Gl1000 oil level window.

Discuss anything about other motorcycles, accessories, riding gear and other motorcycle related topics.

Moderators: Whiskerfish, ascot, Forum Moderators

Post Reply
Gowing
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2314
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:50 am

Gl1000 oil level window.

#1

Post by Gowing »

I just changed oil after ride. Of course it’s easier to see the dirty oil level right? But damm, the clean oil level is invisible. I just read that there is an old rumor that Honda engineers back in the 70’s were only 18 inches tall.😀.
Dave

1975 GL 1000
1980 XS650
1981 ct110
1972 F7 KAW 175
2000 moby blaze 40cc
Chihuahua (Ellie)
Chihuahua #2(Blaze)
User avatar
ericheath
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 9580
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:20 am
Location: Winnipeg, Manituba

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#2

Post by ericheath »

If it’s overfilled it will be hard to see because it’s all oil. The same if under filled but nothing shows. Try tipping the bike. Having an 18” friend will help.
Whatever I suggest here should be given ample time for a moderator to delicately correct. I apologize in advance.
77 WING, 1200 engine with 77 heads, cams, gl1100 foot pegs, Magna V65 front end, 764A carbs, [-gone Suzuki M109 monoshock--, replaced with gl1100 shocks] gl 1200 swing arm, gl1500 final drive, wheel and rear brakes Valkyrie seat, Meanstreak tank, Sportster pipes, Power Arc ignition off crank.
77 Wing. black
83 Wing, in pieces
"Continuing education is important even if the subject matter is fairly useless (as in this case)."---Greg Foresi
User avatar
gltriker
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 5053
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2010 9:11 pm
Location: central NY State

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#3

Post by gltriker »

My cell phone camera provides me a good set of dependable eyes and long term memory for that job, tumb2
Trike has a fold-up footboard in the line of sight on that side.
20210807_115223_resized.jpg
20210807_115223_resized.jpg (91.65 KiB) Viewed 1746 times
Cliff (74yrs ;) )

Keep your eyes and ears open and you'll learn something new, everyday. tumb2

New users please visit our "Shop Talk" for common tips and help: <---jdvorchak
http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/page/ST
^^^^^^^click up here^^^^^ :oldies

RE: a thorough fuel tank cleaning
"And your carbs will thank you. They no longer live down stream from a sewage plant." -gregforesi tumb2
"Can't see the paint when your looking thru the handlebars..........." -Oldewing ;)
"I'd rather Ride than Shine" -RAT tumb2 Me Too!!

Cliff

'75 GL1000 home built trike; http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=39996
October,2017 BOTM :shock: https://nakedgoldwingsclub.com/forum/page/Welcome

previous rides:
1953 H-D Servi-car, naked, 1969-1978 (serial#53G1559 committed to memory!)
1980 CB900 Custom (triked) 1997-2003 .... R.I.P.
User avatar
Jonesz
Silver Member
Silver Member
Posts: 904
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:03 pm
Location: Manitoba, Canada

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#4

Post by Jonesz »

I have a small UV flashlight that I use to read levels. Cheap on Amazon/Ebay (less tha 10 bux)and shows the oil as a green colour.GR8 tool IMHO
Jonesz

1983 GL1100 Aspencade named "Freki" currently undergoing change to a standard. Sold
1999 Valkyrie CT 1500 goes by the moniker "Valerie"
1978 Gl1000 "Loki" new project going to be a Cafe Convertible
1979 Suzuki GS850. Sold
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#5

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Yup. Was just passing by to mention my UV flashlight I keep in the glove compartment.

The wiper on my sight glass leaked, so when I rebuilt the engine I sealed the slotted screw to operate it with gasket material the best I could. Of course, this means the wiper is no longer operational, so I'm stuck with whatever cleanliness the glass is currently at. The UV flashlight was fairly cheap, and it does make the oil show up as a rather shocking green color. Worth the investment if you're sticking with the stock glass.

