Winter Projects?

imported post

With bike parking season coming in the great white north, I'm thinking of do a bit of preventative maintenance over the winter. I have a GL1200a 1985, that runs great, but has a few quirks I'd like to deal with:



a) If it sits too long (3-7 days) with the fuel petcock on, the left front cylinder gets a bunch of gas it in, forming a hydraulic lock when you go to start it.

b)There's a new noise in the front end, that could be a wind noise, or a wheel bearing, or brake pads rubbing. Bearing area is cool to touch though, and I have some brake pad left. Also though it could be the bearings in either the water pump or the idler pulleys on the timing belt.



Anyway, I was thinking to cure problem (a), to pull the carbs this winter and redo all the rubber bits and new jets etc. (probably not me though - never done carb work before). I might just pull the carb and get someone to do it. I hate to mess with it otherwise though, because it runs really well.



For problem (b), I thought for the cost of it, I might change the front brake pads and wheel bearings.



I need new tires soon, so I was thinking of pulling both wheels, and getting them changed over winter. I thought while they're off, could do the rear bearings, the rear pads, the fork oil, and maybe the steering head bearings.



With a bike this old (though only 57K km) do these sound like sensible things to do? The whole cost wouldn't be too high, but it would give me a little peace of mind next year - and some wrench time on my baby too.



Thoughts? (especially on the carbs - do I risk screwing up good carbs?)



Frank