The Hunley

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pidjones
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The Hunley

#1

Post by pidjones »

Back in the Spring, I started looking for a "project" bike. The wife likes for me to have projects that keep me busy and out of her way. There was the '78 'wing on Craigslist for $400 not far away, and I rode over to check it out - in an airplane hanger that served as a garage (the community has a landing strip for its main drag). The guy had too many toys and needed to reduce. Dark in the hanger, but there was a spare set of carbs, fairing (I knew that had zero value), Bates bags, boxes of parts he had ordered from eBay, four new carb rebuild kits. Dirty and obviously not able to run, the front brakes worked and he had a new set of pads for it. Next weekend the wife and I hooked up my trailer to her truck and picked it all up.

I've had a '77 before -loved it and found it easy to work on.

Well, when I started looking closer - it has a kick-start socket. Hmmm. Not a '78 engine. A '75. Many other "surprises" to come. Hopefully I've found most of them by now. I started this on the welcome thread here:http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=49317

I'll add pictures to this thread now as things progress.

So, where is it right now? I've cleaned up major water damage caused by this engine being under water for an extended period of time. #1 cylinder (the bad one) gets 175 psi compression. But, #3 has a leaky intake valve, so the head comes back off this winter to lap that valve. The '75 carbs are rebuilt and stored, and the '78 carbs he had bought have been eBay'ed. A fiberglass seat pan was bought on eBay, and it will be upholstered cafe-style. The entire frame is dismantled and engine setting on a cart. The forks were dinged bad, but I found a set of '79 forks cheap on eBay and they look good. The wiring harness is slowly being checked and rebuilt. Soldering most connectors as well as crimping. "Three yellow wires" received gold plated 150 amp RC helicopter connectors that will be shrink-wrapped over after connecting.

Frame has had passenger peg mounts and center stand mount cut off. Hoping to get it cleaned to metal (mainly sand blasted, but some abrasive grinder) and primed before Fall, the only time to paint in the East Tennessee rainforest. The body parts will have to wait for next Spring. Might have it assembled by next summer, but doubtful, and I'm in no hurry.

Tonight, I JB Welded a spot on the neutral switch (I had pulled it apart and cleaned it last night), and took the oil pickup screen cover off for polishing. Lipstick on a pig, but I like polishing.
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"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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fish
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Re: The Hunley

#2

Post by fish »

a diamond in a goat's butt
Timothy Mark Fisher
Catalina Arizona
"ride it.. don't be one of those guys who will fix it 'til it's broken" (JDVorchek)
"It is not logic or economics that drive a motorcyclist but passion!" (bugdaddy66)
"I fully agree with fish, well at least 27% of the time."(Casper)
"Why do you have to ruin a perfectly good thread with common sense"(Placerville)
"my best guess for an answer would be a stream of complex expletives" (Transitman)
"I like a cold beer with my beer" (OldeWing)
"Most of us like the sport of wrenching too." (fred camper)
"Now go ride the heck out of it, til mother says do your chores"(Gowing)
"I agree with Fish" (Salukispeed)
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taylorsel
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Re: The Hunley

#3

Post by taylorsel »

Lots of work so far. Sounds like you got another makings of a Jonny Cash song. being that its a 75,76,77,78,79, etc.
STEVE LOGAN, 1979 GOLDWING, 1978 GOLDWING, 1976 GOLDWING
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Roady
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Re: The Hunley

#4

Post by Roady »

Sounds like you got it right when you called it a project. This should be interesting.
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CYBORG
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Re: The Hunley

#5

Post by CYBORG »

if all the parts are there you will have a good deal with some labor and love
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
Gowing
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Re: The Hunley

#6

Post by Gowing »

Hello jones/hunley, I'm watching your hard work, very impressive.
I was wondering how the crank looked behind the center sprocket
On front of motor, was there any corrosion from the moisture, if
You took it off and replaced the crank seal?
Thanks Dave
Dave

1975 GL 1000
1980 XS650
1981 ct110
1972 F7 KAW 175
2000 moby blaze 40cc
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pidjones
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Re: The Hunley

