| Resurrecting An Old Goldwing... | Rate Topic |
| Moderators: redbaron, MDKramer, Flyone, AZgl1500 |
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| Posted: Wed Oct 8th, 2008 05:20 am | 1st Post |
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Ok, you've decided to resurrect an old Goldwing. GREAT FOR YOU! I applaud your taste and choice of machines! The very first thing you want to do before you spend one dime on the carbs is grab a small inspection mirror and a flashlight and inspect the tank for rust. You will want to go through the fuel cap, as well as removing the seat and pulling the fuel gauge sending unit from the top of the tank for maximum visibility. I'd be willing to bet that you find a good coating of barnacles inside. If you can actually see rust, then particles smaller than 2 microns WILL pass your fuel filter and clog up your carburetor in less than an *"ohnosecond". After you've done that, toddle on over to http://www.rusteco.com and order a bucket of their gel form solution. There are several posts here in the forum on the use of this product to strip all the rust from a tank without removing the tank, and without having to try to figure out how to put some coating of crap that will flake off in a couple years inside the tank afterward without clogging up your pickup screens. Anyone who asks me, and even some who don't, will be told that I did my tank over 4 years ago, there is still no sign of rust in it, and I've kept the bucket of solution for removing the rust from everything from pitted chrome pieces, to tools my son left lay out in the weather, to the lifting chains for my engine hoist...And more recently, I also just did the tank of the 1200 I bought last summer with the very same bucket of stuff! I’ve written several sets of instructions on how to use this material, so I will suggest doing a forum search for the word “Rusteco” and you will find them all. After you've gotten the tank in order, if you really don't want to spend a ton of time cursing Mother Honda, and pulling your hair out trying to rebuild and reset the carbs yourself, I'll suggest you start looking around for guys in your area riding older Goldwings. When you see one, walk up to him, compliment his bike, and then ask him where he gets his mechanic work done. Take your time, and poll as many guys as you can find…and keep a list! Go talk with the most recommended mechanic some. Get a good feel for his attitude and his knowledge of Goldwings. If he’s highly recommended, it’ll be worth the money to have him rebuild your carbs. On that note, INSIST on OEM Honda parts ONLY. Nobody makes carb parts for Honda carbs like Mother Honda. Period. Nada Mas. No More. This also applies to ALL engine hard parts. You may think you're saving money by buying a cheap aftermarket hard part for your bike, but in the long run, you'll be out that money, as well as money to replace it when it just doesn't perform the way OEM does. The golden rule here is: Buy cheap, GET cheap! Most likely if you've already used a standard carb cleaner (Gumout, etc...) in and on your carbs, the cleaner has eaten all of the rubber parts that it came into contact with. You'll need to go WAY deep into them. If you're the handy type of do-it-yourselfer who likes piddling around with things that are purely maddening, then you can go over to Randakk's Cycle Shack and order his kits. They're quite possibly the best kits on the market that don't come from Mother Honda, and he also sells a video explaining how to install them properly and how to set your carbs. I've never used either, but they come highly recommended from many in the forum. You will also want to go through the entire braking system. The rubber hoses will be weak, and most of the rubber seals will be junk from sitting and not being used by now. Do not make the mistake of being fooled by pulling the front brake handle, finding that the pads grab the disk, and thinking they're ok. Weakened brake lines = blowout failure under braking pressures. That means you hit what you're trying to stop to avoid. I'd rather see you (or anybody, myself included for that matter) spend a little money on your safety, than read about you running head-long into the side of the Suburban that pulled out in front of you because you blew a 27 year old brake line. If you ask the question "When were the timing belts changed?" and the answer is "I don't know", then it's time to change the timing belts for the very same reason as you need to go through the brakes. They're old, the rubber will have weakened over the years. $20 at Napa for belt #250274 (for an 1100, forum search if you have a 1200, 1500, or 1800, they're out there too) versus one snapping with a valve or 2 in the open position and hammering them into the tops of a couple pistons, destroying the engine...hmmmm...no brainer there.  Next let's look at tires. How old are they? You don't know? I bet you can't guess what I'm about to tell you, can you? That's right, replacements are in order. Again, for your safety, you NEED to know the condition of the tires. I personally am not equipped with x-ray vision, and I'd bet that unless your last name is Kent, you aren't either. Nobody can just look at a tire and know that the rubber making that tire up is in good shape just by the appearance of the outside. If you've never tried to get a bike from 70mph to 0 without dropping it while riding on a flat front tire, trust me on this one...It's neither easy, nor fun. The cost of a pair of tires is FAR less than a trip to the emergency room in an ambulance (Or helicopter if you're way out away from civilization like I am normally) You will run into things along the way that will just make you shake your head...but remember, a Goldwing is made to run, run hard, and run often. They get depressed when you leave them sitting in the corner of the garage all alone. They feel dejected, and will begin to self-harm. This also is normal. If your bike has been sitting for a good number of years, you will find a few things that will need some attention. DO NOT get disheartened! You will find that once you've taken care of all the self-harm issues, you will have yourself one AWESOME riding machine Now, let's get that old girl running like the well oiled machine she was built to be and enjoy her for many years to come! You are absolutely in the right place to ask for help and advice. Mike * An "ohnosecond" is that brief micro moment in time where you come to the realization, far too late to stop it, that you have just really screwed up.
____________________ Mike Kramer "Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: Now." Denis Waitley |
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| Posted: Wed Oct 8th, 2008 05:19 pm | 2nd Post |
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There is lots and lots of good advice here in the tech forum and you can also go to http://www.nakedgoldwings.com they have a whole forum on restoring an "olde-wing" Mike, great advice!
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| Posted: Wed Oct 8th, 2008 06:33 pm | 3rd Post |
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Nice article Mike,
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| Posted: Fri Oct 10th, 2008 05:21 pm | 4th Post |
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Well written article Mike. Kudos brother! 
