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Well, I picked up my non-running 77 GL1000 last night.



Been stored inside for 9 years. She's dirty, but not in bad looking shape.



I didn't get many good pics because it was dark and my garage is crowded. But I'll get some more as we go along. My short term goal is to make her a well running, naked bike. I don't know exactly what the finished product will be, but figure that will come to me as I go.

This probably won't be a quick project and will most likely go in spurts. I'm going to go get a new battery for it today and order stuff I need to start revamping the engine (timing belts, fluids, filters, magic fairy dust). Feel free to offer any tips, hints and tricks. I'm going to read read read and then read some more.

You've got your work cut out for you.

Take lots of pictures of the process (you may need them to reassemble) and ask lots of questions here.

We got your back!

Looks like a good project. 9 years isn't so bad. Mine 9 in my avatar) sat for several years. I redid a 76 for a customer over last winter that had sat for over 20 years. So it can be done.

It looks like you have something good to start out with. The nicest thing in my opinion about a project like this is you'll be able to see a marked difference in the before and after pictures. Oh, and if you have some extra magic dust please send it my way.

I'm very hopeful about it's prospects. Engine turns over via the kickstarter (only did a couple times until I get new belts on there). The wiring is a mess, I think mostly due to the fact that it has 38 auxiliary lights. I'm so hoping that they all manage to still work once I get the battery hooked up, but I have my doubts. The biggest thing I am going to keep in mind is that this is supposed to be fun. Yes it will get frustrating at times, but this is something for me to do as a challenge to myself and I'm supposed to enjoy it.

I do have a few questions I'll go ahead and pose. I think I have read about 19 different ways to clean rust out of the gas tank and have narrowed it down to a few, but am not really sold on any way yet. My biggest concern is almost all the methods say to coat/fog it with WD40 or the like quickly after drying to prevent flash rusting. I understand the theory but... How quickly will it flash rust? Instantly, minutes, tens of minutes, an hour? Also, once I start putting gas into it am I going to be screwed once I let a half tank sit in it for a few weeks? I really don't want to have to keep it full all the time. And I'm a little put off by the methods which require coating tanks as people say the coatings can peel off.

Congrats!!

It's good it was stored inside. Makes a big difference in condition, rust, and especially rubber parts.

I understand what you mean about deciding on the tank cleaning/coating process.
Quickest way to de-rust it just have a local radiator shop do it. Not too expensive, and you don't have all the toxic items in your garage.

I've had my last two tanks RedKoted (at the radiator shop), only been using one, but seems to hold up well.

i think the coating method is the best. a good radiator shop can do it. or you can do it yourself. i have two tanks coated with Kreme, name brand, and one has been in use for 15 years, no problems. did them my self. just follow the instructions

Flash rust will begin almost the second metal is dry. You won't see it for a few minutes, and hour, or even a day. But it starts almost instantly.

Thanks, guys. I guess I've got a little time to think about it. Gotta get the sucker out of there first.

I had real good results with evaporust, a reusable product that I bought a gallon for about
30 bucks at harbor freight I think. I used on a 5 gallon fj1100 tank that was pretty rusty.
I rotated the tank ever 24 hours to get all sides covered. Then rinsed with gasoline.
Probably gas was not a the rinse product but, people say water or alcohol but Inside was clean
And shiny when done. I couldn't believe it. The tank has not clogged carbs with residual rust,
I really rinsed it good. They say the metal won't flash rust after using.

Very cool. I just got a 76 in similar shape so I'll be following this with interest.

Don't really know where you are in the US but here in VA I have not coated any of my tanks and don't always keep a full tank and haven't had any issues with rust. I try not to keep them over the winter without a full tank of 100% gasoline.

In the bikes I have restored Ive found that the real challenge is getting the dried gas varnish chunks and coating out of a tank after sitting for years.

Got a little time to tinker yesterday...

I got the battery installed and checked the lights. Everything seemed to work.



Several friends called it the UFO...



Radio works. Gauges are in decent shape.



I loosened the bags in the rear but need to decide where to snip the wires to get it off. Sure would have been nice to have some connectors instead of splicing it in.

Once I get the bags off (really just want to see her a little more naked ) I'll put in the new timing belts and start removing whatever nastiness is left of the oil.

I wish I could just go work on her now!