[Markjens]

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Good afternoon. I am a long time Gold Wing owner, and have a 'situation.' I became disabled after being injured while flying with the U.S. Coast Guard. I have rehabbed enough to be able to ride, but my 1994 Aspencade has been sitting for a couple years without being ridden or started. I've tried the gas additive hoping to get the sticky junk unstuck, but I'm now in need of real maintenence for my bike. I am not able to tackle it myself anymore, though I wish I could. Is there a Wing riderin the Seattle/Issaquah/North Bend corridor that might recommend someone? When I first moved here from my last duty station in Sacramento, CA I tried I-90 Motorsports, but the bike just didn't really run smoothly, so I was hoping for two things; I was hoping not to have to spend another thousand dollars to get it running, and I was hoping to help someone who needed the work. I so appreciate any assistance you might offer. This site is such a gold mine!

 

[Markjens]

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As I recall, I used SeaFoam, and in a 'generous' concentration. You know, try the directions first and then give it a little bonus. While I was able to get it home from the storage unit, it was either full on or wanted to die. I celebrated having it home, but it sure is agonizing not being able to ride it. Kind of like when I grew up in Wisconsin getting a bicycle for Christmas and then waiting for the weather to break. Forehead pressed against the window < okay, its a fivehead now, but back then it was a forehead '8)>

 

[Markjens]

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Nightrider, at this point the bike won't make any power. The last time I tried, it would start, but only stayed running through some serious throttle jockeying. If I tried to put the bike under any power though, like taking off, it would die. Not being a Wing mech, I don't know if that means a sticky jet or what. I just know that it cost me a cool thousand bucks to get it running when I got here to Washington, and one would think I'd have kept it running after that. I took a couple nasty falls though (not on the bike) and wasn't able to start the bike regularly. Now I don't have that thousand bucks to get it running again (I have a son in college now) but I badly want to ride. 'Tis the season here, and I am chomping at the bit! Thank you all who are trying to help me, I so appreciate it. If someone knows a local garage mechanic that does this kind of work, I'd gladly pay him, that way he makes a living and hopefully I don't have to take such a beating on the labor costs. If there is a fix though, like the SeaFoam, I'm happy to try it. Man, I just want to ride! Thanks,

Mark

 

[Markjens]

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Okay, here's the deal; I took Mardonna's advice, and added another can of SeaFoam to the wing. I went and bought yet another new battery (these things are about disposable, no?) and then I started her up. I ran the bike for quite some time, and got her good and warmed up. I ended up with a really smooth running wing, and it was idling like it did when it was brand new! Now that is good news! So, I blipped the throttle a few times and it seemed like it was time to take a ride. So, took an hour ride, and it ended up pretty much like last time. When I would try to take off from a full stop, it wanted to die and die and die. But if I was under acceleration, it ran like the raped ape that it used to be. Sadly, it is hard to keep a bike under acceleration at all times. At some point you have to coast, right? If anyone has ideas I'd love to hear them, Is this a low speed jet or something? Oh - one last thing. If the bike is warm and sitting still, it can sit there and idle with no choke or anything and it is sweet sounding. If you try to take off without revving to about 4500 - 5000 rpms, it is going to die. Hope this helps some to get the symptoms across. If I could get the low speed/low rmp stuff under control, I'd be all set. Thanks, all - I appreciate the help.

Mark

Mark

 

[Markjens]

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I'm headed out now. This is pretty much what it has been doing though. I'll go pick up a fuel filter. Is the vacuum operated shutoff valve a dealer item, or something I should pick up online? I seem to remember hearing at one time that this was a part that was quite spendy at the dealer, but could be had for a decent price online. Thanks all, now we're getting somewhere! (Heck, I had wind in my face yesterday - I KNOW we're getting somewhere.) Thanks again,

Mark

 

[Markjens]

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That's odd. I know I input that information at some point, but when I looked it sure enough was missing. It has been updated. I live in Washington State, due east of Seattle in the foothills of the Cascades. Beautiful country. I appreciate the information on where to get a rebuild kit, and that is on my next order of business.

 

[Markjens]

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Rudy, thanks for the help. The rebuild kit was about twenty bucks. Here's hoping that has some effect, since the carburetor rebuild kits are over sixty - each!