____________________ Mark '96 Electric Blue GL1500 SE '82 CB 750 FA(sick puppy) RBLR Area Rep for RoI http://www.rblr.co.uk |
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| Posted: Thu Dec 18th, 2008 07:20 pm | 5th Post |
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Great article, makes alot of good points. I hope anyone trying to ressurect an old wing reads your article.
____________________ Tom Boutwell- Resident Care Manager Past Horses: 1974 Triumph 650 1978 Honda 350 1985 Honda 750 1989 Honda CB900 Custom 1979 Yamaha XS1100 1985 Yamaha Venture XVZ12 1983 GL1100 Standard 1987 GL1200I |
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| Posted: Sun Feb 1st, 2009 03:59 pm | 6th Post |
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Just got around to reading you article, Mike....GREAT advice...not just for 'resurrecting old Wings'... good advice on buying used running bikes as well. Especially if you don't know the PO and how well he 'cared' for his ride. Thumbs -Up....
____________________ TERRY ************************************************* "To realize the 'Worth' of the anchor, we need to feel the 'Stress' of the storm" ************************************************* "Worry is the Darkroom where Negatives Develop" ************************************************* 2010 GL1800 - Metallic Black) - We call her "Pearl" (as in Black Pearl, a rare, beautiful and exotic gem) |
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| Posted: Thu Feb 5th, 2009 03:49 pm | 7th Post |
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excellent adivise.im in the rebuilding process right now.im gona check out the carb guy.The last person that had my wing looked like they tried to rebuilding them.split in half with 2 carbs sitting there partially complete.The other 2 are still on the manifold.im hopin i can use those as cores.
____________________ 81 XV750 Virago(BOBBER PROJECT) 80&83 GL1100 custom Apencade OEF & OIF 2003 Vet |
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| Posted: Thu Feb 5th, 2009 04:04 pm | 8th Post |
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Ooops, my bad....I was not looking at the year. I apologize but I will keep an eye out for a set for you. Last edited on Fri Feb 6th, 2009 03:55 am by activitytom43 ____________________ Tom Boutwell- Resident Care Manager Past Horses: 1974 Triumph 650 1978 Honda 350 1985 Honda 750 1989 Honda CB900 Custom 1979 Yamaha XS1100 1985 Yamaha Venture XVZ12 1983 GL1100 Standard 1987 GL1200I |
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| Posted: Thu Feb 5th, 2009 10:33 pm | 9th Post |
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Stupid newbie goldwing guy question..lol but are they same as the GL1100? i thought they changed from 83 to 84?
____________________ 81 XV750 Virago(BOBBER PROJECT) 80&83 GL1100 custom Apencade OEF & OIF 2003 Vet |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 6th, 2009 12:08 am | 10th Post |
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Seems like we have gone through this before, I am pretty sure they changed them and they WILL NOT interchange
____________________ Never Ride Faster Than Your Angel Can Fly  Skype The_Big_Dog1 Proud member of the Patriot Guard Riders Id# 186868 |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 6th, 2009 12:16 am | 11th Post |
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thought so...anyways again great little guide.im hopin i can piece together what is there for carbs and give the guy a email seeing maybe i can still do it.If not looks like im in search for a rake of carbs..lol
____________________ 81 XV750 Virago(BOBBER PROJECT) 80&83 GL1100 custom Apencade OEF & OIF 2003 Vet |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 1st, 2011 12:11 pm | 12th Post |
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Well folks thanks so much for the tips & encouragement. I bookmarked the Rustco site and plan on ordering it. At present the plan is to get the work area set up...no need trying to do anything on a dirt floor. I've lost bolts the size of Dallas in there! Then figgered to pull the sparkplugs and put something in to help remove any rust or possibly siezed rings. Penetrating oil or Marvel Mystery Oil?? I won't even attempt to rotate the engine till I know it's free and nothing locked up. While that's working I'll strip off everything not needed to run the engine. Then new belts. I made the mistake of buying a '76 Wing that sat for 2 yrs. and didn't replace the belts. Less than 1000 miles later it broke the left belt. Bent some valves but didn't damage the pistons or head. It was easy to see where it broke.....right where it wrapped around the center shaft/sprocket...not on the cam. The tank will be cleaned or pulled and replaced before any effort is made to restart. Brother-in-law had to deal with a rusty tank in his 82 Wing and finally sold it because of constant clogging. I also plan on replacing all lines/filters/rebuilding petcock before starting. I know it's gonna be a long project. Not my first. I've spent 5yrs. rebuilding my home...old trailer. Ripped out every piece of wood/paneling/wire/cabinetry and pipe. Went 5mo. without a stove, tub or toilet!! Try that some time! Well, gotta run folks. Thanks again! Audie...
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| Posted: Sun May 1st, 2011 11:53 pm | 13th Post |
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Great info! I would like to add another thing to look at: The Waterpump. Not only have I had a few failures and done a bunch for friends, but this story I posted in another thread is a good example of what not to do: Don't forget to do your waterpump!! True story: I met a guy at my favorite Honda dealer that was telling a story how he purchased an 83 Aspencade that had been sitting for YEARS. It seems that he got a good deal on it, and it LOOKED great but had lots of issues. He took it to my least favorite Honda dealer where they 'restored' it mechanicly for him (at great expence). They did everything but the waterpump. The first long ride he took a few days after getting the bike back.... BOOM. The waterpump locked and it locked what drove it too; no more engine. The dealer said "So sad, too bad; you did not ask us to change it". He found a used engine and I think he had it swapped out at the dealership where we were talking. Bill Last edited on Sun May 1st, 2011 11:54 pm by 77Pinto |
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