#7

Post by pidjones »

Gowing wrote:Hello jones/hunley, I'm watching your hard work, very impressive.
I was wondering how the crank looked behind the center sprocket
On front of motor, was there any corrosion from the moisture, if
You took it off and replaced the crank seal?
Thanks Dave
DSC06561-1248619415.JPG
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It doesn't appear that the water level made it to the crank by the corrosion marks inside the belt area and inside the belt guards. Looks like left bank was lowest, but compression and miniature camera inspection of #2&4 look good. Appears #1 exhaust was open, and that cylinder required scraping with single edge razor blades for a few nights to get right. I think the crank seal should be fine. The best news when I first opened it was zero oil in the coolant, and zero water in the oil! Last night I also took the cover off of the water pump. The impeller was nice and tight like we like it!
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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CYBORG
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Re: The Hunley

#8

Post by CYBORG »

i'm sure you are replacing the belts......right?
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
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NewWinger
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Re: The Hunley

#9

Post by NewWinger »

Definitely not for the faint of heart.

Enjoy your project Pid! dancr
Kenny
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'77 GL1000 my first bike @58
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pidjones
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Re: The Hunley

#10

Post by pidjones »

CYBORG wrote:i'm sure you are replacing the belts......right?
DSC06905-1248619415.JPG
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Oh, I've already come a loooong way! Much further to go, though! I'm having a blast doing it. I have an 1800 for my daily riding. This is for therapy.
07-02-13_0918-1104783031.jpg
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"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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CYBORG
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Re: The Hunley

#11

Post by CYBORG »

you HAVE come a long way. and you are doing a great job bringing one back from the grave. my hats off to you sir. can't wait to see the end results
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
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NewWinger
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Re: The Hunley

#12

Post by NewWinger »

WOW! action1 action1 action1
Kenny
Illegitimi non carborundum
'77 GL1000 my first bike @58
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fish
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Re: The Hunley

#13

Post by fish »

The Hunley..... :lol: :lol: :lol:
Clive Cussler would love it
Timothy Mark Fisher
Catalina Arizona
"ride it.. don't be one of those guys who will fix it 'til it's broken" (JDVorchek)
"It is not logic or economics that drive a motorcyclist but passion!" (bugdaddy66)
"I fully agree with fish, well at least 27% of the time."(Casper)
"Why do you have to ruin a perfectly good thread with common sense"(Placerville)
"my best guess for an answer would be a stream of complex expletives" (Transitman)
"I like a cold beer with my beer" (OldeWing)
"Most of us like the sport of wrenching too." (fred camper)
"Now go ride the heck out of it, til mother says do your chores"(Gowing)
"I agree with Fish" (Salukispeed)
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Re: The Hunley

#14

Post by sunnbobb »

I like it. A "roll up your sleeves" kinda guy!
I found the end of the internet

---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!

1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
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pidjones
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Still more fun!

#15

Post by pidjones »

When unbolting the removable frame rail, the footpeg stud wrung off right at the edge of the peg flange. I had soaked it overnight with PB, and was only using a 17mm combination wrench when it failed. Honda, in their odd oriental frugality, has only welded these things on behind the metal tube end, so there is no meat inside to drill and tap a new one into the frame. (Drilled exploratory 1/16" holes to verify that.) I worry about the shearing and bending forces from the engine weight, the torque from the offset peg arm, and the tensile pull of the peg nut on the end. Looked into a lot of options including cutting off and welding new at different places and with different methods, grinding out the frame at the end of the cross-tube and making a plug that would accept a stud and all be welded in,. Finally decided to center-drill the remainder and drill it out and tap for a 7 or 8mm bolt. I'm taking pictures of this as I go. May be a big mistake, but seems to be the most achievable and still maintain needed capabilities of the bolt. And, of course mother Honda's manual sez it is a 10mm bolt with max 29 ft-lbs torque instead of the actual 12mm there. The parts list does properly call for 12mm on both sides. The initial (hopefully straight) center hole is drilled. Now to decide on the final bolt size and get a tap for it (this will require a good bottom tap, which I don't have.)
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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