How many hand lever versions were there?

[wolf_walker78]

There seem to be a few superseded part numbers for both clutch and brake, least for my 79.
I went shopping based off what numbers were listed on partzilla.

I bought a 53178-431-780 clutch lever, NOS off ebay and when I re-hab'd my original master cylinder
I picked up a 53175-422-000 again NOS off ebay for it. The clutch lever seems to sit quite a lot
further from the grip than the brake lever does. I've only ever had an aftermarket master cylinder
and lever on there and I don't recall it being noticeably different than the clutch.
The brake lever position is really pretty pleasing as it sits now, wondered if I could have the wrong
clutch lever or was that normal? No unusual play or wear in either that I can see.

[Whiskerfish]

I know for sure that the early (75-77) levers are different than the 78/79. in 79 they also changed to that rectangular M/C Reservoir so I suspect that may be different from 78 also.

[wolf_walker78]

I came across that too, I think the brake lever at least is the same for 79 as the GL1100's are.

I'm puzzled why my brake is like this, which seems perfectly normal:

brake.jpg (138.12 KiB) Viewed 305 times

But my clutch, which is a new NOS lever and the pivot I'm pretty sure is stock and correct, is so far away from the bar.
It's in good order, I can pull it in the middle of the lever with two fingers and it works fine, just seems odd?

clutch.jpg (192.57 KiB) Viewed 305 times

I compared both levers to some old stock spares and they are all basically identical, I have a spare clutch pivot that is either form an 1100 or a slightly earlier model and everything seems to be the same, no odd wear marks, nothing bent, clutch lever play is normal.

Is that clutch lever position normal? Partzilla says the clutch bracket is the same 79-81.


Edit: looking at some photos of stock bikes on bringatrailer and such, it kinda looks like this is normal?

[wingrider]

I always thought the reach on my 78 clutch was a tad farther than other bikes of the vintage.

[Whiskerfish]

The geometry of the clutch lever changed in 78 to ease the operation of the clutch. One thing I notice in your pics is that you have the round turn signals. 79 had rectangular. So makes me wonder if the front M/C is stock?

[gltriker]

snip-
...I came across that too, I think the brake lever at least is the same for 79 as the GL1100's are.

I'm puzzled why my brake is like this, which seems perfectly normal:

Is the right handlebar switch housing correct?
The original front brake master cylinder and its complementing switch housing touch together on my 1975 GL1000. Very small gap notable between the two.

[wolf_walker78]

The geometry of the clutch lever changed in 78 to ease the operation of the clutch. One thing I notice in your pics is that you have the round turn signals. 79 had rectangular. So makes me wonder if the front M/C is stock?

All the lights were MIA or busted when I got it, I back-dated a bunch of stuff to 78 spec since it was easier to find and imo
cooler looking. Forks and all are original, it had some odd-ball handlebars on it that I replaced but they were supposedly correct 79 bars. The master cylinder appears to be original from the photos I've seen, it sits level with the bars straight ahead an a 79 rebuild kit, lever and new reservoir fit it. I have another one from an early GL1100 that is similar but the outlet is in a different spot and the angle it's made to sit at is much steeper so I'm fairly sure this one is correct to the bike.

[wolf_walker78]

snip-
...I came across that too, I think the brake lever at least is the same for 79 as the GL1100's are.

I'm puzzled why my brake is like this, which seems perfectly normal:

Is the right handlebar switch housing correct?
The original front brake master cylinder and its complementing switch housing touch together on my 1975 GL1000. Very small gap notable between the two.

They can touch or not depending on where you position them, there aren't any indexing tabs or such that I've seen.
I haven't re-set everything to it's final spot since I've been restoring the master cylinder.
I was vaguely considering powder coating the rest of the switchgear and clutch pivot but haven't decided yet.

[wolf_walker78]

I found a photo online of what looks like a pretty original 79 and it seems to show more or less the same positioning mine has for the levers. Maybe it's normal? I'd have thought for the sake of symmetry they would have sat at the same distance from the hand grips but perhaps I'm just OCD lol...

correctGLmaybe.jpg (138.41 KiB) Viewed 234 times

[BlueThunder]

The 1st Gen GW, 1975-1977, both levers are 7" long whereas the following years they are 6". The 7" ones are hard to come by. Both lengths are interchangeable but the reach will be greater using the shorter levers.
Obviously the spacing of the perches will be different with each lever length.

[Track T 2411]

The shape of the lever in relation to the master cylinder pin also changed in '79 and won't work correctly with the earlier master cylinders. Not sure about the clutch lever for '79.