Image
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
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.
User avatar
pidjones
SUPER BIKER!!!!
SUPER BIKER!!!!
Posts: 3237
Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 4:06 pm
Location: East TN

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#6

Post by pidjones »

Yep - UV flashlight is the way to go.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
User avatar
Sidecar Bob
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 7630
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:14 pm
Location: Kawartha Lakes, Ontario

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#7

Post by Sidecar Bob »

If you want some real "fun" you guys ought to try reading the sight glass with a sidecar attached. Looking across under the sidecar there is no angle that has a clear line of sight to it so you have to lay across the seat with your head hanging down between bike & sidecar and look at it upside down.
When I was attaching the sidecar to Mr.H I remembered hanging that way with a trouble light hanging beside me while I used a 1/2" paintbrush with the bristles cut off about 1 cm long to clean the dirt off of the outside so I could check the oil on my first GoldWing sidecar outfit. This time I bought a dipstick kit so I can check the oil standing up :orange :orange :orange
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....
User avatar
Tbell
Silver Member
Silver Member
Posts: 506
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 10:31 am
Location: Oklahoma City

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#8

Post by Tbell »

It's a gl why check the oil. Been riding my 76 for 19 years, never have I had to ad oil. And this is a joke but true. lol.
Tom
Connoisseur of fine wings
76 Yellow gl1000 Total rebuild
93 Black gl1500
2004 NRX1800 Black Cherry Rune
Having enemies is not necessarily a bad thing! It means that at some point in your life you have stood up for something.
User avatar
CYBORG
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 24536
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm
Location: Muskegon mich

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#9

Post by CYBORG »

Tbell wrote: Wed Mar 16, 2022 7:15 pm It's a gl why check the oil. Been riding my 76 for 19 years, never have I had to ad oil. And this is a joke but true. lol.

after 19 years you might think about changing it :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
User avatar
flyin900
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:50 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#10

Post by flyin900 »

CYBORG wrote: Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:27 pm
Tbell wrote: Wed Mar 16, 2022 7:15 pm It's a gl why check the oil. Been riding my 76 for 19 years, never have I had to ad oil. And this is a joke but true. lol.

after 19 years you might think about changing it :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
True story. Back in the early 80’s I worked in sales at a large company who supplied their sales force with company cars etc. They typically cycled through them every 24-30 months and 80K kilometres.

A guy in another division got fired after his motor had a serious issue and it turned out he had never changed the oil in the car. Crazy part was all your gas, service etc was company paid! :IDTS:
Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
Shadowjack
Silver Member
Silver Member
Posts: 654
Joined: Fri May 26, 2017 11:07 am

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#11

Post by Shadowjack »

Plenty of "what-were-they-thinking" mechanics videos on Youtube where there's black jelly oozing out of the pan drain plug, after never changing it.
User avatar
CYBORG
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 24536
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm
Location: Muskegon mich

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#12

Post by CYBORG »

Ya, I remember stories about " never change the oil. Only the filter from time to time". Guess I'm old school. Change mine "too often". Oil and filter.
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
fcmusician
Tin Member
Tin Member
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2022 6:30 pm

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#13

Post by fcmusician »

Interesting stuff here
Last edited by fcmusician on Sat May 14, 2022 10:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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: Gl1000 oil level window.

#14

Post by Old Fogey »

Although I don't think I have ever seen any Japanese home bike and sidecars, you have remember they drive on the left, so the problem that Bob describes doesn't occur.
"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
User avatar
Sidecar Bob
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 7630
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:14 pm
Location: Kawartha Lakes, Ontario

Re: Gl1000 oil level window.

#15

Post by Sidecar Bob »

Probably true but I doubt they even thought about it.
The oil filler and sight glass (where applicable) have to be on one side or the other and whichever side they pick won't make sidecarists somewhere happy.

But even if it was in the side away from the sidecar I'd still prefer the dipstick :orange :orange :orange
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....
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “General Motorcycle Forum”