WASHINGTON state Disabled VETERAN needs maintenence HELP

4679 Views 53 Replies 22 Participants Last post by plainmech, Oct 1, 2009

Markjens

Discussion Starter · Jul 9, 2009

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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!

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Jluvs2dive

· #41 · Jul 20, 2009

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Mark,

I just saw the sticky pointing to this thread. I'm sorry for all of your troubles but glad it isdoing somuch better. I'm about 60 miles from you and far from an expert on the 1500, but I will be glad to help where I can.

I too want to thank you for your service to this country!! Words will never be enough to thank you and men like you that have sacrificed so much for our freedoms!! :clapper::clapper::clapper:

John

Markjens

Discussion Starter · #42 · Jul 20, 2009

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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

Jluvs2dive

· #43 · Jul 20, 2009

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Markjens wrote:

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

Hi Mark,

Glad to help where I can. Would love to meet up with you when we can work it out. I usually ride around though instead of the ferry. Ferry is too expensive . Made that trek up Hwy 18 many times anyway, and yep, 60 miles on a Wing ain't nothin.

John

Ruffrider

· #44 · Jul 22, 2009

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Mark, I too just logged in for the first time in awhile and caught this thread. Ditto and thanks from another WA member for your service to our country. It sounds like you won't have to R&R the carbs cause of the steady improvements. That's great! My 75 also sat for a couple years and had similar issues but keeping it running as much as possible and it finally cleared up. I was dreading tearing into the carbs. :clapper:I was wondering if Marvel Mystery Oil might help? I'm a big believer in Seafoam as well but MMO has more lubricating qualities and might be worth a try. I here it helps the O-rings from getting brittle.
I'm having a very minor hernia sugery this Friday so I'll be out of the saddle for a little while but maybe some time in August we could ride. My wing is waiting for some parts as well. Just went thru swing arm bearings and installed new driveshaft and coupler. It sounds like your idle circuit jets are dirty but I'm no guru as I've never had wing carbs apart.( I've rebuilt 400f carbs and XS1100 Yamaha carbs though). Way to go with the Yankee sticktoitness and keep it up.

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Markjens

Discussion Starter · #45 · Jul 22, 2009

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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?

plainmech

· #46 · Jul 29, 2009

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hey mark hows your wing doing?:action::waving:

Markjens

Discussion Starter · #47 · Jul 29, 2009

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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

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plainmech

· #48 · Jul 29, 2009

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glad to hear it. good luck:action::waving:

SETHAN12

· #49 · Jul 29, 2009

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Glad to hear you got you wing going again. Ride safe.:action::action::action::action::action:

MONKEY WRENCH

· #50 · Jul 30, 2009

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you can get factory matching paint for your saddle bag at www.colorrite.com I bought some for my 88 wing and it matched perfect.

Markjens

Discussion Starter · #51 · Sep 30, 2009

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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

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Bagmaster

· #52 · Sep 30, 2009

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Glad to hear the bike is running like it's old self! Just don't forget to add some seafoam once in a while to keep those idle circuits cleaned. Also if you put it up for the winter try to run the carbs dry, don't let it set up for 3 months with gas in the carbs, if you do make sure it has plenty of seafoam in the gas for storage. Also remove the battery and put it on a trickle charger/maintainer.

I'm a disabled Vet also but I have riding weather pretty much all year except for when it snows or ices up on the roads.

Jluvs2dive

· #53 · Oct 1, 2009

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That's great Mark! Glad you finally got some saddle therapy.

Sounds like a fantastic trip. Thanks for updating us. We still need to get together one of these days. I've been over the mountains a few times this Summer, but I avoid Snoqualmie pass usually because I enjoy the others so much.

John

plainmech

· #54 · Oct 1, 2009

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glad to hear mark, thanks for update. yeehaw:action::waving::cooldevil:

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