'82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

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GW Hobo
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'82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#1

Post by GW Hobo »

I bought this GL1100 this winter for $500, 22k miles. Owner's son said his Dad put it up in 2002 and it hasn't been run since. Lots to do on this and I've been tinkering with it for the last few months while the weather in the Midwest has been up and down - some pics included. I'd like to make this old Standard naked again, but getting it running will be the priority. Gas tank has orange stuff growing in it. Choke and throttle are stuck tho the cables are free. Changed the oil, new battery, filters (air/oil), plugs; belts are next on list after the carbs. Randakk's kit came recently. Help a brother out if you see me about to step in it, especially you lads that have paved the way for us new guys. It'll be a slow roll until I get it running, but looking forward to the journey. As Apollo said to Rock..."ding, ding."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUd-KL8GHkU

Hobo
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1982 GL1100 Cafe - Born Naked
2020 October BOM
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Easter
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#2

Post by Easter »

Hey, and welcome. Lots of work ahead but looks like a solid platform. Sometimes it is just easier to take it all the way apart and clean, paint and reinstall. By the time you are finished putting it back together you will really know the old girl.
Bikes at present:

83 XL 600r with a 2004 XR650L engine
And a slightly worse for the wear BMW GS adventure bike awaiting repair
83 GL in process :IDTS:
DKcustomsDave
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#3

Post by DKcustomsDave »

Keep up the good work buddy! Doing the same at the moment, almost up and running. Give alot of attention to the carbs when disassembling and rebuilding and have the floats at the right level (15.5mm correct me if im wrong). Good luck and happy wrenching! anim-cheers1
GW Hobo
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#4

Post by GW Hobo »

A few more pics from the early summer before I tore in it. 15 years of mice did a number on the timing belt cover and engine paint job.
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Right side - overall
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Timing belt cover - right side
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GW Hobo
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#5

Post by GW Hobo »

After the oil change, new plugs, and an auxiliary gas tank straight to the carbs, I took Randakk's kit and got after the carbs. Easter said I'd know the old girl after I was done - so true. But there's nothing sexy about carb cleaning so let's get to it. Clean carbs! Hardest part was getting the carbs to 15.5mm. I had a one carb that flooded more times than I can count during bench test - I couldn't get it right. Finally read and read on this forum and Goldwing docs, got it good.
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1982 GL1100 Cafe - Born Naked
2020 October BOM
GW Hobo
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#6

Post by GW Hobo »

I toyed with trashing the timing belt covers. Lots of polishing/elbow grease on the belt covers. No pic, but I put the mileage and date of belt change on the inside with a marker, then signed it. My hope is the wing outlasts me with its new lease on life. It's been cool being part of the history of a vintage bike. I hope to be signing it again in the next couple years for my first 5,000 mile belt change.

I might paint the belt covers black, but for now I like the cleaned-up-sorta-shiny-used look. Might even clear coat them.
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1982 GL1100 Cafe - Born Naked
2020 October BOM
GW Hobo
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#7

Post by GW Hobo »

I used POR 15 on some of the radiator fan frame after I scraped and sanded down the rust spots. It has a dark semi-gloss shine that looks fine tucked under the shelter. For the radiator screen cover, I got out the shiny black engine paint to set it off - pic of that coming up. Cleaned and greased up the blade to get it spinning again. Prior posts helped - I didn't have to find out the hard way that a little silicon on some plastic stuck between the POR 15 lid and the can itself kept the can from sealing closed permanently between use.

I took the foot pegs off and submersed those in white vinegar with salt. Took all the rust off, then polished up and used POR 15 on it to seal it up.

My thought on this bike is to try not to touch things twice. Since I knew the engine spun, I was betting that it would start. So as anxious as I was to get it started, I didn't want to break parts down again to paint them. So if I took the radiator off to get to the timing belt, I was going to refurbish the radiator too. The other point was to work through every aspect of this bike knowing that if I touched it, it was back to working condition. So far, so good. But she wasn't running yet.
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1982 GL1100 Cafe - Born Naked
2020 October BOM
GW Hobo
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#8

Post by GW Hobo »

I used electrolysis on a few parts to try it out. Prior posts said that electrolysis parts are prone to flash-rusting. So I figured things like the kickstand or some full metal, rusty pieces that I intended to eventually use POR 15 on were good candidates for electrolysis. In my opinion, POR 15 also works well as a base/primer coat for a metal that may have specks of rust you want to seal in, but also want to hit it with glossy paint to make it look finished. Would you all agree?

This is the kickstand after electrolysis and POR 15. Still need to hit it with the Dupli Color black glossy engine paint (500 degree).

The radiator screen, cleaned up and silver in this pic, was painted glossy black and looks good with the silver head screws now - in a later pic.
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1982 GL1100 Cafe - Born Naked
2020 October BOM
GW Hobo
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#9

Post by GW Hobo »

Prior posts helped me find the matching engine paint - thanks for that. I don't have the tools or the time to remove the engine at this point and the engine itself cleaned up well except for where the mouse piss ruined part of the finish near the center, front portion.
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1982 GL1100 Cafe - Born Naked
2020 October BOM
GW Hobo
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#10

Post by GW Hobo »

Before and after on the radiator and timing belt covers. I may not get to the bottom of the bike until I swap out the pipes, but again, what I'm touching, I'm fixing. I'm quite sure this isn't ideal, but I don't have the acumen, space, or tools to pull the engine out completely and pull off the wiring harness to get down to the frame. Plus I'm not sure I need to - I'm not intending to make a show bike, but a daily rider that looks good. The frame's got nicks and scratches from the fairing, etc, but it shines up pretty good, no?
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1982 GL1100 Cafe - Born Naked
2020 October BOM
GW Hobo
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#11

Post by GW Hobo »

Left side and right side engine/carb shots. First two are before - rest are after carb reinstall and engine paint. I may paint the valve covers (correct term? - the covers with the GL 1100 on them) but I may try to shine them up first. I've seem them both shiny (chromed?) and black - I like both styles.
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1982 GL1100 Cafe - Born Naked
2020 October BOM
GW Hobo
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#12

Post by GW Hobo »

Before and after shots of the timing belt/carb/front engine after refurb. Even on these parts, there's some cleaning to do still. But it's more about the cracks and crevices rather than wholesale cleaning. It's coming.
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1982 GL1100 Cafe - Born Naked
2020 October BOM
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Easter
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#13

Post by Easter »

Looking good.Big improvement.
Bikes at present:

83 XL 600r with a 2004 XR650L engine
And a slightly worse for the wear BMW GS adventure bike awaiting repair
83 GL in process :IDTS:
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#14

Post by Martiangod »

Great fun tearing into these old beasts. Im just havin trouble sleaping since i got mine
what am i gonna do next keeps me awake all night
Under the knife again
1983 1100 Eh!!!
$300 and climbing
Lots and lots of Red....
Old man, first bike, first build
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Re: '82 Cafe Racer Build - GL1100 born naked and will be again

#15

Post by leggman »

GW Hobo wrote:A few more pics from the early summer before I tore in it. 15 years of mice did a number on the timing belt cover and engine paint job.
I bought a 77 goldwing last night that had the same oil dipstick thingie. Great minds think alike.
Good luck on the build. I would suggest you buy a LOT of ziplock bags and sharpies and keep everything labeled.
Dave
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