81 Interstate to 83 spec wineberry naked with stock parts

[Jimtt]

I finished a lot of small jobs last weekend: installed cables, made up a new ignition system with coils wire and new caps. Rebuilt the fuel petcock and fixed all the wiring that had been a result of melted connectors. Also installed the air box and filter and horns, the Horns had to be rewired but that is done. The drive shaft is connected to the output shaft but the rest of the rear of the GL has to be assembled. I had a bit of work to do on the gas tank and it will go on tonight unless my plans are changed which of course happens all the time. Once the tank is on the back of the bike will go together fast. I only have a few real jobs left, the shock rebuild (with progressive springs, and the starter rebuild). I took pictures but they are so poor I don’t see any point in posting them plus who needs to see a picture of my new grips installed ETC. I will be heading to Indy for Moto GP so I am now shooting for late August to have the GL on the Wing. I will get you better pictures of the finished bike; it is looking good IMO. JIM

[Jimtt]

Let me just state right up front that I should not have been working on the GL last night ; I did work on it however . I was installing the gas tank and several things went wrong .

First I forgot to tighten the throttle cables where they attach to the carbs and second I forgot to install the petcock before filling the tank with gas. The gas of course does not start leaking until the level is at petcock height and somehow I did not notice until I had a major mess on my hands. Many shop towels and a fan clearing the air finally resolved this insane mess. I worked for two hours fixing everything that went south as a result of my foolishness; I could turn this into a twenty page description of how not to do things. The throttle cables are impossible to tighten with the tank in place so it had to come out. I found it quite a bit harder to do with the tank half full of gasoline.

This whole evening reminds me of a Kawasaki 900 valve adjustment gone wrong. I could not get one of the shims out and decided to pull the cam (this was the 903, shim over bucket motor). When reinstalling the cam I miss read the torque spec as foot pounds instead of inch pounds and thus proceeded to sheer of a mounting bold below the cylinder head deck surface. You see this spiral out of control as now the head had to come off so I could take it to a machine shop for repair. The burnt hand teaches best and don’t I know it. I have for the most part avoided such misadventure for more than two decades but I still have moments like last night where everything turns to crap. But having learned that retreat and defeat are too much to accept and that regrouping, persistence and thinking will overcome almost any problem I recover.

So when the lights in the garage when out and I left stinking of gasoline the tank was in and everything was put right. Thinking would have come in handy last night or perhaps it was dinner. Kristi picked up burgers and fries from Portillo’s and they forgot to give her two slices of chocolate cake, they have very good chocolate cake. She even asked the drive up window attendant if the cake was in the bag which is was not. I was called in to eat while things were going smoothly in the garage and became agitated from second hand annoyance vibrations as she discussed the crime with Portillo’s Manager over the phone. Their solution was no solutions so I went without cake and friends that is not good. Having my whole equilibrium thrown of like this certainly contributed to the catastrophe what was about to ensue.

Kristi suggested (fail to heed her suggestions at your peril) that I should disrobe in the garage because I reeked of gasoline and so I entered the house naked but still stinking of gas. Yes avoid contact with skin same goes for carb cleaner; I figure I am old enough that I should out run the carcinogens at least that is my mind set on this. All is well that ends well.

[robin1731]

Would have been easier to unbolt the carbs and just slide them over to the LH side. they will move enough to get the cables on.

[Jimtt]

Yes but i was thought impaired and I am still learning the GL1100, and you know bikes that you work on a lot become very familiar.

[Jimtt]

Finished the shock rebuild and installed Progressive Suspension rear springs along with new seals. I used the make shift tool picture below to compress the springs. Also installed the swing arm, rear brakes, air hoses, rear wheel and rear fender assembly. So the chassis is now a roller and I can easily move it around. I think two more weekends and I should be ready to start it up. Stay tuned.

[CYBORG]

When you first hear it run it will all be worth it......and the smile on your face will over ride the difficulties

[Jimtt]

Here is a video of the finished bike; I will post better pictures after I get a better camera:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veA4Ozk ... e=youtu.be

[Jimtt]

This weekend I installed the exhaust system, the radiator, fuel lines and finished the wiring then filled all fluids and primed the carburetors. The first start was quick; it hit on a few cylinders at the first push of the starter then started running on the second. After a few run cycles it stopped smoking and the only adjustment I made was to lower the idle speed. Here is a video we took last night (Post above).

[Jimtt]

A few issues have popped up; I had a coolant leak (if you look at the video you can see coolant on the side walk) that I traced to the radiator cap, the flange was bent up where that cap seals so it was just a matter of bending it back. Then I found the over flow tank hose was split where it connects to the filler spout so that is now replaced. Also the cam covers were seeping oil and while the gaskets are new the rubber donuts under the bolt heads were old and compressed and not putting the right amount of pressure on the gaskets so that is now fixed. I still have not been out on the highway yet but will this weekend. I also will borrow Kristi’s camera so I can post some better Pictures. Finally I have a black hose left over and I cannot remember where it goes, it is flared on one end and in sold black about 20 inches long (a guess) and about 1/4 of an inch in diameter. can any of you refresh my memory as to where this hose goes?

[CYBORG]

looks and sounds good

[Rat]

Sounds like the overflow tube from the expansion tank ??

Gord

[Jimtt]

Gord, thank you but it is not that, as I never disconnected those hoses, I also discounted the gas overflow tube. There is a possibility this hose is for another motorcycle and it somehow got mixed in with the GL parts. I may have to post a picture of it.

[Jimtt]

Cyborg, thanks I may be up you way and if I am will stop by.

[CYBORG]

I'm looking forward to it. Let me know when

[Jimtt]

Well, I have been enjoying the GL and after fixing a few run un problems it has been a great bike. I have been on the forum quite a bit but have not been posting much, anyway I think some of you can relate to the following.

I keep a close eye on Goldwings for sale and recently saw an 82 GL1100 for sale with only 9,500 miles and bought it for $700. Now I have two GLs and will decide weather to keep them both or sell one after the "82 is back on it's feet. I do believe the mileage is legit because of the condition of the parts. This bike has some really nice parts. You may recall I started this thread because I was trying to recreate a facsimile of my Dads 1982 GL1100 naked bike, now I actually have one with like new body work. The bike has been sitting and needs a total brake system overhaul a tank de-rusting and a carb rebuild. Did I mention the bike has no tile; I bought an 82 frame with title from the same guy which was included in the price so I am building the bike up on the hew frame which I gust got back from the powder coaters. Here are some pics, sorry for my poor photography as in the past (first is my finished GL):