It just looks like trash!

[wingrider]

Any updates on your project? Been wondering if it is to hot down there!

[Easter]

Yes, its hot! I am looking forward to cooler evenings to get back at it. My carbs are on the way back from Pistol Pete and should be in today. I have been trying to settle on a color, thinking I might go ahead and have a pro paint it for me. Hate to mess it up after all this work. There are a few loose ends and maybe I will get to them this weekend. My wife is off to visit relatives in South Dakota so I will have nothing else to do after work (except the list she has given me to take care of in her absence!)

[brokentoe]

Your bike is looking very fine. It's a tough decision on the paint, do it yourself or have a pro do it. I was going to use the rattle can method on my bike but my friends talked me into having it done professionally. Nine years later the paint job still looks as good as the day i brought the pieces home. It was one of the best things I got talked into. I'm not trying to campaign, just telling my story if it helps. In any case, my compliments on your fantastic work.

[Easter]

Update: the carbs came in yesterday from Pistol Pete, I took my wife to the airport this morning and returned to work on the bike. Started about 10 AM and by noon it was 95 in the shade and still climbing. My son dropped in (a recent convert to NGWs having been a sport bike rider) to do some work on his "81. While he used the tools I stayed under the air conditioner. Around 4:30 it was starting to cool off a bit so I started back on the bike. Before the carbs went on I had to recheck the timing as I think I had the wires crossed when I did it the first time. The petcock had been overhauled also but for some reason would not shut off so I traded that out as well. Finally I was able to start on the carbs. Other than the usual messing around with the cables, I was surprised at how quickly and easily they went on. Maybe it is just practice (four or five times now) but I think the GL 1000 must be easier to service the carbs than the GL 1100.

Anyway the good news is that by dark I had the air box back on and except for fuel, I think it is ready to go. We will see tomorrow. Since I am by myself this weekend I will take Matilda (the '83) to church and then on to San Antonio for lunch with my son, who is also batching this week. Hopefully I will be home in time to put in the fuel and hit the starter button.

[wingrider]

Good luck!

[Easter]

Long ride on Matilda today, she turned over 9000 miles--not bad for a thirty year old!

Anyway, after my siesta I went to town for five gallons of gas and an ice cream. Poured it in the tank of the "trash Project" and after a minute or two getting the carbs primed she started up and purrs like a kitten. Almost too much of a purr, have to see about those new mufflers! I rode her around the yard a bit and clutch and first couple of gears as well as front brake all seem to be working as planned. That ridge down the center of the gas tank makes off road riding (or any kind of riding) a little uncomfortable so I didn't stay on long.

I do have a bit of white smoke out the left muffler but it is too early to worry about that. I think it is going to be safe to think seriously about paint now.

[Easter]

It has been a frustrating couple of days. The minor issue of horn button wiring remains unsolved. I have about decided the button itself is not working properly as I have tried every imaginable wire combination for continuity with no success. I think I will just put a button on the handlebars for now.

More worrisome is the oil dripping out of the left manifold. At first it was just a little white smoke but tonight when I tried to start it up raw oil was actually dripping out of the manifold. To top it off, the fuel pump chose this day to die. After fooling around for an hour trying to get it to start again I checked for fuel out of the pump--nada. Fortunately I had a spare on my "parts bike" that I am secretly planning to make my next project. Well now it will need a fuel pump. Anyway, re-primed the carbs and it started back up but is still smoking out of the left side. I have never done a compression check figuring that it could wait but now is the time I guess.

I am all set to pick up the paint tomorrow, I guess if I end up working on the engine it will just give the paint more time to cure!

[Easter]

The fuel pump from the parts bike works--but leaks oil out the weep hole at an alarming rate! So new Honda fuel pump is on order. Still smoking and dripping from left side manifold/tail pipe. Will try to pick up a compression gauge tomorrow and see what that tells me but I am expecting a valve guide issue. Does that sound likely? Starts and runs OK but lifters seem a little noisy. I checked them when I installed the timing belts but suspect they need to be readjusted now that it is running. But if the head has to come off, it is a moot issue (on the left side anyway)!

My paint store was closed Saturday to upgrade their computer system so no paint.

[Easter]

I rode Dragon Wing uptown Saturday for breakfast. Thinking about the start-up issues with this new ('75) bike, I was reminded again how fortunate I was to take the boxes of junk and the dirty old motor with parts missing, that was Dragon Wing when I bought her, and with almost no serious issues turn her into the really fine running bike she is now. No credit to me (Thanks Pistol Pete and the Honda engineers that designed her).

I am still amazed at the power and smoothness of that 33 year old bike.

[Captmoonlight]

Gives a guy a good excuse to drink beer and bench race.

[Easter]

The new fuel pump came in today and I skipped out of work early to put it on. Bike starts and runs good but still smokes out the left. Maybe I will just run it a while before doing anything major. Still lots of loose ends to tie down. Found an oil leak from the clutch cover plate. The engine was hot at the time so I don't know if it is just a loose bolt or in need of a new gasket.

Got my new Danmoto speedometer a few days ago but have not worked out how to mount it. Still no horn. Have to go into San Antonio to get my paint. If I stick with the color I picked it is going to be $300 just for the paint, (1 quart each, base and top) not including primer and other odds and ends already purchased.

[evilratwing]

Was it parked on the sidestand or the center stand? I think they all smoke for a bit when you park them on the sidestand.

[Easter]

Moving on to the instrumentation, I am in the midst of installing a Danmoto digital speedometer/console. I have spent many hours trying to locate an appropriate mounting but finally gave up and made my own. The gauge housing is mounted on a bracket made from a combination of bits including the center section of the GL 1000 instrument bracket and a couple of bits cut from a CB 450 instrument cluster bracket. Lots of head scratching and trial fitting. (even broke my almost new, cheap Chinese vice!!) But I am happy with the results. Nothing fancy but they look factory which is all I could hope for.

I am still fitting the Hall sensor but I think I have it worked out. Again lots of head scratching etc. but it looks like it will fit and not fall off. Maybe it will even work.

The two lights in the triple tree are for oil pressure and high beam. The holes were originally for the handlebar mounting clamps. I had to drill them out a bit which was not easy since they are hardened steel but I think they look pretty good.

[CYBORG]

nice work. it all looks good as factory

[wingrider]

Lookin' real good so far! I wouldn't worry much about the smoke....you really don't know how long it hasn't run.

Did I read it right that your son has a Wing now too? Did he get tired of the rocket?