Bringing Back an '81

A forum for stories, pics and updates of your resto's. Be it a barn find, Grampas hand me down or a bike being brought back to it's former glory.If you are restoring it, show us your stuff!

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toomanybikes
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#16

Post by toomanybikes »

i'm midstream thru a similar '81 resurrection, so here are some thoughts after seeing your pics and reading the notes. Apologies if you've already done these things or of this rehashes other threads.
1.) did you blow compressed air thru the carb passages? the '81s have pressed in idle jets and angled passages between the idle jet and cut off valve. A straight line drill or guitar string will not go all the way thru. There are 4 interconnected openings for the idle circuit: the jet, the mixture screw threaded post, the cut off valve, and the pinhole in the intake section of the carb. I used a combination of rubber stoppers and finger tips to block the various openings and test with compressed air.

2.) i'd replace that brake piston. it will probably function, but some of the pitting looks to be below the seal, so it might leak fluid. Brakes are a surprisingly expensive part to update if you have to do everything (pistons, seals, pads, master cyls, lines, etc.). I'll probably need three new pistons & seals on mine. Not yet sure about the master cyls.

3.) did you change the timing belts?
Greater Boston MA, USA
Stable as of 26Dec22: '81 GL1100, '10 Bonnie SE, '86 Yamaha Radian, '83 Suzuki GS650L, '14 Moto Guzzi California, '85 Honda V30 Magna
Geropat
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#17

Post by Geropat »

Knowing that this bike has been sitting for years with stale fuel and rust in the tank I thought it would be wise to pull the tank and try to clean it up a bit.
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I did some research and found that muriatic should do the trick. I used a case of the strongest toilet bowl I could find, neutralized with a baking soda solution and then coated in wd-40. Before...
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'81 GL1100
'85 650sc
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Rednaxs60
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#18

Post by Rednaxs60 »

Nice work on the tank.
"When writing the Story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen."

Ernest

1985 GL1200 Limited Edition
2014 Can-Am Spyder RT LE
2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan
1995 GL1500 SE CDN Edition (sold)
2012 Suzuki DL1000 VStrom (sold)
Ontario 1985 GL1200 Limited Edition (sold)
2008 GL1800 (sold)
Geropat
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#19

Post by Geropat »

toomanybikes wrote: Wed Feb 10, 2021 7:48 am i'm midstream thru a similar '81 resurrection, so here are some thoughts after seeing your pics and reading the notes. Apologies if you've already done these things or of this rehashes other threads.
1.) did you blow compressed air thru the carb passages? the '81s have pressed in idle jets and angled passages between the idle jet and cut off valve. A straight line drill or guitar string will not go all the way thru. There are 4 interconnected openings for the idle circuit: the jet, the mixture screw threaded post, the cut off valve, and the pinhole in the intake section of the carb. I used a combination of rubber stoppers and finger tips to block the various openings and test with compressed air.

2.) i'd replace that brake piston. it will probably function, but some of the pitting looks to be below the seal, so it might leak fluid. Brakes are a surprisingly expensive part to update if you have to do everything (pistons, seals, pads, master cyls, lines, etc.). I'll probably need three new pistons & seals on mine. Not yet sure about the master cyls.

3.) did you change the timing belts?
Thanks for the advice!

I did spend a fair amount of time blowing carb cleaner and compressed air through all the jets and passages that I could access. I did however not go to the extent of extracting the slow jets that I have seen others have done. The bike runs and idles, but I will revisit the carbs if need be.

As for the brakes, I think you are right about the piston, and you are definitely right that brakes are surprisingly expensive to update. I've spent a great deal of time and money trying to get the front brakes to function properly and I'm not having much luck.

Timing belts have not been changed. I thought the belts looked fine, but that was before I spent so much time, energy and money restoring it. It was also before I found all of you here, sharing your helpful knowledge and experience. I have learned the importance of changing the belts and will get it done.
'81 GL1100
'85 650sc
toomanybikes
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#20

Post by toomanybikes »

Geropat wrote: Sun Feb 14, 2021 2:26 pm I did spend a fair amount of time blowing carb cleaner and compressed air through all the jets and passages that I could access. I did however not go to the extent of extracting the slow jets that I have seen others have done. The bike runs and idles, but I will revisit the carbs if need be.

