So this guy walks into a chat room

[Cookie]

I understand some of you guys have Goldwings that actually run. That must make them much more interesting, but you can't afford to buy as many of them.

[octane]

I understand some of you guys have Goldwings that actually run. That must make them much more interesting, but you can't afford to buy as many of them.

mmm...the secret is to have both
some that run
and some that doesn't

.-)

[Whiskerfish]

I understand some of you guys have Goldwings that actually run. That must make them much more interesting, but you can't afford to buy as many of them.

mmm...the secret is to have both
some that run
and some that doesn't

.-)

Octane has it right!!! I have 2 complete of each right now and enough parts to build a couple more. The 76 I picked up last month is coming along beautifully. Brakes are all rebuilt carbs are ok and she is running good. I still have to swap the timing belts and fix a cam seal leak and replace the fork seals but she will be # 3 for the road very soon.

[IL77gl1000]

Wow, all this chatter about accumulating GLs makes me want another one!

My brother in law has a 78 GL just sitting in his shed, ran great before he had his first kid 3 years ago-

Its been sitting for at least three years. Is "rescue" considered theft if we are related (and he's just letting it rot)?

[Whiskerfish]

Is "rescue" considered theft if we are related (and he's just letting it rot)?

Not if you can get the Title

[Cookie]

Rescue is the right word. I reckon more of these things have been trashed by storage than worn out. At least that what I've been seeing here. I'm still kicking myself I didn't take a free one last year, crappy it was but a lot of parts.

[Cookie]

The yellow bike is now in my garage and has no power anywhere. The battery has a little juice but the first thing I'm doing is charging it. The big fuse near the battery seems ok. If that won't charge up I'll swap batteries before I start testing. The kill switch was in the correct position but the fact that no dash lights come on would seem to be a clue. A number of wires seem to have been disturbed in former testing.

[Andrew at Classic]

A good place to start with a bike under these circumstances would be to clean all the connections and grounds. It's not much fun, but it might keep you from going crazy chasing down weird electrical problems.

[Cookie]

Yep,

That will be the starting point. It does not seem to be charging the old battery properly so first will be a battery swap and start working my way out cleaning connections.
I have a bit of the flu today so my energy is way down and I'm getting little done.

[detdrbuzzard]

I say go for it!! I just picked up the 1200s about two weeks ago and now i'm looking at a 1500.

[Cookie]

This morning I had time to add a freshly charged battery and after cleaning several connections I have dash lights and a bike that turns over on the starter. I'm just working back from the battery cleaning each circuit as I go.

[Andrew at Classic]

Be sure to pay special attention to the grounds. That's where the weird problems start.

[Cookie]

It was a ground that brought back power to the dash and the starter so I'd have to agree. I have a lot more cleaning to do as it seems to have reached the limit of the original Honda sealing for the connectors in a mere 30 years or so. Radio Shack tuner cleaner and sand paper to the rescue. When you spray the Radio Shack stuff on you can hear it bubble.

[Andrew at Classic]

Next time you're in Radio Shack, look for a pencil-like brush with glass fibers. If they don't have it, you might try an automotive paint store. I forget what they're called, but it's a great tool for cleaning small electrical contacts.

[Cookie]

That may be a good hint. On the small connectors I've been reaching inside with rolled sand paper or multi strand wire and the spray. For larger ones I have little wire cleaners but this stuff is way smaller than the usual connector I do.
I now have power as far as the points but that is probably as far as I have time for today.
It probably won't hurt for me to re clean most of what I've done today as the cleaner will have some time to work on the corrosion.