 

[Markjens]

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Well, I took another hour ride this morning. The bike wants to ride at higher rpms, but lower than 2500 rpm and it wants to die under power. Of course, that is just about where one needs to be any time you're not hot rodding, highway riding or hitting the twisties aggressively - like around town '8( Man, I surely do hope I'm not heading for carb rebuilds. Just the thought of peeling all of that candy red skin just gives me nightmares. Current situation: full tank, full complement of SeaFoam, currently we have a high speed only Gold Wing. Thanks,

Mark

 

[Markjens]

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My current standing is that I had a slight detour. While working on it yesterday, one of my other priorities and concerns is that the rear brake was hardly working. We live .8 of a mile down a gravel road, and if I need to stop I don't want to grab a handful of front brake and start eating gravel. I need all three brakes in working order! They weren't frozen, there just must have been a lot of air in the lines or something. So I decided to bleed the brakes. I did the left front first (per the service manual) and then tackled the rear brake. Those of you who've had that pleasure know what a generous access port that Honda allows for this task. It all has to be done through a hole about the size of a fifty cent piece that is in the left saddlebag. About the time all of the skin had worn off the side of my right index finger I decided the saddlebag needed to come off. Oh, what fun! So, I took it off and set it up on a five gallon bucket. Now that I had room I decided to take the caliper off and give it a going - over. When I got it all back together with new brakes, I found out the reason there was air in the lines. It was impossible to bleed that rear brake without putting teflon on the threads of the bleeder. The threads just leaked way too much air. While doing that, my son's 6 month old Golden Retriever came out and knocked the saddlebag off of the trash can and REALLY scratched up the finish. I used to have an almost pristine 1993 Gold Wing, but it is anything but that now. I don't know what I'm going to do about all of the gouges and scratches, but I have to worry about them later. So - got the brakes installed. Got them bled. Started to put the bags back on and got called in for dinner. Went back out to start working in the dark and it was raining. I got things buttoned up and covered up as best I could, but for now I am waiting out the rain. I'll dive in to the filter(s) when it clears up, but I know the existing filters have perhaps twenty miles on them at most. For fuel it doesn't matter since they're trying to contend with crappy fuel - they need to be replaced. Air though, unless a few creepy crawlies got in there, they should be clean. We'll see. I've not drained the bowls or checked the slides yet, when I get some sunshine I'll do it. As for the accelerator pump, so far I am playing it this way; After my surgeries and therapy the bike had been sitting for some time. Too long. It exhibited the same symptoms that I'm currently seeing. So, I'm working on the assumption that I am paying the piper again for allowing this beauty to sit too long under cover. It I'd been able to keep it on the road, I surely would have. I don't need sunny and 80 degrees to ride. I'll keep you all advised, and thanks a ton for all of your experience and advice. None of it is going to waste.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Markjens]

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Hatchet, yes, it will run with choke. That is the only way to really get it to run for an extended period under power. If it is just sitting in the driveway, after it warms up it will idle like a kitten's purr. But, if you take it off the stand and click it into first, as soon as you try to put that motor under power it is no go. Ya gotta use some choke. Once it is rolling it will ride quite briskly, but you have to keep pushing it or it is unhappy. I really feel this is the gummed up carb thing again, and I suppose it will either clear up from running it or I'll have to have it taken apart and cleaned thoroughly. If money were no option I'd have already taken it to a dealer for some service. It is just the wrong time for us financially though, so I'm trying to wait it out. I'll tell you this much - you guys are much more comfortable with this bodywork than I am. What a pain! I'm trying to remember back when I was physically able, and I guess I really did like taking things all apart to clean them so I know what you mean. I'm just not in that position any more though. Don't get me wrong - I'll never be one of those guys who wants to buy his way into each and every ride. I like my ride and I like to be involved in keeping it up. I sure do appreciate you all helping me this way - I learn a little more every time I read here. Thanks,

Mark

 

[Markjens]

