Awakening a 20 year sleeper. update.
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Awakening a 20 year sleeper. update.
I drug home a 78 GL1000 today it's gorgeous and all there but was parked in 1996. Probably needing the carbs cleaned back then. There is bad gas in the tank, hopefully rust is a minimum. The PO didn't plan to park it,( like most ) so he didn't preserve it. The electrical seems fine. I'll begin draining the fuel and cleaning the carbs tomorrow, Any tips from those in the know? I did recomission a 79 two years ago, no tank issues there. Brake seals are ordered. The M/C's oddly seem to work, no frozen anything this time except draggy calipers. So far.
I'll pull the plugs and oil the cylinders, is there an oil galley access plug? I have a cylinder I can use to pressure pre lube it before attempting a start up.
I'll pull the plugs and oil the cylinders, is there an oil galley access plug? I have a cylinder I can use to pressure pre lube it before attempting a start up.
Last edited by Don R on Sat Feb 27, 2021 9:52 pm, edited 4 times in total.
78 GL 1000, 70 CB750 sandcast, 70 CB836 hot rod, 1124cc 750 dragbike resto project.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
- robin1731
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Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
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Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
Thanks that's a good read.
The plugs were loose, they pulled easily. I drained the bad gas, there is a little rust in the top and under the cap. What I can see inside looks clean. The petcock wouldn't flow anything. I removed it and shot some carb cleaner in the holes. The main feed may have opened, the reserve hole is still plugged. The two manuals I have don't show much about the gas tank.
With a jumper battery the motor spins over fine. Time for oil and a filter I'd say.
The plugs were loose, they pulled easily. I drained the bad gas, there is a little rust in the top and under the cap. What I can see inside looks clean. The petcock wouldn't flow anything. I removed it and shot some carb cleaner in the holes. The main feed may have opened, the reserve hole is still plugged. The two manuals I have don't show much about the gas tank.
With a jumper battery the motor spins over fine. Time for oil and a filter I'd say.
78 GL 1000, 70 CB750 sandcast, 70 CB836 hot rod, 1124cc 750 dragbike resto project.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
- chewy999
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Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
Is the petcock blocked or the two tubes in the tank itself? If it's the tubes inside the tank, I used a cable in a drill turning anticlockwise and carefully pushing the cable all the way in making sure it didn't push through the filters at the end. Then did the same thing with the drill turning the correct way, flushed it with white vinegar and an airline and Bob's your Uncle.....................Don R wrote: The petcock wouldn't flow anything. I removed it and shot some carb cleaner in the holes. The main feed may have opened, the reserve hole is still plugged.
If it's the actual petcock, you can still buy them or at least a kit, or try soaking it in white vinegar first.
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
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Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
The petcock seemed plugged so I removed it, it's the tubes inside the tank, the main fuel did open up with some carb cleaner, I thought about using some lacquer thinner in the tank. At least the bad fuel odor will be gone. I dislike that a lot. somewhere I have a petcock kit that allows you to drill the rivets and tap for screws so the old one may be rebuilt.
Thanks for the cable idea, was yours plugged with dried fuel?
Thanks for the cable idea, was yours plugged with dried fuel?
78 GL 1000, 70 CB750 sandcast, 70 CB836 hot rod, 1124cc 750 dragbike resto project.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
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- Posts: 792
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:53 am
- Location: West Central Illinois
Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
78 GL 1000, 70 CB750 sandcast, 70 CB836 hot rod, 1124cc 750 dragbike resto project.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
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- Silver Member
- Posts: 792
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:53 am
- Location: West Central Illinois
Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
I bought 6, 74-76 cb750's from the PO, he wanted me to have this also. He's moving didn't use it for 20 years and decided to let it go. He has a sweet yellow newer Goldwing.
78 GL 1000, 70 CB750 sandcast, 70 CB836 hot rod, 1124cc 750 dragbike resto project.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
- chewy999
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
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Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
Must have been as hopefully that's all that should be in the tank! One tube appeared to be solid with crud, but the cable cleared it eventually. As I said, use the cable in an anticlockwise motion to break through the blockage, and then clockwise. When you do a clockwise rotation, the cable should start to unravel, and my way of thinking is that then the end of the cable will clean the inner surface of the tube. Once done, flush the bits out with clean fuel and discard. Worked for me really well.Don R wrote:Thanks for the cable idea, was yours plugged with dried fuel?
