Only did the carbs once. And that was only to refresh the seals and gaskets. It runs fine..... every week
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
-
redglbx
- Platinum Member

- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2020 8:39 am
- Location: NW Indiana,
Re: well, its the carbs again...
Keep in mind though that once they are installed on your bike they must be synchronized on your bike as everything affects that and is imperative to proper operation.
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
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
- CYBORG
- Moderator

- Posts: 25206
- Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm
- Location: Muskegon mich
- Sidecar Bob
- Honored Life Member

- Posts: 8246
- Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:14 pm
- Location: Kawartha Lakes, Ontario
Re: well, its the carbs again...
Note that since Randakk retired and sold the business the new owners have started selling the inferior kits that he always warned us about through the Randakk's Cycle Shakk storefront. The good news is that (AFAIK) they are still producing the kits he put so much effort into developing so as long as you make sure to order the kit marked Randakk's Original you should be OK.
Note also that Randakk always told us that he felt that he could not buy aftermarket jets, needles &c that met his (& Honda's) exacting standards at prices that would allow him to include them in the kits AND they so seldom actually need to be replaced that he recommended getting them from a Honda dealer on those rare occasions. That is why the only metal parts in his kits are the ones you are like to actually need: screws for the float bowls, the aluminum pucks that are sometimes destroyed on removal, cotter pins and so on.
Note also that Randakk always told us that he felt that he could not buy aftermarket jets, needles &c that met his (& Honda's) exacting standards at prices that would allow him to include them in the kits AND they so seldom actually need to be replaced that he recommended getting them from a Honda dealer on those rare occasions. That is why the only metal parts in his kits are the ones you are like to actually need: screws for the float bowls, the aluminum pucks that are sometimes destroyed on removal, cotter pins and so on.
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
-
DUGG
- Titanium Member

- Posts: 389
- Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2015 8:11 pm
- Location: Bellingham wa.
Re: well, its the carbs again...
Sidecar thanks for the explanation. I’ve never noticed how the fuel was delivered to the four carbs. Now that makes sense..
-
ifm61
- Billet Alum. Member

- Posts: 285
- Joined: Thu Oct 23, 2014 8:44 pm
- Location: canada
Re: well, its the carbs again...
i asked the guy 'tinkering' with these carbs for the last 2 years plus (there's no rush i told him...) and having read a number of replies indicating the plenum gasket/seal may be a contributary factor in this scenario i asked him if it/they had been changed in any of the procedures he's performed. his reply was that if the intake manifold gasket/seals are also known as plenum gasket/seals, then yes they had been changed... so my question is - are manifold gasket/seals the plenum gasket/seals referred to in other replies?
- Sidecar Bob
- Honored Life Member

- Posts: 8246
- Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:14 pm
- Location: Kawartha Lakes, Ontario
Re: well, its the carbs again...
The manifolds seal to the heads with o-rings. They are never referred to as plenum seals by anyone that knows what they are talking about.
The plenum seal (AKA Air Chamber Gasket) goes between the halves of the plenum. Again this would never be referred to as a manifold seal by anyone who knows what they are talking about. In addition to sealing the halves of the plenum from air intrusion they also seal where the fuel passages in the halves meet
It looks like this (scroll down for a picture of where it goes)
https://www.z1enterprises.com/improved- ... r-kit.html
The carb to plenum seals are deep D rings that sit in recesses in the carb bodies to seal the fuel passages between the plenum and the carbs. They look like this (again scroll down for a pic of where they go)
https://www.z1enterprises.com/improved- ... r-kit.html
BTW, these parts are included in the Randakk's Original Master Carb Kit.
The plenum seal (AKA Air Chamber Gasket) goes between the halves of the plenum. Again this would never be referred to as a manifold seal by anyone who knows what they are talking about. In addition to sealing the halves of the plenum from air intrusion they also seal where the fuel passages in the halves meet
It looks like this (scroll down for a picture of where it goes)
https://www.z1enterprises.com/improved- ... r-kit.html
The carb to plenum seals are deep D rings that sit in recesses in the carb bodies to seal the fuel passages between the plenum and the carbs. They look like this (again scroll down for a pic of where they go)
https://www.z1enterprises.com/improved- ... r-kit.html
BTW, these parts are included in the Randakk's Original Master Carb Kit.
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
- robin1731
- Membership Admin

- Posts: 21892
- Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 8:31 am
- Location: Decatur, Indiana
Re: well, its the carbs again...
"two years plus"? Whether you told him no hurry or not that is unacceptable. I feel bad if I don't get them back out in 2 or 3 weeks. Which rarely happens.
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
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
-
redglbx
- Platinum Member

- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2020 8:39 am
- Location: NW Indiana,
Re: well, its the carbs again...
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
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
- Track T 2411
- Honored Life Member

- Posts: 8791
- 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: well, its the carbs again...
I have a hard time remembering where stuff goes after a few weeks!
"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.
"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.
- Lucien Harpress
- Honored Life Member

- Posts: 4191
- Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
- Location: Michigan
Re: well, its the carbs again...
That's the first thing I learned about sending stuff out- you ALWAYS need it done ASAP. If you let the guy know "Just get it done whenever you are able to", it'll get set on the bench and left while all the other stuff that needs done ASAP is worked on instead.
Sincerely, somebody who had to wait over a year for a paint touch-up.
Sincerely, somebody who had to wait over a year for a paint touch-up.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- Behaving Itself Rather Nicely
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Learning The Joys of 4 Cable Carbs
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete
All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- Behaving Itself Rather Nicely
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Learning The Joys of 4 Cable Carbs
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete
All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.

