overheating/NH, MA USA Shop recommendation?

[NightSkiesP]

Hi,

I just had a miserable experience with a local shop in southern NH. Refused to look at my 79 GL1000. "we won't touch it because of the 'wiring'" "it will catch fire if you jump it" they said. The goldwing is 99.9% stock, no accessories, no nothing. Somebody put a 12V solenoid on it I think, and thats the most significant 'wiring' thing on it. I had driven it to the shop, but battery died while there (not sure why, perhaps I ruined it by keeping it in the garage in the winter).

I could use a shop recommendation for southern NH who can give me a good diagnosis on my bike. I'm having a hard time resolving the last remaining issue.

Before I tear into it further I really could use an expert diagnosis... Can anyone recommend a shop in New Hampshire or Massachusetts, USA ?



if anyone else has some clues... here's what I see

• 1979 honda gl1000, naked, as much stock as possible. red, rad
• high heat - runs in the middle of the white heat range
• poor gas mileage (7 mpg)
• when running in the high heat range it won't idle without choke on most of the way
• my dad says the bike smells like gas all the time, but not heavily.
• does blow alot of smoke on starting, but that's probably just oil seeping past valves, normal i think?

here's what i've done to attempt resolution

• compression is 90 dry/150-160 with oil, after warming up the bike (67-77 C throughout the test)
• new water pump. old one was moving up/down/left/right towards the front. not noisy though
• silicate free/phosphate free coolant
• carbs were rebuilt by me, i don't know if I did the best job, but my past 77 goldwing and another honda twin were more or less fine after rebuilding, no issues like this.
• flushed the system with distilled water a couple times. I don't know if this removes blockage or not.
• attempted to check for gas in oil via putting drops on cardboard and looking for larger circles of fluid evaporating
• I don't see any wierd fluids in the coolant or gas, as far as I can remember.
• gas tank derusted and sealed, but that's probably not relevant.

i haven't tried these yet:

• checked timing, prior owner supposedly did the timing belts tho, but bought unnecessary parts for the restoration... so i dunno if i could trust his prior work. the brakes seem to work at least ;v;
• leak down test (didnt know how)
• block pressure test (kinda intense)
• more thorough check of fluids mixing into the oil/coolant. Not sure how to do that. Are there chemical strips?
• some way of evaporating deposits in the cooling system
• more detailed look at the radiator. replace it maybe?
• i might have checked for obvious holes in the fuel pump diaphram (I forget), the fuel can get into the crankshaft that way, but my test above I feel shows this isn't happening?

I only have a few ideas left as to what is wrong:

• rings (compression issue)
• radiator/passages blocked, or detatched/damaged/blocked fins
• overly lean carb tune (I sometimes get popping on deceleration)
• timing??

[Lowrider Bud]

From the list of things that you have already done, it don't sound like you need a Shop, you can probably fix this yourself. The first thing that pops out to me is "7 MPG and lean running conditions?" Read the plugs. If they are light colored it's probably too lean and you need to redo the carbs - you missed something - also check inside the Plenum for puddled gas this should lead to a very rich condition - black colored plugs.

As for the overheating - middle of the white area is not overheating. I have a '75 GL1000 and a '82 GL1100 and both run in the middle. 67C is only 150* F. Fix the other problems first.

Good Luck, Bud...

[Rat]

Welcome to the 'Wingdom.

Smarter guys will be along soon, but 7 mpg is unusual to say the least, hard to burn it that fast, might be leaking ?
no puddles ? Gas in the crankcase ?

How many miles on the engine ?

Gord

[dontwantapickle]

You need to get the lean condition figured out.
Only running on the choke when warmed up is not good.
I'd start with looking for air leaks.

Autozone will test your battery for free.

Timing? Yes! Of course, check it.

If you can't trust the P.O.'s work,
Go over it and make sure.

only 7 mpg.
IDK !

[NightSkiesP]

From the list of things that you have already done, it don't sound like you need a Shop, you can probably fix this yourself. The first thing that pops out to me is "7 MPG and lean running conditions?" Read the plugs. If they are light colored it's probably too lean and you need to redo the carbs - you missed something - also check inside the Plenum for puddled gas this should lead to a very rich condition - black colored plugs.

