76 Restoration

[gltriker]

snip.............. Not to mention the probable valve issue in cylinder 1.

Leakdown? That's the next step.

And, re-check all your valves' clearance settings before you perform any more cylinder diagnostic tests.

[Easter]

Tracked down a solenoid in one of my junk tubs and got it wired in. Received my new keys from Roncar. Put an adapter in spark plug hole number one and introduced air at 35psi. Crank was set to T (1). Air was blowing out the exhaust as fast as it was going in the spark plug hole. Not a piston (probably) but not good. The head will have to come off. Meanwhile I hope to get the radiator checked out and painted this weekend. Maybe sort out the ignition and timing. Not in a big hurry to pull the head but now is the time I guess since I haven't mounted the exhaust manifolds yet. I have a set of head gaskets and valve seals so here is hoping the valve is not bent.

[Easter]

snip.............. Not to mention the probable valve issue in cylinder 1.

Leakdown? That's the next step.

And, re-check all your valves' clearance settings before you perform any more cylinder diagnostic tests.

Learned or relearned several things this morning. (couldn't sleep so was in the shop about 6 AM!!)
1. Be prepared for a lot of oil on the floor if you are doing a compression test with the valve cover off.
2. Don't forget to remove the wrench from the alternator bolt before hitting the starter button.
3. Don't try to do a leak down test with the engine on the exhaust stroke. (1 T does not always mean the same thing)
4. Valve adjustments that are too tight really will effect compression.

The good news is I and the bike survived all of this learning experience and after readjusting the valve lash my compression jumped up to 120 which is not great I admit, but for a bike that has been sitting for years and has 150 on the other three cylinders, it is good enough to ignore.

So, it is on to the ignition and radiator.

[robin1731]

Just think though, you will never do those things again.

So many worry about compression around 120. I've had bikes with those numbers run very well. If they get to 80 or below then maybe be a bit concerned. But 120 I'll take all day. Especially on one that has been sitting.

[HOTT]

120


HOTT

[Easter]

Lunch time, and nap time! Well the mornings good news has been offset somewhat. I was fiddling with the Dyna S and trying to get it adjusted when the static timing light went out then came back on very bright--and stayed on. I suspect the resistor on the bike is not compatible with the Dyna pickup and cooked it. Sooooo, I guess I will order a new one and be sure to use their resistor (GL 1100 coils). If I planned to keep the bike I would order the coils too but I am confident these 1100 coils are good.

On to the radiator.

[Easter]

Busy day today but found time to mount the radiator, front fender and front wheel. Really starting to look like a bike now. The new Dyna S is on order along with stainless brake lines and a few other odds and ends. Paint is the next big thing so will probably start sanding this next week. Hope to fire it up later this week also.

The weather this afternoon was fantastic so instead of working on the bike (except as previously mentioned) Wife and I took a nice long country cruise on the Spider and the 1800. Couldn't have been nicer except for riding home looking straight into the sun!

[Easter]

Every time I have done a refit on one of these GL engines, I have expected the water pipes on top of the engine to leak. They never have--until this time. Soon as I put in the antifreeze it started dribbling. Expected to have to pull the carbs to get to the problem but actually it was simple, just disconnect the fitting to the head and pull out the tube. Turns out the new O ring had a flat spot on it. Pinched or manufacturing problem, I am not sure but fortunately I had another the same size and five minutes later it was back on and with added antifreeze, does not appear to be leaking.

[Easter]

Lots of small stuff has happened this week, stainless brake lines installed, rear blinkers installed (not sorted for function yet) all the body parts have been stripped, primed and are ready for color. A new Dyna S ignition arrived and was installed but here is where the rub comes. The following is a repeat from the Tech discussion thread but maybe some of you have an idea.

Nearing the end of my 76/77 Restoration project and have run into a (for me at least) peculiar problem with the ignition wiring. I am installing a new Dyna S (I have done this before) and am ready to set the timing. I am using a set of GL1100 coils that I had laying around and that appear to be OK.

The problem is that I am getting 12 volt feedback through the coils to the Dyna. The black and white wire provides power to the coils but the yellow and yellow/blue wires should not have current until the Dyna (or points) make contact and send a momentary trigger voltage to the coils. (This is what I understand, correct me if I am wrong) but in this case both of the wires leading from the Dyna are getting voltage from the coils (instead of the other way around).

I am using the Dyna resistor. I am pretty sure it is wired in correctly but the use of the 1100 coils has caused some confusion to the wiring connections.

Anyway the end result is the test light is on all the time regardless of the position of the crank or which of the two trigger wires I am connected to. (yellow or blue/yellow)

Any ideas? Seems really unlikely both coils would be completely shorted out.

[Easter]

Just a brief update, the gremlin in the ignition turned out to be a bad ground in the ignition housing for the points. Contact is made through the screws that go into the head but time and corrosion and maybe some paint had caused the loss of ground. As soon as I cleaned the screws (and added a dab of dielectric grease for good measure) I was able to continue timing the Dyna and had it timed in just a few minutes. I spent the rest of the weekend sorting the wiring and connections for lights and horn. I think everything is working now although the horn sounds kind of puny (bad ground through the button). Painted and installed the air breather box and new filter and lined up the Harley mufflers to be attached as soon as my stainless tubing arrives. Still waiting on the tail light though the wiring has been confirmed using a test light.

All the tins have been readied for color and will get painted as soon as the weather warms up. I couldn't resist giving it a shot of either just to see if it would fire up and I got the brief cough I was looking for. As soon as I get the exhaust on and fuel in the tank I will be ready to fire up. The front shocks were rebuilt but I have not put fluid in them yet. Rear brake is working but front brakes still need to be bled, just can't get the air out with it on the table. The angle of the handlebars is trapping air at the connection of the double banjo on the master cylinder. If I am right, it should be simple to bleed when I can lean it over on the side stand.

I have a really nice tandem tractor seat (King and Queen) that will go on unless someone want to trade me a nice original. I'm not to concerned about the year since this is a mixture of parts from several different years and is not an exact restoration.

[Easter]

I received my taillight from England yesterday and got it mounted last evening. This is the second time I have used this light (see the CB400 that starts this tread) , it is a little pricey but the quality is quite good (solid heavy metal and nice chrome) and it is very bright. Plus, I like it. Hopefully my stainless tubing will arrive today and I can get that cut and welded by the weekend.

[Norbert R]

Getting close Easter, getting close

[5speed]

I received my taillight from England yesterday and got it mounted last evening. This is the second time I have used this light (see the CB400 that starts this tread) , it is a little pricey but the quality is quite good (solid heavy metal and nice chrome) and it is very bright. Plus, I like it. Hopefully my stainless tubing will arrive today and I can get that cut and welded by the weekend.

That looks so much better than the factory tail light.

[ericheath]

I have one of those from a HD. They are heavy for a light.

[Easter]

I have one of those from a HD. They are heavy for a light.