Gold Member

[sos]

Good progress ... calipers are one of the fun items. How are your MC's doing?

The rear MC seems to be good. I flushed it with DOT3 until it was clear and it really didn't take much. It was working and the fluid had just a hint of honey color. I just pulled the front calipers and the MC there looked about the same, but I haven't flushed it yet.

[Track T 2411]

On each of the mc's there is a small "return" hole that has a tendancy to plug up. just thought I'd give you a reminder... would suck to get it all back together and have issues there...

Good wrenchin'
Todd

[sos]

On each of the mc's there is a small "return" hole that has a tendancy to plug up. just thought I'd give you a reminder... would suck to get it all back together and have issues there...

Good wrenchin'
Todd

Good call. The smaller Hondas from the era have the same hole, but I forgot about it.

[sos]

Okay, on to the front calipers.



These were already unbolted when I got the bike. I assume that they were sticking and pulled to move the bike around.



One of the pistons was badly corroded, but still outside of the sealing area.



They went together pretty smoothly.



But I have to give credit to my ace mechanic who lead the final assembly.

[sos]

SOS, If you decide you need to replace those caliper pistons, there's a member of NGW who sells stainless steel pistons.http://www.proebstl.net/pistons.html

Just let him know you're a member here, and you'll get a pretty good discount, too!

Good wrenchin'
Todd

I guess I'm a slow typist

I tried the e-mail link on his website, but it won't go through. Anyone know his name or can post the e-mail address? The link keeps coming up dead>>>

[Track T 2411]

His user name here is 'taunusrainer' You could try sending him a PM...

Good wrenchin'
Todd

[sos]

Thanks!

[sos]

Well I just couldn't sleep tonight so I thought I might as well get something done on the GL before the weather turns cold again. The timing belts came in a couple days ago, but I haven't had a chance to get out in the garage. I was just going to pull the covers and put the motor in the right position, but since I was already out there in my PJs I figured I might as well keep going.

When I got the cover off it looked like the belts had been replaced not too long ago. There was already blue sharpie on the cam gears.



Someone had taken pretty good care of this bike before it became homeless... The coolant also looked pretty fresh, but I'm glad I decided to do the belts so I can have some confidence when I get this thing on the road.

I put the motor in position with #1 cylinder at TDC, checked that the timing marks were lined up and them backed off all the valve adjusters to unload the cams. I thought that I could completely unload the cams and keep the cam gears from moving when I pulled the belts, but the rocker arms hit the valves on a couple, even with the adjusters backed all the way out. It wasn't really a problem. I have read a couple of the threads on here (Excellent Info) and I have the factory service manual, so realigning the valve timing was pretty easy.

Then with both belts replaced (Goodyear #40274 at $40.00 a pair instead of $140.00 from Honda ... Thanks Randakk's) and the valves adjusted I turned the motor over a few times by hand, rechecked the timing markes on the cam gears and the valve clearances and I'm calling it a night.



Tomorrow, I'll clean up the motor covers and radiator mountings, reset the ignition timing and start putting her back together for the initial start up.

[dblum]

Makes me want to get out in the cold garage and work on mine.

[sos]

For the first time in a long time the bike got more complete instead of less. With the new timing belts on and valves adjusted I was able to clean up the cases, reattach the radiator, new coolant and motor oil, recheck the timing (it was still right on ), then start reassembling the pieces for startup.



The next step was the carb rack. I fooled with it awhile until I remembered that the air cut-off valve had to be taken off to get the rack to slide in.





Then I had to fix a couple leaks that I noticed while soaking the gas tank with vinegar; a new drain plug copper washer and a new sending unit seal.



I hope the sending unit works alright. The float arm was stuck when I first pulled it out. It freed up pretty easily, but I expected to be able to check resistance and watch it change uniformly as I moved the float arm. It did change, but was eratic. I know the manual has a test, but I was anxious to keep going and it is easy to remove with the tank in place anyway. So onward...

After I had the tank sealed up I rinsed it with some fresh fuel. It had a hint of flash rusting after the vinegar treatment, but I couldn't see a hint of residue when I rinsed it today and the inside looked good.

Then trying to wrestle the tank back into place. It wouldn't be bad at all except for the bundle of crap running between the tank and the right side frame rail. The breather hose, clutch cable and rear stoplight wiring make a tight fit. It took awhile, but I finally got the tank seated in the front mount, the bundle of crap routed through and the rear bolt aligned...



Then the battery box, rear mastercylinder and starter solenoid. My solenoid is bad. I have some from CB350s that I thought were the same, but they are wired backwards. So I am using the screwdriver starting switch to check spark for now. The good new is that I do have spark on both coils.

And that is where she sits tonight.





Tomorrow I'll run the fuel lines and intall a new filter, then with a bit of luck some petrol and see if it starts.

[Roady]

Some really good progress going on there.

And your pics and text are excellent reference materials.

Keep at it, I'm waiting anxiously for you to get it started.

[sunnbobb]

Good pictures, and riding is just around the corner... good job!

[Hoosier Daddy]

You were busy! Nice progress!

[Brant]

You'll be on the road in no time.

[sos]

You'll be on the road in no time.

Hopefully with some luck.

Busy again today, but I figured I could at least fix my starter solenoid problem. The old one wasn't working and the spares that I had from CB350s and 360s are wired backwards. I didn't know that a solenoid had a polarity, but apparently they do.

So, my cheap ass solution ...







I bench tested the solenoid from my CB325 avatar and it seems to be working. So I cliped the wires off the GL's and mated them with my spare. Should make the initial start up easier.

At least it is something