The Hunley

[pidjones]

I totally agree with you, I would have turned around and gone home too. Those fools of organizers dont realize that without exhibits there would be nothing to charge admission for. You are actually doing them a favour by bringing a bike, a bike that you spent and will continue to spend a lot of time and money to keep right, and you should not have to pay to display it.

a few years ago the gold wing club italia, club to which I am neither registered nor registered because it was attended exclusively by GL 1500, a few, and Gl 1800 super ultra equipped, had organized an international gathering 50 km from our house. I contacted them via email to say that I could bring the whole GL 1000 series for free, from 1975 to 1979, in almost all colors, between our Gl and those of my friends, I had the possibility of 14 specimens. it seemed like a nice idea to exhibit at the GL meeting, the first GL that made history. although I sent three emails, I never received a reply, and therefore I did not organize anything. My husband on the Saturday of the meeting, which lasted three days, decided with the GL 1200 to go for a ride, in front of the entrance they asked us, for two people and a motorcycle, 140 euros, with the excuse that included the gadgets, the place tent, breakfast and aperitif the next day. obviously we turned the motorcycle and went to enjoy good fish in a restaurant by the sea.

GWRRA here has often been accused of being in existance purely to provide a good income to the original founders. Probably true, but it is a large group and they sometimes have good business sense. At the annual "WingDing" held for 2018 in Knoxville, TN, they invited Pete Boody to display some of the early model 'wings and encourage people to keep the old bikes running. They gave him six display spaces on the end of a row near Honda's 2018 display. Pete brought serials 104 (January '75 and swapped with an '18 with Southern Powersports), 040 (December '74), and 002 (pre-production mid-'74) and his '76 sulfur yellow that was his daily ride along with its sulfur yellow trailer. Also included were a beautifully maintained '78, my Hunley, a '75 "rat bike" and J.R. Luksik's beautiful '78 supercharged 'wing. I think our booth attracted as much interest as Honda's. GWRRA seemed pleased and invited Pete to give a talk on the history of early GoldWings and of serial #10000002. Those who attended and toured that booth were the last to have that opportunity as we lost Pete a few weeks ago. The owner (in Idaho, I believe) of 002 was gracious in providing the bike for Pete most any time he requested it.

A short video tour of the booth is here (I will try to change this to an embeded video when I am on my laptop.)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X7ToECOZI40

[pidjones]

Pulled the Hunley out of hibernation today. Drained some coolant and changed the temperature sensor, installed a digital temperature readout on her.

[Jonesz]

Interested in what you put on her for a digital sensor and gauge. Would like a similar setup for my stripped 83 Aspencade but can't seem to get my head around how.

[pidjones]

I removed the Honda sensor and installed the (ebay special, had to search for RED to avoid night blindness) supplied sensor in an adapter I made on my lathe. Used the existing wires (connector fit well on the supplied threaded stud) to the meter panel with spliced-on connectors to provide 12V, ground, and sensor signal to shortened harness that plugs into the meter. Spun a piece of PVC cut from a broken connector to mate the meter face to the rubber meter adapter in the panel. Painted the PVC flat black, and it goes un-noticed. Clamped the meter in with the Honda bracket and a thick grommet to give just the right pressure.

1617376447561.jpg

[pidjones]

Was able to do the sensor swap with sockets, extensions, flex joint. Carbs unbolted and slid back as fsr as they would go gave just enough room to see and do it. Drained about 1/2 gallon to make sure coolant level was below it.

[pidjones]

Still trying to design a bar graph fuel level gauge. I have the comparators, just need to figure out how to use the small resistance range to make it work. Comparatirs are voltage triggered, where the Honda gauge was current-driven.

[Jonesz]

Cool looks and works well. Thanks for the info on the install. Didn't want to have to yank the carbs right out and it appears you worked around that by sliding them back. Will be back to thinking about this project. On my 83 aspencade that I converted to analogue gauges the only thing that I couldn't get functioning properly is the heat gauge, even after changing out the sensor for one from an 82 aspencade. Always second guessing the temp but knowing that my fan etc. work as they should. I am a bit anal in wanting to know what temp my bike is running at.

[pidjones]

Cool looks and works well. Thanks for the info on the install. Didn't want to have to yank the carbs right out and it appears you worked around that by sliding them back. Will be back to thinking about this project. On my 83 aspencade that I converted to analogue gauges the only thing that I couldn't get functioning properly is the heat gauge, even after changing out the sensor for one from an 82 aspencade. Always second guessing the temp but knowing that my fan etc. work as they should. I am a bit anal in wanting to know what temp my bike is running at.

Note that the stock analog gauges use 7 volts. I power this by the 12 volts in the gauge pod that goes to the voltmeter. Still using (for now) 7 volts in there for the fuel level gauge. To see if I could do it without carb removal, I shone a bright LED light in front of the front engine mount panel so it shines light through to the sensor location, pushed the air cut valve line aside, and I could just see the sensor. With the carbs unbolted and pushed back (only about 3/4 inch) I could see through easily and with the added light of another LED light above the carbs was able to pull off the job. Now, I had a spare manifold to test my adapter on so I knew that it would fit. Took a 1/4" universal joint for my 1/4" socket set and taped it with electrical tape to stiffen it some so that I could start the new sensor (already tightened into my adapter) in the manifold. We'll see if it is leak-tight when it warms up enough to ride again. Wanted to get it changed out now, though as it will be in a show next weekend.

[pidjones]

Pulled her out for a quick ride before a show and the starter solenoid stuck ON. Had to pull the battery cable to stop it all. Ordered a new solenoid, but wanted to take her to the show (trailered, so I could take chairs and such). So, I pulled the solenoid, carefully bent the three crimps out and pulled it apart. All rusted up inside. Broke the coil leads disassembling, too. After cleaning it all up, soldered an extension on one lead and reassembled it. Reinstalled without the auxiliary fuse and connections that I wasn't using (they are in my harness). Works great! Starter survived, so took her to the show and had a great time.

How did this solenoid fail so fast? It is in an unsealed can, closed on the bottom. Any water that gets on top of it is free to drain into it and rust up the works. Add to that the occasions that I have trailered her (side covers removed to prevent straps from rubbing them) through semi-monsoons.

When the new one comes in, I will be finding a way to either seal the top, or extend the + battery cable and mount it inverted.

[Oldewing]

Nice save Pid.

[BruteSquad]

Do you mind sharing where you got your new solenoid? I'm pretty sure I'll need one...

[pidjones]

Amazon el-cheapo https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S1J71YX?ps ... ct_details I know folks will say I should have bought OEM, and the one I had failed because it was cheap Chinesium. It failed because water stayed in it, just like the OEM that it replaced ~8 years ago. I'll try to prevent that on the new one by mounting it inverted.

[Rednaxs60]

No worries. Reminds me of the Russian astronaut - Lev Andropov in the movie Armageddon when he's beating on the space craft to leave the asteroid: "Components? American components, Russian components, ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!"

[pidjones]

Thunder Roads Tennessee January 2022 issue. Hunley is a covergirl!https://issuu.com/thunderroads8/docs/th ... ileTOeAI98

[Whiskerfish]

Very nice! Congratulations!!!