Steeven First Bike Build. I call it the Black Bike

[CYBORG]

It was done a lot in the 60's

[BikeMaine]

Once upon a time (about 1984)I owned a Chevy Vega with a V8 in it. But had the stock 4 banger rear end....... I was only 19 years old at the time. Well, you can imagine what I did with that car and how I treated it. It would get sideways shifting into third gear and then smoke the tires in 4th.

I digress, after putting new gears into the rear end about the 5th time, those gears whined horribly at high way speeds. My brother in law had a trick that stopped the noise. We took the cover off the differential and we stuffed a half dozen bananas in there. Peels and all. Then topped it off with 90 weight.
Those gears never whined again.

...l'm not even sure if you're joking...

Bwahahaaaaa, seriously, it worked. I'm not proud that we did that, but it happened just like I said. My brother-in-law died 20 years ago, I'm sure he's up there laughing with me.

[BikeMaine]

It was done a lot in the 60's

My Bro-in-law grew up in the 50's and 60's, he drag raced for years at Norwalk, Ohio (I was born and raised in the Bowling Green, Ohio area) and he said they used the banana trick all the time in their drag cars because they would change the gears every race or 2 anyway.

[CYBORG]

I know all about that. Was the same on the west coast

[Steevensi]

This is how it sounds.

[Steevensi]

After looking at a video I made while I was dismantling the bike, the engine already made a knocking sound. It's now maybe a bit louder..

[CYBORG]

Knocking sounds are not good

[Steevensi]

Cyborg, any idea what it could be?
Crank shaft bearing?

[CYBORG]

I'd have to hear it in person. But rod bearings are a little higher pitch then crank bearings, Often the internal chain slap is mistaken for a bearing noise, but it is higher. Bad crank bearings will create lower oil pressure then rod bearings. Make sure carbs are in sync. Does the noise increase or decrease with Rpm's? Does the bike smoke? Complete, and detailed info on the engine would help. Mile on it. Type of oil used. compression numbers, etc

[Steevensi]

The bike has 150,000km.
I just changed the oil and used 10w40 motorcycle oil.
The noise does not get louder with the rpm going up. It does go faster. It follows the speed of the engine.
The bike does not smoke more than any bike I had in the past.

I took the bike to a mechanic to double check everything I have done. He did a compression test and all cylinders have 125 psi(??) of compression, which I'm told is what they should have.
One had a bit less, but he adjusted a valve so now all four are equal.

He has a bike shop for like 20 years and has worked on several GL in the past. He told me that GL1100 often have a noise coming from between the engine and the clutch.

[Steevensi]

Here is a video I took mid winter when I was warming up the oil to drain it.
You can hear the same knock.
So it was not cause by me messing the timing belts.

[Steevensi]

At that time, I thought it came from the fact that I only bolted the exhaust with 2 bolts.

[Easter]

Bananas might work in a differential but would plug up the oil screen if used in the engine.

[Steevensi]

I took the bike for its first ride yesterday.
First thing I noticed is that I almost had no rear brake...I forgot to bleed it.
Done it when I came back.

Second thing is that it was the first time in a long while (±12 yrs) that I rode a bike without a fairing. Yes the winds were prety strong yesterday, but I did not remember that feeling. It's quite different.

Another thing I noticed is power delivery. I did not went full trottle because it was my first ride of the year and my first ride with that bike but it felt different than what I've experienced before. With my Katana, the bike felt more and more powerfull as the rpm went up. With the goldwing, the power delivery feels very linear.

I also noticed that the bike did not feel as big as I thought it would feel. I mean It is big with the wide handle bars and my left foot that keep hitting the cylinder cover, but it does not feel big.

Last thing I notice was the smell of something burning. After inspection, the tube that connects the overflow coolant tank was cracked and some coolant spilled on the engine. Another quick repair.

And yes the engine is knocking a bit. But I went for another ride today and it seems like its not knocking as loud as yesterday I'll ride it again tomorrow and see...

I also got a thump up for a stranger!

All in all, I think I'm going to enjoy this bike.

[Steevensi]

Still loving the bike and keep getting good commentaries.
Knocking is non constant. Sometimes it's there, sometimes its not. I need a carb sync...yesterday.

Some pictures because i like them!