NGW Project in Maine - 1983 Interstate

[Track T 2411]

[NotSoLilCrippseys]

Episode XVI - All is Well.

A couple weeks out from the awful scare, and things seem pretty darned good for the Wing.

We're averaging about 45 MPG over the last few tanks, up from about 36-40 when we first pulled her from the shed and got her registered and inspected. Maybe the riding is a bit less spirited, but we're not tooling around at 1500-2000 RPM in overdrive.

After our "water in the crankcase" situation, I decided to run the Seafoam-recommended carb/injector cleaning method. 2-to-1 gas to Seafoam in the tank, run to get that mixture into the carb, let sit a bit, then drain and run. I then filled the tank with gas to dilute the remaining mixture. I don't think the bike likes the Seafoam, as it had something of an occasional sputter over the tank, which had me scared that I had screwed up the carbs by getting water in them.

The next tank - no Seafoam - has yielded a much smoother-running experience. It could be a placebo effect, but I think it's running better than before the water incident.

The shifting down from 4 to 3 is notably tricky, and she does pop out of first sometimes - which completely sucks when making a right from a stop sign onto a busy road. Not sure what to make of these issues. By preloading the downshift a bit, I notice it's less likely to get hung up going from fourth into third. I also notice that if I'm coming down off overdrive, head to 4th around 2500, continue a deceleration curve and hit 3rd at about 2500, things are often buttery smooth. (Clutch cable is adjusted to spec; I don't think the '83 GL1100 has any other adjustment for the clutch.) Quirks of an old bike. Bend with the machine.

We've put 2000 miles on the Wing.

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The bike has just under 53k on it over 38+ years. We're responsible for almost 5% of that mileage in just the last couple months.

And in other news (perhaps burying the lede), today I drove the truck over near Laconia, New Hampshire and picked up a 1982 GL1100I. That's 3 Wings in the stable for those who care to count: the Blue Phoenix (still brown for now); the donor '83 that made the Phoenix possible; and now an '82. It's too soon to "know" what we have, but it looks good and the starter turned the motor easily enough in the PO's driveway. I'll start a new topic for the '82 (with pictures) once we have done a bit more than roll her off the trailer and hose her off. I'll take a reasonable shot at the Randakk long-layup restart to hopefully yield a runner before putting her in the shed until after riding season. I can't put too much time troubleshooting given other demands in the coming weeks, but I know the wife wants it out of the driveway and hidden away.

[Track T 2411]

She's just getting broken in!

I think these old GoldWings are like Lays potato chips... no one can have just one!

[NotSoLilCrippseys]

Funny.

I'll try that with the wife the next time I roll into the driveway with a trailer. I'll quote you.

[NotSoLilCrippseys]

Episode XVII - The Blue Phoenix

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I think our project is complete - for now. I thought I should share a few more photos of the bike.

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I have to publicly thank Rednaxs60, who gifted us the GL1000 emblem for the project. I hope it doesn't seem too out of place on an '83 GL1100. (And, yes, we're rapidly closing in on 3K since putting her on the road.)

I worked up a fiberglass backing plate to help fill the OEM GoldWing emblem recess on the false tank lid. I was a bit concerned about the GL1000 emblem sticking over the long haul, so I fastened it all on with two tiny brass screws - hardly noticable on the emblem, actually.

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When I look back on those early photos, I must say that I'm blown away by what we've been able to do in our little workshop.

I remember how my son and I looked at each other with the PO standing on the other side of the bike. We were trying to decide whether a black, yellow, and primer gray GoldWing that didn't start should be our winter project. Had we talked for 20 minutes, we probably would have talked ourselves out of it and waited for a CB750 or maybe a CX550 project. Instead, I said something like, "Do you want to take a chance? It's only $200." He said, "Sure. Let's do it," and that led us down a wild, and fun path, bringing us closer together before he takes his next big step.

Thanks to all who helped with tech knowhow and tips, and for the encouragement along the way.

[NotSoLilCrippseys]

One more, just because the sky reflecting off the contours of the tank and side panel create the illusion of pinstripes. Fun.

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[Track T 2411]

[Rednaxs60]

Looks great. Nice emblem! Enjoy.

[DUGG]

Looks great! Adding some pinstripes would be easy enough.

[BruteSquad]

Nice looking bike! Well done!

[5speed]

looks great.

[NotSoLilCrippseys]

Don't tell my son! He's out roaming this great land we call the United States with his girlfriend.

I mounted the bags on the Blue Phoenix for a road trip I'm going to take out to hike with my daughter. If I didn't do that, I'd have to take the truck, and I want to get the bike out a bit.

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I know it's not technically a naked Wing with the bags mounted up. And they'll have to come off when he gets back next month I'm sure. Until then, I have a blue pack mule to ride.

[Rednaxs60]

Looking good. The saddlebags make carting stuff around so much easier. Look better than strapping stuff where the pillion would be. Use it for groceries and such as well. Have fun.

[NotSoLilCrippseys]

I just took the bike over 5k since we rolled it out of the shed a few months back. Pretty amazing, I think.

I'll need to post up some photos, but I recently cut down the trunk rack portion of the mounting brackets that hold the bags. Others have done it, and it really does change the look in what I think is a good way.

This afternoon I had quite the scare, which I'm attributing to some v. low octane or bad gas and perhaps some crap in the bottom of the tank finding its way through the filter and into the combustion chambers.

I was running low on fuel, maybe 25 miles in after flipping the petcock to reserve. I started the Wing up in the lot at work and noticed an odd sound and some low idling. Also, I remember it didn't just fire up instantly with the push of the button, which is odd for the bike. I didn't think much of it, really, but I was thinking about post-work plans.

The scary part happened pulling out of the space, as the bike had a very low end knock under load at low RPMs. Things were ok once I was rolling, and they seemed fine at speed. Every stop, though, was a heartbreaker because the starts sounded terrible - and completely different from anything I heard from it before. Bottom end, bad bearing sorts of thoughts swirled in my head. I managed to get to a gas station to fill up, mainly because I feared running out of gas.

While there, I looked down to check the oil in the sight glass and thought I saw none. (ARGH! I had changed the oil about 500 miles ago, the bike doesn't smoke or leak, and what??!! Did I screw something up in refilling?) As I contemplated walking home, getting a trailer, and more, I looked again at the sight glass. OIL. And I was on the side stand, so it was reading lower than normal. OK. But then the godawful knock.

I started the bike again and pulled out of the station. Driving gingerly but working to stay out of the low revs under load, I headed off to the errand I had a mile from the station. The knock subsided quite quickly, and by the third traffic light the bike was back to making its normal sounds.

This evening, I took her out to grab takeout dinner at an Indian place about 12 miles away. It's a nice-ish ride with speeds up to 60+, with some city stop-and-go stuff. All sounds good again.

My last tank WAS from a station I don't typically use. I won't be going there again, though maybe it was a fluke.

I have run the Wing dry before. A few weeks back, I had planned a fill up on the way home from work but then I got an "emergency" call from the wife and needed to hurry home. Less than a mile from home, I ran dry and came to a stop at the bottom of a hill. The bike never exhibited that knock through the dying throes of that tank. (I typically have to fuel up weekly, so gas isn't sitting in there going stale.)

[Track T 2411]

Neither of my 1100's like low RPM takeoffs, and it sounds horrible. Carb issues make it worse... anything below 1500-1800 RPM's is significantly lugging the engine.