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Brad, I'm guessing the Kliktronics pictures were in reference to my disability rather than my current woes, right? As for the 'woes' part, I have been pretty busy there. I dove in after you folks inspired me to quit whining and start wrenching. Heck, if I could change the turbine on a C-130 motor I can work on a Gold Wing, right? Well, I started peeling plastic once the weather broke. I did a check of the carbs, and everything seemed to be working freely but I hit it all with carb cleaner anyway. I believe it must be gummed up jet(s). So, I cleaned everything up, checked the air filter, looked like new but I cleaned it out anyway. I changed out the plugs. I basically did anything I could think of to do while the plastic was off. It is riding so much better! I can ride on the dirt road without feeling like I'm taking my life into my hands. I have been riding with no choke for a couple hundred miles. The only time I need to add just a smidge of choke is when pulling away from a dead stop. Sometimes it needs a bit of help. But, from what I can see, if I ride it as much as possible with no choke on, I have a better chance of cleaning those jets out with the SeaFoam. (I filled the tank again today and added more.) Once again, thanks for all the help, it looks like the patient is going to live thanks to you folk!

Mark

 

[Markjens]

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Thanks so much, John. I have been getting it all together slow but sure. One of these days we should hook up via the wonderful Washington ferry system and take a ride! Heck - what's 60 miles on a Wing? Thank you again, and we'll see you on the road!

Mark

 

[Markjens]

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Ruff,
Thanks so much, and I believe you are correct. I know just about nothing when it comes to Wing carbs. My wife and I had to do a carb job on my Virago 920 when we came back from Alaska (my 18 month tour turned into a 7 year love affair with Alaska). We just sat side by side and went through the carbs step by step and in the end we got the job done quite well. As much as we liked the experience, I didn't want to have to tear the Wing apart to do this, and from what you said, I think you hit it on the head. My idle circuit is the only thing affected right now. The bike doesn't seem thrilled about powering up from idle. It really is getting better though. I've ridden probably 300 miles since my first post, and the last two tanks had no Seafoam in them. I am trying to use the choke as little as possible, hoping for that 'clearing up' thing to happen. Thanks, and lets do a coffee ride sometime. Easy in the Seattle area, right?

 

[Markjens]

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Well, here is the best way I can answer; I would take off today on a cross country trip if I could. That is my acid test for whether a bike is in fit condition, whether I would take it out on the road far from my garage and tools. I still have a bit of riding to do in order to clear out that idle jet, but with a tad bit of choke applied on take - off, I can roll off the choke immediately following and the bike rides wonderfully. I am very happy with it all (except for our puppy knocking the left saddlebag onto the concrete driveway while I was working on the brakes - scratched the heck out of it). I told myself and our six month old golden retriever, "its just a thing, its just a thing." Those words have great meaning to me. The first time I spent any time away from my wife I was in Cape May, New Jersey for three weeks. While there, my wife endured a Texas hurricane at our place in Houston. When I talked to her she kept saying, "You're going to kill me." When I asked why she stated that the hurricane had knocked my bike over while it was in her care and she felt responsible! I told her that I was missing her so much I couldn't have cared less about the bike at the time! I said, "its just a thing and you're going to be with me for the rest of my life." She has, and the bike is long gone. So, I have to keep things in perspective (but geez I hate those scratches on my candy apple saddlebag!) Thanks for the inquiry and for all the help - you guys have gotten me back on the road!!

Mark

 

[Markjens]

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I wanted to give you all an update on my Wing's condition. I took off on the 22nd for points east and rode for a couple days in that direction. While in Montana I heard from an old Coast Guard aviation bud who was heading westward on his yearly tour. So I met up with him and his father in Cody, Wyoming and we spent a day in Yellowstone. Then we went up into Montana and over to Idaho, where we took Hwy 12. If you've never done that road, oh my goodness! It was so much fun blasting along this beautiful little river down in a valley. We looked up one time to see a bald eagle flying right over us, and during a stop, Bill (Alan's dad) saw mountain goats above us! This road had a sign at the beginning, you know the squiggly line one, that said, "Next 99 miles." Yeah, baby! I had dinner with my son in Lewiston, Idaho - he drove over from Washington State University where he is in his second year. Then I headed home. Got home on Sunday morning after about a two thousand mile ride. I've probably put 3500 miles on it since I got it out of the mothballs and I'm pleased to say it is back to its old self again - running like a champ! Oh - before I left I put on some Dunlop E3's. Love 'em. Once they got scrubbed off, they did a great job and really gave me a secure bite on all of those curves on Hwy 12. Thanks for all your help, I couldn't have done it without you.

Mark