My 81 GL Interstate(no name yet..lol)

[backwoodz]

Okay I never got any pictures when i first trailered it home. It was a 1981 Interstate that has been sitting since 2004. Clock shows 39k. Complete partially running bike I over paid $650 for.

It would start but only ran with choke up...I pulled the carbs and they were not bad but air cutoffs were totally shot and pilots clogged. Tank was rusty but of course I have seen worse.

I have the carbs completely cleaned and ready to go back together just waiting on my tank derusting to finish.

Here is how it sits now. I have no shop to work in so I am at the mercy of mother nature for now.





Carb racks out.



Head light ears and blinkers and Honda badge from a 81 CB900 after abit of modification to fit the GL.



Tankless



Tank being cleaned as I



I left the sending unit inplace but not sure if that is okay. If not I guess I will be replacing it...

Going to let her cook for a few hours then check the progress.

Editted.....
okay got impatient and after 1 hour cooking checked the progress. It seems to be doing good. I Cleaned the all thread and started it back up.

[Casper]

I love your high tech custom insulator for the electrolysis rust removal process

[backwoodz]

I love your high tech custom insulator for the electrolysis rust removal process

cost a $1...I grabbed it while grabbing the arm and hammer.

I found some pictures of the bike before I started dismantling her.
I took this with my camera phone of my monitor.....because for some reason my computor is fubar and will not let me upload to photobucket from it. I am thinking it is time to reformat this girl also.

I gave away the front fairing already.

I will be running it with a shorty windsheild or batwing fairing with rear honda bags. Eventaully it may go nekid but for now semi is good enough until I get a nice corbin style seat.

[CYBORG]

looks like a good start. keep the pictures coming

[backwoodz]

Whats a good estimate of cleaning the tank using a 6-10 amp variable charger? It has ran for about 6 hours. I have cleaned the all thread 4 times. I noticed it draws good current for about two minutes after the rod is clean and then settles down. Can you over cook it?

[robin1731]

Whats a good estimate of cleaning the tank using a 6-10 amp variable charger? It has ran for about 6 hours. I have cleaned the all thread 4 times. I noticed it draws good current for about two minutes after the rod is clean and then settles down. Can you over cook it?

I don't believe you can over cook it. Just do it till the rust is gone. I've heard of some guys doing for a day or longer. You just need to keep the anode cleaned. That's another good reason to use a large anode.

[backwoodz]

Whats a good estimate of cleaning the tank using a 6-10 amp variable charger? It has ran for about 6 hours. I have cleaned the all thread 4 times. I noticed it draws good current for about two minutes after the rod is clean and then settles down. Can you over cook it?

I don't believe you can over cook it. Just do it till the rust is gone. I've heard of some guys doing for a day or longer. You just need to keep the anode cleaned. That's another good reason to use a large anode.

Thanks.
Weird the charger draws 8-10 amps for like 2 minutes and then drops to 2 amps......then I look at the anode and it is covered in a petina green scale. No matter how many time I clean it it does the same routine. Did I use too much soda? I poured in about 1-1/2 to 2 cups to the 5 gallons.

I just now waking up after not getting to bed till after 2:30. Man oh man this place is addictive. I stayed up way too late reading a few 40 page+ build threads.

Coffee time..

[Roady]

Looking great, good progress.

[CYBORG]

what is your vision for the finial work of art?

[sunnbobb]

nice to see the rust removal process

[backwoodz]

what is your vision for the finial work of art?

If I could find the right batwing fairing then a street glide look. The bike will always be black. That color was made for lean and mean street machines.

Even though I do love the orange dragon bike I see posted here with the solo seat. I would like to do a complete tear down in the future and black out the engine like his with just some hints of polished and chrome.

[backwoodz]

nice to see the rust removal process

It works but is timely. The only area I am not seeing really good progress is the top of the tank. I try to make sure there are no air spaces but just seems the line of sight is not getting up there. maybe I should try moving my grounded location..Hard to think that matters though. I am going to keep cooking for another day. It is 100 times better than when I started

[backwoodz]

I have a dilemma. I was reassembling my m81 carb rack and can not find the plastic fuel tube than runs beteen the the plenum halves. I am not sure it was even there when I tore it apart. I could tell someone had tried to rebuild them by the plenum stripped screws but they got them totally apart.
I see the plenum has an o-ring built into that section so why is that tube there? Is it possible to run with out it or am I going to have to try and find/make one? If I try to find one any suggestion? Thew only one I am seeing on ebay is some jackleg wanting $50 for that straw...

[backwoodz]

I got my answer from Randakk's website. I have to find a plenum tube before I can finish assembling the plenum...

[robin1731]

I got my answer from Randakk's website. I have to find a plenum tube before I can finish assembling the plenum...

I believe you can use a piece from a ball point pen. Pull the pen apart. And the tube that the ink is in is pretty close to the same size. you just cut it down to the correct length. I think Randakk used to explain this mod on his site. (you do need to clean the ink out )