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
- elwood440
- Silver Member
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- Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 12:51 pm
- Location: Huntsville, AL
Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
+1chewy999 wrote:Must have been as hopefully that's all that should be in the tank! One tube appeared to be solid with crud, but the cable cleared it eventually. As I said, use the cable in an anticlockwise motion to break through the blockage, and then clockwise. When you do a clockwise rotation, the cable should start to unravel, and my way of thinking is that then the end of the cable will clean the inner surface of the tube. Once done, flush the bits out with clean fuel and discard. Worked for me really well.Don R wrote:Thanks for the cable idea, was yours plugged with dried fuel?
I had a similar blockage and cleared it in exactly the same manner.
83 GL650i parked for maintenance
79 GL1000 "Bad Idea" current ride
I do all my spannering myself
"There's no excuse for the things I'm about to do"
79 GL1000 "Bad Idea" current ride
I do all my spannering myself
"There's no excuse for the things I'm about to do"
- Whiskerfish
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Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
That is a good looking project!!
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
"Yea I do dance awkwardly, and I am having more fun than you" Taylor Swift
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1984 GL1200 Standard
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
"Yea I do dance awkwardly, and I am having more fun than you" Taylor Swift
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1984 GL1200 Standard
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
- Toehead
- True Blue Steel Biker
- Posts: 2139
- Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:10 pm
- Location: Mendon, MA
Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
What a great looking bike! You've got a good starting point for sure.
2012 Golf TDI, fast and frugal oil burner
1980 CX500C, All around road warrior (Sold)
1975 TS125 (Sold), old smoker
1977 naked GL1000, Highway cruiser
'81 GL1100 14,000 (reconditioned and sold)
'81 GL1100 50,000 miles (under construction)
2X 1981 CM400 beginner bike (sold)
1980 CB750C (sold)
1994 Virago 750 (Wifey's bike)
'76 GL1000 Sulphur Yellow (Megasquirted efi build) http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=59774
1980 CX500C, All around road warrior (Sold)
1975 TS125 (Sold), old smoker
1977 naked GL1000, Highway cruiser
'81 GL1100 14,000 (reconditioned and sold)
'81 GL1100 50,000 miles (under construction)
2X 1981 CM400 beginner bike (sold)
1980 CB750C (sold)
1994 Virago 750 (Wifey's bike)
'76 GL1000 Sulphur Yellow (Megasquirted efi build) http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=59774
- Graham Cracker
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Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
Congratulations...awesome bike!
Mark
1975 GL 1000 Candy Antares Red
1976 GL 1000 Sulfur Yellow
1977 GL 1000 Pearl White
1978 GL 1000 Candy Limited Maroon
1975 GL 1000 Candy Antares Red
1976 GL 1000 Sulfur Yellow
1977 GL 1000 Pearl White
1978 GL 1000 Candy Limited Maroon
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Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
Thanks, I was fortunate, I got it because the PO is moving away, it's a shame we didn't meet sooner. Both Honda guys, we might have ridden a few miles. I was forced to deal with some 750 engines I drug home from a barn today, (9 new to me bikes) and I'm out of room. I just poured some lacquer thinner into the GL's tank and took a couple engines apart.
78 GL 1000, 70 CB750 sandcast, 70 CB836 hot rod, 1124cc 750 dragbike resto project.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
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- Location: West Central Illinois
Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
I left the lacquer thinner in for 30 hours, being a former roto rooter guy, I prepped a cable and drill and was set to go. I put a fuel line on the tank and shot a small amount of air in on the on position and when I switched to reserve a bunch of black goo shot out and then came clean thinner. Needless to say I'm pleased, it seems to be open now and it seems the thinner helped the main fuel line too. The bad news is the tank vent is plugged, I'll need to find that problem.
78 GL 1000, 70 CB750 sandcast, 70 CB836 hot rod, 1124cc 750 dragbike resto project.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
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Re: Awakening a 20 year sleeper
I know the carbs will need cleaned, but for giggles I'm going to open the drain plugs and see what comes out. I bought a 750 last year that was at an airport for years. It fired right up and I never touched the carbs. Avgas I'd guess. I gotta get me somma that!
78 GL 1000, 70 CB750 sandcast, 70 CB836 hot rod, 1124cc 750 dragbike resto project.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
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