So, as mentioned yesterday in the new member's section, I'm a new rider AND a 'new' '86 GL1200A owner. The bike was a 2-owner, fairly unmolested bike with 80k that I bought from a retired Firefighter and Pastor, and the plan is to rehab the old girl, then get my riding skills up to snuff with the plan to do an epic cross-country ride in spring 2021 for a 'big round number' birthday. I intend this to be a work-in-progress, and hope to provide some entertaining and useful info while I learn all about riding AND the ins-and-outs of this bike.
And here's where we begin: a 1986 GL1200 Aspencade. Owner was a regular rider with his wife, until one day in spring 2018. They were ending a ride back at his house, pulled in and... Clutch wouldn't disengage. He dropped the bike with wifey on the back. Neither was injured, but in time it became apparent he was too damn old to be riding it anymore, and the wife didn't trust it. I bought it in August 2019. He replaced the battery and got it running, but noted a 'fuel leak'... He shut it off, and couldn't get it started a few days later... But I had proof it was running. Fuel smell in the oil told the story, it was hydrolocked.... He'd left the petcock open while he was working on it.
Anyway, I was satisfied with what I saw, we did the deal, and he was nice enough to trailer the bike the almost 2-hour-drive to my house. I paid for a nice dinner for he and his wife, and we all had a nice talk. I was traveling for work, so it was a few weeks before I could do anything with her... Started by pulling the lower fairings, top box, and plugs. One cylinder produced a couple of tablespoons' worth of gas, but afterwards the bike spun over like a top with plugs out. I've now pulled the front of the engine apart to replace the timing belts, Gates T070's. Rusted bolts and screws I remove are getting replaced with stainless, and anything dirty or corroded is getting cleaned up to the best of my ability before reassembly. Already replaced the air filter with a HiFlo #HFA1906. Plugs will be NGK Iridiums, #2202, DPR8EIX-9's Hope is to reassemble the engine parts and fire the thing on Sunday.
My biggest dilemma at the moment, the timing belt covers are so corroded that even sanded and polished, there's noticeable pitting. I'm really thinking of priming and painting them Wrinkle-kote black.... As well as the Engine guards. I'm not a huge fan of chrome, but do intend to polish the visible motor parts such as the heads and valve covers back to 'shiny'. Might end up painting the horribly corroded carb-covers Wrinkle-kote blue. Those are cheap and available enough to replace if I don't like it later.
I'd appreciate some feedback on that take...
And here's where we begin: a 1986 GL1200 Aspencade. Owner was a regular rider with his wife, until one day in spring 2018. They were ending a ride back at his house, pulled in and... Clutch wouldn't disengage. He dropped the bike with wifey on the back. Neither was injured, but in time it became apparent he was too damn old to be riding it anymore, and the wife didn't trust it. I bought it in August 2019. He replaced the battery and got it running, but noted a 'fuel leak'... He shut it off, and couldn't get it started a few days later... But I had proof it was running. Fuel smell in the oil told the story, it was hydrolocked.... He'd left the petcock open while he was working on it.
Anyway, I was satisfied with what I saw, we did the deal, and he was nice enough to trailer the bike the almost 2-hour-drive to my house. I paid for a nice dinner for he and his wife, and we all had a nice talk. I was traveling for work, so it was a few weeks before I could do anything with her... Started by pulling the lower fairings, top box, and plugs. One cylinder produced a couple of tablespoons' worth of gas, but afterwards the bike spun over like a top with plugs out. I've now pulled the front of the engine apart to replace the timing belts, Gates T070's. Rusted bolts and screws I remove are getting replaced with stainless, and anything dirty or corroded is getting cleaned up to the best of my ability before reassembly. Already replaced the air filter with a HiFlo #HFA1906. Plugs will be NGK Iridiums, #2202, DPR8EIX-9's Hope is to reassemble the engine parts and fire the thing on Sunday.
My biggest dilemma at the moment, the timing belt covers are so corroded that even sanded and polished, there's noticeable pitting. I'm really thinking of priming and painting them Wrinkle-kote black.... As well as the Engine guards. I'm not a huge fan of chrome, but do intend to polish the visible motor parts such as the heads and valve covers back to 'shiny'. Might end up painting the horribly corroded carb-covers Wrinkle-kote blue. Those are cheap and available enough to replace if I don't like it later.
I'd appreciate some feedback on that take...