As for the overheating - middle of the white area is not overheating. I have a '75 GL1000 and a '82 GL1100 and both run in the middle. 67C is only 150* F. Fix the other problems first.

Good Luck, Bud...

spark plugs, flash/no flash

I'm not sure if there's somethin wrong with these.

[NightSkiesP]

when the heat is between the white and the black, it idles just fine with no choke. but the heat just builds from there.

[Rat]

#4 looks too clean, like, steam cleaned, sometimes happens if the head gasket is leaking,
would explain overheating although your overheating didn’t sound awful

Gord

[redglbx]

I agree with Gord, 1-3 look fine but #4 looks to clean, like he said maybe a head gasket. How’s the oil look? Clear & clean or milky ? And after looking at your plugs at 7mpg I’d look for an external leak, it doesn’t appear to be going into the engine.

As far as the mechanic not wanting to work on your bike that’s not surprising at all as most shops will not work on anything older than 10yrs. Where in N-Hampshire were you ? My son lives in Strafford and there isn’t much there.

[Lowrider Bud]

Looks like you're getting some good help and directions here. Probably going to be pulling the head to see what's up with #4.

Later, Bud...

[dontwantapickle]

Maybe cylinder #4 isn't working (spark and/or fuel) and that's why the plug looks cleaner than the others.

I can't get my head around only 7 MPG.
That's only 35 miles per tankful.
The only way I could imagine going thru that much gas is if the bike was leaking it - BAD.

[pidjones]

Maybe cylinder #4 isn't working (spark and/or fuel) and that's why the plug looks cleaner than the others.

I can't get my head around only 7 MPG.
That's only 35 miles per tankful.
The only way I could imagine going thru that much gas is if the bike was leaking it - BAD.

Brake seriously dragging?

[dontwantapickle]

Or... towing a F250 with dragging brakes up a hill.

[NightSkiesP]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm in the nashua area.
I can definitely check the brakes.

Are those compression readings suspect? The range is supposed to be 150-175 psi, but doesn't say it has to be with or without oil added to the cylinder.
Would a leakdown test tell me more? I need to learn how to do that at some point.

Does sound like a head gasket. Are you saying fuel is probably leaking externally as mist or something? (Or just pooling in the intake) That sounds aweful. I've been riding it to test it out. Last I've checked the oil it doesn't look like hazelnut coffee or anything, looks black or clean as usual. Coolant seemed fine too. I could double check for sure. The fluids have been changed a few times lately with little miles.

Oh I've almost forgotton, I need to see what the *true* gas mileage is according to the reserve level. That will tell me a bit more information. The gauge may only be showing 2 gallons instead of 4. At best that means its getting 14 mpg. If I calculate it as much as 20 mpg, then I guess maybe the only problem on this bike was the gauge! I had to scrape rust/corrosion off the sender unit and its coil, and tighten up the wiper arm in order to get it to function at all. It is probably not working right.
I am almost done measuring this I think. Its already at the bottom of the gauge and still going. I guess I could just drain the gas and measure if I wanted though. The battery went dead and solenoid stopped working too suddenly (unless the shop disconnected it for some reason), won't really be riding it till I fix that.

Thanks for all the advice! I may indeed do a head gasket.

[dontwantapickle]

I have used aftermarket solenoids in the past with no issues.
I'm guessing that ain't your problem.

Mileage?
fill it up and take it for a ride. when you hit reserve,
calculate it and you'll know what your bike gets.
(my bike gets 39mpg).

Seriously......
if you can replace a water pump on a oldwing.....
you can fix whatever else might be wrong with your bike.
I'm confident you'll figure it out.

Possibly, your gauges ain't reading right.

[dontwantapickle]

There are some pretty skilled "old goldwing" guys here on the forum who are willing to help you figure out your bikes issues,
You can fix it yourself, it ain't that hard.
Finding a competent shop to work on these old bikes is rare.
Do it yourself.