As for the brakes, I think you are right about the piston, and you are definitely right that brakes are surprisingly expensive to update. I've spent a great deal of time and money trying to get the front brakes to function properly and I'm not having much luck.

Timing belts have not been changed. I thought the belts looked fine, but that was before I spent so much time, energy and money restoring it. It was also before I found all of you here, sharing your helpful knowledge and experience. I have learned the importance of changing the belts and will get it done.
I also left my slow jets in place, but was super anal about blocking openings to check airflow through all the passages. It now starts and idles fine, so it can be done without removing the pressed in jets.

For what my brakes needed, the best source turned out to be 4into1. They had new pistons for $17, albeit not stainless steel ones. Parts on order, so I still me need master cylinders once I get it all back together.

When doing the belts, it's likely best to take the radiator completely off. Search for appropriate threads for details, there was one recently.
Greater Boston MA, USA
Stable as of 26Dec22: '81 GL1100, '10 Bonnie SE, '86 Yamaha Radian, '83 Suzuki GS650L, '14 Moto Guzzi California, '85 Honda V30 Magna
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#21

Post by Geropat »

With the bike already stripped down this far, I decided to clean up the the engine and frame and apply some fresh paint.
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'81 GL1100
'85 650sc
Geropat
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#22

Post by Geropat »

Rear master cylinder cleaned up and rebuilt. Feels good to see the bike coming back together.
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'81 GL1100
'85 650sc
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Track T 2411
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#23

Post by Track T 2411 »

Looking good!
"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.
Geropat
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#24

Post by Geropat »

Sanded and primed the rear fender. I didn't love the look, so I decided to chop it down a bit.
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'81 GL1100
'85 650sc
Geropat
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#25

Post by Geropat »

Rattle can paint job....
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'81 GL1100
'85 650sc
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Rednaxs60
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#26

Post by Rednaxs60 »

Very nice job. Like the emblems, muted, but just enough difference to not draw the eye from the overall paint job. Well done.
"When writing the Story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen."

Ernest

1985 GL1200 Limited Edition
2014 Can-Am Spyder RT LE
2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan
1995 GL1500 SE CDN Edition (sold)
2012 Suzuki DL1000 VStrom (sold)
Ontario 1985 GL1200 Limited Edition (sold)
2008 GL1800 (sold)
Geropat
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#27

Post by Geropat »

Update: sorry for the long absence. I finished the bike last spring and was enjoying riding this incredible machine. I was even able to escape on a 5 day trip north up to Thunderbay from Toronto. The bike performed great for the entire 15 hour journey. Unfortunately that’s when things took a turn for the worse. I started overheating and despite attempts to hardwire the fan I wasn’t able to make it home. I lost a cylinder 200 km North of Sault Ste. Marie. This made for a long night spent on the side of the road waiting for the closest tow truck driver to make his way up to me. He was on a call 300km away, but came as soon as he could. I was so thankful to this driver for helping me get my bike all the way down to Sudbury, he then helped me load it into a Uhaul so I could bring it home.
'81 GL1100
'85 650sc
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Rednaxs60
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#28

Post by Rednaxs60 »

Sorry to hear about your bike. Waiting on the side of the road is no fun. Winter engine project? Manual rad fan switch?

Good luck.
"When writing the Story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen."

Ernest

1985 GL1200 Limited Edition
2014 Can-Am Spyder RT LE
2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan
1995 GL1500 SE CDN Edition (sold)
2012 Suzuki DL1000 VStrom (sold)
Ontario 1985 GL1200 Limited Edition (sold)
2008 GL1800 (sold)
Geropat
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#29

Post by Geropat »

Here are a couple pics of the bike finished before the catastrophe.
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'81 GL1100
'85 650sc
Geropat
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Re: Bringing Back an '81

#30

Post by Geropat »

A couple pics on the way to Thunder Bay.... and back :(
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'81 GL1100
'85 650sc
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